Debates of March 31, 2022 (day 111)

March
31
2022
Session
19th Assembly, 2nd Session
Day
111
Speaker
Frederick Blake Jr.
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Diane Archie, Hon. Frederick Blake Jr., Mr. Bonnetrouge (remote), Hon. Paulie Chinna, Ms. Cleveland, Hon. Caroline Cochrane, Mr. Edjericon, Hon. Julie Green, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Martselos, Ms. Nokleby, Mr. O'Reilly, Ms. Semmler (remote), Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Rocky Simpson, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek (remote), Ms. Weyallon-Armstrong (remote).
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 39: An Act to Amend the Post-Secondary Education Act, Carried
Bill 41: Justice Administrations Statutes Amendment Act, Carried
Bill 51: Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures) 2022-2023, Carried
Bill 51: Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 2022-2023, Carried
Committee Motion 220-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development report on the Child and Family Services Act – Lifting NWT Children, Youth and Families: An All of Territory Approach to Keeping Families Together – Overrepresentation of Indigen
Committee Motion 221-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development report on the Child and Family Services Act – Lifting NWT Children, Youth and Families: An All of Territory Approach to Keeping Families Together – Birthing Support, Carried
Committee Motion 222-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development report on the Child and Family Services Act – Lifting NWT Children, Youth and Families: An All of Territory Approach to Keeping Families Together – Addictions PRograms and Treat
Committee Motion 223-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development report on the Child and Family Services Act – Lifting NWT Children, Youth and Families: An All of Territory Approach to Keeping Families Together –Youth Homelessness Plan, Carri
Committee Motion 224-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development report on the Child and Family Services Act – Lifting NWT Children, Youth and Families: An All of Territory Approach to Keeping Families Together – Healthy Family Program, Carri
Committee Motion 225-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development report on the Child and Family Services Act – Lifting NWT Children, Youth and Families: An All of Territory Approach to Keeping Families Together – Access to Recreational Progra
Committee Motion 226-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development report on the Child and Family Services Act – Lifting NWT Children, Youth and Families: An All of Territory Approach to Keeping Families Together – Family Mentorship Pilot Proje
Committee Motion 227-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development report on the Child and Family Services Act – Lifting NWT Children, Youth and Families: An All of Territory Approach to Keeping Families Together – Addictions Recovery On-The-La
Committee Motion 228-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development report on the Child and Family Services Act – Lifting NWT Children, Youth and Families: An All of Territory Approach to Keeping Families Together – Family Violence Emergency She
Committee Motion 229-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development report on the Child and Family Services Act – Lifting NWT Children, Youth and Families: An All of Territory Approach to Keeping Families Together – Training for Foster Families,
Committee Motion 230-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development report on the Child and Family Services Act – Lifting NWT Children, Youth and Families: An All of Territory Approach to Keeping Families Together – Recruitment Strategy for Indi
Committee Motion 231-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development report on the Child and Family Services Act – Lifting NWT Children, Youth and Families: An All of Territory Approach to Keeping Families Together – Child and Family Services Eva
Committee Motion 232-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development report on the Child and Family Services Act – Lifting NWT Children, Youth and Families: An All of Territory Approach to Keeping Families Together – Indigenous Advisory Body Sub-
Committee Motion 233-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development report on the Child and Family Services Act – Lifting NWT Children, Youth and Families: An All of Territory Approach to Keeping Families Together – Audit of Child and Family Ser
Committee Motion 234-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development report on the Child and Family Services Act – Lifting NWT Children, Youth and Families: An All of Territory Approach to Keeping Families Together – Legal Services for Parents, C
Committee Motion 235-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development report on the Child and Family Services Act – Lifting NWT Children, Youth and Families: An All of Territory Approach to Keeping Families Together – Legislative Changes to Child
Committee Motion 236-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development report on the Child and Family Services Act – Lifting NWT Children, Youth and Families: An All of Territory Approach to Keeping Families Together – Services for Children, Youth
Committee Motion 237-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development report on the Child and Family Services Act – Lifting NWT Children, Youth and Families: An All of Territory Approach to Keeping Families Together – Annual Quality Improvement Pl
Committee Motion 238-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development report on the Child and Family Services Act – Lifting NWT Children, Youth and Families: An All of Territory Approach to Keeping Families Together – Government Response to Recomm
Member’s Statement 1067-19(2): Inuvik Mike Zubko Airport Expansion Project
Member’s Statement 1068-19(2): Mental Health and Addictions Support
Member’s Statement 1069-19(2): Northwest Territories Mining Royalty
Member’s Statement 1070-19(2): Rising Cost of Living
Member’s Statement 1071-19(2): Inuvik Airport Runway Expansion Project
Member’s Statement 1072-19(2): Thank-You Message
Member’s Statement 1073-19(2): Vaccine Equity
Member’s Statement 1074-19(2): Pandemic Supports
Member’s Statement 1075-19(2): Housing Expenditures
Member’s Statement 1076-19(2): Muskrat Jamboree in the Beaufort Delta
Member’s Statement 1077-19(2): Filming of “Cold Road” in South Slave
Member’s Statement 1078-19(2): Fort Simpson Speed Skating Club
Minister’s Statement 240-19(2): Ending COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Minister’s Statement 241-19(2): Apprenticeship – Northwest Territories Housing Corporation
Minister’s Statement 242-19(2): General Rate Application
Motion 51-19(2): Extended Adjournment of the House to May 26, 2022, Carried
Motion 52-19(2): Appointments to the Standing Committees on Social Development and Government Operations, Ruled Out of Order
Notice of Motion 52-19(2): Appointments to the Standing Committees on Social Development and Government Operations
Question 1068-19(2): Inuvik Mike Zubko Airport Expansion Project
Question 1069-19(2): Mental Health and Addictions Support
Question 1070-19(2): Inuvik Mike Zubko Airport Expansion Project
Question 1071-19(2): Vaccine Supply
Question 1072-19(2): Northwest Territories Mining Royalty Regime
Question 1073-19(2): Canada Community Revitalization Fund
Question 1074-19(2): Housing Expenditures in Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh
Question 1075-19(2): Knowledge of Joint Venture and Indigenous Government
Question 1077-19(2): Cost of Living
Question 1078-19(2): Northwest Territories Business Protection with Inflation
Question 1079-19(2): Inuvik Mike Zubko Airport Expansion Project
Recorded Vote
Return to Written Question 36-19(2): Mental Health Supports for Residents
Return to Written Question 38-19(2): Project Assessment Policy Review
Return to Written Question 39-19(2): Mining Programs and Subsidies
Tabled Document 629-19(2): Value of Work Completed Under the Work Credit Program 2015-2022
Tabled Document 632-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 1028-19(2): Access to Clean Water
Tabled Document 633-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 997-19(2): Correctional Facilities
Tabled Document 634-19(2): Additional Information for Written Question 36-19(2): Mental Health Supports for Residents
Tabled Document 635-19(2): Northwest Territories Housing Corporation 2022-2023 Consolidated Operating Budget
Tabled Document 636-19(2): Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation and Northwest Territories Power Corporation 2022-2023 Corporate Plan
Statements

Member’s Statement 1073-19(2): Vaccine Equity

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Tomorrow the public health emergency ends but the fight against COVID19 does not end, and we must not stop talking about vaccination, Mr. Speaker. We are in a privileged position, having 82 percent of our population vaccinated and that remaining percentage is not due to a lack of vaccines. And it is my hope, Mr. Speaker, that those people who have refused to be vaccinated, some of whom have convinced themselves they are in an idealogical battle for freedom, will see that tomorrow we have zero restrictions left and maybe they will go quietly, get vaccinated, and protect themselves and those who are most vulnerable, Mr. Speaker.

In addition, Mr. Speaker, we are lucky that we got early access to vaccines. Canada is lucky that it secured access to vaccines yet, Mr. Speaker, in low income nations around the world, only one in ten people are vaccinated and this is due to a shortage of vaccines.

Canada has not lived up to its international covax commitments. We have not lived up to global vaccine equity. And we may be a small jurisdiction but I believe we need to be adding our voice to the fight for vaccine equity and making sure that we, and the Government of Canada, are a leader in this area.

Mr. Speaker, this is not just about vaccine equity. It is about the fight against COVID. This is a global battle and if we do not help the global self and low income nations get vaccine in their arms, we will see new variants emerge. We will not win the battle against COVID.

Mr. Speaker, during our vaccine implementation, we were leaders. We were one of the lowest waste jurisdictions. We did everything we could to make sure we did not waste vials of that vaccine, and I am proud of that work. But, Mr. Speaker, I want to make sure that we continue that work. We continue to advocate for vaccine equity and we make sure that we do not let a single dose expire in our hands.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.