Madam Speaker, over the last decade, the Department of Health and Social Services has been working on improving cultural safety for the Indigenous communities and peoples of the Northwest Territories. This critical work underpins everything the health and social services system does to redress the legacy of colonialism and antiIndigenous racism that has so deeply affected Indigenous communities.
This fall, a distinct cultural safety and antiracism division was established to create a systemwide environment where Indigenous peoples feel safe, respected, and free of racism and discrimination when accessing health and social services.
To reach this goal, all staff need a foundational understanding of the ways in which anti Indigenous racism is experienced within health and social services. We know that racism creates barriers that prevent Indigenous peoples from seeking necessary healthcare. Racism is contributing to outcomes such as a shorter life expectancy and higher rates of suicide, mental health and addiction issues, as well as chronic diseases. We know that training all service providers about cultural safety and antiracism is imperative.
Madam Speaker, the department launched mandatory training for all health and social services system staff and since June 2021, 240 staff have participated in the training sessions. The training takes place inperson over two days and is delivered by Indigenous guest speakers and a staff team that is primarily Indigenous.
Another significant initiative to improve client and community experience is the introduction of Indigenous patient advocates. Four senior Indigenous patient advocates have been hired and are completing orientation and training in preparation for the launch of the program later this year. The Indigenous patient advocates will work in NWT acute care facilities in Inuvik, Fort Smith, Hay River, and Yellowknife. Madam Speaker, they will support Indigenous clients to address their concerns, complaints, and questions, while bridging culture and language barriers.
Part of improving the relationshipbased health and social services system in which cultural safety is included and valued is the design of a new social innovation project called the Baby Bundle. The Baby Bundle is available to all parents with children up to six months. The bundle contains clothing, toiletries, and a tote bag that turns into a backpack. The program has been in development for several years and tried out with parents in four regions to ensure it contains the right items. The bundle is combined with prenatal care and wellchild visits. These visits are critical to improving health outcomes and positive early childhood development indicators for all children. This initiative also offers an opportunity for healthcare providers to build relationships with families, to engage in discussion and decisionmaking, and to share culturecentered approaches to welcoming a new child to the world. The program was launched the week before, and 600 Baby Bundles will be available across the NWT this year.
Madam Speaker, we are working to bring the NWT to the forefront of change and innovation in the way the health and social services system responds to the needs and priorities of Indigenous clients and helps them feel confident about cultural safety and comfort that results in improvements in health outcomes for future generations. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Thank you. Ministers' statements. Minister for Infrastructure.
Madam Speaker, making strategic infrastructure investments is a priority of 19th Legislative Assembly. Given our vast territory, airports are indeed strategic infrastructure to the North. Residents across the territory depend on air travel for the movement of goods and people, medevacs, search and rescue operations, forest fire response, and much more. Our airports also contribute to the economic and social wellbeing of Northwest Territories residents. The GNWT is making major improvements to Inuvik’s Mike Zubko Airport, a key part of the territory's multimodel transportation system. The improvements at this airport, I will speak about today, are the runway extension and civil infrastructure projects.
Madam Speaker, the civil infrastructure improvements will make the airport more resilient to the effects of climate change and help protect the permafrost below the airport. Plans to extend the runway by 3,000 feet, as well as upgrades to the lighting, navigational and military aircraft landing systems, it will support the Department of National Defence in meeting its obligations under the North American Aerospace Defence Command Treaty. Collaboration and partnership is an important part of how we do business in the North.
Madam Speaker. The GNWT is committed to maximizing employment and training opportunities for residents and businesses in the Beaufort Delta region. We have partnered on this project with Delta North Alliance Construction Incorporated, which is an Indigenousowned and operated joint venture comprised of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the Gwich’in Tribal Council, and EGT Northwind Limited.
In order to maximize local involvement, several work packages associated with the construction of the Inuvik Airport runway extension and civil infrastructure projects were created. In September 2021, a first work package for clearing and grubbing was awarded for $1.7 million. This work began in January 2022 and is now substantially complete.
More recently, the GNWT and the Government of Canada reached an agreement with the joint venture to advance additional work packages. A $41.2 million contract for drainage, earthworks, and quarry material production, was awarded in July 2022. The joint venture started this construction work last month.
Madam Speaker, this is an important project, both for Inuvik and the Northwest Territories. Like many capital projects in the Northwest Territories and across the country, it has been impacted by inflation and market escalations due to supply chain issues that have increased project costs beyond the original budget.
Current projections for the project have identified a shortfall of approximately $90 million and discussions with the GNWT and Canada continue to address this funding gap.
The GNWT will be responsible for a portion of the increased costs for the civil improvements.
We are working through these challenges with our partners, and the July agreement reached between the joint venture, the GNWT and Canada, is an example of how this collaborative approach allows us to advance this project.
The GNWT remains committed to doing all it can to see that this project is a success and benefits not just the people of Inuvik and the Beaufort Delta but the entire Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, as we see the population of seniors and homelessness increase in Hay River and throughout the NWT, it is important we prepare our healthcare system to ensure trained personnel are in place to provide the health supports required.
Madam Speaker, we talk about keeping seniors in their homes and, as I stated previously, although an admirable expectation it is not realistic. This government expects to keep seniors in their homes, which may well work for those who have the financial resources, are healthy, mobile, and have family support. For those not in that position, there is a reliance on our understaffed health and home care services.
Unfortunately, home care does not provide 24/7 wraparound services thus placing that responsibility squarely on the shoulders of family. Madam Speaker, with increasing pressures on families just to keep up with the cost of living, it now requires two wage earners in the family to place food on the table while covering the necessities of life.
I have talked to seniors who do not want to place the additional responsibility of health and home care on their children who are already overburdened with the responsibilities that come with employment and raising a family.
Madam Speaker, we as government need to work towards identifying those gaps that currently exist within the system and fill them. We need to engage families, with their support identify solutions that will provide their loved ones with a quality of life each has earned. We must not forget that we are in a housing crisis and that there are persons who find themselves homeless and are falling through the cracks and, because of it, are not receiving proper care. To help them, we need to be out of our offices and on the street reaching out.
Madam Speaker, I recognize a pressing need in the community of Hay River for medical social workers, to take on the responsibility of supporting those who are vulnerable and require wraparound health, mental health, and a multiple of social care services. This work, as the Minister of health previously stated, is done off the corner of the desk of employees with other responsibilities and that is not acceptable. Our approach needs to change. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Members' statements. Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, on October 3rd, the chief coroner released the 20212022 Early Release of Suicide Data Report to raise the alarm on the escalating rate of suicide in the territory. There had already been more suicides by September of this year than in any year total in the previous two decades.
Madam Speaker, Indigenous youth that identify as male were among the majority of those who turned to suicide due to the stress of their daily life. What does this say about the state of our territory and the kinds of resources, supports, and opportunities the government is providing for Indigenous young men to succeed and live healthy lives?
Madam Speaker, I have had the privilege of working with an Indigenous youth in my constituency. With his permission, I want to share a little of his story to acknowledge the difficulties he experiences and to honour the incredible strength and resilience he has shown to overcome these challenges.
Madam Speaker, this youth is intelligent, a determined student and a star athlete. He has the potential to be anything he wants in life yet he continuously faces barriers to his health, wellbeing, and dreams because he, as a youth, has lacked a stable home environment and financial resources. This is not his fault, Madam Speaker, but he is being punished for it.
When he reaches out for help, this youth faces a myriad of barriers that would be overwhelming for an adult to navigate let alone someone as young as 15. For example, what is for many a simple act of registering for an athletic tournament, for him is a series of "nos" to his funding requests because he is not eligible or does not qualify for financial support. Despite these disappointments, he always moves forward and finds ways to support his own aspirations, including through working hard at his parttime job while maintaining his studies.
Madam Speaker, it is important to understand the life experiences of this youth and those of so many other Indigenous male youths. Understanding these life experiences would allow the government to design programs and create resources that could provide critical supports to young Indigenous males throughout their lives. The time to support Indigenous male youth, and all youth, is now.
Madam Speaker, every statistic provided by the chief coroner is a person who was loved by their family and their community. So today I share, out of respect and care for them, and all youth in our territory. The youth are our future leaders and they deserve all the support we can give them to realize their dreams and potential. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Thank you, Member. Members' statements. Member for Monfwi.
Madam Speaker, it has been said in this House many times, and I stand up again, to stress that cell service is greatly needed on Highway No. 3 between Boundary Creek and Behchoko.
Madam Speaker, on Highway No. 3 there is very little shoulder on the side of the road to pull over if you need. This has been the cause of many fatal accidents. There is no room on the road to stop safely, and you are at major risk of being hit by oncoming traffic if you have to get out of your vehicle. Just this past weekend on Saturday, October 29th, we witnessed another accident a small car collided with a truck carrying wood. It was dark; it was in an area without cell service. Luckily, Madam Speaker, this collision was not fatal. However, with wood spilled all over the entire highway, it was a major traffic hazard.
Madam Speaker, there was no ambulance, no RCMP on the scene, because there was no cell service to call for help. A young man was in shock. He was in pain and caught a ride back to Behchoko to the healthcare centre in Behchoko. It's shocking to hear, Madam Speaker, when the RCMP met the young man at the health centre, he was accused of leaving the scene.
To avoid all the unnecessary accidents which have taken so many lives and injured many others, leadership in the Tlicho region have been advocating to the Government of the Northwest Territories for years to establish cell service along Highway No. 3 and to make safety along this road a priority.
The Minister of Finance recognized previously in this House that the lack of cell coverage is a safety risk but, Madam Speaker, I am not seeing a capital budget that delivers more cell towers along Highway No. 3. Just this past summer in the news, an ultrafast electric vehicle charger will be available in Behchoko by 2024 at a cost of $624,000. I am aware this is a federal government project.
Madam Speaker, we asked for cell service and outhouses; we got an electric vehicle charger for hybrid cars. Madam Speaker, it is very ironic that people in Behchoko do not drive electric cars. Madam Speaker, can I have unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
Unanimous consent granted
Madam Speaker, it is very ironic that people in Behchoko do not drive electric cars. People have enough struggle to find a house to live in. Not only that, with the high cost of living and low average income in the NWT people cannot afford it. Our region has been advocating for improvements in road safety and outhouses along our roadways, Highway No. 3 and Tlicho Highway, which the Government of the Northwest Territories has not been able to advance but they can build an electric vehicle charger station. I will have questions for the Minister of Finance later today. Thank you.
Thank you, Member. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Madame la Presidente. On October 21st, I volunteered for an interview with staff from Ernst & Young and the Department of Lands concerning a contract to consider whether GNWT should accept surety bonds as a form of financial security for environmental disturbances caused by industrial and commercial operations. I have raised concerns in this House in the past about this form of financial security and whether it is truly unconditional, irrevocable, and immediate.
Members may recall that for the first time in 2014, the GNWT accepted surety bonds backed by insurance companies for the Ekati Mine rather than irrevocable letters of credit from Canadian chartered banks, or cash. In the past, the federal government accepted some dubious forms of financial security, including promissory notes that were not guaranteed in any way, mining properties, and a hydro dam. Our government failed after devolution to ensure the public was protected from reclamation liabilities at Cantung, Cameron Hills and Prairie Creek. I have said it before, it's time that the Auditor General is called to help prevent further public liabilities.
This takes me back to surety bonds. It's not clear to me why the Department of Lands is focused on surety bonds for the convenience of the mining industry when so much other work is required to prevent further public liabilities. This work should include:
Public reporting on the amount, form and expiry dates for financial security held by GNWT;
Publicized reasons for decision when a Minister accepts anything other than cash for financial security;
Making financial security mandatory, along with regularlyupdated closure and reclamation plans and uptodate financial security calculation tools;
Prevention of perpetual care situations and industryfunded mechanisms to manage such sites;
Restrictions on ministerial discretion to accept dodgey forms of financial security; and
Development of legislation, policy, and capacity within GNWT to prevent further public liabilities.
I will have questions for the Minister of Lands later today on why our government is poised to accept surety bonds as an acceptable form of financial security. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.
Thank you. Members' statements. Member for Thebacha.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, today I'm going to speak about two major Indigenous government agreements residing within the Thebacha constituency.
First, Madam Speaker, the NWT Metis Nation has been negotiating with the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Canada, for at least 26 years, in an effort to eventually reach a final selfgovernment agreement. I have spoken several times about this claim throughout this term, and there seems to have been little done in advancing, let alone finalizing this claim. I know the leadership of the NWT Metis Nation is keen on advancing this agreement as much as possible within the life of this Assembly. There is a concern among NWT Metis leadership about the lack of progress on these negotiations.
In addition, Madam Speaker, 2022 marks 20 years since Salt River First Nation's Treaty Land Entitlement Agreement was signed. Since that time, the agreement in its entirety has not been fully implemented by the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Canada. There are still sections of that agreement which remains outstanding and have not been settled in trilateral negotiations with the territorial and federal governments. Salt River wants to receive the same treatment as any other reserve in southern Canada. Negotiations on the details on funding for core infrastructure and the development of the Salt River Reserve is a primary goal for Salt River, and they remain hopeful to advance that before the end of the 19th Assembly. I will continue to push for the advancement of both the NWT Metis claim, along with the full implementation of the Salt River Treaty Land Entitlement Agreement.
Ultimately, Madam Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has a tall order that it needs to fulfill because there are at least 15 selfgovernment agreements or treaty land entitlement agreements that are concurrently working on. It appears that the resources of Executive and Indigenous Affairs may be spread too thin since they have several fronts they are negotiating on. I do have some suggestions that EIA ought to consider to help in this area.
For example, instead of working on all 15 claims at once, they should identify the claims closest to finalization, and focus on whatever the two or three those may be, and work to advance and finalize those within the life of one Assembly. Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
Unanimous consent granted
In closing, Madam Speaker, I think Executive and Indigenous Affairs needs to manage its workload and expectations a little better so they can have a better track record on settling the many outstanding land claims and selfgovernment agreements that exist within the Northwest Territories. I think Indigenous governments would be open to this so they can see more overall progress from the Government of the Northwest Territories to show for itself. I will have questions for the Premier at the appropriate time. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Thank you, Member. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would just like to wish everyone a Happy Halloween, including all the children going out trick or treating tonight, and ask everyone stay safe. And Madam Speaker, you know, no one's going to poison your Canadian or put any razor blades in it that's all nonsense but you know what people should watch out for? That's cars, Madam Speaker, because today is the most deadly day for pedestrians and children are three times more likely to get hit by a car today than any other day. So I just remind all drivers to slow down the roads are slippery, watch out for children, do your best to avoid driving if there's a bunch of trick or treaters out there if you can.
And now speaking of driving, Madam Speaker, I am going to have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure on whether we could open that DMV for a few extra hours sometime. Thank you.
Thank you, Member. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.
Madam Speaker, we live in a time where we have outpaced our demand for mental health professionals. I get calls from constituents unable to put their names on waitlists for youth psychologists and concerned by the demand on inschool ones. But if our youth aren't speaking with professionals, then who are they speaking with?
Suicide is a common conversation among our youth. In the NWT, roughly 160 to 180 people use hospital services every year following suicide attempts. Some of these people are youth and some were brought in to emergency by their peers. In North America, 19 out of 20 suicide attempts will fail, but people who try and fail are 37 times more likely to succeed the second time. Each failed attempt is the gift of a second chance. We need to be ready and resourced for second chances. And if our youth are providing peer support, then we need to prepare them for supporting roles and, devastatingly at times, survivor roles.
A few weeks ago, I travelled to Iceland and had the privilege of listening to inspired young adults speak passionately about mental health and youth agency. But I wasn't listening to youth from Iceland. I was listening to Dene, Inuit, Gwich'in, and Metis youth from the Northwest Territories. Our youth are powerful, insightful, and inspired. So we don't need to look to other parts of the world for answers; we need to look down the street and pass the microphone to the voices we are losing.
Hope grows when we have conversations about our paths to a new day. For things to get better, we need to see the role we play in our own tomorrow and that comes with agency. To have agency means to have power in our own future.
I commend the community of Tuktoyaktuk who started the conversation about what next by passing the microphone to their youth and asking them what they needed; what they wanted. But what is this government's next step to pass the power to NWT youth, to empower them to share ideas and access funding themselves? To our youth, living another day takes courage and hanging on to an ounce of hope takes strength. It will get better and you are worth life. I will have questions about how this government is empowering youth to have agency over their mental health. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Thank you, Member. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today I want to talk about suicide prevention across our territory. I am bringing to the House to recognize and honour all the youth that we lost to suicide throughout the year. Madam Speaker, when we lose a youth, the whole community grieves and the whole region grieves together.
Madam Speaker, our youth face difficulties in life. We need to do more for the youth, for our communities to come together to heal and be healthy. Engaging with youth, our leaders ask them directly what do you want to see in a community? They told us exactly what they wanted. In trying our best to provide that and those opportunities for them, we hosted basketball tournaments, hockey tournaments, pingpong tournaments, painting classes, and crafts and activities in our communities.
Madam Speaker, sports tournaments across the Delta should be started up again in our school system. Recreation should be available for all youth so we could have things to look forward to, positive outlets in life, gives us a chance to see our friends and strengthen the bonds in our community. Madam Speaker, there's a lot we can do for our youth but we have to do it. We can't just talk about it anymore. It could save a life, not just in my communities that I represent but across our territory.
Madam Speaker, I'd like to bring this topic to the NWTAC, Association of Communities, to work together with our government to make a path forward for our youth and our communities to make it healthier. Madam Speaker, working together for a better future of the Northwest Territories we have to come together to get that done and stop suicide. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Thank you, Member. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, on July 26 I received an email from the president and CEO of ParticipACTION informing me that the community of Fort Simpson was crowned the NWT's most active community. In this email, they were proud to announce that the ParticipACTION Community Better Challenge concluded with Fort Simpson being crowned Northwest Territories' most active community taking home a prize of $15,000 to go toward local physical activities and sport initiative. The Community Better Challenge is a national physical activity initiative that encourages everyone in Canada to get active together throughout the month of June.
This year was the third edition of the challenge which saw more than 600,000 participants track over 500 million minutes throughout June. Madam Speaker, with the pandemic leading to further decline in national physical activity levels, the challenge provided a unique opportunity to help the country enjoy the benefits that of physical activity and sports provide, not only for our individual physical and mental health but also in building stronger, healthier, and more vibrant communities. Some of the highlights they advised me:
Over 3,000 Northwest Territories participated representing nine communities.
Together, Northwest Territories tracked over 2,838,000 physical activity minutes over the month of June. Fort Simpson tracked more than 1,527,000 physical activity minutes.
Thank you, Member. Members' statements. Member for Range Lake.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today I will deliver my first of four Member's statements this week about Remembrance Day. Since this is the last session of the 19th Legislative Assembly we will get to commemorate the sacrifices made in the name of freedom, I wanted to take this week to talk about a number of themes that I feel are important to recognize.
As many know, I am the daughter of a veteran of the Second World War. My father went off to war in the name of freedom, one of many Canadians who fought for the ability to have the freedoms and society that we have today.
Remembrance Day is a time to remember those who lost their lives, have been injured in the line of duty, those who struggle with the physical and mental wounds of combat, and the many families and communities that were left behind to pick up the pieces of their lives impacted by war. We remember all you have done and thank you for all the sacrifices you have made so Canadians can live in the country that we do. It's the ultimate debt that we cannot repay.
Madam Speaker, as the years go by, the impact and significance of the two world wars is left to textbooks and popular culture to teach current and future generations about what their parents, grandparents, and greatgrandparents endured, so they could have the life they have today. While war and conflict continue to happen around the world to this day, the context to what it is happening is different than some of the more historical conflicts the world has experienced. That's why it's important we continue to honour this day.
Young people and future generations need to know why they have the freedoms they do today. We need to do our part to share our experiences and those of our family members who went away to war, and to honour the memories of those who did not come home.
Madam Speaker, Lest we Forget. Thank you.
Thank you. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, every year at this time our society celebrates a ghoulish tradition Halloween night. All schools hold Halloween costume parties, games, and there's prizes for the scariest costumes. For the children, there is excitement going trick or treating from house to house to collect all sorts of candies. Parents, I warn you, it is for your kids. Equally excited are the adults who have their own entertainment night at local establishments.
Madam Speaker, that was the first time I saw a ghost going from one ditch and across to the other ditch and back again and that was the whole length of the road; which reminds me, the man was in the hospital on Halloween for a series of medical tests the last test had left his tummy upset. After making many false alarm trips to the bathroom, he decided that the fifth false trip would be his last and just stay in bed from now on. Then he had to go again, and this time it was the real deal and the bedsheets were covered in brown matter. This was very embarrassing for the man. So he jumped up, gathered up the bedsheets into a large ball and threw them out the nearest open hospital window.
A mixed martial arts fighter was walking to the hospital to visit an injured training partner when the ball of sheets landed on him. He started screaming, punching, and kicking his legs wildly as hard as he could, which left the soiled sheets in a tangled pile at his feet. As the fighter stood there staring down at the sheets, trying to work out what just happened, a hospital security guard, who just witnessed the whole incident, walked up and asked, are you okay? Still staring down at what just attacked him, the fighter replied, I think I just beat the crap out of a ghost. Have a Happy Halloween, everyone. Mahsi.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. I can't exactly see everyone but it's my understanding that Avery Parle and other members of the union are here visiting us today, so I would like to welcome and thank them for coming. Thank you.
Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'd like to recognize oh, yeah, I can see them now. Julianne Fuller, the mother of one of the pages, and also Pierre Benoit Rondeau Chalifoux who is the chaperone for the pages. And I'd like to recognize two of the pages from Hay River that are here, Jackson Fuller and Francis Cook, and they're both from Ecole Boreale. Thank you.
Recognition of visitors in the gallery. I too would like to welcome Julie Fuller. She used to be in Inuvik so past resident of Inuvik. Welcome. I'm in a different capacity today, so.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Madam Speaker, along with the number of adults on the street who are living with various health and addictionrelated issues, we also have those with similar issues living in isolation with minimal or no supports. Madam Speaker, it is important medical social workers are available to those individuals who are requiring access to wraparound service. Therefore, Madam Speaker, can the Minister of health give us an idea of what wraparound health supports are available to assist the most vulnerable, which includes seniors, those living with disabilities, and those who are homeless? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Member for the question. So adult services supports case management of people with disabilities, including those who may have addictions and mental health challenges. These positions aren't necessarily social workers, but they could be other professionals who are able to provide case management support. It's important to say, however, that this position does not exist at the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority. They don't have a medical social worker or an adult social worker at this time. Thank you.
