Debates of Oct. 25th, 2010

This is page numbers 5227 - 5262 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 5th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library.

The word of the day was care .

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Minister’s Statement 63-16(5): National Marketing Campaign

Minister’s Statement 64-16(5): NWT Labour Force Development Framework 2010-2020

Assisted Living Accommodations For Adult Disabled Children

Proposed Revisions To Occupational Health And Safety Regulations

Seniors’ Housing Requirement In Tu Nedhe Constituency

Viability Of Pellet Mill In The NWT

Rising Health Care Costs And Health Authority Deficits

Stand-Alone School In Trout Lake

Facilitation Of Curated Shows For Northern Artists

NWT Anti-Poverty Strategy

Coordinated

Schedule For Inuvik Regional Ferry Operations

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Coordinated

Schedule For Inuvik Regional Ferry Operations

NWT Anti-Poverty Strategy

Facilitation Of Curated Shows For Northern Artists

Stand-Alone School For Trout Lake

Rising Health Care Costs And Health Authority Deficits

Viability Of Pellet Mill In The NWT

Seniors’ Housing Requirements In Tu Nedhe Constituency

Proposed Revisions To Occupational Health And Safety Regulations

Assisted Living Accommodations For Adult Disabled Children

Legislation To Address Chiropractic And Massage Therapy Professions

Written Question 16-16(5): Cost Of Devolution Negotiations

Tabled Document 89-16(5): 2010-2011 Election Year Guidelines For Members

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

The House met at 1:34 p.m.

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---Prayer

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Prayer

Prayer

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the Chamber. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment , Mr. Bob McLeod .

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Minister’s Statement 63-16(5): National Marketing Campaign

Ministers’ Statements

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories has a very bright future. The economic opportunities our Territory possesses in tourism, mining, oil and gas and more are significant.

Mr. Speaker, one of the key priorities of the Government of the Northwest Territories is training and employing our people. But we also know that our population is not large enough to fill all the positions that will be available in the future. That is why in April, the Government of the Northwest Territories launched a major initiative to address that challenge, the Come Make Your Mark Campaign.

This innovative multi-year campaign is designed to increase awareness across Canada of the tremendous career opportunities available in the Northwest Territories in an effort to get Canadians to live and work here long term.

Since it was launched in northern and central Ontario in April, Come Make Your Mark has generated almost 30,000 inquiries, three times as many as expected.

This campaign includes several phases, and phase two was launched on October 6th . In phase two we

are targeting post-secondary students across Canada and promoting the job opportunities and the high quality of life the Northwest Territories offers. This phase will run in over 60 universities, colleges and trade schools across Canada.

We are reaching out to post-secondary students in unique ways so our message will have the greatest

impact. We are asking Northwest Territories post-secondary students to talk with their peers about the opportunities the Northwest Territories has to offer. We are also inviting Northwest Territories post-secondary students to be ambassadors for the campaign. As ambassadors they would assist us in promoting the Northwest Territories at the job fairs we are attending to promote our Territory.

Other promotional efforts include advertising in campus newspapers and through posters. We will also continue to provide information about the campaign on the Come Make Your Mark website, Facebook page, and Twitter.

One of the innovative aspects of this phase of the campaign is the introduction of Mark. Mark is planning regional visits throughout the Northwest Territories over a four-week period, which started in early October. Mark has been to Hay River and will be travelling to Fort Smith, Fort Simpson, Inuvik, Tuktoyaktuk, Ulukhaktok and Norman Wells.

The government understands the labour force challenges our businesses are facing. Through initiatives like the Come Make Your Mark Campaign we are taking important steps to address this challenge.

We all want an economy that is diversified and one that provides all communities and regions with opportunities and choices. This campaign is an important way for the Northwest Territories to make its mark amongst Canadians and to let them know how they can be a part of the prosperous, vibrant future that we envision for this Territory.

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Minister’s Statement 63-16(5): National Marketing Campaign

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment , Mr. Lafferty .

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Minister’s Statement 64-16(5): NWT Labour Force Development Framework 2010-2020

Ministers’ Statements

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. One of the key priorities of the 16th Legislative Assembly is a diversified economy that provides all communities and regions with opportunities and choices.

Labour force development, career counselling and employment supports are ways in which the Department of Education, Culture and Employment works toward achieving this priority. Today I wish to inform Members of some recent and new initiatives in this regard.

The department is working on an NWT Labour Force Development Framework that looks ahead to the next 10 years. This framework is for all labour market stakeholders in the Northwest Territories: business, industry in all levels of government, non-government organizations, employees, the unemployed and underrepresented in the workforce.

Over the past three months, the department has been consulting with our partners across the Northwest Territories to come up with a shared vision and common goals and objectives.

The framework is a guide for all labour market stakeholders. It is a tool for working in partnership and a guide to making decisions and coordinating limited resources.

As well, the framework builds a structure of monitoring and reporting so partners can measure successes and respond collectively to emerging labour market trends and key labour force challenges throughout the Territory.

The framework will guide regional labour force activities to help the Northwest Territories respond to economic opportunities through 2020 and beyond.

One initiative to support labour force development is the Small Community Employment Supports Program, which began in April 2010.

The committee on Sustainability of Rural and Remote Communities developed the Small Community Employment Supports Program. This is a $350,000 employment incentive program for employers in small and remote communities to provide employment opportunities for youth ages 15 to 29 during the summer season. The program provides youth an opportunity to gain work experience and acquire skills that lead to greater independence. Wage and training subsidies are available to employers offering essential employment skill development.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that 27 employers in 19 communities accessed the program, helping 98 youth. Strong communication

between regional ECE service centre staff and local community members built the success of this program.

In the fall and winter, funds will be available for youth who are out of school. This allows eligible employers to take full advantage of the program year round.

Mr. Speaker, the nature of the Small Community Employment Supports Program allows meaningful partnerships with private sector employers and non-government organizations. It is one example of how this government is preparing and developing for our future labour force. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister’s Statement 64-16(5): NWT Labour Force Development Framework 2010-2020

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Frame Lake , Ms. Bisaro .

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Assisted Living Accommodations For Adult Disabled Children

Members’ Statements

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I recently became aware of a growing problem in our health care system in my community here in Yellowknife, and in the NWT in general, and it’s important enough that I need to bring it to the attention of this House and the public.

I have constituents in my riding who are a family with a disabled adult child, one who needs supervision 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The parents are aging -- something we all do, unfortunately -- and they realize that at some point they will not long be able to care for their child at home.

In an effort to be proactive, to plan for the future, to establish some peace of mind for themselves in regard to their child’s welfare, about four years ago now they began to look for alternative accommodation for their child outside of their home. What is needed is assisted living, independent living with 24/7 supervision, and there are assisted living accommodations here in Yellowknife as well as in other NWT communities, but they are few and far between. From what I can gather, there are only about 12 or so places in Yellowknife that would suit this family’s needs, and all of these spaces are filled and will remain filled for the foreseeable future.

You can imagine the surprise, the consternation and the frustration of these parents when they learned after four years of being patient, of asking questions, investigating and following the protocols, when they learned that there is no assisted living space available for their child to move into in their home community, not now and not in the future.

The parents have been working cooperatively with the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority for the past four years, and now the authority has done all that it can to assist the family. But with no available housing, Yellowknife Health and Social Services can only leave the child on a wait-list.

This is an unacceptable situation, Mr. Speaker, for my constituents and for all adult disabled children living with aging parents. We cannot expect families to continue looking after their disabled children into old age. That’s not good for either the parents or the child.

The Department of Health and Social Services must show some initiative and get out ahead of this problem. The number of adult disabled children here in Yellowknife currently being cared for at home by aging parents, those children who need to transition to independent living, will only increase in the next 10 to 15 years. To avoid a crisis -- and I call placing these children in southern institutions a crisis -- the department must begin to work now to find appropriate housing for them.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

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Assisted Living Accommodations For Adult Disabled Children

Members’ Statements

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

The Department of Health and Social Services, working with the NWT Housing Corporation, can develop the necessary assisted living facilities for these vulnerable residents of our NWT society before it is too late.

I will have some questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services at the appropriate time. Thank you.

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Assisted Living Accommodations For Adult Disabled Children

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro . The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre , Mr. Hawkins .

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Proposed Revisions To Occupational Health And Safety Regulations

Members’ Statements

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Small and medium businesses are truly the breadbasket of our territorial economy. They are willing and able, and if I may say, resilient in their ways of finding just the right way of contributing to our North, whether it’s through their volunteerism or through their donations to the communities. But first and foremost, they are certainly one of the employers that are the building blocks of our North.

Mr. Speaker, outside of the government, without the small and medium businesses, our economy would be quite fledgling, and certainly the cost of living needs to be competitive. As such, they are always concerned when a new cost of doing business is being imposed on them without really good feedback and a chance to be involved.

Mr. Speaker, as many people will know, and certainly businesses will know, that WSCC is presenting rewriting their regulations and a number of businesses are certainly concerned about what is being proposed in these regulation changes. With approximately 400 pages in updated regulations, this is causing serious concern regarding those potential impacts, and are they being sourced out and considered.

Mr. Speaker, business has expressed serious concern. To name just a few: the new levels of potential required paperwork; remote access problems required and with notice and certainly continual notice when you are off-site – sorry; traditional site, maybe your business place, you have to go to a region, that is -- the new and expanded list of requirements that they are now paid to do day to day business as well as where are they going to get the staff to do these new things that the WSCC regulations keep dreaming up? Again, I shouldn’t forget the ever-increasing costs in the administration of the WSCC, certainly to these employers.

Mr. Speaker, the employers want to be part of an open and free dialogue when the consideration on these regulations is going forward. As I understand it, the extension period has been granted to them to allow some feedback, but the big concern, of course, with this, is the fact that are these regulation updates being thought through in a way that makes sense, or are they just a new administrative burden to small and medium business, which has a serious effect on things like our tax dollars and the people that they employ, which are certainly our voters.

Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of WSCC today, highlighting some of those concerns to ensure that we have some good, clear feedback and dialogue with everyone. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Proposed Revisions To Occupational Health And Safety Regulations

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe , Mr. Beaulieu .

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Seniors’ Housing Requirement In Tu Nedhe Constituency

Members’ Statements

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Caring for our seniors is an important activity in all of our communities, particularly in our smaller communities such as Lutselk’e and Fort Resolution.

Many families in these communities are already over-burdened with limited income and the high cost of living, so caring for senior family members on top of all of this can be tremendously challenging.

In Fort Resolution, the community has Our Great Elders Facility that can accommodate four seniors.

However, Mr. Speaker, this facility is not being utilized for residential use. This facility has been shut down for residential use and used by the Department of Health and Social Services to deliver home care.

However, I do feel the residents and the home care can coexist. This worked well in the past.

Mr. Speaker, last week I spoke about the government putting its needs before the needs of the communities. Here is another example. This facility was built under the social housing portfolio to house seniors. That is not what it is being used for today.

Mr. Speaker, in the past, Our Great Elders Facility was used for long-term care and then it was closed down due to policy changes by the Department of Health and Social Services.

Mr. Speaker, in Lutselk’e, the community has a four-unit building that houses four seniors. Although it is a great place for seniors to gather on a regular basis, the seniors have advised me that the community does not have enough adequate, suitable housing for the elders. The seniors have requested another four-unit facility be built as soon as possible.

Mr. Speaker, I recognize the seniors public housing is built by the NWT Housing Corporation in consultation with the Department of Health and Social Services. However, this would not be necessary in this case. The community is simply asking for another four residential units under the Public Housing Program to house seniors.

Mr. Speaker, in both communities of Tu Nedhe, the people want to see their seniors remain in the community as long as possible. The construction of a new senior citizens home in Lutselk’e and the repatriation of the four units in Our Great Elders Facility will go a long way to achieving this goal.

Later today I will have questions for the Minister of the NWT Housing Corporation . Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Seniors’ Housing Requirement In Tu Nedhe Constituency

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu . The honourable Member for Hay River South , Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Viability Of Pellet Mill In The NWT

Members’ Statements

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about the viability of a pellet mill in the Northwest Territories to manufacture pellets for wood-burning stoves and boilers.

Mr. Speaker, we have the trees. We have the sustainable inventory of trees. We have an increasing demand for pellets. We started off with a lot of residential pellet stoves and it was at that time somewhat more practical to bring in bags of pellets

to have them imported from Alberta and British Columbia. But, Mr. Speaker, as we all know, this government has undertaken numerous initiatives to convert buildings owned by the Government of the Northwest Territories to pellet burning boilers; this building being one of them, the schools in Hay River being another example, the North Slave Correctional Centre being another example.

Mr. Speaker, as this demand grows for pellets in the Northwest Territories, with our vast forest and our need for employment opportunities and economic ventures for our people, it is time that we get ahead of this demand and start working now to develop a pellet manufacturing business, and by doing so, not requiring us to import pellets for burning in the Northwest Territories.

As I said, the demand is increasing. Perhaps it’s not at a level yet today where the viability is all there for having a manufacturing facility in the Northwest Territories, but it would take a few months, years, to get something like this off the ground. So we need to be proactive, we need to think ahead, we need to put our money where our mouth is in terms of our commitment to green energy initiatives and get to work on this.

Later today, in question period, I’ll have questions for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources on where the research is within his department to ensure that we get a facility to manufacture pellets for the people of the Northwest Territories as soon as reasonably possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Viability Of Pellet Mill In The NWT

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . The honourable Member for Kam Lake , Mr. Ramsay .

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Rising Health Care Costs And Health Authority Deficits

Members’ Statements

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to speak about health care costs and the large deficits that are occurring across the various health authorities in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, I know full well that Stanton provides service and backup to other authorities. It only stands to reason that the deficit there would be the largest.

Mr. Speaker, since 2007, we have approved appropriations in this House earmarked for the deficit at Stanton to the tune of $18 million. The deficit at Stanton for ‘09-10 alone is $7 million. Mr. Speaker, at the end of this current fiscal year, in March of 2011, this deficit is proposed to come in near a number that I hope to get out of the Minister later in today’s proceedings.

The Minister likes to pull at the heartstrings of the Regular Members and the public by saying, well, we can’t cut services. Health care costs are rising

all over the country and it’s as if the Minister and the department are saying, how dare you question us, we’re looking after the health and well-being of the public.

Mr. Speaker, I understand and appreciate the challenges that the department and the Minister have, but my belief is that if we do not fix the system, the ongoing red ink is just not going to be sustainable, and it will ultimately force future governments into cutting valuable programs and services to the public. We will undoubtedly jeopardize our ability to look after the public if we do not take action now.

Since 2003 nothing has changed and no one seems to be listening. I’m not pointing my finger, Mr. Speaker, at Stanton alone; I’m pointing my finger at the Minister, who has failed in her three years at the helm to do anything about it.

Mr. Speaker, given what is at stake, the very well-being of the health of the public and residents here in the Northwest Territories, we need to ensure that we fund health authorities appropriately. We have to have a system in place that will best allow us to manage increasing health care costs. Mr. Speaker, we must collect on outstanding debts. Accounts receivable cannot continue to be a foreign concept to the Minister, the department and this government. Thank you very much.

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Rising Health Care Costs And Health Authority Deficits

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . The honourable Member for Nahendeh , Mr. Menicoche .

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Stand-Alone School In Trout Lake

Members’ Statements

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Mr. Speaker, once again, I raise the issue of a stand-alone school for the community of Trout Lake. During my recent visit in August, this item was a priority for the community. The education for children of Trout Lake is needed.

Over the past seven years as the MLA for Nahendeh, I have supported capital projects for schools and superschools. I believe now it is time to invest in our small communities and their educational needs. The old Charles Tetcho School burnt down many years ago. Currently, the existing Charles Tetcho School is located in the community recreation centre.

Government did promise a new school and this was to be a temporary measure. School-aged students in Trout Lake need a building where there can be more separation of grade levels to allow for different activities. I should also add, then, that a gymnasium attached to the school would benefit the students as they learn.

Learning starts in the home community and children need a safe and enjoyable place to learn. Thus, I

continue to support the community in their request for a new stand-alone school in Trout Lake and I will ask the Minister of Education questions on this matter later on in the proceeding.

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Stand-Alone School In Trout Lake

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche . The honourable Member for Great Slave , Mr. Abernethy .

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Facilitation Of Curated Shows For Northern Artists

Members’ Statements

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This past September I attended a number of events during NWT Arts Week here in Yellowknife. I have to say there were a lot of great events and a lot of great presentations.

As Northerners, I think we should be proud of the musicians, and the painters, and the authors, and the actors, and the craftspeople, and the carvers of the Northwest Territories. Quite frankly, the quality, and quantity, and diversity of the products that are out there are amazing. It’s simply amazing.

During the last week, a number of working sessions were facilitated by the Aurora Arts Society to discuss issues that are important to local and territorial artists.

One of the topics that was discussed at some of these focus group meetings was the need for artists to have their own work displayed in a curated show.

A curated show is usually one where a collection of items such as paintings are pulled together by professional bodies who are interested in displaying a certain style of body of work to highlight the cultural and/or historic significance or value. The body of work is usually researched and its significance is outlined as part of the presentation of the collection. This is not something done by a retail outfit; this is usually something done by a museum or professional fine arts gallery or curator.

There are significant advantages to both an artist that’s being displayed in the collection and the Northwest Territories as a whole, if curated shows were to be facilitated.

For example, although not a curated show, the Northern House was the closest thing that this government has done to facilitate a curated show for NWT artists. The benefits were obvious to the artists who received significant exposure. In addition, they were also significant to the NWT, as the interest in the arts and cultural activities were significant, resulting in high levels of attendance at the Northern House. This should translate over time into a greater number of visitors into the Northwest Territories.

Unfortunately, the GNWT does not currently facilitate any curated shows here in the Northwest Territories. There is significant mutually beneficial

opportunity here that this government should be taking advantage of. If this government were to facilitate some local curated shows, they could be circulated through a number of NWT communities. This would demonstrate the talent levels of the NWT and hopefully encourage more residents to participate. Further, the same curated shows could be sent to southern institutions, creating future interest in the Northwest Territories.

For the artists themselves, there are significant advantages. For example, currently the majority of NWT artists that are able to apply aren’t able to apply for support from Canada Council.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

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Facilitation Of Curated Shows For Northern Artists

Members’ Statements

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Currently the majority of NWT artists are unable to apply for support from Canada Council. One of the primary criteria for them is that an individual must have been involved in a curated show. By supporting curated shows here in the Northwest Territories, we are opening our local artists to significant opportunities on a national level through the Canada Council sponsored shows, training opportunities and international events. These, by default, increase the national and international awareness of the Northwest Territories, which is good for tourism. Support of our artists is a win-win scenario.

I’ll be asking the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment some questions on this topic later today.

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Facilitation Of Curated Shows For Northern Artists

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy . The honourable Member for Weledeh , Mr. Bromley .

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NWT Anti-Poverty Strategy

Members’ Statements

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We need to compliment the Premier ’s action towards an Anti-Poverty Strategy in a comprehensive and inclusive way. I attended the recent two-day No Place for Poverty Summit, working with 80 participants from 20 communities, municipal and territorial governments, service providers and the NWT’s foremost social justice advocates. I could not have been more impressed with the quality and breadth of participation and with the resulting unanimous recommendations.

Lessons shared at the workshop gave solid advice towards achieving best results. We learned that the most successful provincial efforts to develop anti-poverty strategies were those launched with the broadest participation of essential partners: government, business, civil society, and those in poverty. Most critically, bring together everyone to create buy-in and a common vision of the work ahead.

The workshop’s concluding messages were clear and I’ll repeat them here.

Eliminating poverty must be of the highest priority and the solutions must come from the community level, with full participation and inclusion. The Premier has created an internal steering committee to work with a small selection of advocates towards a framework.

Government will indeed need internal coordination and I am glad to hear that work is underway. Yet it’s clear from recent statements that the Premier will need to consider the summit conclusions and plan for an arm’s-length steering committee involved from the start for real success.

The other essential half of the fully cooperative process is ensuring that all those who come forward have a place in the first steps of design and that they have the resources they need to continue the process as full partners. As a government, we must ensure all partners are involved and that the coordination role is clearly recognized and funded by us to fuel their capacity.

An important and essential element recognized at the summit is business participation. Elimination of poverty will unleash the huge potential of citizens finally enabled to take

part in building a prosperous economy both as consumers and as workers. Provincial lessons emphasize that the business community has the will and the inspiration to help this work succeed. We must ensure business is at the table.

I’ll be asking the Premier questions today on how to ensure we develop the best Anti-Poverty Strategy in Canada.

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NWT Anti-Poverty Strategy

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bromley . The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta , Mr. Krutko .

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Coordinated

Schedule For Inuvik Regional Ferry Operations

Members’ Statements

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our public infrastructure includes our airports, highways and ferry operations in the movement of people and goods. The economic driver of our northern Territory is ensuring that these systems all work in conjunction with each other.

Time is money, from the time it takes a person to leave a community to go to a doctor’s appointment or travel to southern Canada. What we are finding with the ferry operations in the Inuvik region is that it’s having an impact and effect on the travelling public and their ability to make their connections at the Inuvik Airport to southern Canada for medical appointments, or for the overall travel of the public.

The time that the ferry operates for the travelling public on the Dempster Highway is... It leaves the

Inuvik side at 9:30. It gets to Fort McPherson and leaves there at 9:45. It travels to Tsiigehtchic, leaving there at 10:00. Then it’s back to Inuvik at 10:15. That doesn’t give you much time to make your connections out of Inuvik, which leave at 12:30. What we are finding is the travelling public has missed their international travel simply because of not making their connections out of the Inuvik Airport. This has a very important implication on the travellers to southern Canada and the cost associated with rebooking flights, having to overnight in Inuvik to catch the flight the following day.

I think it’s important that this government seriously looks at the overall ferry operations and the times that our ferry operates in the Northwest Territories. The ferry operations in the Northwest Territories start operations in Fort Providence at 6:00 a.m; Fort Liard at 8:00 a.m. I think it’s important that we do a better job to ensure the travelling public, when they do have travels, are able to coordinate their travel arrangements to make their connections to southern Canada, or their appointments at the doctor’s office, or to simply do their shopping and get home that evening.

I think it’s important that this government does everything it can to ensure we have a system that is coordinated and that people are able to make their arrangements.

At the appropriate time I have questions for the Minister of Transportation .

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Coordinated

Schedule For Inuvik Regional Ferry Operations

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko . Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Thebacha , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to be able to recognize Mr. Sonny McDonald, esteemed elder, one of the greatest carvers that we’ve had in the North, and a friend and constituent from the mighty constituency of Thebacha.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta , Mr. Krutko .

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Question 250-16(5): Coordinated

Schedule For Inuvik Regional Ferry Operations

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With regard to my Member’s statement, I know I’ve had this discussion with the Minister and he has heard it from the people in the Mackenzie Delta. It was an

issue at the Gwich’in Assembly. I’d like to ask the Minister if there is a possibility of ensuring that we have a realistic starting time for ferry operations in the Inuvik region, say 8:00. Right now it runs from 9:30 until 12:30 in the evening. Is there a possibility of moving that clock back to start at 8:00 in the morning and concluding ferry operations, say, at 11:30?

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Question 250-16(5): Coordinated

Schedule For Inuvik Regional Ferry Operations

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko . The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation , Mr. Michael McLeod .

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Question 250-16(5): Coordinated

Schedule For Inuvik Regional Ferry Operations

Oral Questions

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course it is possible. We could have that discussion.

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Question 250-16(5): Coordinated

Schedule For Inuvik Regional Ferry Operations

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Again, it’s too late for this ferry season to implement such an idea, but I’d like to ask the Minister if it’s possible for us to see the ferry operations for 2010-2011 taken into consideration so that we do bring our times in line with other ferry operations in the Northwest Territories similar to the ferry operation on the Liard River system, to coordinate it so that people know this is the time our ferries operate in the Northwest Territories. When we post it, people will know that they can have a reasonable time to travel and make their connections, and not put a barrier to the travelling public.

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Question 250-16(5): Coordinated

Schedule For Inuvik Regional Ferry Operations

Oral Questions

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

We have our ferry program to ease the barriers that are caused by our waterways and other obstacles that challenge us. Of course, there are certain times of year that address this. We have worked with other communities. We recently worked with the community of Wrigley on the Ndulee ferry to change time schedules. It was important for the community to have the ferry operating during daylight hours and it was also a safety issue for our workers, and we came to an agreement on that ferry program. We can certainly talk to the MLA and community members if there is a desire to see the ferry

schedule changed.

We are working on trying to change our ferry investment for next year so that the ferry will continue to operate longer into the season, and try to get the ice road up and running while we have a channel allowing our ferry to run. That’s something we’re still working towards.

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Question 250-16(5): Coordinated

Schedule For Inuvik Regional Ferry Operations

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

I believe that we also have to coordinate our efforts with the airport operations and the air carriers. I think that was the problem we ran into in Inuvik. The airlines did move their schedules back, especially First Air and Canadian North. A lot of people fly out on them and a lot of people depend on that connection. Because they changed their

schedule halfway through the summer season, it had an effect on the ferry travelling public.

I’d like to ask the Minister if he could somehow work with his department, work with the air carriers and the different communities to ensure we are giving them enough time to get to their connections out of the important regional airports, whether it’s in the North or the South. I’d like to ask the Minister to also take that into consideration when he makes his decision.

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Question 250-16(5): Coordinated

Schedule For Inuvik Regional Ferry Operations

Oral Questions

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

There are a couple things, of course, that really challenge us. One is the weather. We don’t have control over that. The other issue, of course, is the carriers are allowed to decide what schedules they want. We can relay the concern that the Member is raising, but outside of that, there’s really little we can do to change flight schedules and things of that nature. However, if there are any concerns, we can certainly pass those on to the carriers.

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Question 250-16(5): Coordinated

Schedule For Inuvik Regional Ferry Operations

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko .

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Question 250-16(5): Coordinated

Schedule For Inuvik Regional Ferry Operations

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One thing the Minister does have control over is the time

schedule of the ferry operations. I’d like him to seriously consider moving the ferry operations to 8:00 a.m. so that people will have the opportunity to do their work during the day, travel to Inuvik, make their appointment, get back home or even make their appointments to fly into southern Canada. You do have the power, you do have the means; all I ask is that you start the ferry operations in the Inuvik region at 8:00 a.m. starting next season.

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Question 250-16(5): Coordinated

Schedule For Inuvik Regional Ferry Operations

Oral Questions

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

We will incorporate the Daylight Savings Time

schedule for the ferries. We have already started working on other ferry services to change the hours so that they can take advantage of the daylight that we have, and that, of course, is becoming shorter every day. We also have to take into consideration that there are safety issues. We have to be mindful of ice buildup and we have to be able to have clear visibility at all times. Those things we’ll take into consideration, we’ll talk to the community leaders in the Member’s area and also have an opportunity to connect with the Member himself. Thank you.

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Question 250-16(5): Coordinated

Schedule For Inuvik Regional Ferry Operations

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Weledeh , Mr. Bromley .

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Question 251-16(5): NWT Anti-Poverty Strategy

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Premier as Minister of the Executive . The first question I have is: I want to start by saying that I appreciate that the Premier has appointed the internal working group to begin examining the issue of poverty towards developing a framework for action. The suite of territorial participants at the recent summit unanimously concluded that the first step in

attacking poverty must be development of a coordinated, cross-government and society approach. Has the Premier heard yet from this working group about these conclusions? Thank you.

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Question 251-16(5): NWT Anti-Poverty Strategy

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bromley . The honourable Premier , Mr. Roland .

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Question 251-16(5): NWT Anti-Poverty Strategy

Oral Questions

Inuvik Boot Lake

Floyd Roland

Premier

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, I have not heard yet from the working group. Thank you.

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Question 251-16(5): NWT Anti-Poverty Strategy

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Successful provincial anti-poverty strategies were developed under the guidance of representatives from across society, including people living in poverty, to guide the work. Recognizing that many of the dedicated groups doing this work off the sides of desks are already consumed with efforts on their respective mandates, will the Premier commit to providing initial funding for the steering committee to bring non-government organization poverty reps to the table with business and other partners as they develop the approaches required to move this initiative forward as per the conclusion of the workshop? Thank you.

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Question 251-16(5): NWT Anti-Poverty Strategy

Oral Questions

Inuvik Boot Lake

Floyd Roland

Premier

Mr. Speaker, I’d have to look at the budget that we had set up for the work that’s being looked at. One of the other things is the fact we’re trying to be as inclusive as possible from around the whole Territory and have other people work with us as we move forward on the Anti-Poverty Strategy. I will have to look at the budget to see what is available. Thank you.

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Question 251-16(5): NWT Anti-Poverty Strategy

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

I think it was appreciated that members of the internal working group were there and they, clearly, participated in those unanimous conclusions. I’m sure the Premier is hearing from the working group about that.

Business is an essential partner at the table and they can contribute to the work and enjoy the rewards of both consumers and workers as noted. Will the Premier commit to assisting in the development of the steering committee towards bringing business to the table at the start of this work? Thank you.

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Question 251-16(5): NWT Anti-Poverty Strategy

Oral Questions

Inuvik Boot Lake

Floyd Roland

Premier

We have started our discussion, following some questions by Members, around the makeup of that and are looking at including some of the business community as well as the Department of ITI. So we’ve started to have those discussions on bringing the business side in. Thank you.

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Question 251-16(5): NWT Anti-Poverty Strategy

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland . Your final supplementary, Mr. Bromley .

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Question 251-16(5): NWT Anti-Poverty Strategy

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Premier for that. I’m sure the conclusions of the workshop, again, will help address that as well.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, there is much work ahead, far more than can be achieved by the 16th Assembly. The time remaining to us will enable us to make a good start and to give the future Assembly what it needs to carry this forward. In what ways will the Premier ensure that efforts will include working collaboratively with the broadest representation of outside advocates to develop the framework for a strategy and its priority recommendation for continued development by the 17th Assembly? Mahsi.

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Question 251-16(5): NWT Anti-Poverty Strategy

Oral Questions

Inuvik Boot Lake

Floyd Roland

Premier

The process we have established, the work that is being done, we’ll have to look at that, look at the inclusion of the business sector as well, trying to bring in as many of the groups from around the Territory as we do this work, and, of course, coming back to Members as a follow-up as we continue on in this process.

As the Member stated, in preparation for doing our work and leading up to what the 17th Assembly may

be looking at or what they may implement, we will have to look at how we include this work in our transition work that’s going to happen. Thank you.

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Question 251-16(5): NWT Anti-Poverty Strategy

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland . The honourable Member for Great Slave , Mr. Abernethy .

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Question 252-16(5): Facilitation Of Curated Shows For Northern Artists

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement I talked about the opportunity that we have with respect to curated shows for northern artists. This is a win-win opportunity, a win for northern artists, but also a win for the Government of the Northwest Territories. To take advantage of this win, I think it’s going to take a partnership between ITI and Education, Culture and Employment, but I only get to ask questions of one Minister so I’m going to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment some questions.

As I said in my statement, there are significant opportunities to displaying and facilitating curated shows in the Northwest Territories. Can the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment tell me what is being done, or has anything been done in the Northwest Territories, to work with northern artists to display curated shows here in the Northwest Territories, to develop a collection of northern art, take it around the Northwest Territories and, hopefully, take it to the south as well? Has anything been done to that regard? Thank you.

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Question 252-16(5): Facilitation Of Curated Shows For Northern Artists

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy . The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment , Mr. Lafferty .

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Question 252-16(5): Facilitation Of Curated Shows For Northern Artists

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. As the Assembly knows, we have

increased our funding to arts and performers, a total of approximately $770,000 over 2009-10 and 2010-11. There have been some various activities that happened in the Northwest Territories and outside the Northwest Territories. I can certainly provide the list to the Member, because it is a long list, but I can touch on just a few of them.

We have sponsored an entry into the Northern Festival Presenters Conference in Yellowknife, March 2010; we had Aklavik Gwich’in Dancers, Arctic Winter Games, in Grande Prairie; the NWT Arts Council contributed to 19 performers for professional development; and the list goes on, Mr. Speaker, the music recording projects in seven communities in the Northwest Territories and the northern arts mentorship contribution to three musicians in three communities.

As we move forward we continue to sponsor our great athletes and also performers in the Northwest Territories. As an example, Halifax 2011 Canada Winter Games; National Arts Program activities for February 2011. Those are some of the activities that the youth and performers will be attending that we are sponsoring as well. Thank you.

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Question 252-16(5): Facilitation Of Curated Shows For Northern Artists

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

I’d like to thank the Minister for that. I’m in no way knocking any of the things we’re doing, and I think this government is doing an awful lot with respect to arts.

During the Arts Week I had a number of artists in the Northwest Territories say how grateful they are for the increased level of support that we’re providing. But I’m talking about something specific here. I’m talking about a curated show. The advantage to that is that if we facilitate a curated show for our northern artists, then our northern artists have an opportunity to take advantage of programs that the Canada Council offers and provides. Through Canada Council they can go on international tours, they can get other training, and they can have their art, northern art, displayed in national galleries. Right now we can’t do that.

What we need to do is we need to facilitate a curated show where we could bring in art, we could create a theme and we could do it. An official curated show creates huge opportunity. That’s what I’m talking about, Mr. Speaker, and I’m wondering if the Minister could tell me if we could move in that direction and maybe we can get his department, in cooperation with ITI, to organize some curated shows here in the Northwest Territories that will really benefit our northern artists and take them to a whole other level. Thank you.

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Question 252-16(5): Facilitation Of Curated Shows For Northern Artists

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, those are the types of discussions that we need to have between ITI and ECE along with the Members. We’ve had various activities and shows displayed at the museums in different communities, whether it be from Scotland where we have Tlicho artefacts there that were brought to the Northwest Territories

and brought to the communities as a mobile trade show.

Mr. Speaker, this is an area that I need to talk with my colleague from ITI on how we can approach this, because we need to visit our communities, what kind of performers or the arts display that we need to highlight. Those are the discussions that we can certainly have. We did touch on it in the past, on how we can approach this, so maybe we can revive that discussion. Mahsi.

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Question 252-16(5): Facilitation Of Curated Shows For Northern Artists

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

That’s fantastic news and I hope that you do re-engage those conversations.

Just for the record, the Minister was talking about the shows coming into the North from other locations. That is exactly what I am talking about, but I am talking about going the other way. I am talking about taking our product out to the people of the Northwest Territories. If the Minister could give me a bit of a timeline when those conversations might happen, I would certainly like to be involved in them as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 252-16(5): Facilitation Of Curated Shows For Northern Artists

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, definitely we need to reach out to other jurisdictions as well, such as the Vancouver Olympics. It was a very true success. We showcased the Northwest Territories. Our own artists and performers there were very successful. We will continue to promote that.

The time frame, we can say maybe sometime after this session we can sit down and discuss with the Member on how to best approach this initiative. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 252-16(5): Facilitation Of Curated Shows For Northern Artists

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . Final supplementary, Mr. Abernethy .

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Question 252-16(5): Facilitation Of Curated Shows For Northern Artists

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is all great. I have just one more suggestion to the Minister.

The upper gallery in the museum, there is a long walkway where they have held a number of shows. Just in the past week, I attended a photo show that was there. It is a prime location where a curated show could be facilitated.

I was wondering if I could get the Minister to commit to having the museum actually do some research on what the criteria are for a candidate counsel for something to be considered a curated show so that we can take advantage of that long hallway, and maybe with very little expense we can actually start having curated shows here in Yellowknife, which could be taken out, but let’s start somewhere. Let’s get some of these shows up on our wall. Let’s support our northern artists. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 252-16(5): Facilitation Of Curated Shows For Northern Artists

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, the museum invited the Member to attend or have a tour. I believe that occurred, or will occur. This is an area that interests us as well. If there is space

availability, then, definitely, we should showcase our northern arts and arts and crafts and whatnot.

Mr. Speaker, definitely we need to discuss this further with the museum and my colleague as well. Mahsi.

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Question 252-16(5): Facilitation Of Curated Shows For Northern Artists

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . The honourable Member for Nahendeh , Mr. Menicoche .

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Question 253-16(5): Stand-Alone School For Trout Lake

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to follow up on my Member’s statement with regard to pursuing a new school for the community of Trout Lake. I raised this in the House before and we worked with the Minister and they did do some upgrades to the existing facility that is there. I would like to ask the Minister, Mr. Speaker, about what plans are in place currently with his department to look at replacing the school in Trout Lake. Thank you very much.

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Question 253-16(5): Stand-Alone School For Trout Lake

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche . The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment , Mr. Lafferty .

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Question 253-16(5): Stand-Alone School For Trout Lake

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. At the current time we are working closely with PWS on the particular school in Trout Lake. There has been some work done on inspections. It took place over the summer of 2010 that identified a VFA inspection. Also, PWS will be visiting the school to review the program space and speak with the building users. That is the ongoing work that we are currently having.

I will be visiting the Member’s riding. I have been invited by the Member, so I am looking forward to looking at the school as well, to see what is out there and we can discuss further at that level. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 253-16(5): Stand-Alone School For Trout Lake

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Mr. Speaker, certainly the residents of Trout Lake are looking forward to the Minister’s visits to see the concerns and hear the concerns from the community. They have many young children and the chief has indicated that we have to fulfill their future needs. Once again, based on the baseline work that the department is going to do, how soon can they provide an assessment to look at including a school in Trout Lake in the capital planning process, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

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Question 253-16(5): Stand-Alone School For Trout Lake

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, this particular school, we need to have more detailed analysis. A planning study needs to be in place. We need to identify what the needs of the school are in the community. That is definite. We need to work on that. Next year’s capital planning process we can discuss further as we move forward. This could be part of the capital planning process for the following year. Mr. Speaker, this is an area that I can work closely with the Member and also the PWS Minister . Mahsi.

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Question 253-16(5): Stand-Alone School For Trout Lake

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement I spoke about we build a lot, and many large schools and superschools here in the North. It’s time to concentrate on our small communities. In fact, there was a previous commitment by our government to replace the Charles Tetcho School in Trout Lake. I make it a point, and I will make it again, that it is currently in the recreation centre, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister and the planners take that into account, that this existing location is not a school, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

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Question 253-16(5): Stand-Alone School For Trout Lake

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, that would be the discussion that we need to have with the various parties that we have mentioned earlier. Like I said, we are going to the community, meeting with the superintendent, the staff and the principal and the school itself. Definitely, those are the areas that are of great interest to us as well. Coming from a small community, we are not ignoring them. It is part of the capital planning process. We need to plan for next year in the planning process. Mr. Speaker, the planning study is an area that we need to discuss.

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Question 253-16(5): Stand-Alone School For Trout Lake

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche .

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Question 253-16(5): Stand-Alone School For Trout Lake

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the important thing here is -- if I can ask the Minister to raise it with his colleagues in Cabinet -- we have to start looking at our small communities and provide for their educational needs and start working towards that as a strategy at the next capital planning process, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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Question 253-16(5): Stand-Alone School For Trout Lake

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, yes, this will be a topic of discussion, for sure. There is also, going to the Deh Cho region, Simpson, on December 7th and 8th , the Aboriginal Student

Achievement Initiative. This is the topic of discussion we are having relating to schools, infrastructure and the programming. This is the discussion that we will continue to have this year.

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Question 253-16(5): Stand-Alone School For Trout Lake

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . The honourable Member for Kam Lake , Mr. Ramsay .

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Question 254-16(5): Rising Health Care Costs And Health Authority Deficits

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Health and Social Services . It gets back to my Member’s statement from earlier today and one I made last week pertaining to deficits being run up at the various health authorities across the Northwest Territories.

In the past three years, the Minister said she has been in her position as Minister of Health and Social Services and brought in new management teams and a new DM. She has also brought in deficit-fighting plans that never seem to see the

light of day and aren’t being implemented whatsoever. I would like to ask the Minister, the first question I have -- and again I don’t want to be very specific to Stanton, although that is where the biggest deficit is -- is: What is the projected deficit at Stanton Territorial Health Authority come March 2011 and what is the system-wide deficit for the health authorities on March 2011? Thank you.

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Question 254-16(5): Rising Health Care Costs And Health Authority Deficits

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services , Ms. Lee .

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Question 254-16(5): Rising Health Care Costs And Health Authority Deficits

Oral Questions

Range Lake

Sandy Lee

Minister of Health and Social Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The projected deficit for Stanton at the end of 2011 is $10,185,663 and the system-wide deficit projected for 2011 is $16,860,299. Thank you.

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Question 254-16(5): Rising Health Care Costs And Health Authority Deficits

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure where the Minister is getting that information. That is not the same information that was provided to Regular Members. Perhaps she is doing some creative subtraction when she is trying to arrive at that number. Where exactly is she getting those numbers that she is providing the House with? Thank you.

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Question 254-16(5): Rising Health Care Costs And Health Authority Deficits

Oral Questions

Range Lake

Sandy Lee

Minister of Health and Social Services

Mr. Speaker, I answered the question the Member asked, which is what is the projected deficit for Stanton and the system-wide deficit at the end of 2010-11. I don’t know what information he has. Maybe he is thinking about accumulated deficit.

Obviously, this is a number that we are projecting. Mr. Speaker, this is a serious matter that I am willing to discuss and exchange information with the Member on. I don’t think anybody is doing any creative math here. All the facts are out. We presented to the Members on the other side all the information we have. Thank you.

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Question 254-16(5): Rising Health Care Costs And Health Authority Deficits

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Mr. Speaker, much of the deficit at Stanton and across the various health authorities relates back to poor billing practices and an inability for the government to collect on accounts receivable. I’d like to ask the Minister if she could provide the House with current numbers on accounts receivable or for Stanton Territorial Health Authority and the system in its entirety. Thank you.

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Question 254-16(5): Rising Health Care Costs And Health Authority Deficits

Oral Questions

Range Lake

Sandy Lee

Minister of Health and Social Services

The Member is right; the accounts receivable is one of the factors, but it’s not the biggest or the largest cost driver. I’m pleased to advise the House that it’s this government and this Minister that has signed an agreement. We have now a written agreement with the Nunavut government. We negotiated for two years and we signed in February of 2010. Most of the receivables we have with Nunavut are current. We have an outstanding amount with respect to Nunavut residents we have in extended care, because there were no real written agreements for the last 10 years. So we have finalized that, we have moved forward.

There are a number of steps. The Member is right when he said in his Member’s statement that unless we change the system, we will have a sustainability problem. That’s what I’ve been saying for the last year. We’re working on system change for sustainability. The deficit is not just about dollars, it’s about how we run our system and we need to make sure... And I’m not playing on the heartstrings of anybody; I think that nobody here has any tolerance for reducing services, nor do the people out there.

So it is really important that we make system changes so that our resources are used efficiently and that our resources are allocated appropriately and all of the management in the department, all of the authorities, all of the chairs and CEOs are very engaged in seeing how we move forward on that. Thank you.

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Question 254-16(5): Rising Health Care Costs And Health Authority Deficits

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee . Your final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay .

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Question 254-16(5): Rising Health Care Costs And Health Authority Deficits

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that. I guess I haven’t been here as long as I have been, seven years. I’m very sceptical when it comes to any Minister of Health and Social Services standing up in this House saying that anything is going to happen. I’ve heard it from former Ministers, I’ve heard it from this Minister. The bottom line, Mr. Speaker, is nothing has happened and I know the Minister has embarked on this Foundation for Change and I wish her well in that and I hope that does answer some questions, but I believe wholeheartedly that it’s a system-wide fix that we need here.

I’d like to ask the Minister if the department and the Government of the Northwest Territories are intent on looking at how we deliver health care in the Northwest Territories, and the current makeup of our authority system, and whether or not, given the impact on cost and the escalation on cost, are we looking at a model that is going to be more conducive to ensuring that what dollars we have to spend on health are going to get spent efficiently and effectively. Thank you.

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Question 254-16(5): Rising Health Care Costs And Health Authority Deficits

Oral Questions

Range Lake

Sandy Lee

Minister of Health and Social Services

The Member is exactly right in what he’s saying and I want to let the Member know that, in fact, a lot is being done. It’s not correct to say that nothing’s being done. We are looking at the governance model and we will have a proposal on that in the spring. We are reviewing the business process design, because we want to right size the budget for the authorities. We’re reviewing the Medical Travel Program, which is one of the biggest cost drivers in terms of deficit, with increasing demands all the time. So we don’t want to reduce service, but we want to see how we can do that better.

Physicians are involved in the physician service review, which is our largest cost driver. So there are lots of reviews being done with a view of how do we change the system in a smart way, in a seamless

way and a productive way, so that we don’t shock the system, but that we make long-term changes. So the Foundation for Change, the three pillars there are sustainability, wellness and access, because we need to work on all three together. Thank you.

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Question 254-16(5): Rising Health Care Costs And Health Authority Deficits

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee . The honourable Member for Hay River South , Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Question 255-16(5): Viability Of Pellet Mill In The NWT

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said in my Member’s statement today, I want to talk about viability of a pellet mill for the Northwest Territories, and my questions will be directed to the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources .

Mr. Speaker, a certain amount of the viability of a pellet mill would depend on the sustainable availability of product to harvest to bring to make pellets with. I would like to ask the Minister if he could update this House on what is being done within his department to determine that there are sufficient inventories to make a project such as this viable within our borders. Thank you.

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Question 255-16(5): Viability Of Pellet Mill In The NWT

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . The honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Question 255-16(5): Viability Of Pellet Mill In The NWT

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have been doing a number of things. As we look at the biomass sector, we have a fledgling market being built and we are looking at value-added down the road. We’ve proceeded with and continue to do inventories in the South Slave and the Deh Cho. Up the Valley we’ve been looking at areas such as fast-growing willows in terms of potential supply for biomass. We’ve brought in consultants to look at, in fact, the viability of setting up our own industry to create the pellets.

As well, we have this concept of a wood marshalling yard that we’re looking at for certain parts of the Territory where we may be able to form a hub with access to supply and a market nearby where we could build up, in fact, a sufficient quantity to make a pellet industry viable. Thank you.

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Question 255-16(5): Viability Of Pellet Mill In The NWT

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Being from Hay River where we have had a functioning, operating sawmill for many, many years, one of the problems we know that was often encountered, an obstacle that made it difficult to keep enough product coming in and harvested to keep that sawmill going was the whole issue of access because of unresolved land use plans, unresolved land claims, that a lot of this material would need to be harvested is in areas where claims are not settled and there was often opposition raised to harvesting the product. What has the Minister done or researched to assure

himself that access issues would not continue to be an obstacle or preclude such a thing from happening in the Territories? Thank you.

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Question 255-16(5): Viability Of Pellet Mill In The NWT

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

The Member points out a key challenge and that is the issue of access to a sustainable supply. We’ve been working at concepts that would allow partnerships with aboriginal governments, with the landholders of the area, possibly with the concept of the wood marshalling yard, for example, but that’s one of the challenges. The other one is you want to make sure you’re located close to the supply. Some of the best timber that we do have and best forests for a viable pellet industry, for example, would be in the Deh Cho. There is a market right here in Yellowknife, and in the South Slave it is very significant.

As well, there are forest products here in the Providence area, the Hay River South Slave area. We have a number of challenges, but most of the boreal forest tends to be in unsettled claims areas, so it is a factor that has to be resolved. Thank you.

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Question 255-16(5): Viability Of Pellet Mill In The NWT

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

I am glad to hear that the government is looking for ways to create partnerships and secure buy-in from different governments from different areas of the South Slave.

Mr. Speaker, is the government looking for a proponent so that such an operation would be honed and managed and operated by a private enterprise, or is the government thinking about getting into the pellet manufacturing business themselves? Thank you.

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Question 255-16(5): Viability Of Pellet Mill In The NWT

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

The government is not contemplating now or I don’t anticipate in the future getting into the pellet manufacturing business, but what we would see doing is what we have done and continue to do through ITI and economic development support programs we have is to hopefully get a proponent that would be able to partner up with an aboriginal government that has access to supply and be able to have a business venture that would be viable and stand-alone when it comes to looking at the pellet industry. Thank you.

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Question 255-16(5): Viability Of Pellet Mill In The NWT

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Question 255-16(5): Viability Of Pellet Mill In The NWT

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister kind of already went into the last part of my question. That would be the collaboration, cooperation with ITI so that when the information is available about the availability of the biomass of the product of the harvest and the sustainability of that, which would be under the Minister of ENR ’s purview, then to work with ITI to look at the viability from the economic side, the size of the market, what we’d have to sell the product for in order to make it competitive with importing it from other jurisdictions and all those sorts of things. Perhaps the Minister could tell me how closely, what kind of

communications, what kind of work has been done with ITI to identify where there would be sufficient resources. This is a very capital-intensive operation to get this going and, obviously, nobody in the private sector is going to have the resources to take a risk on something that will not be supported and ongoing for quite a number of years.

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Question 255-16(5): Viability Of Pellet Mill In The NWT

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

The Minister of ITI is also the chair of the Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee which provides oversight to this area as well as all the other energy initiatives that we have underway. As well, we have spent a lot of time trying to build a market with our investments in biomass with the schools, the jails, the health centres that are all going onto biomass. The encouragement with communities to do energy plans as well as individuals to switch to pellet stoves. Those combined factors and the Minister of ITI wearing two hats.

I as well, as the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources , sit on that Energy Coordinating Committee. We’re having ongoing discussions as we look at the aspect of building a supply so we can have that value-added in the Northwest Territories.

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Question 255-16(5): Viability Of Pellet Mill In The NWT

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe , Mr. Beaulieu .

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Question 256-16(5): Seniors’ Housing Requirements In Tu Nedhe Constituency

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I spoke about the need to provide adequate and suitable seniors’ housing in Fort Resolution and Lutselk’e. I have questions for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation .

The understanding of the difference in market communities for seniors when they’re finished utilizing their home can sell it and make hundreds of thousands of dollars in small communities, the unit is usually transferred to one of the family members that doesn’t have accommodation. Can the Minister tell me if the NWT Housing Corporation has a plan to address seniors’ housing and senior citizens’ homes in non-market communities?

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Question 256-16(5): Seniors’ Housing Requirements In Tu Nedhe Constituency

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu . The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation , Mr. Robert McLeod .

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Question 256-16(5): Seniors’ Housing Requirements In Tu Nedhe Constituency

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Part of it is related to the needs survey. We would try to allocate funding according to the most need. I can assure the Member that the Housing Corporation is doing, and will continue to do, whatever it can to ensure that seniors across the Northwest Territories are well cared for.

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Question 256-16(5): Seniors’ Housing Requirements In Tu Nedhe Constituency

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Will the Minister commit to discussing the usage of Our Great Elders Facility in Fort Resolution with the Department of Health and

Social Services to accommodate both the Home Care Program and for potential seniors tenants?

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Question 256-16(5): Seniors’ Housing Requirements In Tu Nedhe Constituency

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

It was an interesting meeting we had in Fort Resolution, a very good meeting we had with the seniors in Our Great Elders Facility. They did raise the concern about the usage of that facility. I had a preliminary discussion with the Minister of Health and Social Services upon my return. The Housing Corporation do own the infrastructure and there is some concern in the community that this infrastructure is not being used as well as it should be. I’ve had some discussions to talk to the appropriate parties about how we can best make use of the whole facility.

If that includes the four seniors units that are in there, then we’d be more than willing to have that discussion and possibly fill the four units.

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Question 256-16(5): Seniors’ Housing Requirements In Tu Nedhe Constituency

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Will the Minister review the needs in Lutselk’e with the aim of providing four additional seniors units to house the seniors in Lutselk’e?

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Question 256-16(5): Seniors’ Housing Requirements In Tu Nedhe Constituency

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

We’re all reviewing the needs of tenants and residents across the Northwest Territories. I will commit to the Member, and I’m actually going into the community of Lutselk’e with the Member and have an opportunity to meet with the leadership there. I’m sure they’ll share a lot of the same concerns. With that in mind, we’re always reviewing how we put units on the ground and this is going to be another opportunity to do that.

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Question 256-16(5): Seniors’ Housing Requirements In Tu Nedhe Constituency

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Beaulieu .

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Question 256-16(5): Seniors’ Housing Requirements In Tu Nedhe Constituency

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Prior to the Minister and I travelling into Lutselk’e -- and we also went to Fort Resolution -- will the Minister commit to having his staff begin an immediate dialogue with the Lutselk’e Housing Authority and the Fort Resolution Housing Authority to provide more appropriate seniors’ housing in both communities?

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Question 256-16(5): Seniors’ Housing Requirements In Tu Nedhe Constituency

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Before I do that I would like to commit to the Member that I will start the dialogue with the leadership in Lutselk’e and then have discussions with the housing authority and the Lutselk’e Dene First Nation on some of the talks that we’ve had. Then once that’s completed, we’ll see where we go from there. If there’s a need for staff to have further discussion, then I’ll commit to the Member that I’d be willing to direct them to do that.

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Question 256-16(5): Seniors’ Housing Requirements In Tu Nedhe Constituency

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre , Mr. Hawkins .

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Question 257-16(5): Proposed Revisions To Occupational Health And Safety Regulations

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I talked about the WSCC regulations and the concerns that the regulations won’t take into consideration the feelings and worries of industry, both small and medium. As I highlighted continually, that small and medium industry certainly is our breadbasket in our economy and if we don’t do everything we can to keep them competitive, it makes it very challenging for them to keep up and running.

My question to the Minister is: I understand that the WSCC has extended its feedback deadline, which certainly has been received positively. However, the key to feedback is the WSCC’s willingness to discuss or even accept observation and comments from industry. What assurance is the Minister able to give to industry, business and employers that their feedback will be considered and won’t be a waste of their time?

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Question 257-16(5): Proposed Revisions To Occupational Health And Safety Regulations

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . The honourable Minister responsible for the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission, Mr. Robert McLeod .

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Question 257-16(5): Proposed Revisions To Occupational Health And Safety Regulations

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can assure the Member that any feedback is not a waste of time. I can assure him that in the February meeting of the committee they will take all correspondence that they’ve had, all consultation, all feedback that they’ve had and do a

summary and provide written correspondence to those that submitted the recommendations. Then they will continue to consult with them and make sure that all their input is taken. I can assure the Member that the input is taken quite seriously.

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Question 257-16(5): Proposed Revisions To Occupational Health And Safety Regulations

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

I want to thank the Minister for that answer. That’s the type of answer they’re certainly looking for, is that the WSCC will listen and certainly evaluate, if not consider their response.

The other problem with changes to the regulations is the reality that changes mean money. One of the big fears is the cost of any of these potential regulations that will be happening. May I remind this House, and the Minister knows this, that there are almost 400 pages of regulations being updated. What is the WSCC doing to ensure that the administrative burden is not being ploughed down onto industry when they’re able to afford it least? What are they doing to ensure that we’re looking at stabilizing and ensuring that costs will remain the same for industry through this regulatory update?

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Question 257-16(5): Proposed Revisions To Occupational Health And Safety Regulations

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

I’d like to remind the Member that this is still a draft. We’re still consulting. As far as costs, we won’t have an idea of what the costs may be until after the whole

consultation process is done and the report is then brought to the Minister for his review, my review, then to see if any further consultation is required. We’ll take the necessary steps to ensure that all the voices are heard, as far as this goes. I can assure the Member that we’re in a draft process right now and we don’t have an idea of what the potential costs might be.

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Question 257-16(5): Proposed Revisions To Occupational Health And Safety Regulations

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

I appreciate the Minister’s answer. As I’ve highlighted a few times in this House this term and certainly the last term, my concern about red tape and a red-tape bureaucracy, and B.C. has a red-tape Minister. If they bring in a new regulation, they have to take away two. The point being is they don’t want to continue burdening industry as well as the everyday person with more rules and unnecessary regulations.

The Minister had said this is a draft and I’ll accept his statement that it is a draft. My concern is the draft will roll into this is the way it will be before costing out these regulations. Will the Minister be able to commit to this House or provide direction or guidance on this issue, which is there will be costing out of these regulations before an implementation is put into place and allow some discussions so that people have a good idea of what may or may not be happening and be able to provide some feedback before anything does get locked down for who knows how long before the next review?

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Question 257-16(5): Proposed Revisions To Occupational Health And Safety Regulations

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

I can assure the Member and ministry out there that it would not be my intent as Minister of WSCC to proceed with the regulations until all stakeholders have had an opportunity to have one last comment on it. Then as far as the financial part of it, those would need to be worked out. I can assure the Member that this is not something we will just implement without seeking feedback.

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Question 257-16(5): Proposed Revisions To Occupational Health And Safety Regulations

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins .

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Question 257-16(5): Proposed Revisions To Occupational Health And Safety Regulations

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 257-16(5): Proposed Revisions To Occupational Health And Safety Regulations

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

The honourable Member for Frame Lake , Ms. Bisaro .

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Question 258-16(5): Assisted Living Accommodations For Adult Disabled Children

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are addressed to the Minister of Health and Social Services . I spoke in my statement about the lack of facilities for adult disabled children who need to move out of their parents’ home and into assisted living or independent living. The impact of the situation on families is huge when they have no space that they can move into. For this family of constituents of mine, this is their home community. Yellowknife is

where they’ve been for some 30-plus years. They want to stay in their community. They want their child to be able to stay in the community that is their home. They live and work here. If their child happens to go someplace else, they really don’t have an option to move because they are living and working here.

I would like to ask the Minister a couple of questions in regards to facilities or the lack thereof. Does the Minister or will the Minister acknowledge that there is a space problem for adult disabled children needing assisted living? What is the responsibility of the government to provide assisted living for our vulnerable peoples?

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Question 258-16(5): Assisted Living Accommodations For Adult Disabled Children

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro . The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services , Ms. Lee .

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Question 258-16(5): Assisted Living Accommodations For Adult Disabled Children

Oral Questions

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think we should not forget that this Assembly and this government is the first to invest into a built-for and custom-designed assisted living facility for persons with disabilities. In this year’s budget we’re spending $2.5 million for a complex in Hay River. That’s a territorial facility and that was one of the largest capital investments that we had on the books for the Department of Health and Social Services.

We also spent a sizeable budget in Yellowknife and other areas, to help families with persons with disabilities. I do appreciate that, as is the case with many things in Health and Social Services, the demand exceeds the supply, but I do take a bit of exception when the Member says the department is not doing anything. We have gone further than I’ve seen in 10 years in this area.

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Question 258-16(5): Assisted Living Accommodations For Adult Disabled Children

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thanks to the Minister. I have to say that I don’t believe those were my words, but that may have been how they were interpreted.

I do commend the government for the work that has been done to provide assisted living facilities, but there is an evident need, particularly in the city of Yellowknife where about 50 percent of our population lives. We do have an expanding population of adult disabled children who need supervision and need assisted living. I’d like to ask the Minister what the department’s plans are for the future. How will the department accommodate those adult disabled children who need assisted living in Yellowknife? How will that happen in five years from now or, actually, how about next year? Thank you.

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Question 258-16(5): Assisted Living Accommodations For Adult Disabled Children

Oral Questions

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Two points to that, one is that Yellowknife has more assisted living beds than any community in the Territories. The second is that, Mr. Speaker, the Member knows that we do our budgets together. It’s not the department alone that sets out this budget.

I agree with the Member that this is an issue that we need to plan for. That’s one of the reasons why the department has worked to finish the long-term care facilities plan for the next 20 years, which has not been done before. The long-term care unit is not just for seniors, it’s for anybody who needs long-term care. I agree with the Member, this is an issue for every jurisdiction in Canada