Mr. Speaker, when our connections to our languages and cultures are strong, our people are strong. Language and culture play a crucial role in people's daily lives, as tools for communication, education, social integration, and development. Language, culture, history, and traditions shape us as people.
I will begin by announcing that, upon recommendation of the Official Languages Board, February has been declared the new Indigenous Languages Month in the Northwest Territories.
The theme of this year's Indigenous Languages Month, "We Love Our Languages," serves as an invitation to all residents to take time to show their appreciation and celebrate the 11 official languages we have in the Northwest Territories.
During this month our languages are being promoted, a meeting of the Official Languages Board is taking place, the top entrants of the Elder and Youth Indigenous Languages Video Contest are being premiered, and other events are being held throughout the regions.
Mr. Speaker, celebrations are important; however, successful revitalization won't be accomplished through the efforts of just one month a year.
Despite their tremendous value, Indigenous languages across the world continue to disappear at an alarming rate. In an effort to bring attention to this, 2019 has been declared the International Year of Indigenous Languages by the United Nations.
Mr. Speaker, to combat the threat against them, this government is committed to revitalising and increasing the use of Indigenous languages. We are actively promoting the nine territorial Indigenous official languages on a continual basis and working to preserve and revitalize them for future generations. Although there are challenges, we are seeing some progress. Initiatives like the Our Languages curriculum in schools, funding Indigenous governments for language activities, and providing Indigenous language coordinators in all regions are making a difference.
Mr. Speaker, We are extremely proud of our continued work to develop the Our Languages curriculum. A large-scale pilot started in 40 of our 49 schools this past September, and the response already has been astounding. We have heard that it has been a positive experience, that it is exciting, that it is important and the right thing. We heard loud and clear that it's about time.
Just as Indigenous Languages Month draws to a close, the Rendez-vous de la Francophonie is beginning around the world. During the month of March, I invite my colleagues and the public to celebrate another of our official languages, French. Language and culture events throughout the Northwest Territories will promote the French language in the context of cultural diversity and aim to bring people together by highlighting the importance of all official languages.
The government recently released the 2018-2023 French Languages Communications and Services Strategic Plan developed with input from the Federation franco-tenoise. This is the second five-year plan focusing on ensuring the government is providing services in French to communities where francophone populations are of significant demand. Our partnership with the Federation franco-tenoise is critical to the success of our strategic plan. We continue to work together to increase the use of the Government of the Northwest Territories' French-language communications and services.
This June, we will also be celebrating an important anniversary, the 40th birthday of the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. Over the last 40 years, the institution has worked with communities across the territory to care for, research, and celebrate territorial cultures, history, and languages for the benefit of Northerners and visitors. I encourage everyone to come out to the party, have fun, and learn more about how the activities and work that occur in this building serve and represent all of the people of the Northwest Territories.
Hosting more than 60,000 visitors a year, the centre plays a key role in preserving and showcasing our connection to our cultures, heritage, and languages. The website for the exhibit "We Took Care of Them: RCMP Special Constables in the NWT" is the first digital exhibit to be available in all 11 official languages, and I must credit my colleague, the honourable Alfred Moses, for his work in bringing this incredible exhibit to fruition.
As well, the centre is also soon launching an iPad program so visitors can view and experience exhibits in Indigenous and other languages.
Mr. Speaker, languages and culture together contribute to a strong sense of identity and pride. Our government acts as facilitator, steward, and supporter of territorial languages and cultures. Our commitment is strong. We are doing more than ever to help all our languages thrive, and we are starting to see positive results, so I very much look forward to all these upcoming celebrations of the territory's languages and cultures. They showcase our past, influence our present, and lay the path for the future. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is helping to address the high cost of living in our territory by implementing northern solutions for northern housing. We are working with other governments and housing stakeholders to support Indigenous and local governments in their housing aspirations and create initiatives to address homelessness. As part of its strategic renewal, the Housing Corporation is developing community housing plans to guide and support strategic development and investment in each community.
In 2017, one of the key findings of the Engagement Survey on Housing was a strong desire for community housing plan development across the Northwest Territories. The Housing Corporation has responded by beginning work toward a housing plan with each of the 33 communities in the Northwest Territories. We are using a planning process with the community and other stakeholders that reflect community values and priorities.
To ensure that these plans are community-driven and will support local intentions to address housing needs, we are working with local leadership. We are promoting community ownership of housing plans, local coordination, and activity planning that is suitable for the community. Local housing facilitators are being hired to assist with this community planning.
The community housing plans will combine the knowledge of community residents with housing data, statistics, and other material relevant to housing needs, such as information on health, education, employment, and land. To guide planning, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is using the solid and proven planning principles of community involvement, skills development, flexibility, sustainability, and respect for local culture and traditions.
Mr. Speaker, the community housing plan process involves five steps: pre-planning, needs assessment, housing plan, implementation, and monitoring. The process will result in a community housing plan that contains a community profile, a needs analysis, and a housing plan with measurable goals and outcomes that can evolve over time.
Pre-planning sets the foundation. This work includes meeting with stakeholders to discuss potential resources, partnerships, and information-gathering. We have conducted housing research and developed methodology to guide the approach in each of the communities.
Needs assessments are conducted through community engagement. One of the lessons learned through the Voices on Housing survey was the importance of local voices and local input. At this stage, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation will ask each community to designate a council member to work directly with us to support the housing planning activities and community engagements. These engagements happen at the community level and include discussions in public areas, small group discussions, and school and home visits.
As we move to the housing plan stage, which is starting to happen now, we will work with each individual community to engage appropriate stakeholders. Stakeholders will participate in local housing forums to share information, develop partnerships, and establish a strategic planning direction to develop the community housing plan.
This strategic direction will inform the community housing plan that will be presented to Councils for Plan Adoption at the implementation stage. Further to implementation, we will work with communities to monitor these housing plans on an ongoing basis once they have been developed.
Mr. Speaker, the community housing plan process has begun, with six communities selected based on stakeholder feedback, community interest, and community readiness to engage in the planning process. To date, we have signed Agreements to Participate in Housing Planning with the communities of Whati, Fort Liard, and Paulatuk.
We have also met with leadership in the communities of Deline, Jean Marie River, and the K'atlodeeche First Nation, and we anticipate moving forward in those communities in the near future.
Community housing plans are critical in ensuring that infrastructure investments are made in the right areas. As we see investments under the National Housing Strategy roll out, including the National Housing Co-investment Fund, community housing plans will help guide all parties in making the right investments. Indigenous, federal, territorial, and municipal governments will all be able to use the plans in meeting housing needs in Northwest Territories communities.
Mr. Speaker, I am excited for a future of community-led housing plans in the Northwest Territories. Housing involves partnerships at all levels. Having a community voice in planning is critical to any success that we have moving forward. Not only will these plans ensure that housing programs and services reflect community values and priorities, but they will also prepare us to take maximum advantage of federal housing funding, private industry investment, and other partnerships as they become available. I look forward to seeing these community housing plans as they are completed and working together with all our people to improve housing outcomes in each and every community. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Infrastructure.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is following through on its mandate commitment to strengthen connections with public and private sector partners in transportation infrastructure. As the primary aviation hub of the Northwest Territories, the Yellowknife Airport hosts a number of businesses and industries that employ Northerners and contribute to economic growth, provide services that support our growing tourism sector, and provide essential services to our communities and residents.
Maintaining our relationship with partners at Yellowknife Airport is vital to its growth and success. Consistent with this commitment, the airport has been seeking out partnership opportunities with international aviation leaders who are looking for locations to undertake cold-weather testing.
Last fall the Yellowknife Airport held discussions with the City of Yellowknife, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, and NWT Tourism to determine how we could come together to capture new revenue streams associated with cold-weather testing. One of the outcomes of these meetings is the newly-formed Yellowknife Airport Cold Weather Testing Group.
The group's goal is to ensure Yellowknife is recognized by global aerospace leaders as the number one Arctic cold-weather testing destination. In order to achieve this, the group is joining forces and adopting a collaborative approach to marketing the Yellowknife Airport to the highly competitive cold-weather testing aerospace industry.
Mr. Speaker, cold-weather testing offers significant opportunity and major economic benefits for the local economy. Visiting teams typically stay in the testing location for 30 to 90 days and often include between 30 to 70 professionals, such as engineers, pilots, and support staff. This could significantly increase revenue growth for Yellowknife Airport's partners and create an opportunity to diversify the Northwest Territories' winter tourism markets by developing a new sector of business tourism.
Working with local air carriers and operators, the Cold Weather Testing Group is developing the resources and relationships that position Yellowknife as the Canada’s Arctic cold-weather testing location of choice. These resources will assist aeronautical decision-makers to locate suitable accommodations and working venues for their away teams prior to their arrival in the Northwest Territories.
Working with our partners, efforts are being made to ensure that information packages are available to respond to both proactive and reactive cold-weather testing enquiries. Packages will include maps, brochures, and other information, such as restaurant listings, vehicle rental locations, entertainment venues, and tourism operator information for those off-duty testing team members wishing to explore our unique northern environment and communities.
Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to say that Yellowknife Airport is hosting Bell Helicopters. They are conducting cold-weather testing of one of their larger helicopters, the new Bell 525 Relentless, the next-generation helicopter. This is the first commercial helicopter to incorporate the Garmin G-500-H touchscreen, and is recognized as the best in class for low noise and vibration, and sets the new standard for vehicle control and operational safety.
The partnership between the Cold Weather Testing Group and Bell Helicopters has created an opportunity to host 30 engineers and pilots for approximately 90 days in Yellowknife. This group will provide a measurable economic boost to Yellowknife.
Mr. Speaker, it is estimated that this one cold-weather testing partnership with Bell Helicopters will infuse $2.3 million into the local economy. In recent months, Yellowknife Airport has also had discussions with Mitsubishi to test their medium-sized jets, and Korean Aerospace Industries has inquired about testing their helicopters here.
In addition to the creation of the Yellowknife Airport Cold Weather Testing Group, planning efforts are under way for the development of a preliminary competitor analysis, a marketing framework, and the decision to link the cold-weather testing marketing strategy to Destination Canada's Business Events Canada marketing program for the aerospace industry.
The Northwest Territories has a unique Arctic advantage. Yellowknife is one of the coldest cities in the country. As the major gateway airport to the Northwest Territories, conditions at Yellowknife Airport in the winter are cold, clear, and dry, and temperatures can dip as low as minus 50 Celsius. Yellowknife Airport has all of the facilities and services required to be a testing site: runway and airspace, as well as apron and ramp space, available for aircraft testing; emergency services; and onsite airport firefighting facilities, coupled with airport-based businesses that understand the needs of the aerospace industry.
The Yellowknife Airport Cold-Weather Testing Group recognizes Bell Helicopters as one of many successful partners bringing innovation and economic opportunity to local businesses. We believe that there are other cold-weather testing opportunities to be developed, all of which position the Northwest Territories as a global leader in the aerospace industry.
Mr. Speaker, in addition to cold-weather testing, there are important improvements under way at the Yellowknife Airport. On Sunday of this past week, Madame LeBouthillier, Minister of National Revenue, MP Michael McLeod, and I were pleased to announce the funding of approximately $2.5 million from the Airport Capital Assistance Program for airfield lighting rehabilitation project. In addition, the Yellowknife Airport Revolving Fund will contribute 15 percent of the total project cost, bringing the total of the project to over $3 million.
This funding announcement will bring changes to airfield lighting on Runway 16-34, the primary runway of the Yellowknife Airport. The project will make the airport safer and further contribute to our commitment to reduce energy consumption.
These and other initiatives will reinforce our efforts to strengthen connections with public and private sector partners in transportation infrastructure. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health and Social Services announced plans and is already taking steps to more than double the amount of long-term care beds available in the territory. Given that we are still in the early stages of this massive expansion, now is an opportune time for us to re-examine our fundamental notion about long-term care so that we can develop and implement best practices, cultivate the appropriate institutional culture, and design facilities to help us realize this vision.
There is already much agreement on what basic long-term care should provide; shelter, meals, ensuring prescribed medication is taken, assistance with physical tasks such as bathing, if necessary, and so on. However, to achieve and maintain positive mental health and a sense of well-being, people require more than just the basics. People need companionship. They need to be engaged in activities that they find entertaining and meaningful, and they need to feel like they are part of a community.
To be clear, Mr. Speaker, I know that many staff in the long-term care facilities are doing these exact things right now, and I appreciate all of their efforts. I can't emphasize that enough. I know that the residents appreciate them, as well. However, the work they do is confined by the system in which they work, a system designed around the overarching notion that, as long as physical needs are being met, the system is doing its job.
We need to decide if we want to expand that idea and put mental well-being on equal footing with physical well-being so that we can ensure residents in long-term care have the opportunity to lead fulfilling lives.
For some, family members provide this opportunity. However, it is quite common for people in care to not have nearby family for a variety of reasons. Some long-term care residents have had to relocate from other communities. There are also many in care who moved to the NWT decades ago for work. The one or two children they had have left the territory, and their spouses passed on. These people, most of whom have limited mobility and limited means, are at the mercy of the system. If the system doesn't provide opportunities for them to live fulfilling lives, no one will.
I raise these concerns with the Assembly because my constituents in long-term care raised them with me. I am concerned about the toll it takes on their mental health, and I am gravely concerned that, in our rush to supply more beds, unless we turn our minds to this issue, the proposed 48- and 72-bed facilities could turn out to be more like warehouses than care facilities.
I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to the concerns raised by constituents and the business community concerning the GNWT's market housing program. The framework is, in effect, shutting out local businesses and entrepreneurs from being able to enter and stay in the property rental and real estate business. It goes without question that the GNWT must have a strong housing policy which supports lower income residents and families, yet there must be diversity in how this goal is achieved. Maintaining a government monopoly is clearly not effective, nor does it ensure no one is left out in the cold of the winter and dryness of the summer.
The current situation prohibits businesses or private individuals from being able to get a fair return on their investment in the rental business or from being able to invest their time and energy into eventually flipping their property for market resale. What the NWT needs is a multifaceted approach, not more of a one-size-fits-all strategy.
To achieve this end, it would be wise to ask the Housing Corporation to work with local builders to allow for the framework of a housing economy to be established that is not influenced or controlled solely by the Government of the Northwest Territories. This would be strengthened if the Housing Corporation and other GNWT departments worked with the local builders to sign market lease agreements for up to 50 percent of the private housing inventory for GNWT employees. This would inevitably alleviate some of the pressure on the Housing Corporation's demand on inventory, as it would make it easier for the government, local governments, and the private sector to attract skilled labour and professionals into the communities through the availability of housing. The secondary and tertiary effects of this are boundless.
In short, it would allow people more freedom to pursue the lives they wish. This initiative would bring with it the added bonus of training and hiring local community members to build, maintain, and refurbish these homes over the short and long term. Housing is in high demand in every community, and the opportunity to have private enterprise build rental units and alleviate the demand for housing off the GNWT would be a win-win for everyone, and particularly for the people who are in desperate need of housing.
Mr. Speaker, Regular Members have often called for this government to do more to expand private sector opportunities. Today, I am calling on the Minister to open this government's approach to addressing the NWT's housing needs with private sector solutions. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, April 1, 2019, marks the Aboriginal Sports Circle of the Northwest Territories' 20th year anniversary.
Over the years, the organization has grown tremendously and is proud of the delivery of grassroots programs in all 33 communities in the NWT, including hosting territorial championships in Arctic Sports, Dene Games, archery, along with organizing and bringing Team NT to the North American Indigenous Games, and is responsible for developing community leaders in sport, recreation, and culture.
The organization's growth can be attributed to the dedication of the countless volunteer hours by the board of directors. Over the years, the board has grown from one staff member to now six staff members. This is keeping true to the values of why the organization was established in 1999. With all the success Aboriginal Sports Circle of the NWT achieves, the board strives to do more, recognizing the value that sport, recreation, and culture have on community wellness.
As the organization prepares for their 20-year anniversary, it is important to reflect on where the organization has been. Aboriginal Sports Circle of the NWT would like to recognize the volunteers who have helped shape the organization and the dedicated work put forth by its volunteers, whereby creating an Honorary Board of Directors.
The creation of the honorary board will be a continuous reminder to the organization of how far they have come and reflected on the values needed to remain. The honourable board members will be welcome to sit in on meetings and will be relied on as knowledgeable members who hold wisdom to help the board and staff make decisions in the best interest of the organization.
The three inductees for the Aboriginal Sports Circle of the Northwest Territories honorary board members are Clifford Mcleod from Fort Providence, Rena Squirrel from Hay River, and Allan Browning from Fort Simpson/Hay River.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank these three volunteers for their continuous commitment to this organization, and I wish them all the best. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday in Tsiigehtchic was the election for the Gwichya Gwich'in designated Gwich'in organization, or DGO. I would like to congratulate our newly elected president, Julie-Ann Andre, and also our council members, Darius Andre, Mavis Clarke, Renie Koe, Bobbie-Jean Van Loon, and Shelly Van Loon.
I am looking forward to working with you all as we work together to ensure we have what we need in the community of Tsiigehtchic. Congratulations once again, and I wish you all the best in your leadership roles. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I often do, today I would like to speak about our relationship as a government with the Indigenous people of this territory. Discussions between government and the First Peoples about rights and land have been going on longer than I have been alive and still it seems there are no easy solutions.
Mr. Speaker, in the NWT, there are several distinct Indigenous groups, each with a unique geography, history, economy, and culture. No wonder there is no magic wand we can wave that will resolve the diverse needs and interests of all these groups. We all acknowledge that resolving the issue of rights is one of our highest priorities. We know this must be achieved before we can move ahead on many of our other mandate priorities.
Mr. Speaker, we need to build a strong nation-to-nation relationship. Essentially, we need to co-write and co-produce policy. Indigenous leadership must be central in creating the government's direction and policies and shaping the future of the territory. We need to realize solutions should be regional and local in nature and may not apply the same way across the NWT as a whole. We must be collaborative and flexible in our approach.
Our young people hold tremendous promise and will be key players in finding solutions. Our youth are continuing to achieve more and more and branch out in new areas of study and accomplishment.
Applications to post-secondary education continue to rise. Our youth want to be dedicated to their peoples, their communities, their culture, and defining resolution of Indigenous issues. That gives me hope, Mr. Speaker.
There are certainly problems, Mr. Speaker. Unemployment is high in some communities, but we can significantly reduce unemployment by resolving land rights and putting self-government agreements in place. With certainty on land rights and self-government, communities and regions will be able to establish their own priorities, develop their own economies, and hire their own people, including their own educated youth.
Our system must support and empower Indigenous governments with responsibility and authority for self-determination. Mr. Speaker, this will allow communities to flourish and grow on their own terms. At the appropriate time, I will have questions for the Premier. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President.
[Translation] Yellowknife MLAs met recently with the trustees of Yellowknife Catholic Schools and Yellowknife Education District No. 1 and the Commission scolaire francophone des Territories du Nord-Ouest.
The City of Yellowknife held a plebiscite on extending the term of office for councillors to four years from three. Of the Yellowknife voters who voted, 60.6 percent were in favour. Yellowknife City Council subsequently completed passage of a bylaw to extend the term of office for mayor and council to four years.
As all Yellowknife MLAs now know, the term of office for city council and our district education authorities are now out of sync. District education authorities have held their elections at the same time, piggybacking on to the city's efforts and processes. The Yellowknife district education authorities have to hold their own elections; the cost will be approximately $65,000 or more in terms of advertising, hiring workers, and other expenses. I am sure we would all rather see that funding spent on our children's education rather than running a separate election.
For the CSFTNO, the situation is more interesting in that half of its commissaires are from Yellowknife, where there is now a four-year term for our local government, and the other half are from Hay River, where there is a three-year term. CSFTNO holds its own elections, if necessary, at its schools so there is no additional cost, but an obvious need for coordination. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Unfortunately, it looks like it would take a change to the Education Act to adjust the terms of office for district education authorities to account for the four-year term of city council. The current wording in the Education Act already contemplates coordination of the terms of office. However, it does not deal with the situation we are now in, where a local government body has a term of office beyond three years, or for the CSFTNO, where there are different terms of office for the local governments that its commissaires represent.
Although we have some time to deal with this situation, I will be asking the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment questions later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Translation ends.]
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the collective bargaining concluded over the past weekend, where a no strike decision was lifted. This has brought great relief and lifted the atmosphere of uncertainty and tension. Mr. Speaker, for that, I am grateful. Congratulations to the negotiation parties and mediator Vince Ready.
Mr. Speaker, as legislators, our first and foremost obligations are to the residents of the Northwest Territories and our regions' constituents. Decisions we conclude are often heartfelt on our abilities as to whether it is the right choice.
Mr. Speaker, our public service employees can look now forward to household income security. Our students can now again focus on their academic studies.
Advancing, Mr. Speaker, we are decision makers of an enterprise looking through the lens of legislation and policy. I now look forward to the ongoing business at hand of our annual budget and legislation reform deliberations.
Mr. Speaker, this process of labour collective agreement bargaining truly reflects the benefits of democracy. However, the equitable balance must not outweigh the GNWT's mandate of prudent, sound fiscal spending and program and service delivery.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I echo the success that both parties have now concluded in providing preliminary closure and relief to the NWT communities. Mahsi.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about an issue which is affecting more and more people in the NWT. This issue is wealth inequality, which can be described as an increasing wealth disparity that exists between our richest and poorest citizens.
Mr. Speaker, the NWT has the highest median personal income in Canada, at $50,000 per year. However, a closer look at the figures will show that the distribution of wealth among our people is not equal. Of the 22 communities that have income data, only four have an average personal income above $50,000, which means that all other communities have an average personal income lower than the territorial average.
Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, the gap in wealth accumulation is even starker when you examine the incomes of different demographics. For example, the average median income for non-Indigenous residents in the NWT is $71,000, which is more than double the median income for First Nations people and nearly three times more than the Inuit.
Mr. Speaker, the rate of food insecurity in the NWT has also been increasing in recent years, going from about 13 percent in 2007 to over 19 percent in 2014. One fifth of our population fears that they will run out of food before they are able to get more money to buy food. The average number of people on income assistance has risen over time, going from 1,400 recipients in 2009 to 1,900 recipients in 2017.
Mr. Speaker, it is for those reasons that we have created cost-of-living priorities in our mandate. We have tasked ourselves with increasing affordable housing; improving food security; supporting energy-efficient technologies; implementing affordable daycare; allowing seniors to age in place; and fostering healthy families.
I can go on, Mr. Speaker. These staggering figures represent a reality that is only getting worse as years go by. As such, we in the NWT must work to close the wealth gap that has threatened our economic potential, prosperity, and day-to-day livelihoods. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, many of us will have heard the shocking and disturbing revelations of this week's CBC Sports investigation into sexual abuse in amateur sport. For those who haven't heard, here is a summary of the findings.
The CBC investigation found that at least 222 amateur sport coaches in Canada had been convicted of sexual offences in the last 20 years. Those convictions involve more than 600 victims under the age of 18. Thirty-four cases are before the courts, including new charges against a Hay River swimming coach previously convicted of sexual assault in 2015. Because sexual abuse is an underreported crime, experts say there could be thousands of cases still unreported.
No sport is immune, Mr. Speaker. Hockey and soccer are Canada's most-played sports and have the largest number of coaches charged and convicted, but convictions were found in 36 other sports.
Anti-abuse policies exist at the national and subnational levels, but transparency is lacking. CBC journalists contacted 160 sports organizations across Canada and asked if they had a public list of coaches and volunteers who have been banned and/or charged or convicted of a crime. Only half responded, and of those, only seven said they publish some form of this information online. Importantly, Hockey Canada didn't respond at all.
Local clubs are often on their own. After multiple sexual assault cases involving Canadian national team coaches, the federal Sports Minister introduced new anti-abuse rules that national sports organizations must follow in order to get federal funding, but that doesn't protect hundreds of thousands of kids competing below the elite level. Local clubs and associations often lack the resources to enforce measures like background checks that could make a difference.
All of this makes me wonder about the situation here. There are clear, common-sense steps that can be taken that do not require a lot of resources to achieve. MACA working with Sport North and other organizations could help supply clear rules around sexual abuse and promote training for coaches, parents, and players. We also need clear and easily accessible ways to report suspected abuse. I will have questions for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Mahsi.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] My constituents have brought a safety issue to my concern, and I would like to raise it in the House today. It isn't the first time my constituents have raised it with me, nor is it the first time that I have addressed it here. [Translation ends]
Mr. Speaker, road safety is the problem. Deh Cho residents, particularly in Fort Providence, are worried by an increase in speeding semi trucks on the Deh Cho Bridge and surrounding highway.
When the Deh Cho Bridge opened in 2012, it introduced uninterrupted 24-hour traffic to Highway 3. At this time of the year, when the winter roads north of Yellowknife open up a temporary route to the diamond mines, traffic volume increases even more, reaching its annual peak.
This isn't just a Deh Cho issue. Commercial traffic can disrupt regular road use all down the road. Residents of the Ingraham Trail area will be familiar with the trials and tribulations, and even the hazards, of living along a busy trucking route.
When it comes to our highways, our laws are clear. Speed limits are clearly posted, including speed limits for the recently repaired Deh Cho bridge. There are no surprises there, Mr. Speaker. Yet my constituents tell me that commercial trucks are still flying down the highway, posing a danger to other road users and to themselves, especially close to the community of Fort Providence and the Big River service station.
These peak traffic volumes aren't a surprise, either. We know that, when winter traffic to the mines begins to ramp up, that means law enforcement, including both the RCMP and the GNWT motor vehicle officers, need to be prepared to get out on the highways and enforce our laws. The safety of our highway depends on it.
Later on I will have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.
Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week I spoke about advancements in the development of a new Arctic and Northern Policy Framework and the role that the GNWT and northern Indigenous governments will need to play in making this framework a reality.
Arctic people want to have a seat at the table. We want to see capacity-building and the application of traditional knowledge. We want to see our government, the GNWT, guiding the federal government in the right direction, Mr. Speaker.
It is well known that other circumpolar countries, like Russia, Finland, and other Scandinavian countries, and other major global powers, like the United States and China, are making rapid advancements in their Arctic policy.
Mr. Speaker, Finland is testing a 5G network, Russia is advancing its military interests, and China is exploring how it can get involved in Arctic governance and development as a near-Arctic state.
I recently read an editorial in the Hamilton Spectator that quoted governance policy specialist Mr. John Higginbotham, who said, "We are falling further and further behind the European Arctic, Russian Arctic, and the East Asian Arctic in terms of all kinds of measures of development and capacity. We have very primitive airports up there, very poor east-west links, limited icebreaker capacity, limited deepwater ports. There's just really nothing happening up there now."
Mr. Speaker, this is a painful truth, but I couldn't have said it any better myself.
Mr. Speaker, I know that the federal government will make major decisions for the Canadian Arctic on the global stage, but I also know that, without the benefit of Northerners' expertise and Indigenous local knowledge, without a united voice advocating loudly and proudly for our Arctic interest, the Arctic will become developed and designed without us. In fact, I worry that we will be left behind altogether.
Mr. Speaker, we have many mutual benefits to maintaining a close relationship with Canada and other Arctic states. Sovereignty is a priority for Canada, and we need to be engaged in the discussions to ensure that our people can participate in future discussions to ensure that the Arctic remains a peaceful and stable region.
Mr. Speaker, sustainable development through cooperation of all levels of government will benefit our people and enhance the quality of life of all residents of the Arctic. Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to recognize my nephew, Jeremy Beauchamp, the second Cochrane to be in the House. I'm so proud of him. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a former MLA, former Minister, good friend, and constituent of Yellowknife North, Mr. Dave Ramsay. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize David Ramsay, former Minister, former MLA, and friend. Mahsi.
