Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I really appreciate that offer and I certainly will take her up on that given to heat a home in Inuvik, just a small home, is between a thousand and 1,400 a month. So it is quite expensive to do that.
Can the Minister -- I mean, I'm not quite sure how this program is subscribed. Is it something that's been oversubscribed, or is it something that, budget-wise, it has been all allocated each year for that? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is a program that we -- if we need to -- if somebody qualifies for it and we need to find additional funding within the department, we make sure that we find those dollars. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.
Thank you. That's certainly good to know. Maybe we can find some more dollars.
But on the policy itself -- and, again, I understand and I appreciate the Minister going to give me an update on how those income thresholds have been chosen, like many policies -- and I mentioned in my statement about being culturally appropriate, and when you're developing policies rather to just be based on numbers and on stats and on CPI and those things, is there also any -- I guess, is there a cultural lens put on that policy to say, hey, sometimes things are a little different, particularly in smaller communities around, as I mentioned, seniors having children and grandchildren living with them and dependent upon them as well. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I agree with the Member that this is of the utmost importance. And there is a lot of multi generations living in one home, and it's important to note that the seniors' home heating subsidy considers the income of only the senior. It doesn't consider the household income and everyone else that may be in the home as well so that it doesn't disincentivize people from living with their family members. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Oral questions. Member from Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on January 27th, CanNor and ITI signed an MOU to strengthen economic development and diversification, and the substance of this is to align efforts to support resource development and infrastructure, explore opportunities for more efficient pre-regulatory assistance and coordination for projects and convene a first of its kind northern Indigenous governments and development corporations project funding symposium.
So can the Minister just tell us how -- as MOUs are not, you know, structured legal agreements with money attached and all that kind of stuff, what is the actual impact of this to the Northwest Territories' economy? What is it worth? How much growth are we going to see from -- and new funding and investment from CanNor through this partnership? Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment -- or ITI. Sorry, ITI.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, central to this MOU is the fact that we have a lot of different projects that are coming at the Northwest Territories. Many members mentioned them today in their replies to the budget address as well as their Members' statements. It was mentioned by the Premier in his address as well. And so those investments are things like the DND funding that we're seeing come to the Northwest Territories, the Mackenzie Valley Highway, the Arctic economic and security corridor, even the project, the Taltson expansion. And it's really critically important that with all that funding that's coming to the Northwest Territories that we're prepared in ways like working together, like we heard from Members today, that we're making sure that we're addressing things within the regulatory system, that we really do rely on our partners to be all at the same table in order to address. We have a comanaged regulatory system here in the Northwest Territories, so it's not just the GNWT at that table. So everybody needs to be at the table in order to address these items. It's also -- the Member mentioned the Indigenous development corporations. It's also about relationships with industry and making sure that we're aligning ourselves both as government to industry partners, government to government partners, but also industry to industry partners and what role do we all play together in making sure that we're capturing these opportunities and being able to leverage other pieces of funding in order to make those work. For example, the labour market agreements, how do we make sure that those are very purposefully working with our partners at the table to capture these economic opportunities that are coming our way. These conversations are very much already underway, and this is a very exciting time for the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, if there wasn't an MOU and I asked the Minister how are you supporting coordinating project development in the Northwest Territories with Indigenous governments, I think she would have given me the same answer. So my question specifically is what difference does this MOU make in terms of, like, better supporting these projects? And what are the practical effects of the MOU on our economy for these projects? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can say I want these people at the table all I want but now I can say they are at the table. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of ITI. Final supplementary. Member from Range Lake.
Well, is it the table of the symposium or the table going forward? Like, I'm trying to get a sense of what the MOU actually produces in operational terms, I guess. Is this -- is there a timeline or a schedule to look like? Is there -- are there contributing pots of funding? Like, what is it beyond a piece of paper and a great agreement? I support this kind of coordination, but what I'm trying to get at is what is the real investment? Because I like to see announcements at Roundup. I like to see announcements everywhere we go. But I like to know what they actually mean in practical terms because when you create these kind of expectations that this is going to achieve a lot of results and then we're still asking hey, what did that MOU mean at the end of the day, especially when our chambers of commerce are asking, so can the Minister give me a clear picture of how this is going to change things in the short to medium term as the MOU runs its course so we have some -- so we can see some more progress on these projects and more growth in the territory. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this means that we're addressing things like duplication. It means that we're addressing things like gaps. It means that I'm sitting down with, you know, people like the parliamentary secretary for CanNor, which I just did on Friday, less than a week ago, to have conversations about what is next, how do we implement this, how do we work together, and also being able to sit and have very meaningful conversations around scopes of information requests, being able to have conversations around filling board appointments, that are things that were brought forward to this Cabinet by committee for the Standing Committee on Environment and Economic Development. So it's taking the words from this whole House, not just Cabinet but also Regular Members, and bringing them forward to our partners that we need at the table in order to make those things happen. So it's not just talk. We're actually actioning things, and we need to do this right now because there's such an opportunity in front of us for the entire territory. And we are meeting the moment. We don't want to lose this opportunity. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Oral questions. Member from Frame Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wanted to follow up a bit further on the earlier questions I was asking. The Minister mentioned at the end of her final answer about establishing a basic income guarantee program throughout the NWT. I would just say that that's not really what the report was asking for. What the report was asking for is a basic income guarantee pilot, which is a very different thing. And I want to encourage the Minister, I want to encourage Cabinet, to try new things. I think it's pretty clear that income support isn't working. Would the Minister commit to establishing a basic income guarantee pilot program in the NWT?
Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, an investment like this, like a pilot, would require approval of significant dollars that would have to first be approved in this House. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I mean, I would be happy to approve whatever funding is needed if it was brought forward as a proposal. So, again, I would just ask -- I mean, what I'm trying to encourage the Minister to do here is have a look at the report, consider the possibility of establishing a pilot. It doesn't have to happen in this budget, but I'm just wanting us to move towards change, move towards trying new things. Would the Minister consider looking into it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I definitely want to be responsive to this entire House and what people want to accomplish together. I will say that universal basic income is typically an unconditional benefit, and I'm hearing lots of desire to see conditional benefits brought back to this House and so I think it's really important that before the department goes away and does a tremendous amount of work that everyone is on the same page and is -- that the majority supports something of this nature, so I think that is an important first step. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary. Member from Frame Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would just note that the report itself speaks a lot about disincentivization of work like we've talked about in the House, and so I think absolutely, we all do need to agree on the direction that we're going, and I hope through conversations that we can do that. But what I'm trying to encourage the Minister to do here is take something, some research that's been handed to the department, and use it to help improve the program we've got and think about new programs that could be brought in. So I'm just hoping the Minister will take what I'm asking for here and just understand that I am looking for them to consider it and bring forward consideration of it as we continue the conversation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm always open to new ideas. I'm also always open to ideas that really inspire and support people to -- you know, the Member mentioned opportunities to re-enter the workforce. That's why we have that reintroduction, or increase rather of earned income. I'm also looking at other mechanisms to work with very specific employers and very specific communities that are willing to look at actually bringing people on and supporting them up to thresholds as kind of a reentry and getting their first step back into the workplace or into the workplace for the first time. And so really working with residents and addressing some of the concerns that they have about entering the workforce and potentially losing their income assistance. And that can be very scary for residents. And so I think it's really important that we work with residents, and sometimes those are big steps and sometimes they're smaller steps, but every step matters. And so my answer is absolutely yes, I'm always happy to consider new ideas, I'm always happy to read reports. I have read this report and certainly happy to continue this conversation with the Member as well. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Oral questions. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Members of this House here have taken an oath of office to respect and honour the treaties. And earlier in my comments, I was looking for an answer in regards to a contingency account to help treaty members that travel -- that needs help to travel south or for as medical escort accommodations, flights, etcetera. I never heard back. I mean, the Minister didn't come out and say that she will look at developing a contingency account to help our treaty members. My question to the Minister is she willing to set up a contingency account to help treaty members and Metis members, yes or no. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when we create different processes throughout our consensus government, those that are going to be locating dollars, those have to go through our financial process. So at this time, we are working through that to be able to come forward with some type of other benefit for those who are travelling for medical escorts and things like that. But at this time, we do not have that in place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. I just want to keep bringing that up because we got to respect and honour the treaties that we have.
My next question would be is that back in the 19th Assembly, we had a Minister that wrote a policy on a Friday and implemented it on Monday. And my question to you is are you able to do the same thing here, to write a policy, to implement it on Monday, to create a contingency account so that our treaty members and Metis members are protected? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as within the NIHB, we are a third -- like, we administer their funding. I'm not aware of a policy that was written on a Friday that allocated dollars to something and that was passed on a Monday, so I would have to take that back and see how that -- fast that process could happen and utilize our processes to put -- you know, to look at it. But however, we are working towards a new process for medical travel. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you. Just to help you out, the Minister that did that back in the 19th Assembly was the MACA Minister. Anyway, moving forward, I guess the GNWT right now has -- or managing NIHB program right now. My other question would be is in British Columbia, the First Nation health authority administers NIHB on behalf of the federal government. If we can't manage it here and we can't build collaboration with Indigenous governments, is the Minister considering the creation of a similar Indigenous-led health authority here particularly as part of the government's commitment to implementation of UNDRIP? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the First Nation BC health authority structure is a lot different than in the territories. What they do is they collaborate all of their reserve health centres, so all of the health centres that fall on their reserves were before operated by Indigenous Service Canada. We, however, in the Northwest Territories do not have any First Nation funded directly reserve health centres and therefore we -- so they took that -- they drew that down within their own correlation with their health services. We have many different Indigenous governments. We are working in different areas with different Indigenous governments as what they want to draw down. We've worked with some of the self-governing. We're working towards some areas where self-governing communities want to draw down certain powers through health, and we're always willing to work with them. Now with NIHB, we've had many conversations at the Council of Leaders. Indigenous governments want to draw this service down; however, they do not want to draw it down until Indigenous Service Canada funds it accordingly and through a reimbursement so that they're guaranteed that they're going to get their money back because if an Indigenous government drew this down right now, we're sitting at $40 million that we have to pay for through medical travel that is not funded by the federal government. So we have covering a lot of this cost. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have another question for the Minister of Health and Social Services, only because I know she felt she didn't get enough --
Member.
-- through the last one. Mr. Speaker, I'm happy to serve.
Almost a year ago I brought up the Alberta, NWT Alzheimer's Society and the fact that they wanted to connect better with the GNWT, in particular the department of health. And my question is what type of update can the Minister provide? Because I've looked on our website, and I see very little when I search that collaborative relationship that was supposed to exist. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I had the honour to meet with that group, and when we walked away from that meeting, there was a commitment from my department to work with them and how that we could support them into -- you know, engaging with a lot of our small communities. And so that work is ongoing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And for the record, I had a delicious meeting with them too. That said, they had said that there would be things -- they gave me a prelude -- maybe not a line by line what happened, but they said there would be ways that the health website would be able to connect and direct people to service supports through the Alberta/NWT Alzheimer's Society. The only thing that points to Alzheimer's, it's a PDF, Mr. Speaker, is a booklet going through Alberta Blue Cross. Can the Minister explain why there's nothing linking the two relationships a year ago said that they would build? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, how we are going to work with the Alberta Alzheimer's Society, NWT/Alberta, I know that there were conversations in sharing information; however, where we are with that, I can't give the Member an update as to the website. I will get back to the Member as to how we plan on putting that information out there or what the collaboration is at this time. So I'll leave it at that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from Monfwi.
Thank you. Mr. Speaker, this is questions for -- regarding heating subsidy program for seniors.
So many of our senior citizens living in small communities do not have the luxury of relocating or moving south of the border where cost of living is less. Will the Minister commit to lifting income thresholds for programs such as heating subsidy for senior citizens over 65 years of age in the NWT? Mr. Speaker, I'll tell you in small communities, you will not find senior citizens living on $200,000 a year pension. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the advocacy of the Member. The way the program is designed today is to support our most at need -- or most in need seniors and elders in the Northwest Territories. And so the program is designed to support them with up to 80 percent of their fuel costs under this program. And if they're not able to meet their monthly living needs, then their client navigator can support them to move over to the income assistance for seniors and persons with disabilities that has a once-a-year program application. And under that program, it pays for the full rent costs, full utility costs that an elder might have as part of their living expenses. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, you know, many of our senior citizens in small communities, they're not going to go anywhere. They're not going to move away from their respective communities because they have families there. They have their culture, their language. So a lot of them are going to be -- are going to remain in their communities. So for that reason, that's why I was asking that if the Minister can commit or work towards to lift the income threshold instead of all these programs that the elders have to go through. Thank you.
