[English translation not provided.]
Mr. Speaker, four years after the Government of the Northwest Territories launched its Marine Transportation Services, or MTS, we continue to improve our capacity to operate a reliable and professional marine shipping service in the North.
I am pleased to report that the 2020 resupply has been successfully completed. The first shipments of the season departed Hay River on July 10, and the last delivery took place on September 19. Nearly 28 million litres of fuel and more than 63 hundred tons of cargo were delivered this season to communities on the Great Slave Lake and the Mackenzie River, as well as the coastal communities. Mr. Speaker, these deliveries were made possible by our able marine crews who worked tirelessly to overcome challenges posed by high water levels and bad weather.
From the beginning of this season, MTS developed and executed a robust COVID-19 mitigation plan. Access to our cargo terminals was granted by appointment only and only those free of COVID-19 related symptoms. Customers were encouraged to use the online system to avoid contact. To protect communities, designated drop-off cargo zones were created for the delivery of cargo so that vessel crews would avoid contact with residents. Regardless of the challenges posed by our Arctic environment, MTS remains committed to providing the best service possible to all our customers. Our crews know that communities depend on our services for the delivery of essential goods.
Mr. Speaker, from deck hands to cooks, 171 people were employed at the peak of the resupply season. Ninety-two of these workers are Northwest Territories residents, and 64 are Indigenous. We will continue our relationship with Transport Canada and the Nunavut Fisheries and Marine Training Consortium to promote the Marine Training Centre in Hay River. Programs that are offered at the training centre include the bridge watch rating program, small vessel operator proficiency, and a fishing master's program. Recent graduates have been employed on Canadian Coast Guard Arctic icebreakers and on our research vessel, operated by the Arctic Research Foundation. Nine graduates were employed on our own tugboats this resupply season. These employment and training opportunities positively impact families and communities and support the long-term sustainability of the marine industry in the North.
Mr. Speaker, in addition to supporting training opportunities, the GNWT recognizes the need to support the marine industry by improving marine infrastructure and services. For decades, fuel has been carried through our northern waters to northern communities in single-hulled barges. Marine Transportation Services is improving our marine fleet with double-hulled barges to minimize the risk of a fuel spill and better protect our environment.
In August, four new double-hulled barges were delivered to Tuktoyaktuk. These new barges carry cargo on the deck and, below the deck, can carry several types of petroleum products at the same time. I would like to thank the Government of Canada for providing $19.5 million, or 75 percent of the costs, through the Oceans Protection Plan. Mr. Speaker, the GNWT will continue to work with public and private marine partners to strengthen and support marine infrastructure and services in the Northwest Territories for the benefit of all Northerners. Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Infrastructure. Ministers' statements. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Good afternoon. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Poverty reduction is an urgent challenge that everyone needs to be aware of. Poverty levels have further increased with COVID-19, which could push more residents into poverty due to an uncertain economy, food insecurity, and the high cost of living. To support residents during the pandemic, the Government of Northwest Territories took a whole-of-government approach on several fronts. During the month of March, income assistance recipients received a one-time emergency allowance. The GNWT is also taking action to provide supports and protection for individuals requiring shelter. Shelters are often crowded, which can present a risk to both individuals and staff. The GNWT is working with shelters to implement supports for physical distancing and isolation for individuals waiting for test results or who receive a diagnosis of COVID-19.
To address homelessness and housing stability, the GNWT provided $600,000 in funding over four years to support a Housing First program that rents apartments in Yellowknife to house and support up to 25 individuals who were previously homeless and have concurrent mental health and addictions. The Northern Pathways to Housing is a supportive housing program that supports communities to provide stable housing for single adults and helps them in integrating them into the community. In recent years, the Northern Pathways to Housing program has provided funding to Aklavik, Fort Simpson, Behchoko, and Fort Good Hope to construct or renovate housing for 16 single adults experiencing homelessness. We look forward to more communities coming on board.
Mr. Speaker, to successfully reduce poverty, we must work together with our partners to make better use of limited resources. Where there is an overlap of programs and services between organizations, we must have better coordination for residents accessing the supports they need. To accomplish this, the GNWT hired a territorial director of integrated service delivery to guide a whole-of-government approach to enhance service delivery across the NWT through a coordinated, person-centred approach. The GNWT also increased funding available for the NGO stabilization program from $300,000 to $700,000. This funding supports non-governmental organizations who deliver critical GNWT-funded programs or services to the public to stabilize or develop their capacity to manage them.
Mr. Speaker, the GNWT recognizes its central role in providing a coordinated approach with Indigenous and community governments, business and industry, and NGOs to take action on reducing poverty in the NWT. Last year, the GNWT released its renewed action plan, Working Together II, An Action Plan to Reduce Poverty in the NWT 2019-2022. This action plan was developed in collaboration with the GNWT and its partners and focuses on five priority areas: children and family support, healthy living and reaching our potential, safe and affordable housing, sustainable communities, and integrated continuum of services.
The GNWT has many programs and services in place that advance these priority areas and provide a path out of poverty for residents. They have already helped thousands of Northerners. These include initiatives like the Anti-Poverty Fund, which has an annual budget of $1 million to help eligible organizations and Indigenous governments and communities to support their poverty-reduction initiatives.
This year, 28 recipients were awarded funding through the 2020 Anti-Poverty Fund. Because of COVID-19, proposals were reviewed by the Anti-Poverty Advisory Committee through a virtual meeting. The committee is comprised of nine individuals from across the NWT and who represent community governments, Indigenous governments, non-government organizations, the private sector, and the GNWT.
This year's successful proposals aim to reduce poverty by supporting food security; assisting those experiencing homelessness; early childhood development; employment and training; healthy living; supporting traditional knowledge; and on-the-land activities. The interdepartmental anti-poverty team is currently working to plan a virtual anti-poverty roundtable in order to proceed with the event while still complying with public health orders. The roundtables will be revised and will now focus on a key poverty-reduction issue for each event. This year, we will be examining how to best address food security at the community level.
Mr. Speaker, we want to ensure that residents have access to supports they need so that they can live in dignity, are free from poverty, and are active members in their communities. We can achieve this through the coordinated and collaborative effort of all partners. By working together, we can learn more about what is being done in communities and support better futures for our residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am excited to announce that today the Government of the Northwest Territories is releasing the Aurora College Transformation Implementation Plan and the initial areas of teaching and research specialization for the polytechnic university. These foundational documents, along with input from our residents and partners, will help guide the transformation of Aurora College into a polytechnic university and beyond over the next six years. Later today, I will table the implementation plan, which identifies the critical milestones along the path towards the establishment of an effective and sustainable polytechnic university capable of supporting the aspirations of Northerners, diversifying the economy, and contributing to the long-term prosperity of the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, maintaining a high level of transparency and accountability is critical to the success of this project, which is why today we are launching a new "Aurora College Transformation" website. This website enables residents to learn about the transformation, follow the progress being made through various dashboards and tracking tools, and provide feedback. Mr. Speaker, in August, we sought feedback on a discussion paper about the areas of teaching and research specialization for the new polytechnic university. Feedback from Indigenous government partners, business, industry, post-secondary institutions, non-government organizations, and members of the public has informed these four initial areas of specialization, which are:
skilled trades and technology;
earth resources and environmental management;
northern health, education and community services; and
business and leadership.
These areas of specialization are not programs or classes. They are broad, overarching themes that will provide the structure and focus required to maintain high-quality programming and operations.
Mr. Speaker, the polytechnic university will be focused on learners, meeting them where they are in their education journey and supporting them through a laddered approach as they work to achieve their own education and career goals. There will be a place for every NWT resident at the polytechnic university through access to adult basic education, upgrading, certificate, diploma, and degree programs. It will give them improved and expanded access to quality post-secondary education opportunities close to home, as well as the confidence and experience to move on to additional degree and advanced degree programs.
None of this can be achieved without also increasing the availability of programming in our small communities. Through a new and innovative approach to community learning, the polytechnic university will have a clear and meaningful presence in every community in the Northwest Territories. From our smallest communities to our regional centres, new made-in-the-North programs and research initiatives will increase access to education and research opportunities through a network of learning centres, remote research facilities, and campuses.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all those who have been supporting the work of the transformation, including those who have taken the time to help shape the path forward through engagements. This transformation is one of the most promising ways we are preparing the Northwest Territories and our residents for future prosperity. As the institution emerges from transformation, it will be stronger and more accessible, able to attract a greater number of students from within the NWT and beyond, and provide lasting economic benefits to the territory and our people. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I've been clear in this House that I oppose the NWT Power Corporation using power-limiting devices in the winter months. Life is hard and expensive in our small communities and a lack of heat life-threatening. People have their power throttled, and they don't know when the power will be turned off. This makes it impossible for a family to heat their homes properly and feed and care for their families. After I raised my objections, I was pleased to see power corporation responded positively in mid-March. Cabin Radio reported, "NWT Power Corporation has promised to disable all power-limiting equipment to residents' homes for the duration of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic."
Mr. Speaker, did I miss something? Has the pandemic ended because NTPC has announced last week, starting November 9th, they'll be starting to use these power-limiting devices and starting collections? The timing is off, Mr. Speaker, right when the cold weather is setting in. This announcement in March, was it a public relations stunt because we don't sell too much power in summer months? The GNWT has to step up and stop this inhumane practice of using power-limiters.
The use of load-limiting devices is standard practice in Canadian utilities, they say. I say that it doesn't make it okay. This is the North, a harsh reality, a different climate, and other parts of Canada are a lot warmer than where we're from. It's minus 26 back home right now. That's not including the wind. NTPC has $2 million overdue accounts, but the government can find $9.3 million to give to Canadian North, an asset for-profit business, through this pandemic. We could find $2 million to help our people. The dollars for helping struggling residents in remote communities through winter months made tougher than most ongoing COVID crisis. Otherwise, I'm going to proceed with the plan to introduce the motion to make load-limiters illegal in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the appropriate Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Members' statements. Member for Monfwi.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Today, I would like to talk about healing. I'm talking about our constituents, people in our area. People in my region have talked to me. That's one of the reasons why I'm asking. People want to have a healing centre so people can talk about healing. [Translation ends]
[Microphone turned off] …in May that three-quarters of those 200 southern referrals return sober. That sounds like a major success story, but it is not because, sadly, while they might step off the plane sober, they do not remain sober because of the failure of the southern treatment. They fall off the wagon again and again and again. Mr. Speaker, I already spoke about a constituent who received treatment in the South, returned to the North, received zero after-care, fell off the wagon and sadly was discovered deceased here in Yellowknife this past summer. Mr. Speaker, I stand before you again today to tell this House that my region lost another beautiful soul to addiction over the weekend.
Here we are today, still debating whether or not we need a treatment facility here our territory. This is far too real, Mr. Speaker, we need a northern-based treatment centre, one that respects where our people come from, one that respects who we are, one where our language is a part of our working language, a treatment centre linked to the land, linked to our culture, linked to our elders. Otherwise, our people will continue to backslide when they step off the airplane. Northerners demand an end to this sad state of affairs. Northerners demand healing for Northerners by Northerners in a northern setting. Northerners want an annual sum of $2 million to be spent here in the North perfecting administering our own home-grown programs, developing our own home-grown counselling professionals. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minster of Health and Social Services at the appropriate time on this particular very important matter to me. Masi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The NWT regularly has one of the highest GDPs per capita in Canada, and we would regularly be in the top 10 in the world. No doubt that impressive figure has helped many of our residents get ahead and has helped this government fund many life-saving services. However, sadly, with many of our diamond mines facing closure and the economic recession of COVID-19, that economic prosperity is likely to diminish. To be honest, Mr. Speaker, there is only so much we politicians can do about that. The further we head up the economic ladder, the less ability we have as a government to influence. I would love if I had any control over the market price of diamonds. I would raise it through the roof. I would also love if I had an operating surplus of a few billion dollars for infrastructure, but we don't. That decision requires paying for infrastructure with debt. A debate, no doubt, we will have many times in this House.
The other side of those large economic debates are the small economic debates. That is where we do have the ability to influence and localize our economy. It is much easier to ask 100 small businesses to add one job each than it is to ask our largest company to add 100 jobs. This is the essence of diversification. It's not just the industries, but it's increasing overall employers and competition within the NWT. This is why our economic recovery must focus on entrepreneurs and small businesses which, to be honest, is the overwhelming amount of companies in the NWT.
The other day, MLA Norn talked about a constituent who makes woodstoves, and he hopes that, one day, we can build an economy where that constituent could compete with the Amazons of the world. Mr. Norn's comment resonated with me, Mr. Speaker, because that is the goal and is an achievable goal. I will gladly pay a few dollars more if I could get my woodstove down the road in Detah. I will pay for that economic security, and I know many others will, too. COVID has shown just how brittle our supply lines are. Localized competition and creating redundancy protects us. Resilience must sometimes be prioritised over efficiency. Thomas Friedman, in describing Carlson's Law, describes this balance between autocracy and democracy in an organization. Mr. Speaker, I am seeking unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thomas Friedman writes, "In a world where so many people now have access to education and cheap tools of innovation, innovation that happens from the bottom up tends to be chaotic but smart. Innovation that happens from the top down tends to be orderly but dumb." Mr. Speaker, I am concerned that, far too often, the GNWT is orderly but dumb, but our entrepreneurs are prime example of bottom-up innovation. Our economic supports must do more to foster that kind of growth. I will have questions for the Minister of ITI how we are making sure our economic recovery is chaotic and smart, as opposed to our love of orderly and dumb. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the colleague from Yellowknife North for those kind words. Just something to think about, we are a G7 nation, and we are still sitting on some of the most resource-rich areas on the planet. Something to think about for our budgets for the springtime and here in the fall-time. I just wanted to mention that.
I'm going to go back to my Member's statement here and just follow up with my comments yesterday on housing. I want to speak a little bit about housing. I did have quite a few of my constituents yesterday who reached out to me about the various housing issues that they had, and I did notice a common theme. That theme is that there is a large number of preventative maintenance issues that are popping up in my riding. A lot of these can be easily solved with planned and preventative maintenance. These are mainly units that are under the care of the NWT Housing Corporation.
Mr. Speaker, it's starting to get cold out there. The NWT Housing Corporation needs to really make a push and take proactive measures to get ahead of any heating and plumbing issues that may pop up during vulnerable times, such as Christmas. Through that, I had a constituent who had a great idea, and that idea was to reach out to the LHOs in the communities and earmark a handful of elders and get their furnaces serviced; their oil tanks checked and replaced; and make sure their plumbing is in order. I know that there are programs out there like the CARE program and the SAFE program, and they are important programs. At the same time, they do require an unnecessary amount of time and red tape to get through just to apply for them, let alone the long wait times for approvals.
Mr. Speaker, I want to share that my constituents and I do get irritated with government departments are perceived to be taking knee-jerk responsive action whenever something breaks down. My constituents have voiced that they would like to see more preventative work done to show that the NWT Housing Corporation cares for the people and their assets so they last and they house those in need for a long time. With that, I will have questions for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation and the appropriate time. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Members' statements. Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Infrastructure. When I say that word, one's mind often turns to roads and buildings, airports, and bridges; but really, Infrastructure encompasses so much more than that. It is the pipes that bring you water and carry away your waste, the fibre optic line that allows you to instantly communicate or watch that football game from Europe, the solid waste facility where you take your garbage, or the water treatment plant that provides your community with fresh, clean water to drink.
One only needs to look at the budgets associated with the GNWT's departments to understand the sheer enormity of the Department of Infrastructure and all they do for our people and the territory. During the initial stages of COVID, this was the department that had over 60 percent of its employees continue on at their work sites while everyone else was sent home. The department that completed the community resupply, despite the challenges of a far from normal year and ensured that the heat and ventilation stayed on in our buildings. They ferried us around, kept our planes in the air, and patrolled our highways.
Yesterday, in the Committee of the Whole, we heard a lot about the infrastructure gap in our communities, how our hamlets and towns are in desperate need of funding to build new fire halls and recreation centres, roads, and waste facilities. However, what good is building new infrastructure if we are not properly caring for what we already have? Everywhere you go in this territory, the eye is met with crumbling, aging buildings and roads in need of repair and what appears to be very little money or political will to address this issue. Every year that we fail to provide the funds to upkeep and properly maintain our assets, the costs for repair and replacement will exponentially increase. To allow this to continue is negligent and speaks to poor fiscal management. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure at the appropriate time. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Members' statements. Member for Thebacha.
Mr. Speaker, today, I am talking about housing and the need for improvements to be made within the area of client services. The NWT Housing Corporation is a government agency that administers and oversees all of the territory's housing programs and housing options available to residents of the NWT. Based on its structure and function alone, at the end of the day, this agency, the NWT Housing Corporation, is a client-service-based organization. It is about serving the people of the NWT in the best possible way for all of their housing needs.
Mr. Speaker, based on the feedback I am hearing from various constituents, as well as junior housing authority staff, both past and present, I believe that the NWT Housing Corporation is lacking in the area of client services. Specifically, I am concerned about some of the behaviours, actions, and decisions coming from the managerial level within the local housing authorities. Again, my constituents have told me they felt a lack of basic courtesy, respect, and service delivery from management. This is not acceptable. Therefore, I believe there need to be some changes with how things are done within the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. For one, I think there should be a neutral mechanism put in place to deal with housing managers. Secondly, I think the NWT Housing Corporation should consider initiating independent, external investigations into some of the complaints. Systemic racism in dealing with vulnerable, often elderly, clients and junior housing staff is not okay.
Mr. Speaker, I know the housing Minister has spoken about offering client training for Housing Corporation staff. However, this is not enough. Unfortunately, I don't think this training has been effective enough to change much of anything. Staff need to be told how to act better and more appropriately, and if this does not work, then I think the Minister should create a positive solution to address this. I will have questions for the Minister of housing at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Members' statements. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to bring up concerns about medical travel. Since being elected, I have had many complaints, not just from my constituents, but other constituents in my region. Here are just a couple of common concerns.
Elders are being sent to Inuvik, Yellowknife, or Edmonton from regional or small communities without escorts. This is unacceptable. I consider myself knowledgeable in the medical system, but I, too, have experienced some anxiety and stress, missed appointments, and even missed a surgery for my own child when I arrived at the hospital in Edmonton, trying to locate a desk, and then get someone to look at my papers that they sent me with. I could not imagine an elder arriving there after the boarding home driver drops them off, as the boarding home is considered their escort. Some of these hospitals are larger than some of our smaller communities. GNWT needs to make this change.
I have heard from families that their family member went to appointments, returned without knowing what happened, don't know what was said, never asked any questions. When they tried to help the family member get information, they were told by the health centre or hospital, "It's confidential. We can't tell them." This is unacceptable and should not be happening in this day and age. They should not have to go to their MLA to raise the issue so they can get escorts. This has been an ongoing issue for as long as I can remember, and it is time to do something.
Another concern is residents being sent to the boarding home in Yellowknife and being placed in the hotel. The constituents who I've heard from have been placed in the hotel. They have no restaurant there, and the food they received was unacceptable. They are left hungry and with no choice, even if they are allergic to the food that is sent. If they are not in the boarding home, then why are they not making arrangements to have them in a hotel with a restaurant and have vouchers to the restaurant for at least three meals a day? May I add that there have also been elders put into these hotels who had no escorts, and this is unacceptable.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to point out that these are mainly Indigenous people in the NWT. If they were scheduled for surgery, it would be cancelled because you cannot be put in a hotel and left alone after 24 hours after surgery, so what happens when the boarding home is full when you get there and the room is booked? Nothing. You get sent home and rebooked. Is this the best value for our money and our patients' health? Surgery patients should be given escorts, as a boarding home is not responsible and they are not going to help them clean their bandage if bleeding or care for them. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you. Surgery patients should be given escorts, as a boarding home is not responsible, or going to help them clean their bandage if bleeding, or care for them if they become ill after surgery, or even help dress them. They should be given per diems or meal vouchers to the equivalent of GNWT staff when travelling on medical travel, as all GNWT staff are put in hotels, given per diems that are set out by the duty travel rates, and at this time, they're $136.80 per day. If going for surgery, they will get an escort due to the fact that they cannot stay alone in a hotel. Mr. Speaker, medical travel needs to have an audit and look at how we provide this service to the residents of the Northwest Territories. I will have questions for the Minister responsible for medical travel. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. Here's a familiar topic for my Member's statements: midwifery. This is the 13th time I've raised it as an MLA. I certainly won't try to summarize the delays and excuses that still leave us far short of the much-promised territorial Midwifery Program, but I will try to nail down where we are today and hopefully learn how this essential service will finally be delivered to all Northwest Territories families.
Work on creating a full midwifery program began in 2013. Progress was slow and lead up to a 2017 Northwest Territories midwifery stakeholder engagement, which identified gaps in midwifery care and devised a territorial midwifery program model. Priorities for action included strengthening the existing midwifery teams in Fort Smith and Hay River, expanding the Hay River Midwifery Program to provide services in the Deh Cho and South Slave regions, developing a territorial midwifery recruitment and retention plan, and creating a territorial midwifery program based in Yellowknife with the capacity to support regions, including Behchoko. 2018 multi-year funding was to initiate the program in 2019-2020 and implement it over three years.
Staffing has been late and stalled. A territorial manager was hired in March of this year, and support staffing is underway. Although it was apparently delayed by the move to the new Stanton hospital and COVID. The department says that implementation of the planned Deh Cho service have been delayed by staffing difficulties and South Slave community consultations have been delayed by the restrictions on community gatherings due to the pandemic.
In 2019, the government approved year one funding for two new positions at the NTHSSA: the territorial manager; and the lead for the territorial Midwifery Program. I'll be watching for approval of subsequent funds in next year's operating budget. In response to my request for an update, the department outlined at least eight major organizational, policy, and recruitment tasks leading us to the promised territorial program. Progress has been slow, Mr. Speaker, far too slow, in my opinion. Later today, I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services on a definite plan to bring the option of midwifery to all families in the Northwest Territories. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.
Mr. Speaker, public servants can improve the lives of Northerners if they are empowered to do so. Yellowknifers have told me they experience frustration navigating government department, especially during high stress, multi-dimensional life changes. Housing and Education, Culture and Employment income assistance are the two areas causing the most frustration for my constituents. Earlier this year, Justice released the integrated case management social review on investment report. Women were slightly overrepresented at 54 percent of the program participants, while 78 percent self-identified as Indigenous. One in four participants were homeless; 80 percent unemployed; 89 percent had housing needs; and 83 percent required with income assistance.
The most common challenges clients faced were mental health, violence, food insecurity, homelessness, and poverty. The ICM social review found that common barriers to services in the NWT included cumbersome program requirements, late payments from income assistance, lack of person-centred approach, lack of communication among service providers, lost or missing documentation, delays in response from front-line workers, and service gaps. At the end of the day, much of the success of the ICM program can be traced to a public service ability to refer clients to the right programs with respect, fair access, and a client-centred or trauma-informed practice.
Mr. Speaker, government must always strive to improve its service delivery. Making the ICM program available in every community is one way to do this, but more needs to be done. Front-line staff must be empowered to do their jobs well. They must have processes for dealing with clients that need to cross departmental boundary. They must be trained in a corporate culture of help, respect, facilitation for client, rather than as gatekeepers. This changed approach in customer service also has a direct impact on our bottom line. One Canadian study found that malnutrition cost the healthcare system an additional 16 to 76 percent per year per person. Based on this estimate, food insecurity in the Northwest Territories could increase healthcare costs from $2,080 to $9,880 per person per year, ensuring that public servants administering housing and income security programs are empowered to work together is imperative to our health and fiscal success.
The NWT has a long history of government acting as the gatekeeper for access to information, program, and services. I believe that my colleagues on Cabinet want change in the system as much as I do, Mr. Speaker. To achieve this, Cabinet must ensure employees are empowered to apply discretion in their job, that the correct processes are in place, and that the public service knows its top responsibility is to provide service to the public. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I brought up using of limiters. NTPC with $2 million in overdue accounts across the territory. What's the financial situation of NTPC? The public has the right to know. It's concerning for me. Power Corporation has a financial institution. The financial situation must aggressively try to collect while we're in a pandemic. Why, Mr. Speaker?
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure I would characterize NTPC collection activities in light of the COVID pandemic as aggressive. We are encouraging customers to enter into repayment plans to get their accounts back in order. If they honour their plan, they will not be charged interest, nor will they have limiters installed. The reality, Mr. Speaker, is: the accounts-receivable owed to NTPC by our customers are up almost 450 percent since we temporarily suspended collection activities in March. If we let clients' debts continue to accumulate, we are setting our residents up for failure and hardship down the road. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I know this Minister's just received this portfolio. I'm wondering why we'd make a statement, that Power Corporation make a statement in mid-March saying that they would not use limiters during this pandemic, and why is that happening now? You are saying one thing and doing the other? Why is the government doing that?
As I stated before, we will continue to use limiters as a way of ensuring that clients do not get too much into debt and do not have their house ruined if the power gets shut off.
Is this government prepared to do, to stop the use of using limiters? That's more a southern concept of cutting people off, putting load limiters on. In the winter time up North, you're trying to cook. You're on for 10 minutes, and you're off for 10. That's not right. Is the Minister willing to stop using limiters? Can I get her to commit to that through the Power Corporation during the winter months? Summer months, put them on. During the winter, from now until April, could they stop that?
As I stated before, customers with arrears can enter into a plan, and as a result of that, they will not be charged any interest. We will not put limiters on their homes. I don't like the use of limiters, but just allowing a debt to increase to a point where customers have no chance at all for repayment ends up getting their power cut off for good. It just does not make any sense. Limiters protect the person's house and provide just enough power to run the furnace and rotate use of other appliances.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to remind the Minister that we are in a pandemic. We have no jobs. People are living off income support, making the decisions either to buy food or pay your power or pay your rent. This government, this Minister, could make this decision right now and make it easier on everybody in the territory to stop using limiters from November to April. If not, I will bring a motion in the House, Mr. Speaker, to make limiters illegal in the territory. Would this Minister commit to that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
