Debates of Feb. 23rd, 2006

This is page numbers 1277 - 1328 of the Hansard for the 15th Assembly, 4th 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 going .

Topics

Members Present

Item 1: Prayer

Mental Health And Addictions Services Interim Report

Mackenzie Valley Winter Road Operations Improvements

Premier Absent From The House

Support For Non-government Organizations And Frontline Workers

Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Repatriation Of Southern Youth Addictions Treatment Facilities

On-the-land Addictions Treatment Programs

Reopening Residential Treatment Centres

Decentralizing Addictions Services And Facilities

Barren-ground Caribou Management Strategy

Medical Escort And Travel Policies

Healing From A Northern Perspective

Addictions Treatment And Healing With A Family Focus

Reopening Residential Treatment Centres

Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Medical Services For Small Communities

Support For Non-government Organizations And Frontline Workers

Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Access To Addictions Resources

Reopening Of Residential Treatment Centres

Repatriation Of Southern Youth Addictions Treatment Programs

Barren-ground Caribou Management Strategy

Determining Need For Addictions Treatment Centres

Written Question 32-15(4): Medical Travel Ground Transportation

Return To Written Question 26-15(4): Diamond Certification Revenue

Tabled Document 95-14(4): Aurora College Annual Report 2004-2005

Tabled Document 96-15(4): NWT Liquor Commission And NWT Liquor Licensing Board 2004-2005 Annual Report

Tabled Document 97-15(4): Use Of Electronic Devices Such As Laptops In Committee Of The Whole

Treatment Of Addictions

Treatment Of Addictions

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Recommendation To Delete $491,000 From Department Of Finance, Fiscal Policy

Recommendation That Maca And Enr Draft Stay Clean Strategies For Communities

Recommendation That Enr Revisit The Forest Fire Management Policy - Values At Risk Listing

Item 19: Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Item 21: Orders Of The Day

Members Present

Honourable Brendan Bell , Mr. Braden , Honourable Paul Delorey , Honourable Charles Dent , Mrs. Groenewegen , Mr. Hawkins , Honourable David Krutko , Mr. Lafferty , Ms. Lee , Honourable Michael McLeod , Mr. McLeod, Mr. Menicoche , Honourable Michael Miltenberger , Mr. Pokiak , Mr. Ramsay , Honourable Floyd Roland , Mr. Villeneuve , Mr. Yakeleya

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---Prayer

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Item 1: Prayer

Item 1: Prayer

Page 1277

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the House. Orders of the day. Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister for Health and Social Services , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Minister's Statement 78-15(4): Mental Health And Addictions Services Interim Report

Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 1277

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in 2001, on the instruction of Cabinet, the Department of Health and Social Services contracted Chalmers and Associates Consulting Ltd. to conduct an evaluation of community-based addictions and mobile treatment programs. The 2002 report titled "State of Emergency - A Report on the Delivery of Addictions Services in the NWT" provided 48 recommendations and it was determined that mental health and addictions services should be built from the community level up.

Since that time, we have implemented many changes and made significant investments in our services. Given our undertakings after the first report, it was determined that an interim review of the progress was necessary, to ensure that we were still on the right path.

Mr. Speaker, this follow-up report titled "Stay the Course - and Together We Can Secure the Foundation that Has Been Built" was recently completed and is available on the Health and Social Services web site, along with a

summary report and supplemental reports. "Stay the Course" includes 37 recommendations to further support and build on steps taken in response to the original report.

Some of the steps taken since the 2002 report "State of Emergency" include the creation of 77 new positions at the community and regional levels, comprised of three categories: clinical supervisors, mental health and addictions counsellors and community wellness workers.

We also initiated a Community Wellness Worker Training Program with Keyano College. There have been 20 graduates from this program to date. Investments like these are key to building a strong and effective system of community-based addiction services. By investing in education and training, we are working towards building a qualified northern workforce.

Overall, the interim report card was a good one. It highlights that we are developing effective programs and strategies aimed at the prevention and reduction of addictions and the promotion of healthy living and healthy choices for residents of the NWT. By working with the

primary community care teams, we are empowering individuals, families and communities to address mental health and addiction issues. It also identifies areas for further development including the need to improve communication with all stakeholders, and to continue to build on strengths already in place at the community level, and to be flexible in transition planning.

The department is currently reviewing all 37 of the recommendations and will be preparing a response to the report, with an action plan, by the end of this fiscal year. We are committed to working with communities, NGOs and health care providers to improve our mental health and addiction services for all of our residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Minister's Statement 78-15(4): Mental Health And Addictions Services Interim Report

Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 1277

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation , Mr. McLeod.

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Minister's Statement 79-15(4): Mackenzie Valley Winter Road Operations Improvements

Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 1277

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Mr. Speaker, I would like to report on the important progress the Department of Transportation has made in improving the Sahtu winter road system. In preparing for the possible construction of a Mackenzie Valley pipeline...

---Applause

...in no other part of the Northwest Territories does the Department of Transportation face a greater challenge to accommodating the safe interaction of individual/personal traffic and commercial/industrial truck traffic. Last season, the Sahtu communities expressed their concerns about the increase in industrial traffic on the winter road system and the impact it could have on the traveling safety of the general public. The Department of Transportation took steps to address them.

First of all, the department acknowledged that the road was not well signed to advise drivers of adverse conditions and difficult sections of road. A three-year program is now underway, which started last year, to install adequate traffic signage along the road. The department has also reduced the speed limit along this route to 50 km per hour.

At many critical sites, the department has worked with its contractors to improve the road's physical grade and alignment. The department will continue, year by year, to bring the right-of-way up to a better traveling standard and continue installing permanent bridges over stream crossings.

With the close involvement and cooperation of the municipality of Norman Wells, the department built a bypass around the community to move heavy truck traffic away from local streets. A similar bypass is proposed in Tulita.

The department also worked closely with industry to limit the impact of industry traffic on the general public. During the height of the last season, the department conducted highway patrols to ensure industry's compliance with trucking regulations generally and particularly in regard to the movement of oversized loads.

The department has also made improvement to the winter road from a management perspective. The Department of Transportation is using partnership opportunities with industry to more efficiently and effectively operate the winter road.

The Department of Transportation spends approximately $1.1 million each year on the annual construction and maintenance of the Mackenzie Valley winter road. Industry has reported they have spent up to $5 million each season to improve sections of the roadway to the point where they can safely and effectively move their rigs to support their exploration activities.

The Department of Industry, with Husky Energy acting as the industry "lead," explored numerous partnership opportunities and road management models that could be applied to improve planning and promote operational efficiencies of the annual Mackenzie Valley winter road operation.

Through this cooperative approach, the department developed a financial agreement that would provide a mechanism for industry to pay for the additional costs of providing an enhanced construction and maintenance program to better meet industry's special needs. Through this partnership arrangement, the department can maintain management control over the operation of the winter road system and delivery on industry's needs utilizing winter road contractors at no additional cost to the GNWT.

The Department of Transportation has made significant improvements to the winter road system and tried to remedy the traffic safety concerns that the Sahtu communities had raised. Over the next several years, the department will continue to work on improving the Sahtu winter roads. These improvements will meet the demands of greater traffic and the public's expectations that they can travel the road more safety. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Minister's Statement 79-15(4): Mackenzie Valley Winter Road Operations Improvements

Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 1278

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Financial Management Board Secretariat, Mr. Roland .

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Minister's Statement 80-15(4): Premier Absent From The House

Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 1278

Floyd Roland

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise the House that the Honourable Joe Handley will be absent from the House today and tomorrow to meet with Prime Minister Harper and attend the Post-Secondary Education and Skills Summit in Ottawa. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 80-15(4): Premier Absent From The House

Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 1278

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland . Ministers' statements. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Great Slave , Mr. Braden .

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Support For Non-government Organizations And Frontline Workers

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1278

Bill Braden

Great Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Today, Mr. Speaker, my colleagues and I will be speaking to the theme of services to the communities in the area of social programs, Mr. Speaker.

A little over a week ago, I raised the plight, Mr. Speaker, of non-government organizations with regard to difficulties they are having in staffing, wage disparities and the need for multi-year sustainable and predictable agreements with our government. I tabled some correspondence from the president of the YWCA, Mr. Speaker, which detailed a pending staffing crisis that this very necessary organization faces. The majority of non-government organizations are in the social program areas. Examples are the Y, Mr.

Speaker, the Literacy Council, the NWT Association of Persons with Disabilities, the Centre for Northern Families, to name a few. They are all delivering essential and much needed programs, many of them on behalf of this government. I believe, Mr. Speaker, we get exceptional value and great quality from these organizations, many of them, all of them, really governed by volunteer boards who work because they believe in this and for the benefit of the communities. They also raise a lot of funding on their own.

Mr. Speaker, the survey at the YWCA showed that, against the market value of other work done in 2004, their frontline workers are at least $10,000 a year, or about $5 an hour, behind market value.

Mr. Speaker, we need to look at how we treat our NGOs in relation to what we do, in fact, in our own government. We have just completed a very successful collective bargaining agreement with our own staff. We continue to allow these increments. We are going to be passing some major increments for our own staff, but, Mr. Speaker, where is our consideration of the non-government organizations and the very valuable service that they and their staff put into our communities? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Support For Non-government Organizations And Frontline Workers

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1278

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Braden . Members' statements. The honourable Member for Kam Lake , Mr. Ramsay .

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Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1278

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to speak today about addiction and how I believe that the Government of the Northwest Territories is not making the best use of resources, both financially and with its physical infrastructure, to address the ever-increasing demands our residents are facing when it comes to addiction.

I will start with facility utilization. For example, Arctic Tern Female Young Offender unit in Inuvik. In the past two years, it has had anywhere from one to six young

offenders. It has 22 staff, Mr. Speaker, and costs this government $2.1 million to operate on an annual basis. Is this the best use of our resources when Inuvik is in desperate need of a treatment centre?

Of course, there is the infamous Sombe Ke Healing Centre on the Detah road. I have questioned the Minister numerous times in this House and here we are today, two years later, Mr. Speaker. Nothing has changed. The building still sits empty. The Housing Corporation continues to pay the mortgage. Someone is paying the utilities and the cost of a caretaker, but still, Mr. Speaker, no action being taken on what this building could and should be used for.

Having a facility like Sombe Ke at your disposal and not using it while the public is demanding treatment centres should be a cause of great embarrassment for this government. However, they just keep paying the bills, paying only lip service to those demanding action. The government does not even listen, Mr. Speaker, to Regular Members of this House when it comes to treatment centres. We passed a motion in October of 2004 in this House calling on government for action. We wasted our breath and the motion fell on deaf ears, Mr. Speaker.

Here we are again today demanding action from this government. Underutilized hospitals in Fort Smith and Hay River are being renovated over the next four to five years at a cost of roughly $27 million. Is there anybody questioning whether or not we can incorporate space for addictions treatment in these renovations?

Last year, I tabled a petition signed by 98 inmates from North Slave Correctional Centre calling on the government to reopen treatment centres. Often a common denominator to crime is drug and alcohol addiction. We have to be proactive, Mr. Speaker, and try to give people every available resource to fight the demons of addiction.

Mr. Speaker, my feeling is we are failing our people and we cannot allow this to continue to happen. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1279

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River South , Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Repatriation Of Southern Youth Addictions Treatment Facilities

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1279

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk today in relation to the theme day that we are having on addictions. The thing I would like to talk about is the repatriation of youth requiring residential addictions treatment in the South.

Mr. Speaker, the latest information we have is that the Department of Health and Social Services children's services division is spending roughly $4 million a year on southern placements. Many of these children are sent south for addictions treatment in concurrence with other specialized mental health treatment. The reason they are sent south, Mr. Speaker, is that the capacity to offer residential treatment programs does not exist in the Northwest Territories at this time. We are spending $4 million of our government's money in the South.

No northern businesses benefit other than the airlines who fly our kids back and forth. There are many forfeited benefits when we send our youth south. Besides the obvious economic benefits of spending program money in the North, we are missing out on an opportunity to expand our professional community. The more professional services we can offer in the NWT, the more likely it is that families will stay here.

Mr. Speaker, when we send our young people south for treatment, we are sending them away from their families and support network. A lot of these families will not be able to visit their loved ones in these southern provincial facilities. A youth addictions treatment facility in the North would at least allow for more involvement by the family in the treatment protocol through either direct involvement or through our telehealth facilities.

So we are at a crossroads, Mr. Speaker. Do we continue to send our young people south for addictions treatment, or do we take bold steps to develop specialized residential addictions and mental health treatment programs here in the North? I believe that wherever a relatively strong case can be made for delivering a service in the NWT at roughly the same cost as sending patients south, we should be doing everything in our power to hire the necessary mental health professionals to develop and run a northern program.

Mr. Speaker, $4 million a year would go a long way toward paying for the necessary capital infrastructure, professional staff, operations and maintenance for such a facility. This is the point where we are in residential youth addictions programs, Mr. Speaker. I strongly encourage the Department of Health and Social Services to quit studying the issue and get on with it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Repatriation Of Southern Youth Addictions Treatment Facilities

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1279

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes , Mr. McLeod.

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On-the-land Addictions Treatment Programs

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1279

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the North, we have had to deal with addictions for many years, from glue sniffing to the crack cocaine epidemic today. Harder drugs, I am told, are starting to find their way into the hands of our residents.

Mr. Speaker, the single biggest problem today, and has been for a long time, is the abuse of alcohol. It bothers me, Mr. Speaker, to see young men that I went to school with, and I played hockey with, asking people for a toonie for a cup of coffee, and we know what they are going to buy. I have known people, Mr. Speaker, from my youth who have overcome their dependence on alcohol, turned their lives around, and today are doing well for themselves. I have the utmost respect and admiration for what they have accomplished with their lives.

When people, Mr. Speaker, make the decision to defeat their demons, we must have the capacity to assist them. I know the last thing the Minister wants to hear is we need more facilities. I agree. We don't need more big, fancy buildings. But what we should provide is a simple, on-the-land camp whose primary goal would be to help those in

need. It will remove them from town and temptations. It can also assist those who want to overcome other addictions.

Mr. Speaker, I truly believe that once we have these people on the land, they will begin to beat their addictions and hopefully get a new start on life. Mr. Speaker, when residents decide they need help and want to overcome their addictions, let's give them that opportunity to heal close to home and not have to send them south. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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On-the-land Addictions Treatment Programs

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1280

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nunakput , Mr. Pokiak .

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Reopening Residential Treatment Centres

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1280

Calvin Pokiak

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As my contribution to our theme day on addictions, I would like to talk about the need for treatment centres in Inuvik and Yellowknife. A recently released second Chalmers report is pretty emphatic in stating, and I quote, "It is ill advised to construct or consider a plan for additional treatment centres at this time, given the history of closing three centres in the 1990s, a small population of the NWT and a difficulty in securing clinical and addictions expertise."

The same report, Mr. Speaker, went on to say that because they had only six weeks to consult and write the report, they were unable to evaluate all programs and could not, in some cases, provide definitive recommendations. I urge the Minister to give more merit to the second statement rather than the first and concentrate on what the real issue should be, which is the need to prepare for the social impacts associated with development of the Mackenzie gas project.

Mr. Speaker, during our pre-budget consultations, we heard from NGOs and local residents on the need for regional residential treatment centres. With the potential of the pipeline project beginning construction in 2008-09 and the need for more exploration in the Beaufort-Delta, many communities along the proposed route expect negative social impacts.

No matter what the oil and gas companies do, there will be employees that abuse drugs and alcohol. Just in the last four years, Mr. Speaker, the increased size from the drilling activity in the Beaufort-Delta and the extra employment income in the region has also meant an increase in the abuse of alcohol and drugs. I know this is true because I live there and I see it on a regular basis.

Many more types of illegal drugs are readily available in the Delta than just four short years ago.

Mr. Speaker, my constituents aren't stupid. They look around and see the problems that their family members, friends and neighbours are having with substance abuse right now and really start to worry. They think about the impacts and conflict of the pipeline. Residents want to have necessary treatments and programs in place before the construction of the pipeline. They want regional treatment centres, Mr. Speaker. I am asking consent to complete my statement. Thank you.

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Reopening Residential Treatment Centres

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1280

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you. The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Pokiak .

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Reopening Residential Treatment Centres

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1280

Calvin Pokiak

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. They want regional treatment centres. As a government, we probably cannot afford treatment centres in all five regions, but we should at least reopen the ones in Inuvik and Yellowknife.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I wish the government to reopen the residential treatment centre in Inuvik. If they are looking for a place to house such a program, I suggest they consider the Arctic Tern Female Young Offender Facility which is severely underutilized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Reopening Residential Treatment Centres

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1280

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak . Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh , Mr. Menicoche .

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Decentralizing Addictions Services And Facilities

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1280

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on February 14th, my introduction for my Member's statement on crystal meth was "let's get prepared," meaning that this government must look at increasing funding and awareness to shelters and addiction services.

There is something I did not ask the government for then, Mr. Speaker. That is for this government to have a heart. Studies have shown that youth or women who need safe shelters need them during odd hours, oftentimes in the middle of the night when a spouse is physically abusive, and there is a 75 percent chance, as well, that the children are also being abused. Judging from our poor track record, this government has a long way to go.

Women and youth are staying in abusive relationships because there is no housing or critical services available. In other words, they have nowhere else to go. When youth or women have the courage to leave a violent or abusive relationship, they must have a place to go where they can be safe to be provided the necessities such as food, shelter and professional assistance as medical treatment or counselling. Currently, this is not possible in many regions and communities.

We are losing our youth and other residents because they don't feel safe in our communities. This growing

centralization trend must be addressed by this government for shelters and adequate addiction services and facilities in every community. Once again, Mr. Speaker, this government must have a heart.

---Applause

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Decentralizing Addictions Services And Facilities

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1281

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche . Members' statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe , Mr. Villeneuve .

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Barren-ground Caribou Management Strategy

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1281

Robert Villeneuve

Tu Nedhe

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I want to talk again about the Barren-Ground Caribou Management Strategy this government is initiating in the coming months.

The Minister stated yesterday that this government, and I quote, "had a clear plan laid out for the coming months." Well, Mr. Speaker, this plan may be clear to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, but it certainly is very unclear to northerners and to other Members of this House of what this plan will develop into.

I am not sure where this caribou forever strategy came from, but I can tell you where it is going. That is in the opposite direction of what hunters, trappers, harvesters and traditional knowledge tells us.

Mr. Speaker, the Regular Members of this House were not even aware of these interim measures until we read them in the paper just like everyone else. We are not sure where this money to carry out this plan is coming from. I don't see it in the budget. I don't see it in the supplementary appropriation coming before this House. I don't see the federal government, other jurisdictions, management boards pounding at our door to give us money to carry out these initiatives, but we are suddenly surging forward on a five-year $15 million strategy which does not have the consent of Members of this House, outfitters, hunters and trappers, and northerners in general.

So, Mr. Speaker, I want to see the Minister follow his own advice and have his Department of Environment and Natural Resources apply the precautionary principal when there are serious concerns in environment or natural resources and ensure management decisions air on the side of caution, because this sudden move by his department to implement some major changes to wildlife management, without due diligence and proper consultation on all fronts, is an error and to throw caution to the wind could have disastrous results on our wildlife, on northerners and, most importantly, on a way of life.

So, Mr. Speaker, we cannot continue on with a caribou fever mentality. We need to put more thought into this management plan that all northerners will want to work with and wildlife will truly benefit from. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Barren-ground Caribou Management Strategy

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1281

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve . Members' statements. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty .

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Medical Escort And Travel Policies

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1281

Jackson Lafferty

North Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my Member's statement will be on medical travel. When people travel down south, whether it is to Yellowknife or to Edmonton, I want to talk about these concerns.

Mr. Speaker, the travelling for treatment is becoming a stumbling block in the communities. Mr. Speaker, Tlicho people face problems when they have to access our health care system in Yellowknife or Edmonton. These problems are compounded by the changes to the medical travel escort program that occurred just prior to division, and also compounded by difficulties in accessing translation services in Yellowknife and especially in Edmonton, Mr. Speaker.

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Medical Escort And Travel Policies

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1281

An Hon. Member

Hear! Hear!

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Medical Escort And Travel Policies

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1281

Jackson Lafferty

North Slave

We need to look at the medical travel escort policy again. We need to make sure it is meeting the needs of the northerners like many of the Tlicho elders.

I also have concerns about the provision of the medical escort policy, Mr. Speaker, that demands escorts stay with the patient until they are ready to return home. Just as an example, where an individual went along with a patient, a nephew, the nephew was operated on, was recovering from the surgery. At the same time, the escort had to stay with this individual until the patient had to return home. Mr. Speaker, that parent had 10 kids at home and the husband was working at the BHP mine. She was needed at home but couldn't return home until the patient had to come home. So I would have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services at the appropriate time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Medical Escort And Travel Policies

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1281

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . Members' statements. The honourable Member for the Sahtu , Mr. Yakeleya .

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Healing From A Northern Perspective

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1281

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak on the need for the radical thinking by the Department of Health and Social Services on treating our people in terms of the addiction of alcohol and cocaine.

Mr. Speaker, early in my life as a young man, I was told by an elder to go out on the land if you want to do any type of healing, or any type of recovery, or just to look at life. I didn't understand what this elder was talking about.

His name is Fred Andrew. He has passed away. He told me this. Not until after awhile, Mr. Speaker, that I went on the land did I really realize what he was saying and the wisdom of his words.

Mr. Speaker, our people are from the land. My auntie said that. If you know the land, you know our people. If you know our life, you know our land. Again, it goes back to our land being a wonderful opportunity. It doesn't cost us very much. It is here. We are from the land. We learn good values. I have seen, as the honourable Mr. McLeod has said, he has seen people in the communities who have gone to the land. You can see the changes that they have taken overnight with them. They are just wonderful people. Something happens when they come back into the community. They change back into another personality, Mr.

Speaker. You see the life on the land, taking people who have a life. It sparkles in their eyes, especially young kids.

Mr. Speaker, as MLAs and as Members around this House, we deal with alcohol in our communities. Even today, I had to deal with that issue. It hurts when you view it very closely with members in your community or your region. You see lots of people who get very sick and who die because of the alcohol.

Mr. Speaker, I say that to this government, this Minister and this Cabinet, look at the simple solution. We don't always have to follow one method. There are people out there who know how to deal with this. There are elders, professors, trained people who already know this field. They know our people. There are young kids who are out there asking for help. There are families asking for help. There are young children who cannot speak today who are asking for help. We have to do something radical and different. I hope, Mr. Speaker, that this government has a heart, as the MLA from Nahendeh has said. Thank you very much.

---Applause

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Healing From A Northern Perspective

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1282

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake , Ms. Lee .

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Addictions Treatment And Healing With A Family Focus

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1282

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to speak in support of the theme today and speak specifically to the importance of focussing on family network for long-lasting healing and sobriety.

Mr. Speaker, the people who are at the front line of this complicated field have been telling me for years that we need to make sure that we have a spectrum of treatment and aftercare services in our communities. I support that assertion, Mr. Speaker. The family and supportive network is a key thing in making sure that those who have made the important and difficult choices toward sobriety can stay sober and productive for the rest of their lives.

All people with addiction, whether it is of nicotine, alcohol or hard drugs, eventually come to the realization that becoming free from addiction for life requires changing their environment completely. They may have to change jobs, friends and sometimes even family members who are harmful to their quest for sobriety. It is a lifelong journey of choices and decisions that permeate every aspect of their life and relationships. For many suffering from addiction of all social strata in all walks of life in big and small communities, this is where the biggest challenge comes from.

Because for those with severe alcohol and drug problems, their path of destruction and healing could take them to running into a criminal justice system, treatment centres, AAs or the Crack Busters Program and many other programs that deal with addiction treatment directly.

But at the end of the day, they have to learn to cope and live with all of the pain, suffering and aftermath of what lead to their addiction in the first place, and the consequences of their destructive action and behaviour during their addiction. For many, they do not, Mr. Speaker, have a healthy and supportive home and families to go to. I am happy to tell you that there is a group of prominent citizens and frontline workers who are working very hard right now to fill that gap in Yellowknife. There will be a new transition home for men in the city.

Mr. Speaker, I don't want to pre-empt the unveiling of this exciting adventure, but I will leave it to the organizers to do that. For the time being, I would like to strongly encourage this government to support this endeavour. I know that the Housing Corporation and the Homelessness Coalition have already provided...

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

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Addictions Treatment And Healing With A Family Focus

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1282

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Ms. Lee .

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Addictions Treatment And Healing With A Family Focus

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1282

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know that the NWT Housing Corporation and the Homelessness Coalition have already provided financial support for this. I urge the Minister of Social Services to do the same. Once again, I want to state that I do believe strongly that this will go a long way in filling the gap and the spectrum of services we must have to combat this highly complex and challenging problem we face together. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Addictions Treatment And Healing With A Family Focus

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1282

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee . Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre , Mr. Hawkins .

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Reopening Residential Treatment Centres

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1282

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, my statement today is about the pressing need for treatment centres in the NWT. In October of 2004, Regular Members passed a motion on the need to establish treatment centres to address the devastating effects of drugs and alcohol in the NWT.

The motion spoke of the need to establish a centre in the NWT dedicated to treating addictions to drugs other than alcohol, treatment centres specifically for youth, and asked the government to reopen residential treatment centres in Yellowknife and Inuvik.

Mr. Speaker, it has been nearly a year-and-a-half since that motion was passed. I do not see any significant action by this government. The Department of Health and

Social Services has finally released the much awaited interim report of the mental health and addiction services in the NWT, better known as the Chalmers Report. The title of this report is Stay the Course. Those are not reassuring words, Mr. Speaker, for those who feel that this government is off course in handling addictions treatment.

Mr. Speaker, residential treatment programs in Inuvik were discontinued in 1997 and in Yellowknife in 1999. Both Yellowknife and Inuvik are major entry points for drugs and the activities that flow with them. What I had hoped to see in this Chalmers Report was an indication that this decision would be reconsidered and that there would be support to reopen these treatment centres, as I have said before. Reopening does not mean building new infrastructure, Mr. Speaker. It means using the existing resources we have established in those buildings. It just requires political resolve.

In reviewing the Chalmers Report, I was dismayed at the suggestion that, yet, more study was needed with respect to residential treatment options in the NWT. When will this government wake up and listen to what the people of the North are asking for? Residential treatment centres in the North. Frankly, Mr. Speaker, it seems that, yet again, this government doesn't get it. The people have spoken; however, the status quo is defended and defined by yet another report. It seems to me that this government spends more time responding and defending consultant reports than hearing the views of people who sent us here in office.

It doesn't seem to be right, Mr. Speaker. It truly seems out of touch. This battle, as I see it, requires a versatile approach and cooperation between all branches between the government and the community. This is a disease we can work on together to solve.

One of the most important elements this government can do is to ensure that these proper facilities exist for proper assistance. Mr. Speaker, at this time, may I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement? Thank you.

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Reopening Residential Treatment Centres

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1283

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Hawkins .

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Reopening Residential Treatment Centres

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1283

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, we all pay for this problem, some of us directly where it destroys your home, your life, it hurts your family, and all of us indirectly with the community and the problems that the drug trade brings to our locality. We are all aware of the social impacts that await our territory in the coming years that possibly, maybe, the pipeline will be bringing. We have already seen the effects fall onto our street. It is vital that we begin to properly prepare for what is going to take place and effectively deal with this problem that exists right in front of our eyes.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I see it as quite simple. If we don't start dealing with these problems now, we will certainly catch up with these people later when we are dealing with them through a treatment program in their jail cells. I don't think that is fair to wait until something terrible happens, if it does happen. So, Mr. Speaker, we have the chance and opportunity to act responsibly before anything negative happens. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Reopening Residential Treatment Centres

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1283

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . Members' statements. Reports of standing and special committees. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Nahendeh , Mr. Menicoche .

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Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1283

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize my daughter Diedra Villeneuve up in the gallery, and her friend Roberta Sanderson.

---Applause

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Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1283

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1283

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is a pleasure to introduce a constituent of mine, Mr. Bill Burles. Thank you.

---Applause

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Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1283

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1283

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

It's okay.

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Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1283

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty .

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Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1283

Jackson Lafferty

North Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Phil Mercredi, my former CA that is in the audience. Mahsi.

---Applause

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Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1283

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe , Mr. Villeneuve .

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Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1283

Robert Villeneuve

Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize my constituents, Barry Sanderson's daughter Roberta in the gallery, and her friend Diedra. It is nice to see some young people in the gallery. Thank you.

---Applause

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Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1283

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve . Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member from Range Lake , Ms. Lee .

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Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1283

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wasn't expecting to see him, but I'm pleased to see Mr. Byrne Richards. He's the leader of the Crack Busters Program and he's also a member of the team that's working to set up a transition home for men. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1283

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee . Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member from the Mackenzie Delta , Mr. Krutko .

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Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1284

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize a young gentleman in the gallery: Mr. Simon. He's originally from Fort McPherson and now lives here in Yellowknife. Welcome.

---Applause

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Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1284

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko . Recognition of visitors in the gallery. I'd like to welcome everyone in the gallery today. Welcome to the proceedings of the House. I hope you're enjoying the proceedings; it's always nice to have an audience. Oral questions. The honourable Member from the Sahtu , Mr. Yakeleya .

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Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1284

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is to the Minister of Health and Social Services , in regards to, Mr. Speaker, the situation that happened with a family in Colville Lake. As we learned today, the doctors and social workers in Edmonton are discussing some very sensitive issues and critical issues regarding this event, it's regarding a baby. Mr. Speaker, the parents in Colville Lake contacted the nurse in Fort Good Hope, who recently said, over the telephone, don't worry, the baby is just teething, nothing to worry about. Twelve hours later, Mr.

Speaker, the baby is in serious trouble, and in this latest venture was finally asked to get the doctor to do a medevac situation. This is a tragic situation that everybody would like to avoid. In Colville Lake there's no resident nurse. The people have access to the same level of health care in the Northwest Territories that is non-existent. My question to the Minister of Health and Social Services : It is obvious that the health care system in this case has failed.

Can the Minister inform the House whether he will institute a public inquiry at the earliest opportunity to examine the circumstances of this case and offer recommendations that will ensure that this does not happen again? Thank you.

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Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1284

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Return To Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1284

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are aware of this circumstance and this situation. I have met with the Member and we've engaged and are making sure from all aspects that this case is being dealt with. Yes, we are going to backtrack and review what happened and ensure that once the welfare of the patient involved, which is the first priority, is addressed, that we can take the steps necessary to learn whatever lessons there are to be learned from this circumstance. Thank you.

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Return To Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1284

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya .

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Supplementary To Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1284

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in situations like Colville Lake, it took 12 hours for the medical service to get that little baby, who is six months old, medevaced to Edmonton. In this note right here, the baby is not improving; it's in a critical situation. Again, I would ask the Minister in terms of part of the overview I'm asking that the health care system, that the people in Colville Lake, can the Minister tell this Assembly whether or what type of consequences there will be to the employees, such as the nurse who may have some form of incompetency as a nurse to deal with this type of situation?

We're in desperate trouble here, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to ask what the Minister intends to do about it. Thank you.

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Supplementary To Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1284

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . Mr. Miltenberger .

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Further Return To Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1284

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I've indicated that I'm aware of this circumstance; I've met with the Member; we've met with the deputy minister. We've been in contact with Stanton and with the hospital down south. We're making sure first that the patient gets the best care possible and then we're going to look at what happened; and once that is clear, we will work back and see what lessons there are to be learned. This is a serious situation and we're treating it seriously. Thank you.

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Further Return To Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1284

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya .

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Supplementary To Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1284

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister says this is a serious situation. This is a tragic situation with health care. Look at the lady who was in a cab here, what happened to her and this is a tragic situation. It points to the dangers of our health care system that poses every day for those people who don't have the type of services they have in larger centres in the health care system. Can the Minister inform this Assembly whether he is now considering investigating, investing in the small communities, as opposed to spending tens of millions of dollars in larger centres in other health care facilities in our larger centres? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Supplementary To Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1284

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . Mr. Miltenberger .

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Further Return To Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1284

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a matter of course, on a daily basis the health and social services system works as it's supposed to. There are those unfortunate circumstances where things may not always work, for whatever reason, the way they're supposed to and we check those and we consider those all very seriously. Mr. Speaker, we have just been before the House for our budget that's almost $260 million, and we spend millions of dollars in every community trying to make sure that there is a good level of service for all northern residents, and we're going to continue to do that. Thank you.

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Further Return To Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1285

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Your final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya .

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Supplementary To Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1285

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I definitely would like to see these million dollars go into basic services like Colville Lake where they need the nurses and doctors and health care, rather than the large centres where they're asking for extra supplies for their hospitals. This is where we get into some serious debates. Mr. Speaker, the Minister is very famous for measuring responses by conducting studies and improving the health care system in small, incremental steps. The fact of the case calls for larger steps and bold actions.

Can the Minister provide the timeline for when he's able to present to the people of Colville Lake and this Assembly a plan that will provide concrete actions that will ensure this type of situation never happens ever again in any type of small communities in the Northwest Territories? Thank you

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Supplementary To Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1285

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . Mr. Miltenberger .

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Further Return To Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1285

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we're going to work with the Sahtu Health and Social Services Board, we're going to look at this circumstance and we want to make sure that health care is delivered to all residents to the best of our ability at all times; it doesn't matter if it's a large community or a small community and that's our focus. Mr. Speaker, we've made, I think, rather dramatic improvements to the health care centre and not just small, incremental progress.

We've added 77 new positions for addictions and mental health; we've added dozens of nurses; doctors' positions, we've added midwives and nurse practitioners. We've invested hundreds of millions of dollars since 1999 trying to beef up the health and social services system, as well as other social programs. So incremental, I don't think so. Measured and careful, yes. But we've made substantive investments and we're going to continue to do that. Thank you.

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Further Return To Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Question 450-15(4): Medical Services For Small Communities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1285

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Oral questions. The honourable Member from Great Slave , Mr. Braden .

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Question 451-15(4): Support For Non-government Organizations And Frontline Workers

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1285

Bill Braden

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions this afternoon are for the Minister of Health and Social Services , Mr. Miltenberger . It used to be the practice of our government, I understand, Mr. Speaker, that salary increments that were negotiated for our own employees were routinely passed on to the non-government organizations and boards and agencies that we did business with, but I'm told that this has not been the case for a number of years now. Mr. Speaker, we are losing valuable ground in terms of being competitive and fair with workers in the social service agencies employed by the NGOs. Mr.

Speaker, our own budget before us right now contains, by my math, some $8.5 million in new appropriations related to higher wages in our new collective bargaining agreement, yet the YWCA, which I think is representative of a number of organizations, Mr. Speaker, delivers nine programs for our government 24 hours a day, seven days a week in, I think, some of the most challenging and demanding social service regimes. Mr. Speaker, in a letter that they wrote to Mr. Miltenberger , and this was tabled, they make two basic requests.

The first of them was for an immediate short-term remedy whereby we could adjust our salaries by the same percentage increases as were given to the GNWT and the local health authority staff over this and the next several years. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister be able to help the YWCA and deliver this request, a short-term remedy, to adjust their salaries by the same level that we adjusted ours? Thank you.

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Question 451-15(4): Support For Non-government Organizations And Frontline Workers

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1285

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Braden . The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Return To Question 451-15(4): Support For Non-government Organizations And Frontline Workers

Question 451-15(4): Support For Non-government Organizations And Frontline Workers

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1285

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of parity for NGOs is a cross-government issue. It's one that's been on the agenda for many years. I don't recollect when the time was that there was automatic increases given. It must have been in another century because it's not clear in my present memory when that was.

We have put out a third-party accountability as a government that lays out some of the processes to categorize NGOs and services that we get through non-government organizations that would help guide us in our assessment, a ballpark figure that we've looked at that if we were going to give automatic government raises the same as government to all the NGOs, we're looking at $100 million that we'd have to add to our budget. So it comes down to an issue of resources. No one denies the value of the service that's provided. We do have capacity for multi-year contracts, which we're going to move on.

The broader issue government-wide of what do we do and how do we compensate NGOs in the type of services they provide has yet to be finalized. Thank you.

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Return To Question 451-15(4): Support For Non-government Organizations And Frontline Workers

Question 451-15(4): Support For Non-government Organizations And Frontline Workers

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1285

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Supplementary, Mr. Braden .

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Supplementary To Question 451-15(4): Support For Non-government Organizations And Frontline Workers

Question 451-15(4): Support For Non-government Organizations And Frontline Workers

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1285

Bill Braden

Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, yes, those are all great answers certainly demonstrating fair practice by a Minister, but they are very bureaucratic answers as well, and in the face of such a long-standing problem, the issue has been well known, but considered far too long and now we have organizations like the Y that are I think some of them on the verge of collapse and we're going to be in serious trouble without their services.

Mr. Speaker, the second suggestion that the YWCA makes, is that an assessment of the skill sets required by NGOs and the negotiation of a fair percentage of GNWT wages be incorporated in these pay scales. Mr. Speaker, not all of these workers want to work for government. Some of them are very pleased to be able to put themselves with NGOs, but there needs to be some accounting and some measured consistency in the services that they do and the rate at which they're paid.

Can the Minister look at the negotiation of a fair percentage of GNWT wages for NGOs?

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Supplementary To Question 451-15(4): Support For Non-government Organizations And Frontline Workers

Question 451-15(4): Support For Non-government Organizations And Frontline Workers

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1286

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Braden . Mr. Miltenberger .

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Further Return To Question 451-15(4): Support For Non-government Organizations And Frontline Workers

Question 451-15(4): Support For Non-government Organizations And Frontline Workers

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1286

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I could refer, once again, to the third-party accountability framework that the government has pulled together. There are categories of NGOs and the way that they're categorized and rated. At the top category, there are three main ones, but the one where there are entitlement to forced growth are those programs that if they weren't delivered by an NGO, we would have to deliver them ourselves with our own staff. We've started to categorize and bring into that category all those areas where NGOs provide those type of services. We are working on that. It's a work in progress.

There has been some recognition of that. So that's a commitment that we made and that's a process that we're engaged in. The Members have seen the third-party accountability and we're working on that on an ongoing basis. Thank you.

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Further Return To Question 451-15(4): Support For Non-government Organizations And Frontline Workers

Question 451-15(4): Support For Non-government Organizations And Frontline Workers

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1286

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Supplementary, Mr. Braden .

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Supplementary To Question 451-15(4): Support For Non-government Organizations And Frontline Workers

Question 451-15(4): Support For Non-government Organizations And Frontline Workers

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1286

Bill Braden

Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, one other area of hope in terms of our relationship with NGOs is a process that this Minister is also in charge of, and that is following up on the commitment of this Assembly. We all agreed in the beginning of the 15th Assembly that we wanted to review our relationships and especially our governance relationships with boards and agencies. There are dozens of them that are mandated and that we do business with. Can we expect, Mr. Speaker, that this process may help to address some of the disparities that we now experience between what we expect of our NGOs and what we reward them for? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Supplementary To Question 451-15(4): Support For Non-government Organizations And Frontline Workers

Question 451-15(4): Support For Non-government Organizations And Frontline Workers

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1286

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Braden . Mr. Miltenberger .

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Further Return To Question 451-15(4): Support For Non-government Organizations And Frontline Workers

Question 451-15(4): Support For Non-government Organizations And Frontline Workers

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1286

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The work done on boards and agencies was a collaborative effort between Cabinet and AOC and we had the chair of Social Programs and the chair of GED working with myself to provide oversight to the staff. There was a significant amount of good work done; there was some recommendations made that work is there. That work of our joint committee has been concluded.

It's now part of the government agenda and is going to be looked at and will be dependent mainly on the availability of resources at this point, but there is good work there and I agree with the Member, it will help inform this discussion on how we move forward in the funding to NGOs and other groups that work for us. Thank you.

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Further Return To Question 451-15(4): Support For Non-government Organizations And Frontline Workers

Question 451-15(4): Support For Non-government Organizations And Frontline Workers

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1286

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Oral questions. The honourable Member from Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty .

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Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1286

Jackson Lafferty

North Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement today I spoke about the troubles that the Tlicho speakers have with translation services and the medical travel and escort policies that are currently in place. As a colleague of mine, the Sahtu Member, he pointed out the need for better services at the local level, the medical services in the communities. So I would like to ask a question to the Minister, if he can tell me, what are the conditions that determines whether a person requires a medical escort to go to either Yellowknife or Edmonton? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1286

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Return To Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1286

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The issue of who decides whether a medical escort is needed and when, is decided by the medical practitioners involved in handling of the individual cases and they make the call and based on that call, it's decided whether an escort is needed or not. Thank you.

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Return To Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1286

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty .

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Supplementary To Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1286

Jackson Lafferty

North Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell this Assembly what the policy is on allowing medical escorts to return home prior to the patient being returned home? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Supplementary To Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1286

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . Mr. Miltenberger .

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Further Return To Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1286

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, once again, that would depend on the type of the escort and the reason why the patient was going down. If it was for an extended period of time, there would be arrangements made where the role of the escort was no longer required. If it was an emergency, intense kind of situation where there was going to be a short turnaround time, then it would once again be looked at differently. So once again, it would depend. It's not a blanket, black and white circumstance, as far as I am aware. Thank you

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Further Return To Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1286

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty .

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Supplementary To Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1286

Jackson Lafferty

North Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. As I highlighted in my Member's statement about the parent that had to leave their 10 kids behind to travel with a nephew to get

surgery, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to find out if the department is willing, on a case-by-case basis, where if it's a critical situation, it's fully understood that the interpreter services should be with the patient, but at the same time where it's not a critical situation, where this individual needed to return home but she wasn't allowed. So I'm just wondering if the department is willing to allow a case-by-case basis on those circumstances. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Supplementary To Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1287

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . Mr. Miltenberger .

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Further Return To Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1287

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we are and we do it on a regular ongoing basis. There are always concerns brought forward to us or that we're made aware of that may not fit within the strict

interpretation of a particular policy and we are a small jurisdiction. We are responsive, we do have a heart and we make every effort to be as accommodating as possible. Thank you.

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Further Return To Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1287

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Your final supplementary, Mr. Lafferty .

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Supplementary To Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1287

Jackson Lafferty

North Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I'm glad the Minister has a heart in this area...

---Applause

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Supplementary To Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1287

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Further Return To Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1287

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We're always looking at ways to improve our service. We work with the authorities. Through this House we get feedback and we get concerns raised and suggestions given to us, recommendations provided. We look at that very seriously and we're looking at this one, as well. Medical travel is a very sensitive issue; it's a very big one in terms of our budget. So, yes, and I look forward to working with the chair of the Tlicho Community Services Board as he sits at the table with the rest of us through the Joint Leadership Council to look at issues such as these as we plan for the good service for all northerners. Thank you.

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Further Return To Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Question 452-15(4): Medical Travel And Escort Policies

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1287

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Oral questions. The honourable Member from Kam Lake , Mr. Ramsay .

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Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1287

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today get back to my Member's statement in regard to the utilization of facilities and how the government is going about the addiction treatment for our residents given our current state of affairs. I'd like to start off my questions, first of all, with a question about the Sombe Ke Healing Centre located here in Yellowknife. I'd like to ask the Minister what is the current disposition of that facility and what has happened to the facility in the last 16 months? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1287

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . The honourable Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation , Mr. Krutko .

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Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1287

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in regards to the Sombe Ke facility, we have put departments on notice that the facility is out there and if anyone is interested in acquiring it, again, Mr. Speaker, we are carrying a mortgage on that facility and there is an O and M cost associated with it. We have been doing some work with the YK Dene First Nation in regards to the people in Detah, the Detah language group who has been using a couple of the facilities for their language program. We have been in discussions with them, but again, Mr.

Speaker, we also have been in discussion with Bosco Homes out of Edmonton in regards to their child delivery programs. Again, those discussions are still ongoing. We haven't had a final decision on that, and again, we have been talking to the YK Dene First Nation about their interest. Again, they are looking at some proposals. We still haven't heard back in regards to proposals they're putting forward to the federal government. So we have been having discussions with different groups, but right now the only group that has been using those facilities is the language group out of Detah.

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Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1287

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko . Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay .

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Supplementary To Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1287

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to thank the Minister of the Housing Corporation for answering that question. Like I said earlier, I think it's an embarrassment that the government has a facility like Sombe Ke sitting empty, sitting idle and not taking advantage of it. The next question I'd like to ask is in the proposed $54 million -- and this is a great sum of money that's being spent in the next four or five years on renovating hospitals here in the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, Hay River Fort Smith -- can the Minister advise us whether or not space will be incorporated into the renovations at these facilities to address addictions treatment? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Supplementary To Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1287

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . I don't know if that is within the mandate of the Housing Corporation, but, Mr. Krutko .

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Supplementary To Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1287

Floyd Roland

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that information would be better given by the Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Supplementary To Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1288

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland . The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Further Return To Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1288

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, another indication of the government being flexible to accommodate some good questions from the Members.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, we're looking very carefully at the renovations and the much needed renovations to Stanton, Hay River and Fort Smith, the same way that we've looked at the renovations to the various health centres and the construction of the Inuvik hospital. These are valuable resources, but, no, they're not being considered as having wings built on or space allocated for treatment centres in those facilities. Thank you.

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Further Return To Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1288

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay .

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Supplementary To Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1288

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think that's something that should happen. I think that should be incorporated and when you're spending $54 million and addictions are as big a problem here as they are, I think that's short-sighted. The next question I'd have, and I thank the Cabinet for their flexibility on this, and this question is for whoever wants to answer it, has the Department of Health and Social Services had any discussions with the Department of Justice to possibly co-habitat or take over the Arctic Tern facility in Inuvik to better address the addiction needs that are prevalent in Inuvik?

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Supplementary To Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1288

An Hon. Member

Good question.

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Supplementary To Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1288

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . The honourable Minister for Health and Social Services , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Further Return To Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1288

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, firstly, we'd be very happy, as a department, to give full briefings to all the Members opposite, or Member Ramsay, on what's happening with the three hospitals that are being currently renovated, and we can demonstrate very clearly that all the space in there is going to be put to absolutely critical and good use. Not to take away from the issue of treatment centres, but the fact is, we are planning very carefully for all those facilities. In regards to the question of have there been discussions between Health and Justice of alternate use of Arctic Tern, no, there hasn't.

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Further Return To Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1288

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Your final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay .

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Supplementary To Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1288

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when you're spending over $2 million to house, you know, it's been as low as one to six is the latest number I've heard, in a facility in Inuvik, it would only stand to reason that you'd start to question that expenditure of public funds and try to address needs that are more pressing. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister if the discussions haven't taken place as of yet, when will they take place so that we can better spend what little money we have and start earmarking some money to addictions where it's needed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Supplementary To Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1288

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . Mr. Miltenberger .

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Further Return To Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1288

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we spend millions of dollars on addictions and it ties into a whole host of other program areas that we already deliver, as well. We're going to continue to work on that. Justice has their clear plan that they laid out in their business plan speaking to those issues for the facilities that they are in charge of, and should there be a need for us to have those discussions, we will definitely have those. Thank you

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Further Return To Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Question 453-15(4): Underused And Unused Addictions Treatment Facilities

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1288

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Oral questions. The honourable Member from Range Lake , Ms. Lee .

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Question 454-15(4): Access To Addictions Resources

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1288

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was going to say...(inaudible)...Mr. Speaker, I think that means thank you in honour of the visitors in the gallery.

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Question 454-15(4): Access To Addictions Resources

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1288

An Hon. Member

Hear! Hear!

---Applause

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Question 454-15(4): Access To Addictions Resources

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1288

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Mr. Speaker, my questions are to the Minister of Health and Social Services and I'd like to just follow up on my Member's statement. Mr. Speaker, I have in front of me a CBC report on Wednesday, February 8th, where there was a meeting in Inuvik of the people concerned about their community drug issues and they had invited Sally Ann and Crack Busters Program leaders to be there to speak. We're well aware of the problems we have in Yellowknife.

My colleague from the Sahtu just told me recently that, in fact, they thought they had a drug dealer in their community and they just put him on the plane and sent him out of town. So this problem is prevalent everywhere and I think what I see is that there are a lot of NGOs and community groups that are doing real good work, whether it be Sally Ann, Tree of Peace, there's AA and Al-Anon that are running full tilt, Crack Busters Program, we have a transition home and the government has spent millions of extra dollars on mental health and wellness workers.

But what I see lacking is something that we could do more by the government to tie this together and let it be known to the community about what's available and where to go for resources. Could I ask the Minister what his department is doing to make sure that this is happening? Thank you

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Question 454-15(4): Access To Addictions Resources

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1289

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 454-15(4): Access To Addictions Resources

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1289

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd ask the Member to provide me with her suggestions in terms of how she thinks we could better communicate and let people know what work is being done across the system. But we have communication plans; we have authorities at work; we have boards at work; we have committees; we have NGOs; we have social workers on the ground; we have management staff on the ground working on a day-to-day basis in all the communities. There are coalitions in Yellowknife, for example. So if the Member has some suggestions how we can improve on that, I'm very interested in hearing those. Thank you.

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Return To Question 454-15(4): Access To Addictions Resources

Question 454-15(4): Access To Addictions Resources

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1289

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Supplementary, Ms. Lee .

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Supplementary To Question 454-15(4): Access To Addictions Resources

Question 454-15(4): Access To Addictions Resources

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1289

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't know if there's something written on my forehead, but a lot of Ministers are asking me to do their job.

---Laughter

I have to tell you I'm not interested in the Health and Social Services portfolio, with all due respect. Mr. Speaker, let me tell you I do have a suggestion, and, in fact, I just thought of this. I think we need a 1-800 NWT drug phone line and I think in that phone line, and a web site just on drugs because we have such serious, severe drug problems and we do have services. We have detox centres, we have lots of services.

The sense I'm getting from the community is that they know this is coming, crystal meth, crack cocaine, and alcohol, not to mention...They just don't know what to do and there's a lot being done. So would the Minister look into possibly setting up 1-800 NWT drug line where resources could be available and where people could tap into? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Supplementary To Question 454-15(4): Access To Addictions Resources

Question 454-15(4): Access To Addictions Resources

Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1289

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee . Mr. Miltenberger .

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Question 454-15(4): Access