Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The land, water, air, wildlife, and plants of the Northwest Territories play a critical role in the lives of Northerners. They are part of our heritage, identity, and way of life. They provide for us in many ways as food for our families, traditional clothing, and transportation routes. The land sustains our livelihoods through hunting, trapping, and gathering. It is a basis for our arts and culture.
The Government of the Northwest Territories has made a mandate commitment to develop country food programming, as well as enhance existing programming and build new partnership initiatives to support healthy and sustainable traditional lifestyles. Together, we work continuously to support our residents' ability to go out on the land.
Mr. Speaker, in an effort to meet this commitment, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources recently established a new On the Land Unit to address the needs and challenges of our communities regarding land-based activities.
We have heard from our residents about the unique needs and challenges faced by communities in accessing country foods, sustaining a vibrant traditional economy, and maintaining opportunities for land-based learning that involves elders and youth.
Our new On the Land Unit is working to address these important issues by engaging our Indigenous partners, communities, land-users, renewable resource boards, and other stakeholders to discuss and prioritize ways to support community-driven sustainable livelihoods programs and initiatives.
Starting this month, representatives from the department will be holding open houses in communities across the territory to get input on the challenges, needs, opportunities, and priorities linked to country foods, the traditional economy, land-based learning, Guardian programs, and traditional knowledge.
The information gathered through this public engagement process will be used to shape an ENR action plan for supporting sustainable livelihoods, and help us as a government to better ensure traditional knowledge directly informs our decision-making.
Mr. Speaker, our new On the Land Unit will also oversee the existing program that we have been partnering on successfully with communities for many years, including the Take a Kid Trapping Program, the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program, our Community Harvesters Assistance Program, hunter education and training, and public education and outreach initiatives, to name a few.
Ongoing education and outreach, community engagement, and support for community-driven research are fundamental to the department and our collaboration with our partners. The new On the Land Unit represents the strong commitment ENR has to supporting programs and services that position northern knowledge, livelihoods, and culture as central to the work we do. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Ministers' statements. The Honourable Premier.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Glen Abernethy will be absent from the House today and tomorrow due to a personal matter.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members might get tired of hearing me talk about the importance of mineral development to our economy, but I'll risk it.
Mineral resource development is truly a pan-Canadian industry, but it's significant to the North. Exploration and mining is the North's largest private sector employer and largest employer of Indigenous people, creating about one in every six jobs. Mining exceeds 20 percent of our GDP and brings in investments in the billions of dollars. Mining is also the largest private-sector partner of Indigenous businesses, so it's not only strengthening the NWT economy, it specifically supports Indigenous economic prosperity.
It was good to see this week when the federal government released the Canadian Minerals and Metals Plan, or CMMP. The CMMP will guide Canada's mineral resource sector, focusing on areas like global competitiveness, advancing Indigenous participation, environmental protection, and incorporating leading science and innovation into the industry.
Industry recognizes that much of its future growth will be made in remote and northern areas, but creating an operational mine requires a huge investment, Mr. Speaker, and even more so in the north. An industry study found that, because of the "infrastructure deficit," a mine in the north costs about two-and-a-half times as much to develop as in southern Canada.
Mr. Speaker, in days when investor confidence is soft, dealing with that infrastructure deficit is an important priority. We have to demonstrate that we're serious about growing the economy, and that means encouraging Ottawa to play its part in reducing our cost of doing business.
We need less expensive, and green, power. We need transportation routes to reduce the cost of essential goods in our communities, as well as to provide access to our resources. We need to increase our efforts to manage, and not contribute to, a rising cost of living.
Mr. Speaker, we've been demanding that the federal government act to help reduce the infrastructure deficit with large-scale investment. Yesterday's announcement of over $5 million in funding for the Slave Geological Province project is welcome news, and the new CMMP highlights priority areas that will be good for the North, our economy, and jobs for Northerners.
Mr. Speaker, even though it's an election year, we need to hold Ottawa to its commitments. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Colleagues, I would like to draw your attention to visitors in the gallery today with us. I am pleased to recognize interns from the Library of Parliament. They are here in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, to increase their knowledge of the different Canadian parliamentary systems, such as our consensus-style government, and to gain experience in policy, in our legislative process, and in public education as it relates to library research. Along with their supervisor here with us, Lalita Acharya -- I might have pronounced it differently -- Sarah Allan, Roxanne Brisson, Jorge Luis Flores, Andres Leon, and Robert Mason. Masi for joining us here. Welcome to the Northwest Territories.
Colleagues, with us, we have some students here. I do recognize some faces over the weekend. They had a basketball tournament, as well. Grade 9 class from Ecole St. Pat's High School. Welcome to our Assembly.
Members' statements. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker. This week, the Gwich'in have been welcoming and celebrating one of their own.
Chef Rich Francis has made his way home to Fort McPherson. A brief history on our chef. Rich's mother is from the Six Nations of Ontario. His father is Tetlit Gwich'in from Fort McPherson.
Rich graduated from the acclaimed Stratford Chefs' School in Stratford, Ontario, finishing at the top of his class and receiving the institute's award for culinary excellence.
Mr. Speaker, Rich was one of the finalists and only First Nations competitor on Season 4 of Top Chef Canada.
An article written of Rich Francis states: "Rich is literally on fire in the Indigenous culinary world. He has won honours for his approach to native foods and Indigenous ingredients that revitalize food and culture."
Through his work as a chef, he has addressed issues that affect First Nations as a whole, such as truth and reconciliation, colonization, diabetes, obesity, and food sovereignty, just to name a few.
Mr. Speaker, this week Rich has travelled to Tsiigehtchic and Fort McPherson where he was in the schools teaching students basic cooking skills. He is in Inuvik all this week, where the traditional games are happening. We are very honoured to have Rich in the region. Welcome home, Chef. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.
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Mr. Speaker, David was a beloved dad, brother, uncle, and friend. He passed away on October 26, 2015, at the age of 77.
David's daughter Ruby says that her dad loved playing fiddle, especially playing with Johnny Landry, Alberta Canadien, and the boys. He also taught fiddle to young men in the community, and was teaching his granddaughter, Jody, too.
Mr. Speaker, music was very important to David. He didn't play to be famous. He just loved to play fiddle, and to sing and dance, and he loved talent shows. Whenever there was a talent show or other performance, David performed his very best, from when he was a young man to the last time he played with Johnny Landry at a show in March 2015. That's how his family wants to remember him.
Mr. Speaker, members of the community, led by Loretta Landry and with some help from the Dehcho Bison Jamboree Carnival Committee, they are organizing a talent show in his honour. There will be a youth competition on March 22nd, with prizes for singing, fiddling, and couples jigging, as well as door prizes and other musical performances, and memorial buttons are being sold as a fundraiser.
Mr. Speaker, I hope you and my colleagues will join me in recognizing the life of David Bonnetrouge, and the strength of the community he left behind. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The manufacturing sector is one of the bright lights of the NWT economy. It more than doubled in value from 2014 to 2016 and directly employed 129 people. Let's hope that number has grown as much between 2016 and 2018, despite the fact the sector is still waiting for the government's long-awaited manufacturing strategy. The mandate commitment for manufacturing speaks to expanding the sector, identifying potential areas of growth, promoting and marketing products manufactured in the NWT, and aiding in the professional and technological advancement of the industry. What we need is a detailed plan.
Mr. Speaker, last year, I had the pleasure of travelling to Iceland. I toured a small-scale enterprise called Atlantic Leather. Fishing is big business in Iceland, and for the last 20 years, Atlantic Leather has been buying fish skins from local fish plants. During a three- to four-week process, the skin is cleaned, cured, and dyed every colour of the rainbow. Each skin is uniquely beautiful, with the pattern and texture of the fish clearly visible through the colour. The end result is soft and supple leather that is as sturdy as lamb leather. It is made into ties, buttons, purses, shoes, and other things. The factory sells these goods to tourists, but the biggest market is with the luxury-goods manufacturers such as Prada, Jimmy Choo, Fendi, and Dior.
Mr. Speaker, Atlantic Leather prides itself on its sustainability. All of the material used is a by-product from other industries, such as the food industry. They say the chemicals used in the tannery are as sustainable and environmentally friendly as they can get. As a bonus, the tannery has become a novelty stop for tourists. The staff conduct tours and describe the process of creating the leather. A small shop sells both the leather and the finished goods that they make to both tourists and locals.
Mr. Speaker, our fisheries industry produces a lot of skins, and we could investigate their use for leather, as well. What happens to fish skins that come from the lake now? They are thrown away. Instead, given some business development assistance, it may be possible to create a market for fish leather products.
Mr. Speaker, this is the kind of innovation I am hoping for in the long-awaited manufacturing strategy. I will have questions for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Mahsi.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. On January 18th, the Standing Committee on Social Development heard a very interesting presentation from representatives of the NWT Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research Unit, otherwise known as Hotii ts'eeda, which is hosted by the Tlicho Government. Their vision is to support health, research, and training that is rooted in Dene Naowo, lnuvialuit, and Metis knowledge and responds to the needs of patients, communities, and governments.
Hotii ts'eeda recently released a very interesting discussion paper on building a knowledge economy. I strongly support this initiative. I urge our government to adopt this approach wholeheartedly and make it priority. In the view of Hotii ts'eeda, the knowledge economy is using knowledge to innovate, solve problems, create jobs and value. The discussion paper sets out the following principles and ideas:
Ensure legislation, regulations, and policy makes researchers feel valued and empowered to work in the NWT to undertake research that will result in improving the lives of residents.
Legislation, regulations, and policy should create an environment where Indigenous peoples have control of research being done on their lands and with their people.
Research with Indigenous peoples should provide economic benefits primarily to NWT residents and communities. Indigenous governments and research institutes should have a primary role in creating a sustainable knowledge economy.
GNWT should request information from researchers that will enable us to measure the social and economic impacts and outcomes in the Northwest Territories.
The polytechnic university should be positioned and built as a catalyst for increasing research funding and innovations in the Northwest Territories.
Each government department needs to put in place processes for the review and approval of research proposals and to help leverage external research funds.
Develop science communications and knowledge translation capacity with appropriate funding and support.
I will have questions for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, who has the lead for this government on the knowledge economy, later today. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to address several concerns which have been raised by my constituents and francophone stakeholders on the matter of the Ministerial Directive Enrolment of Students in French Language Education Programs. Here in the NWT we are left with a hangover from the time before responsible government, a ministerial directive and direct ministerial oversight of French language admissions process. This only exists in the three northern territories. Every other jurisdiction in Canada has devolved these responsibilities to arm's-length organizations and done away with what is in effect a colonial legacy, treating francophone families different than their anglophone counterparts.
Mr. Speaker, all Northerners ought to have a fair and equal access to education in the Northwest Territories, and this mandatory oversight by the Minister over admissions is unnecessary busy work at the ministerial level and for the public service. The Commission scolaire has the ability to internally manage this process of student admission. I am curious as to why we here in the NWT require such direct control by the Minister over only a select portion of our public education system.
The goal of supporting language and culture revitalization is an important one for all of our official languages. This goes without question. Sadly, this ministerial directive is an unnecessary public policy decision that limits the opportunities of the Commission scolaire to thrive and adapt to the ever-changing demographics and needs of Northerners.
The francophone community is a proud part of our heritage and enriches our culture. I am saddened that the advice of the francophone stakeholders in our communities on how to improve the directive has not been taken up by the current Minister or the Minister's predecessor. Later today, I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on the Ministerial Directive for Enrolment and how this government can improve access to francophone education in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Thebacha.
Mr. Speaker, people in Fort Smith, throughout the Northwest Territories, and beyond our borders were saddened to hear of the recent passing of long-time Fort Smith resident, Alex Hall.
Alex was born and raised in Ontario and began canoeing as a boy. Educated as a wildlife biologist, he received a Master's degree in Animal Ecology from the University of Toronto. In 1974, Alex established Canoe Arctic, an eco-tourist/travel business based in Fort Smith, which he ran for more than 40 years, taking adventurous tourists on canoeing expeditions along the Thelon River and other tundra and Barren Lands rivers.
Accomplishments and awards in his career include:
In 2002, he was a runner-up for the Arctic Award, an international award administered by the World Wildlife Fund for linking tourism and conservation.
Alex authored a number of magazine articles. He also wrote a book on the Barren Lands entitled "Discovering Eden: A Lifetime of Paddling Arctic Rivers." The Globe and Mail included Discovering Eden among its year-end list of the top 100 books published in Canada in 2003.
In 2004, he was presented with a lifetime achievement award for his impact on the development of the tourist industry in the Northwest Territories and for his conservation work in connection with the Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary.
In 2007, National Geographic Adventure chose Canoe Arctic's canoe trips in the Canadian Arctic as one of its "Top Destinations for 2007 and Beyond."
As recently as last fall, Alex was honoured at the NWT Tourism AGM for his contributions.
Mr. Speaker, I was honoured to know this extraordinary man, whose contributions to conservation and tourism in the North will be an enduring legacy. Thank you.
Masi. Our condolences to the family, and also to the community, as well. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Albert George Norwegian left behind an incredible legacy of family, humour, love, and friendship.
Albert was born on December 21, 1933, at Rabbitskin, Deh Cho. This was during the time of the Mad Trapper of Rat River story. His mother was carrying him at this time. Albert's life began with this adventure, and he and his family talked about the story of his mom worrying about the Mad Trapper coming to Rabbitskin.
Albert was the last son of Joseph and Elizabeth Norwegian to pass away. Albert lived in Fort Providence when he passed away.
Albert possessed an incredible work ethic. His life motto was: "Always teach yourself to win a little bit all the time." A perfect example of this was when he carried a 400-pound motor from the creek to the cabin. Once he got to the top of the hill, there was blood coming from his shoulder, but he did it.
Albert was not educated in the modern way. However, he was self-taught and extremely educated in traditional culture and teachings. Due to his incredible work ethic, Albert was very successful. He was extremely inquisitive and industrious. Even with his limited ability to read and write, he trained himself and was motivated to do well, and he did.
Albert's celebration of life depicted his incredible sense of humour. Right to the end, he was true to himself, always focused on the lighter side of life. He loved to laugh and make jokes. Even when he was near the end, he would close his eyes for about five minutes, and then he would open his eyes and at the same time say, "Boo," at his family members who were sitting with him.
Even as his life came to an end, Albert maintained his humour and was actively joking with his family. His daughters and sons shared how he departed onto the next journey on his own terms.
As Albert was nearing the end of his journey, laying on his hospital bed in Edmonton, all of the wrinkles on his face disappeared. All at once, he stopped breathing on February 21, 2019. Embraced by his family, softly, silently, the eagle flew back to Rabbitskin.
Albert is survived by his two sisters, six daughters, six sons, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The Gargan and the Norwegian families would like to thank everybody for their loving support and prayers during their time of sorrow.
Mr. Speaker, Albert George Norwegian will be sadly missed and never forgotten.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize the students from grade nine at St. Patrick's, my junior high alma mater, located in the riding of Yellowknife North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the NWT and, in particular, the Nahendeh, many residents require academic upgrading, even after finishing school. My questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment: how is the department working with Aurora College to meet the needs of adult learners in the region? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are two ways to meet the needs of adult learners that can be done. If people are looking to do upgrading, they can do that, actually, by addressing their home community school. Often they will take students who are over 21. That is common within the smaller communities. As well, within community learning centres, we try to upgrade their credentials. Through Aurora College specifically, we offer two upgradings. One is through the Occupations and College Access Program, and the other one is the University and College Access Program. Those are two that pertain specifically to the college administrating them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I am looking more specifically at the small communities in the Nahendeh, so again, could the Minister tell us: could existing schools be used to deliver upgrading where there is no community learning centre available?
Yes, definitely. Schools can actually offer upgrading if they have the capacity to do so. Some of the schools don't have the higher learning grades. That has been addressed over the years with the Northern Distance Learning. There is funding, actually, to provide through schools if they want to address the higher grades, 10, 11, and 12. There is funding through Education to provide for that. We do try to support students as much as possible, and using the existing schools, as well as community learning centres, is something that we need to do as much as possible.
It's great to talk about learning centres, but if we don't have them in the small communities, it doesn't really help. Could the Minister advise: in the future, will learning centres be expanded into these small communities and all communities in the Northwest Territories?
The community learning centres is an area that I can't, right at this point, say is going to be expanded into all communities. Right now, they are offered in 21 of the communities. We need to do a whole review of the community learning centres, and not only on where they are. That is something that I could commit to looking at, where they are located, but also the services that they are providing within that. That is part of the polytechnic review, the process that we are working on, so we are a little bit ahead of the game today to say that we will expand it when we are trying to figure out what exactly we are doing and how we can strengthen those community learning centres today.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and again, I would like to thank the Minister for the information provided here today. At the end of the day, though, we want to help our students who are graduating. This is my understanding: students attending access programs at Aurora College are able to access student financial assistance. This is counted against the maximum allowable semesters limit under SFA. Can the Minister explain why this is, and has ECE considered not counting these access programs against the student's maximum allowable limit of SFA? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Currently, the Education Act actually does define what can be provided through student financial assistance. It is legislated, so it is difficult. We need to look at it and actually change the legislation, which is a lot more difficult than changing policies. Will we look at it? Absolutely. It is part of the process that we need to look at within the college. The difference, though, is that normal upgrading courses can be addressed within their communities, through schools and the community learning centres, which we only have 21 of, I recognize.
The access programs, really, are not a general upgrading where you get grade 12. The access programs are really looking at the programs that you need to get into college or university, so it is a different type of upgrading. I do have concerns with it, as well, and so I have stated that we will be looking at it as we move forward with the whole polytechnic university and how we are providing services to the public. I think it is an area that needs to be looked at. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Colleagues, for visitors in the gallery, as well, I forgot to mention Gerry Burla, who is with us here today. He is also part of the Legislative Librarians here at the Legislative Assembly. Welcome to our Assembly. Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not particularly like Facebook. There is too much gossip and negativity on there for my liking, but I check it so that I can keep abreast of what is going on around town and in the Northwest Territories. However, Mr. Speaker, after this week, I might have to swear off Facebook for good. When I opened it up the other day, the first thing in my feed was a picture of the inside of the outhouse at the GNWT-owned north-of-60 visitors centre. It was not pretty, and I will spare everyone the gruesome details.
This has come up before. I have seen articles in the News/North about it. I know that other Members have asked questions about it. This is a perennial issue. It goes on and on for years, particularly at the border when the ice roads are in and all of the big trucks start coming from the south. It is where the truckers stop, and, you know, they don't take it easy on that bathroom, Mr. Speaker, and it is not a great way to introduce visitors to the Northwest Territories. I have some questions for the Minister of ITI on this.
I apologize to the Pages who came here hoping to see some political discourse, and I'm talking about outhouses, but that is the way it is sometimes. I have to ask the Minister: how are ITI's roadside outhouses maintained during the winter months? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Unlike the summer park season, when we have contractors who look after these facilities on a daily basis, in the wintertime, we send our contractor out once a month to look after these facilities. Then, when conditions like this happen, of course, we dispatch the contractor out there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
