Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I rise pursuant to Rule 21(1) of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly to make a personal explanation. In my Member's statement and oral questions of May 24, 2019, I said that large emitters of greenhouse gasses, the diamond mines, will get all their carbon tax back under the July 2018 proposal released by the Minister of Finance. The Premier corrected this statement in his response to my questions by stating that large emitters would be paying a carbon tax on any motive fuels purchased.
Double-checking the publicly available information from the Department of Finance, this is indeed the case that large emitters, the diamond mines, will receive rebates and individualized grants for investments that reduce greenhouse gas emissions covering all of the carbon tax paid on non-motive diesel. Carbon taxes paid by large emitters on motive diesel and gasoline will not be rebated or granted back.
I apologize unreservedly to anyone who may have taken offence with my error and wish to correct the public record. It was not my intention to mislead the House or to make incorrect statements. I wish to thank the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines for bringing this matter to my attention. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to correct the record.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to update this Assembly on negotiations toward the shared management of oil and gas resources in the Northwest Territories offshore.
Mr. Speaker, beginning in the late 1980s, the Government of Canada committed to negotiating a Government of the Northwest Territories role in the management of oil and gas in the Northwest Territories offshore. More recently, the Devolution Agreement of 2013 committed Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories, with the participation of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, to commence negotiations within 60 days for the management of oil and gas resources and the sharing of revenues in the offshore. Suffice it to say, the Northwest Territories has been waiting a long time, more than a generation, for these negotiations to start.
Despite previous commitments for negotiations, in 2016, Canada's unilateral federal moratorium on offshore oil and gas activity was imposed without any consultation. This action underscored the importance of the Government of the Northwest Territories seizing a role in decisions about Northwest Territories offshore oil and gas resources.
Mr. Speaker, the shared management regime that will result from these negotiations will ensure that decisions about offshore oil and gas are no longer made unilaterally. It will ensure that unilateral decisions like the one made in 2016 become a thing of the past. The negotiation of the management of offshore oil and gas resources and the sharing of revenues will also ensure that important decisions that directly impact the lives of Northwest Territories residents will include Northwest Territories decision-makers who have direct knowledge of northern circumstances.
Offshore agreements elsewhere in Canada have ensured these decisions are no longer driven solely by federal politics. These negotiations will provide the jurisdictional authority for the Northwest Territories to have a stay in how and when offshore development will occur.
Mr. Speaker, I am happy to report that, earlier this year, all four parties, Canada, the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, and the Government of Yukon identified negotiators and readied themselves to begin negotiations. On April 12th to14th, the first negotiating session occurred in Inuvik.
Mr. Speaker, it is both significant and appropriate that negotiations began in Inuvik. Historically, Inuvik has been a service center for oil and gas activity in the Beaufort Sea. Many residents of Inuvik have a great deal of experience in the oil and gas sector, and have also worked alongside industry to ensure that our Arctic coast and waters aren't put at risk. They have experienced the benefits, and borne the impacts, particularly, as is the case now, during periods of low activity. It is important to remember that oil and gas activity in the Northwest Territories offshore is not new; these activities have been occurring in the Beaufort offshore for more than 40 years.
An offshore agreement is one of the final missing pieces from the complete devolution of province-like authority over natural resources. It will give us decision-making authority with respect to the offshore comparable to what our fellow Canadians in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador have been enjoying for decades. Further, that these negotiations include the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation as a party at the table is certainly a first for these kinds of negotiations in Canada.
Mr. Speaker, we are in the very early stages of these negotiations, but that they have commenced is important and we are committed to keeping the Assembly up to date as progress occurs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister for Health and Social Services.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the World Health Organization's World No Tobacco Day, which is tomorrow, on May 31, 2019. This day provides us with an opportunity to acknowledge the efforts that the Government of the Northwest Territories is taking to promote the prevention of tobacco use and its cessation.
This year's theme is Tobacco and Lung Health. Having a healthy set of lungs is vital for living a healthy and active lifestyle. Our lungs play a major role in our body's overall health. Exposure to tobacco, both in its primary and second-hand form, can result in multiple chronic disorders, such as respiratory disease and lung cancer.
Mr. Speaker, the smoking rate in the Northwest Territories continues to be higher than the national average. In 2018, the Northwest Territories smoking rate was 33 percent, while the national average was 16 percent in 2017. In the NWT, lung cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in men and women and is the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women.
Nation-wide efforts to prevent tobacco-related cancer are in full swing. The recently published ComPARe study, supported by the Canadian Cancer Society, is the most comprehensive, up-to-date study on the prevention of cancer and the first of its kind in Canada. This ground-breaking study predicts the current and future burden of cancer in Canada that will ultimately impact future cancer prevention decision-making.
The ComPARe study, based on 2015 data, found that smoking tobacco is the leading cause of cancer in Canada, with 32,700 new cancer cases per year due to smoking tobacco. If the trend continues, there will be a projected increase to 46,900 in 2042.
The facts and figures don't lie, Mr. Speaker. Taking action to curb tobacco smoking is one of the greatest things that we can do as individuals, as communities, and as a government to promote healthy, active living in the NWT.
The Department of Health and Social Services' Strategic Plan 2017-2020, Caring for Our People, has made its goal to support tobacco cessation through promotion and prevention efforts, to reduce disparities.
Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment to reflect on the recent progress we have made towards our goal of creating a smoke-free society. In February of this year, the government proposed both Bill 41, the Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act, and Bill 40, Smoking Control Reduction Act. We also continue to provide the NWT Quitline, a 24 hour/seven-days-a-week confidential toll-free number providing NWT residents with support for quitting smoking. The Quitline is a useful tool for those ready to quit smoking, but who need guidance and support to achieve their goal.
We have developed additional resources to support NWT residents in their quit journeys. An example would be our Quitting Podcasts, where we hear NWT Quitline quit coaches discuss the important steps in creating a quit plan, as well as common triggers and barriers that prevent individuals from quitting. We also developed a series called Look Who's Quit Stories where local community champions answer questions regarding the challenges and triumphs that they face or have faced as part of their quit journey.
Additionally, we provide Tobacco Quit Kits across the territory for those who are looking to make every day a no-tobacco day. These kits include information on prescription medications, on-the-land programming, counselling, acupuncture, and Nicotine Replacement Therapy offered through the department's Health Services Administration.
Mr. Speaker, we know that promoting the prevention of tobacco use and supporting our residents who want to quit is one of the greatest things that we can do to support the health and wellness of our people. On this year's World No Tobacco Day, I want to encourage everyone to take a moment and consider how tobacco use affects their health and the health of their loved ones, and to take advantage of the supports to help us achieve our goal of a healthy NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Mine Rescue Competition has a strong history in the Northwest Territories. The first event took place in 1957, and the competition has been growing every year.
This weekend marks the 62nd Annual Mine Rescue Competition. Teams will come together from mines all across the Territories to test their skills.
There are six teams competing this year. The teams are from Rio Tinto's Diavik Diamond Mine; the Gahcho Kue Diamond Mine, owned by DeBeers Canada; TMAC Resources' Hope Bay Gold Mine; the Meadowbank Gold Mine and the Meliadine Gold Project, both owned by Agnico Eagle Mines; and the Baffinland Iron Mine, owned by Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation. They will be testing their skills in firefighting, rope rescue, and First Aid, among other events.
As Minister responsible for the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission, I invite you all to join me in wishing good luck to those brave men and women who volunteer their time and risk their lives for the safety of others. The whole territory walks away a winner, knowing that our friends and our families at the mine sites are in the hands of safe, skilled, and tested leaders.
I also invite you and your families to come out to the Fieldhouse parking lot on June 1st from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to watch and cheer on the teams as they compete. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Mr. Speaker, these are exciting times in post-secondary education in the Northwest Territories. This government is meeting its commitment to expand opportunities for post-secondary education, trades-oriented learning, and northern educational institutions, while fostering the knowledge economy. This work is essential to ensuring that Northerners have access to quality post-secondary programs and supports.
Mr. Speaker, we have introduced new legislation to regulate post-secondary institutions, and we have engaged with residents, campus communities, and municipal and Indigenous governments to establish the first overarching vision and goals for post-secondary education in our territory.
Developing the vision and goals for post-secondary education will focus our efforts as we strengthen our system. It will also support our work with partner institutions and organizations to ensure that students have increased access to excellent programs. Together, we will ensure that Northwest Territories residents can get the skills and training they need to access meaningful employment today and in the future.
Our vision and goals must be rooted in the dreams, aspirations, and needs of our territory. To this end, I am pleased to say that 743 surveys from all regions of the territory were submitted during the engagement phase of the vision process. Nearly 200 of the submissions were from residents especially important to the future of our labour market, people under the age of 29.
I thank those who took the time to complete the survey and the organizations and institutions who took part in the Speaker Series on Post-Secondary Education throughout the month of March. I look forward to sharing the Post-Secondary Education Framework, including the final vision and goals, with Members of this House and the public in the coming months.
Mr. Speaker, over the past three months, the first steps in the transformation of Aurora College to a polytechnic university have been taken. Since assuming the role in March, the associate deputy minister of Post-Secondary Education Renewal has been working diligently to develop the terms of reference for the Academic Advisory Council. Initial contact has been made with individuals who have significant academic and administrative expertise to help support the transformation to a polytechnic university. The Academic Advisory Council will provide guidance to the associate deputy minister throughout the transformation. The terms of reference will be forwarded to Members of this House and posted on the Education, Culture and Employment website within the next month.
As well, a plain-language summary of Bill 48 is currently available on our website for those interested in learning about our proposed post-secondary education legislation that is currently before the House. This legislation is crucial to meeting our objectives to expand high-quality education programming and provide a variety of post-secondary opportunities for students. Quality assurance legislation is a key step in building a strong post-secondary education system for Northerners.
Mr. Speaker, strengthening the post-secondary education system is part of our larger plan to improve outcomes for students and help them reach their highest potential over the course of their lives. From early childhood through elementary and high school and all the way to post-secondary, we want to reduce barriers and empower residents to achieve their goals and aspirations.
A healthy, happy kindergarten student should become a well-educated high school student looking for challenging post-secondary opportunities. Education, Culture and Employment's new career and education advisors will help students to make decisions about their education and give them information on jobs in demand in the Northwest Territories. This government will continue to support post-secondary students, as it does now, through Student Financial Assistance, apprenticeship and trades programs, and labour market programs. All of these initiatives support the development of our economy and our people.
I am confident that the steps we are taking now to strengthen our post-secondary education system will provide increased opportunities for both in the near term and for generations to come. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My constituents wants to know why the Department of Infrastructure keeps trying to recycle the gravel they use on the ferry landings.
A couple of days ago, my colleague was asking for dredging, and was told we don't dredge. Well, Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what is happening in Tsiigehtchic with the use of a backhoe. I've seen this personally, and to have that same material being used to make the landing ramps, this mixture of gravel, mud, and clay is making a mess of our ferry landings.
Just a few short years ago, the department used to stockpile 500 to 1,000 cubic metres of pit run. To be used on each landing, usually, that would last a couple of years, and we never had to wait until the water dropped to have ferry services in the spring like we now have to do. We have to go back to how we used to operate.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I'll have questions later today.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to commend this government on its move towards eventually allowing for the privatization of cannabis sales, production, extraction, and purification. It is clear that the public wants to see entrepreneurs empowered to thrive and prosper, as they are no longer accepting of Crown monopolies or the failed policies of prohibition that have made criminals out of our citizens for recreational use of a substance with substantially less harmful effects than alcohol, while empowering thugs, gangsters, bootleggers, and smugglers to exploit our youth and communities.
However, it has been brought to the attention of Regular Members that, even though there have been nearly 20 bids submitted for the tender to establish a retail cannabis store in the territory, this government has, at the last minute, extended the deadline for bids until June 30, 2019, without explanation.
Mr. Speaker, given this government's trepidation towards privatization when the Cannabis Legalization Implementation Bill was debated by this House, I wonder if the GNWT actually wants to see the establishment of this market?
Sudden changes public to tenders like this may not be noticed by the average member of the public, but it has been noticed by investors, both those already invested in pursuing cannabis retail opportunities and those considering investing in other sectors of our territory's economy. The North must be at all times open for business.
Northern companies and entrepreneurs have already put forward cash as part of the tender process, and they have covered their costs, both legal and for the registration and compliance of their prospective new ventures. Make no mistake, the regulatory requirements are still too onerous for my likings, but nevertheless, these entrepreneurs have provided everything required by this government to move forward.
Mr. Speaker, this uncertainty is not good for business, the public, and, most importantly, our economy that requires much needed diversification and growth of private-sector markets. Last-minute changes to the privatization scheme shake investor confidence and inhibit the realization of new economic activity. It is imperative that this government deliver on its promises of the privatization of retail cannabis, and not put it off for a future government.
Now is the time to invest in our economy and let the private sector lead. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. It is often said that children and youth make for a smart investment, and that the best way to effect change is by educating our young people.
Over the years, we've seen the Department of Education, Culture and Employment shift directions and invest more resources towards achieving better student outcomes. as evidenced by a school attendance advertising campaign, the Strengthening Teacher Instructional Practices initiative, junior kindergarten, more counsellors in schools, and. most recently, proposed legislation that could lead to the establishment of a polytechnic university for the NWT.
While it's great to see these changes, Mr. Speaker, more is required. Specifically, I want to raise the concern I've heard from communities in my region over the decline of school enrolment and attendance rates.
Mr. Speaker, attendance rates in small communities continue to be far below than in larger communities like Yellowknife. In 2008, the average attendance in small communities was 83 percent, compared with 91 percent in Yellowknife and 84 percent in regional centres. In 2013, average attendance was down to 79 percent in small communities, while it averaged over 88 percent in Yellowknife and 82 percent in the regions. Average attendance rates last year showed a drop across the NWT other than in Yellowknife.
Students in small communities averaged only 75 percent attendance in 2018, while the average was 89 percent in Yellowknife and 79 percent in the regions. These low attendance rates, combined with other realities, like the need for many students to upgrade post-graduation in order to pursue post-secondary education, tell me that we are not doing an adequate job of preparing our youth for the challenges that life brings. On top of this, I am hearing that low attendance could affect a school's funding, which could result in the school seeing a reduction in teachers or fewer extracurricular activities for students.
Mr. Speaker, if we don't invest in our young people meaningfully and sustainably and provide them with adequate opportunities, problems like low graduation rates, poor labour market entry, substance abuse, crime, violence, and risky behaviours will continue to rise, and there will be a significant economic and social cost. This need for investment includes finding effective long-term ways to maintain student enrolment and to encourage students to attend school every day, fully engaged in their learning and motivated to succeed. I will have questions for the Minister of ECE at the appropriate time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to offer my thanks to the Minister of Justice for the detail that he provided yesterday on the programs offered to inmates at NWT correctional facilities. One highlight is that over 500 participants have completed programs that address substance abuse, violence, and other negative behaviours. Another is that the programs are offered in probation offices throughout the NWT to reinforce the new skills and copying mechanisms. The department staff is obviously doing good work in this area.
Yes, there is a "but," Mr. Speaker: but what about housing for inmates when they are released? There was no mention of it. My concern is that, without a plan for housing, some former inmates will be at loose ends. They may have been homeless before going to jail, and so they are likely to be homeless when they come out. They end up staying in shelters, couch-surfing, or sleeping rough.
How hard must it be for homeless people to maintain their resolve to stay sober in these situations? Once they go back to using drugs and alcohol, much of their learning about violence will go out the window; then they will be caught up in the justice system again, and the cycle will repeat itself.
Mr. Speaker, in his statement yesterday, the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation said, "Research tells us that the chances of addressing the issues that lead to homelessness, mental health, addictions, and other social issues, are better when you have social housing." I concur, and I wonder if the Minister of Justice took note of this point.
When the Standing Committee on Social Development visited the Nanaimo Correctional Centre 18 months ago, we met with inmates who were taking part in a unique program. Guthrie House offered a peer-led 12-step program to help inmates conquer their addictions that had contributed to criminal behaviour. One feature of this program is that participants started looking for housing months before being released. They talked about how important housing was to their discharge plan. I also learned that some graduates of these programs stay in the south rather than coming back here, because they don't want to be homeless.
Mr. Speaker, the lesson for NWT corrections is that people who are released from jail need to have housing in place. Discharging people to a couch perpetuates the chaos that they have worked so hard to put behind them. Mr. Speaker, I am sorry, but I am going to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.
---Unanimous consent granted
Mahsi, colleagues. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. If we truly want to benefit from the investment that we are working in programming and reduce the chances of people returning to jail, former inmates need a stable place to live. I will have questions for the Minister of Justice. Mahsi.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very encouraged by the Minister's statement earlier, the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, which leads me to a limited number of questions later on. However, Mr. Speaker, we are approaching June, graduation month. I am grateful to see that our Sahtu region is supporting approximately 35 graduating students in our communities, from the three Aurora campuses and institutions outside the NWT. This is very encouraging. However, there still remains a lack of post-secondary transitional supports.
Mr. Speaker, transitioning and planning are critical elements remaining in our term. Last year, the Department of Education tabled the Aurora College Foundational Review, a report that included 2018-2023 schedules, community consultations, engagements with 13 Indigenous governments, and recommendations. Education is a valued strength in our continuing efforts for a stable future workforce, community, and more importantly, youth capacity-building. It is our fiduciary obligation and responsibility to initiate regional leadership progress report engagements. This process will ensure continued improvements and create partnerships.
Mr. Speaker, leadership engagements can include, but are not limited to, progress on the foundational review and, in particular, funding options for the polytechnic university 2018-2019 academic year, and fundamental principles in developments for a renewed and tailored education system. Later, Mr. Speaker, I will have questions to the appropriate Minister. Mahsi.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The 18th Assembly has done good work and has had success in promoting economic diversification, but it is fair to say that the challenge of creating employment opportunities, especially in smaller communities, remains a big challenge.
Smaller communities, by definition, have fewer opportunities and bigger challenges. There is less economic activity and less of a base to build from. At the same time, employers are having a hard time recruiting and retaining northern employees. They sometimes feel that there is no choice but to turn to the larger fly-in labour market from the south. That doesn't serve anyone's interests, Mr. Speaker.
A recent report of the Conference Board of Canada suggests an approach to resolve the impasse. It is clearly in the interests of employers to engage with Indigenous communities. It is mandated by land rights agreements. It provides better working relationships with communities and can lead to a stronger workforce, higher quality of work, and, of course, happier employees. Employers know that failing to engage positively with communities will create obstacles for their projects moving forward.
Mr. Speaker, at the same time, the private sector recognizes the importance of the broad movements towards reconciliation and the UN Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The private sector recognizes that one of the TRC's calls to action, number 92, urges it to conform to UN declaration. The Government of Canada is currently moving in that same direction through Bill C-262.
In this context, Mr. Speaker, we can encourage the private sector and our small communities to seek solutions together. Community challenges may include education and skills attainment, and family and community obligations. Employers' challenges are improving community inclusion and cultural awareness to create effective outreach, offer appropriate skills development, and guarantee fair compensation practices.
Mr. Speaker, our government needs to take up this mission. We need to connect employers with communities to work together to improve outreach and recruitment, balance work with community obligations, enhance educational opportunities, and match candidates to suitable jobs. We need to be the incubator that grows these initiatives with education, encouragement to business, and through leading by example.
Mr. Speaker, there are solutions to the challenge of creating employment and successfully growing the economy in small communities. We need to encourage creative thinking and collaboration to keep things moving in a positive direction. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Infrastructure in Fort Simpson really should be commended for the work that they are doing to build capacity of residents in Nahendeh. They are hiring local residents and providing the requisite training to obtain the skills, knowledge, and ability to do the job competently.
Mr. Speaker, I have personally heard positive feedback from community members and visitors alike of the exceptional service done by these young people. A prime example of this are the following Fort Simpson residents who were hired as deck hands on the MV Lafferty in 2017: Ivor Norwegian, Cindy Edda, and Travis Hanna. I have had the pleasure of watching them work and interact with passengers on various trips across the Liard. They are always so positive and knowledgeable of the surrounding area.
It is my understanding that these employees continue to work with the department throughout the winter and are receiving training on the ground-penetrating radar ice measuring equipment facilitated by Sensors and Software. The training, along with experience gained through auger flooding and use of the new ice-spraying equipment throughout the season, will continue to benefit the community of Fort Simpson in the years to come.
Job-specific training has continued to be offered so these employees can continue to grow into their roles and accept more responsibilities related to their areas of interest. Opportunities for growth will include small-vessel machinery operators, boat captain, as well as various other marine certification, depending on each individual's interest. I am happy to say these three individuals are back to work on the Lafferty and use the knowledge they gained.
Mr. Speaker, it is important to recognize these efforts by the Fort Simpson regional office to build local capacity. Training younger generations to succeed in a dynamic working environment with the necessary skills will ensure the efficient operation of the department's operation for years to come.
In closing, I would like to thank the department for being forward-thinking in this area of development. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My first statement on the floor in this House in 2015 was on the United Nations Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories was the first jurisdiction in Canada to support UNDRIP and continues to do so today, which I am very pleased. Also, the Government of Canada has now signed onto this agreement.
Given the importance of the Arctic coast and seas to Inuit people, culturally, historically, and economically for sustenance, it is essential that Inuit are engaged in any development of laws or regulations for Arctic coastal waterways. Canada should be engaging with Inuit in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut on any work done in the Northwest Passage under UNCLOS, or United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea, following the UNDRIP principles.
There should be a culture shift in Ottawa, Mr. Speaker. Indigenous people are not a Liberal-Conservative issue, nor an NDP-PPC issue. We should have consistent engagement from Ottawa on issues that impact our way of life, regardless of who is in power. We must continue to implement at all levels of government to ensure our rights and our land-claim agreements, which are not only ours but are the responsibility of the Government of the Northwest Territories and the federal government, as well.
Mr. Speaker, I will quote Senator Murray Sinclair, who has been advocating for Indigenous people throughout his career. He states, "The Senate is still debating this, and it seems to be stalling with some senators. People who use the concept of veto and the concept of free, prior, and informed consent as though they are the same thing are totally missing the point."
Last week, our Premier also stated, "I also think it makes sense that residents of Canada's three northern territories have a leading say in determining Canada's plan for the Arctic. We are the ones who live here. We are the ones who are repeatedly affected when decisions are made for us, rather than with us. We are an obvious partner for Canada when they begin to discuss what should happen next."
Mr. Speaker, if anyone in our territory should be leading and implementing UNDRIP, it should be our Premier. Being an Indigenous person myself, I am proud of the work that he and his team have done in collaborating with Indigenous governments and the federal government on projects from planning to implementation. The rest of the country and other countries should take note and follow suit. We have come a long way, but we have a lot of work to do together.
Mr. Speaker, later, I will have questions for the Premier. Thank you.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. My educational background includes a planning degree, and that is what brought me to the Northwest Territories on December 15, 1985, to become the land-use planning coordinator for the Dene Nation. I had the privilege of working directly with some great Northerners, including David Krutko, George Barnaby, Gina Bayha, Violet Camsell-Blondin, Raymond Jones, and Michael Nadli. I have maintained a keen interest in land-use planning and looked over the document "Finding Common Ground" tabled in the House a couple of days ago by the Minister of Lands.
The Tlicho Government completed a detailed land-use plan for their own lands in 2013, and it is very well done. The Tlicho Land Claims and Self-Government Agreement provides for land-use planning on other lands within the Wek'eezhii management area that are not owned by the Tlicho Government. Section 22.5.1 states: "Government may establish a mechanism for the preparation, approval, and implementation of a land-use plan that applies to all parts of Wek'eezhii, other than Tlicho lands, national parks, and lands in a community." Section 22.5.3 says, "The Parties may, by agreement, establish a land-use planning body and a mechanism for the preparation, approval, and implementation of a land-use plan that applies to all of Wek'eezhii other than national parks."
The GNWT Department of Lands, Tlicho Department of Culture and Lands Protection, and the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada agreed to work together to design, cost, and develop a terms of reference to implement a land-use planning approach for public lands in Wek'eezhii. As a part of this collaboration the parties are proceeding on a government-to-government basis to establish a joint planning office in Behchoko and to carry out a land-use planning process for Wek'eezhii. This House approved a contribution of $726,000 towards this effort in 2019-2020.
It is my understanding that a committee is being established to develop their land-use plan and that it will be legally-binding. The deputy minister of Lands confirmed this in Committee of the Whole on March 7, 2019, when he said: "At the end of the day, it will be legally binding, signed off by the Tlicho government, the Government of the Northwest Territories, and the federal government will sign it, and it will be a legal document. As to legislation, I would have to get back to you on exactly how to see that going forward." I am still waiting for that response and will have some questions later today for the Minister of Lands. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Hay River North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we all know, the highway between High Level and Enterprise was closed two days ago because of a fire near Steam River. The only rail line into the territory has been shut down for a week because of the fire by High Level. Many of my constituents, myself included, are concerned about the situation. I want to bring those concerns to this House so that the government knows that, even though the source of the problem is in Alberta, that highway is a lifeline for the entire territory and this issue has consequences for all of our residents.
If this closure goes on for any length of time, it will begin to have an effect on the cost of living. The vast majority of goods that come into the NWT come right up that stretch of highway. It is about 1,100 kilometres from Edmonton to Hay River through Alberta. The alternate route through BC is almost 1,900 kilometres. While it is a scenic drive, it basically doubles the driving time, which means doubling the cost of shipping, leading to higher prices on nearly everything. It is also going to be a hit for small businesses, who will have to absorb the cost of those increase, at least in the short term, and who may not be able to work and generate income if there is a disruption in their supply chain. That is the last thing we need in this economy.
Every day that highway is closed also cuts into our tourist season, which, in the South Slave, isn't that long, so every single day is important. The economic effects won't just be limited to the South Slave or even to just communities on the highway system. All the fuel that MTS ships into the communities up through Mackenzie and in the Arctic is transported to the terminal in Hay River by rail. These fires have the potential to once again delay the marine resupply or, at the very least, cause the cost of shipping to rise.
Mr. Speaker, this isn't just an economic issue. It's a serious public safety issue, as well. Conditions in the South Slave are dry. The fire danger is high or extreme in every community. We are only a three-hour drive from High Level and half that to Steam River. If the worst happens and the resident of Hay River need to evacuate, that highway closure means one of our main routes, really our primary route out of town, is cut off.
I have spoken with the Town of Hay River, and I am happy to hear that they are convening a meeting of the Community Emergency Management Committee tomorrow to figure out how they are going to address this issue. I will have questions for our Minister to find out what the GNWT is doing to deal with this situation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I am going to make a Member's statement on some of the work that we were doing in Committee of the Whole last Tuesday. Last Tuesday, I felt I was unable to communicate clearly enough to be able to get some answers. I am going to talk a bit about what I saw on Tuesday, much to my surprise and shock, the way that the mandatory or compulsory attendance for junior kindergarten and kindergarten works in the schools. My understanding, initially, before Tuesday, was that once a five-year-old, four-year-old student got to go to junior kindergarten and they had enrolled, at the point that they enrolled, it was mandatory for them to attend school on a daily basis like any other student who was enrolled in the school.
My understanding from the Committee of the Whole meeting that we had was that students can come and go as they please, whether they are enrolled or not. If they are enrolled in school and they choose not to go to school, then they don't have to go to school, but the numbers of enrolment mean that there could potentially be games being played where people could enroll a lot of four-year-olds and five-year-olds into the school and just concern themselves with students attending for the first couple of years until the numbers are counted, and then the kids no longer have to attend school. It also sets up a possibility that people are just using junior kindergarten as a childcare drop-off.
I became a bit concerned about that and started to think about all of the possibilities of our education development instrument, how all the time were working on the numbers, and the numbers were increasing, the vulnerabilities were increasing for the junior kindergarten and kindergarten students.
I will have questions for the Minister today, but I guess my understanding was that, if they are in school, then they are in school, but if they don't have to attend, then how are they going to increase the numbers? Maybe we should pick a different school to apply the education development instrument if kindergarten kids don't have to be there and, at any given day, they can wish to stay home. I am going to have some questions for the Minister on that today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
