N.W.T. MLAs need journey exemptions, vaccine incentives in up to date reopening plan

NWT MLAs and the public will find out this week what the Territory has in its plans to reopen and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Caroline Cochrane said in the Legislative Assembly last Thursday that updated versions of the NWT’s Economic Plans for Emerging Wisely and Emerging Strongly will be presented before June 4th, the last day of this brief session.

The area is still in phase two of its reopening plan a year after its launch. That said, there are still restrictions on gatherings like funerals, gatherings, and traditional games.

The travel restrictions introduced last March haven’t changed, with a few exceptions like reducing the self-isolation time for residents if they test negative on their eighth day of isolation.

So far, the NWT’s stimulus plan is a short three-point document that was published last April. The Territory said it has since been working on the plan with multiple advisory boards.

In anticipation of these two reports, MLAs told the government on Friday what needs to be changed immediately and asked them how they will protect certain industries for the future.

Yukon travel exemption in progress for Beaufort Delta

Lesa Semmler, the MLA for Inuvik-Twin Lakes, urged the area to introduce a special travel exemption for people in the Beaufort Delta planning to travel to the Yukon.

The Yukon eased most of its COVID-19 restrictions last week, including the mandatory 14-day self-isolation policy for Canadians who are fully vaccinated.

“We need to know which risk measures are used to make decisions,” said Semmler. “When will we have an NWT Yukon Bubble?”

According to Julie Green, the territory’s health minister, the NWT is currently negotiating an exemption for people in the Beaufort Delta. (Mario De Ciccio / Radio Canada)

The two areas have “very different” health systems, Green said, so are trying to find a way to share who has been vaccinated between the two areas.

These discussions should “be finalized shortly,” said Green.

Also, some MLAs asked if the NWT would lift restrictions on recreational travel to help small businesses in the tourism, aviation and taxi industries recover from the pandemic.

Green didn’t reply, but countered that the Territory approved over 48,000 self-isolation plans in the past year, meaning people in the Territory are not “currently stuck” and can travel if necessary.

The current recommendation from the health officer is to limit non-essential travel between provinces and territories at this time.

Prioritize mental health recovery investments

Jackie Jacobson, MLA for Nunakput, urged the Territory to consider the ongoing effects of “COVID-19 fatigue” and other mental health issues on the people of the Territory.

Jacobson represents some of the most remote communities in the territory: Paulatuk, Sach’s Harbor, Tuktoyaktuk, and Ulukhaktok.

The NWT recently launched an adolescent mental health support, but Jacobson said the NWT government did not allocate money to mental health support for smaller communities struggling with slow internet services.

“COVID-[19] isolates our elders and keeps them away from everyone, and it’s really tough on them, “Jacobson said.” We have to work to fix something in our next steps. ”

Great slave Katrina Nokleby’s MLA noted that the long-lasting mental health effects are being felt outside of remote communities as the people she knows continue to struggle.

“People are already struggling with poverty and addictions. Now that the vaccine doesn’t lead to the promised reopening … I worry that people are losing hope, ”she said.

Rylund Johnson, MLA for Yellowknife North, suggested sending a personalized email from the chief public health officer’s office to self-isolates that would include links to telemedicine resources.

That way, people would know where to access mental health services while also better understanding what is expected of them during isolation.

MLA urges caution about “uneven” vaccine intake

The ongoing impact of the Yellowknife cluster is a reminder to Monfwi MLA Jackson Lafferty that COVID-19 cases can recur at any time – meaning people still need to be careful.

“We cannot rest on our laurels,” said Lafferty. “COVID-[19] and its variants are here and with us forever. This government has an obligation … to ensure that we are ready for the new challenges that the new normal will bring. ”

Pre-planning is particularly important for the Tłı̨chǫ and Sahtu regions, where vaccine uptake was “uneven”.

Less than 50 percent of people in these regions received at least one dose of the vaccine, compared to 68 percent in the rest of the area.

He wants the NWT to consider creating incentives for those who will be vaccinated.

In an update from the Legislative Assembly, Green said the government no longer has a specific vaccination target.

Previously, the NWT government sought herd immunity – which would mean 75 percent of the population would be fully immunized.

“One of the lessons from the [Yellowknife] Outbreak is how vulnerable unvaccinated people are, “Green said, as most cases have occurred in children under eight.

“Having a vaccination rate is fine, but there are all these pockets of people who are not vaccinated that we also need to consider.”

MLAs will attend a public briefing on the new Emerging Wisely plan on Thursday evening, leaving enough time to question the government in Friday’s session.