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

Minister’s Statement 241-19(2): Apprenticeship – Northwest Territories Housing Corporation

Mr. Speaker, education is very valuable and important in creating longterm successes for our residents. To address ongoing shortages of qualified trade workers in Northwest Territories communities, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is committed to supporting training for apprentices. The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation continues to work with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to promote and coordinate the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation's apprenticeship program in order to secure additional candidates throughout the Northwest Territories. The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation aims to hire up to 12 local housing organization apprenticeship positions in total this year.

The local housing organizations currently employ over 40 journeycertified staff in various trades that will support apprenticeship assignment opportunities in the future. The demand of apprenticeships at local housing authorities and organizations will be reviewed as a part of the LHO engagement aspect of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation's renewal strategy.

Mr. Speaker, currently the Housing Corporation has eight apprenticeships with LHO staff in Fort Providence, Fort Simpson, Sachs Harbour and Lutselk'e set up to write the trade entrance exam for the housing maintain serviceperson.

Through our contracts, we have 25 apprentices currently working on the Housing Corporation projects. By 2024 the Housing Corporation is committed to increasing the number of journeycertified apprenticeships by ten by requiring at least one apprenticeship for all housing projects.

In addition, through our contracts there have been 33 work placements for apprentices as a part of the Northwest Territories new construction contract work since April 1st, 2020.

Being an apprentice is often one of the first steps in a lifetime of work in the trades. Mr. Speaker, the NWT Housing Corporation aims to support apprenticeship through opportunities across all regions of the Northwest Territories despite challenges due to shortages of apprenticeship applications and certified skilled workers available to serve as their mentors and supervisors. The Housing Corporation is committed to this program.

The Corporation is happy to announce that two apprentices have been journeycertified since April of 2021. The first was a housing maintenance serviceperson in Norman Wells who gained their journey person certificate on April 1, 2021. The second gained their journey person certificate as an oil burner mechanic in Yellowknife at the end of October 2021.

Since this program started in 2007, the Housing Corporation has seen a total of 21 people receive their journeyman certificates.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the role of the Corporation that plays in the training and education of new apprentices across the Northwest Territories. We will continue to work with our colleagues at Education, Culture and Employment on the apprenticeship program as we work towards increasing the number of certified apprentices and celebrate the skilled trades across the Northwest Territories.

Being from a small community myself, I have seen firsthand the importance that skilled trades play in our communities. The apprenticeship program not only helps improve housing in the short term but provides apprentices with the skills and education to continue improving housing in the future as well. I look forward to seeing the good work these apprentices will be doing across the NWT. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Northwest Territories Power Corporation.