Debates of March 10th, 2009

This is page numbers 2921 - 2956 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 3rd 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 work .

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Minister’s Statement 61-16(3): Improving Family Law Services

Minister’s Statement 62-16(3): Counseil De Developpement Economique Des Territories Du Nord-Ouest Awards Ceremony Statement

Minister’s Statement 63-16(3): Community Capacity Building Fund

Snowmobile Trip To Peel River Headwaters

Delivery Of Early Childhood Education And Child Care Programs

Contributions Of The John Howard Society

Government Support For Community Logging And Sawmill Programs

Correlation Between Healthy Choices And Health Care Expenditures

Supports For The Business Sector In Uncertain Economic Times

Concerns Of Lutselk’e Constituents

Affordable Rent Protection Measures

Income Support Cheque Distribution Process

Disclosure Of Outside Activities By GNWT Employees

Funding For Norman Wells Breakwater Project

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Funding For Norman Wells Breakwater Project

Disclosure Of Outside Activities By GNWT Employees

Income Support Cheque Distribution Process

Affordable Rent Protection Measures

Improvements To Family Law Services

Stable Funding For Daycare Operations

Funding Alternatives For Large-Scale Infrastructure Projects

Health Choices And Physical Activity Efforts

Community Consultations On Sahtu Housing Concerns

Stable Funding For Daycare Operations

Government Support For Community Logging And Sawmill Operations

Stable Funding For Daycare Operations

Food Rescue Program

Public Tender And Market Disruptions Procedures

Eligibility Under The Business Incentive Policy

Chairmanship Of The Workers’ Safety And Compensation Commission

Written Question 5-16(3): Mental Health Services At North Slave Correctional Centre

Tabled Document 25-16(3): Supplementary Appropriation No. 1 (Infrastructure Expenditures) 2009-2010

Tabled Document 26-16(3): Status Of Women Council Of The NWT Annual Report 2007-2008

Tabled Document 27-16(3): Workers’ Safety And Compensation Commission 2009-2011 Corporate Plan

Tabled Document 28-16(3): Yellowknives Dene Council Resolution Regarding GNWT Rent Subsidy Programme - Reverting Income Assessments To Yellowknives Dene First Nation Housing Division

Extended Adjournment Of The House To May 27, 2009

Removal Of Gst For Certain Goods And Services North Of 60

Presentation Of Final Report On The Review Of The Official Languages Act

Appointment Of Languages Commissioner

Bill 15: Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2009

Bill 12: Securities Transfer Act

Bill 13:

An Act To Amend The Commissioner’s Land Act

Bill 14:

An Act To Amend The Motor Vehicles Act

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Concurrence Of Td 25(16(3), Supplementary Appropriation No. 1 (Infrastructure Expenditures) 2009-2010 Carried

Report of Committee of the Whole

Bill 4: Public Library Act

Bill 7:

An Act To Amend The Student Financial Assistance Act

Bill 16: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2009-2010

Orders of the Day

The House met at 1:35 p.m.

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---Prayer

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Prayer

Prayer

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the Chamber. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Justice , Mr. Lafferty .

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Minister’s Statement 61-16(3): Improving Family Law Services

Ministers’ Statements

Monfwi

Jackson Lafferty

Minister of Justice

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to announce new services from the Department of Justice to help families in transition. These services are the first steps in longer-term project design to create an effective and accessible family law framework for more choices for families.

For many people, the court system works well, but it’s only one option. It can be expensive and time consuming. As Members know, mediation offers parents an alternative. They talk to each other, work out their issues, like where the kid will live, visitation, financial support and how they will continue to be good parents in what is now a different kind of relationship.

Many parents come away from mediation with their issues resolved in a way that works for them. They feel that they have been heard and they can move forward. It’s usually much faster than going through courts. Agreements can often be reached within a few hours.

Mr. Speaker, the department has offered a mediation service over the past number of years on a pilot basis. It was done using the services of a single mediator. That pilot confirmed that there is a need for mediation services in the Northwest Territories and resulted in a resolution of many family law cases.

Mr. Speaker, we are now setting up a new mediation project with a roster of five mediations and the program will be up and running this week. It will be free of charge, Mr. Speaker. Depending on demand, we may increase the number of mediators on the roster. We will be able to offer family remediation services in communities throughout the Northwest Territories.

We recognize the need for other services and support for parents who are separating or divorcing. We are working out the last few details of a course that will start early in the new fiscal year for parents who are separating. It will help parents make a new transition to a new type of relationship in a way that is positive. We’ve offered similar courses for a few years, so we know what works and what doesn’t.

We also know that similar programs in other jurisdictions have been really helpful to parents who are separating or divorcing, but these programs are mandatory. Judges order parents to take these type of courses before seeking a court order for custody or access. This seems to be a key to its success because it is seen as a court requirement. Mr. Speaker, we will be studying the program closely to ensure that it will meet the needs of families in the Northwest Territories.

I would also like to highlight work we are doing in the Court Worker Program. Members indicated to us that community-based positions could play a greater role in our justice system. We are finishing a study on the feasibility of having our community court workers play a greater role in helping family law clients. We are looking at how often court workers deal with individuals facing family law issues. We need to know which legal issues or situations our residents are most likely to bring to court workers and the best way for court workers to answer those questions.

From this research, we will identify family law services that will be performed by court workers both in and out of court. We know they are in a great position to help people in their communities with information about court processes and their legal rights and responsibilities.

We know every family is different. We know that what works for one family won’t work for all. We also know that families in transition may face

serious challenges and need help to overcome these. We want to provide options that can help families resolve their issues in the way that works best for them. We will continue to work closely with the judiciary and the family law bar to make real improvements in family law for Northerners. We will look to the continued advice and support of this Assembly to advance this work.

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Minister’s Statement 61-16(3): Improving Family Law Services

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment , Mr. Bob McLeod .

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Minister’s Statement 62-16(3): Counseil De Developpement Economique Des Territories Du Nord-Ouest Awards Ceremony Statement

Ministers’ Statements

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, this evening the francophone population of the Northwest Territories will honour their own with the first Francophone Entrepreneurial Awards. These awards will not only identify outstanding francophone businesses, but will highlight the importance of French entrepreneurs in developing the economy of the Northwest Territories.

French entrepreneurs have been active in the North for over 300 years. It is good to see that their efforts are being acknowledged. The event will be held here in the Great Hall of the Legislative Assembly and hosted by Counseil de developpement economique des Territories du Nord-Ouest, also known as CDETNO.

---Applause

Entrepreneurs will be honoured in four different categories. The first one is a special category for the Northwest Territories arts business, then commercial services, business services, and micro business. Winners in the commercial services, business services, and micro business categories will be submitted to a national competition that is being held in 2009. You may remember this is the competition that Pierre LePage of Le Frolic won in 2005.

The host for the event will be CDETNO. This francophone organization offers a multitude of services to businesspeople in the Northwest Territories who speak French as their first language. A non-profit organization, CDETNO works to promote, encourage, and support economic development and employability of French speaking residents of the Northwest Territories.

I congratulate all the businesses that have been nominated for the awards and, to use the words of Simon Lamoureux, president of CDETNO, “This is a recognition for the important contribution made by

French entrepreneurs to the economy of the Northwest Territories.”

Merci beaucoup, Mr. Speaker. Later today at the appropriate time I will be recognizing special guests in the gallery.

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Minister’s Statement 62-16(3): Counseil De Developpement Economique Des Territories Du Nord-Ouest Awards Ceremony Statement

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs , Mr. Robert McLeod .

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Minister’s Statement 63-16(3): Community Capacity Building Fund

Ministers’ Statements

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleasure to provide Members with information about the current status of the Community Capacity Building Fund. This program has supported innovative and diverse projects in all 33 communities in the Northwest Territories, providing benefits to all of our residents.

The program was designed with the goal to bring community governments and organizations together to collaborate, develop, and endorse projects that would benefit the community-at-large. I am very pleased to inform Members that this goal has been achieved.

Funding of $35 million has been provided to support a total of 247 projects across the Northwest Territories. The funded projects reflect a wide variety of community capacity building initiatives, including the expansion of community complexes or hamlet offices to include additional services and infrastructure support for various community groups; investment in housing projects for seniors, staff, and community residents; development of new or enhanced community facilities such as a community workshop, commercial cooking facility, and youth centre; training and succession planning for community staff; and infrastructure enhancements such as communication system upgrades.

Since this program was first implemented in July 2005, MACA has been administering the fund and over this period has worked with communities to address their community capacity needs. While some communities are still in the process of

implementing their projects, many others have completed their projects with successful outcomes. Although the department’s administration of the Community Capacity Building Fund ends on March 31st , 2009, MACA continues to offer ongoing

support to address capacity challenges. Communities face a variety of challenges and MACA supports capacity building to ensure that community governments are able to lead effectively to ensure responsive, resilient, vibrant, and sustainable communities.

I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating all communities who are working collaboratively to develop proposals to improve the quality of life for our residents.

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Minister’s Statement 63-16(3): Community Capacity Building Fund

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta , Mr. Krutko .

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Snowmobile Trip To Peel River Headwaters

Members’ Statements

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Tomorrow, March 11th , snowmobilers from Fort

McPherson will be skidooing to the headwaters of their traditional territory, the Peel River watershed. The Tetlit Gwich’in Council and Na-Cho Nyak Dun have spent many months planning this snowmobile trip, originally planning to leave Fort McPherson and ending in Mayo. Due to unforeseen circumstances and time shortage, the trip will see that both parties meet halfway between Fort McPherson and Mayo at the headwaters of the Peel River watershed.

The purpose of this trip is to revisit the traditional trails that were once travelled by our ancestors and to teach the youth about the importance of protecting the Peel River watershed from any developments. The greatest opportunity is for the guides and leaders of the community and the youth, to pass down the knowledge and importance of landmarks in regard to sensitive areas to the youth of Mayo and Fort McPherson.

On Monday morning 12 participants left Mayo, Yukon and tomorrow, Wednesday, the Tetlit Gwich’in participants, in particular from the Mackenzie Delta, will start their journey to the headwaters. The Tetlit Gwich’in participants are elders, community leaders, selected youth.

A number of years back, in 1992, leaders from the Gwich’in Tribal Council and members from Fort McPherson made a trip with members from Mayo

and the elders that are still alive and able to travel today, tomorrow, I should say, would like to guide the members over the traditional trails and teach the youth the importance of protecting these trails.

During the meetings both parties will express the importance of protecting our lands at the Peel River watershed and bring awareness back to our communities.

I’d like to pass on a big mahsi cho to those who prepared this trip, but, more importantly, to all the participants who will be going on this trip. May you have a safe journey and God bless. See you when you get back.

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Snowmobile Trip To Peel River Headwaters

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Delivery Of Early Childhood Education And Child Care Programs

Members’ Statements

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In a report released in December by UNICEF, Canada ranked last out of 25 affluent countries in our delivery of early childhood education and child care programs. Canada failed to meet nine out of 10 benchmarks, but, most disturbingly, the NWT doesn’t even meet one of the UNICEF benchmarks.

This government has a responsibility to address these unacceptable shortcomings in the NWT as soon as possible. Highlighted last year and still not fully resolved is the lack of stable funding toward daycares. Currently we fund daycares in a convoluted way that assesses them four times a year and delivers funding based on these assessments. Not surprisingly, this means fluctuating and unpredictable funding throughout the year and huge challenges to providing consistent service.

The Social Programs committee recommended last year that ECE take immediate action to ensure that child care operations receive stable and predictable levels of funding regardless of the fluctuations in the attendance of children due to sickness or family emergency. Whatever action the department has taken has not been sufficient as our daycares are still in trouble.

While Aurora College currently provides early childhood education programs, compared to the South these programs do not stack up. We need to review these programs and bring them up to national standards in order to provide the best possible education for our children.

Further to the problem of well-trained early childhood workers is the problem of wages. Because wages in the early child care industry are

so low, when people do receive proper training and become qualified, they tend to leave daycares for higher paid positions. A wage subsidy could help to ensure that daycares have qualified people to care for our children in one of the most crucial development stages of their lives.

There has been a lot of talk about the economy lately. Some world leaders are now recognizing that an investment in early childhood education is the best economic stimulus there is. President Obama has acknowledged this; his stimulus package contains large amounts of additional funding for early childhood education. According to the chief public officer in Canada it is estimated that $1 invested in the early years saves $3 to $9 in the future, depending on the health and criminal justice systems, as well as on social assistance.

Let’s invest in our children in a guaranteed way to ensure long-term benefits for our society and by providing for stable and predictable funding, and qualified workers for daycares and early childhood education in the Northwest Territories.

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Delivery Of Early Childhood Education And Child Care Programs

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Contributions Of The John Howard Society

Members’ Statements

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to highlight the contributions of the John Howard Society to the criminal justice system in the Northwest Territories. Incorporated in 1992 as a member of the John Howard Society of Canada, the John Howard Society based in Yellowknife is a volunteer organization that promotes just, effective, and humane responses to the causes and consequences of crime.

Volunteers at the John Howard Society take an active role in community justice initiatives by offering three core programs. Fine options and community services give youth and adults the options of settling fines through unpaid, supervised community service work hosted by local, non-profit service organizations. This is a productive alternative to serving jail time for not paying fines.

With the cooperation of the RCMP, the federal and territorial Justice departments, the John Howard Society offers the Community Justice Program; a restorative justice program that works with individuals to resolve the effects of their behaviour outside the criminal justice system. The program currently aims to handle eight hearings a month, but the RCMP has publicly stated that the potential for a caseload of 50 hearings a month if the society had the resources to meet this demand.

Combined with the Healthy Snack Program, the John Howard Society runs judo programs which promote crime prevention through healthy lifestyles, self-respect, and positive peer relationships. The John Howard Society co-facilitates the Dads after Divorce and Separation Program at the North Slave Correctional Centre. Sessions cover problem solving, relationships, parenting, distorted beliefs, lifestyle balance, anger management, grief, and loss. These are vital areas of sound mental health and this program helps to prevent further family difficulties and crime.

In addition, the society hosts weekly meetings with the Dads North Association. Dads North was formed to empower individuals to establish and maintain healthy domestic lifestyles by providing guidance and understanding in a safe, unprejudiced environment to people who experience emotional trauma and financial hardship following divorce.

I believe that the effects of crime in our communities are clear to all of us. They are costly and have lasting impacts on our people, particularly our youth. I believe it is important to take this opportunity to applaud the John Howard Society for addressing these issues and the hard work of their dedicated volunteers and staff.

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Contributions Of The John Howard Society

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Government Support For Community Logging And Sawmill Programs

Members’ Statements

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The communities in my constituency are very interested in creating sustainable businesses that will employ community members now and in the future. One business like this is the harvesting of logs and operating a sawmill. One example is Jean Marie River.

I spoke earlier this session about Jean Marie River’s desire to operate a biomass co-generation unit using sawdust and scrap from a sawmill to produce wood pellets. The problem in communities may be getting financial assistance for logging and sawmill operations, let alone establishing an innovative and carbon neutral business.

It seems that support for economic development of this kind has decreased. One ITI fund that supported logging operations, the Western Harvesters Support Program, has been reduced significantly. Jean Marie River band has received assistance from the Business Development Fund in the past. Today there is no dedicated program for logging. There is a lack of stimulus for this industry.

I hope the government will review their funding programs and provide more assistance to communities for this type of economic development opportunity. As the Business Development and Investment Corporation states as its role on its website, “promoting and maintaining economic development and employment...has both economic and social aspects.”

Jean Marie River was sustained by logging for a couple of generations. They do not want to lose this identity. They want to continue with the sawmill operations for generations yet to come. I support them on this initiative and I urge our government to do the same.

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Government Support For Community Logging And Sawmill Programs

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Correlation Between Healthy Choices And Health Care Expenditures

Members’ Statements

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to speak about the correlation between people making healthy choices today and future health care expenditures and the prevalence of chronic illness. Let me begin with a story that appeared on CTV yesterday evening. I would suggest that the Minister of Health and our government take this story and the findings of the research that was conducted very seriously.

The story was based on a research paper that appears in the latest edition of the Canadian Journal of Public Health. It was authored by Kathleen Doering and three other researchers who say Northerners weigh more and exercise less than our southern cousins. This new research suggests the growing gap between North and South could be setting the stage for the three northern territories to experience higher rates of chronic disease, from strokes to diabetes.

We are also drinking more alcohol and smoking more tobacco in the North. Smoking has dropped 13 percent here in the North, but in the South it has dropped 20 percent. The percentage of regular drinkers grew 9 percent in the North compared to less than 6 percent in the South. And the percentage of obese or overweight Northerners

increased 10 percent as compared with only 7 percent in the South.

For all of the millions of dollars we put into prevention, the numbers are not getting any better, with the exception of our smoking rates. The bottom line is healthy choices. We need a balanced diet. We need to be exercising more. We need to avoid excessive tobacco and alcohol consumption.

The time to conduct research into chronic disease prevention is now. We must act while the problem is still relatively limited in scope. I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services at the appropriate time.

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Correlation Between Healthy Choices And Health Care Expenditures

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Supports For The Business Sector In Uncertain Economic Times

Members’ Statements

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We all know that we are in unprecedented times of economic downturn and nobody knows what the next newscast or next bad lot of news is going to be. We’ve seen what the federal government has done in terms of the economic stimulus; small things, even, like the home improvement tax rebate. We’re waiting to see what the infrastructure dollars are going to actually bring to the North. Small things again on the part of our government. I want to thank the Minister of ITI for really looking at the SEED program, Support for Entrepreneurs in Economic Development, through our government.

They are small things, but all together they go together to help alleviate some of the pressures here in the North.

The Minister of Housing mentioned some of the housing programs and I’m hoping that more Northerners can take advantage of those to upgrade their homes to make them more cost effective. This as a by-product does stimulate our economy because it puts contractors to work and sells lots of materials.

I look forward to the EDI committee meeting with the Minister of ITI after session here to take a look at the money that’s remaining in the Opportunities Fund and again look for ways that we can be supportive to northern business as we go through these difficult times ahead. The forecast for how long this recession is going to last now vary, but certainly now we’re up to predictions that have gone from a year to 18 months, to one prediction I heard last night that this could last for a decade. We need to be ready.

The businesses here in the North also struggle with getting workers. If any of these major capital projects do come to the North, too, there is going to be an issue with getting workers. When you hear of all the layoffs everywhere else in the country, it makes me wonder if there are not Canadians out there who would be interested in relocating to the North. I know we do very focused and targeted recruitment and retention initiatives as the GNWT, but perhaps we need to do a campaign to suggest to some adventuresome Canadians out there who would be interested in relocating to the North.

I know we do very focussed and targeted recruitment and retention initiatives as the GNWT, but perhaps we need to do a campaign to suggest to some adventurous Canadians out there who have lost their jobs in southern Canada, that maybe the North is a place that they could look to.

I appreciate the work of ECE on the foreign workers coming in through the Nomination Program and also through the expedited labour market opinion. I know this has taken a lot of pressure off businesses in the North with being able to get foreign workers.

I do support immigration, but, Mr. Speaker, I can’t believe that there are not some adventuresome Canadians out there who would like to look to the North. I do believe it still is a challenge for businesses and I would like this government to take a role in that. Thank you.

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Supports For The Business Sector In Uncertain Economic Times

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Concerns Of Lutselk’e Constituents

Members’ Statements

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I wish to update the Lutselk’e constituents of various items that I have been working on as MLA. I will do Fort Resolution tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, home initiative programs of Lutselk’e has been a major issue in Lutselk’e especially for the senior homeowners. However, the NWT Housing Corporation has received an additional $50 million to put into infrastructure and housing across the Northwest Territories. I am confident that Lutselk’e will see a positive impact from that.

Mr. Speaker, dust continues to be one of my top priorities and I will continue to come up with ideas on how this government can work with the local government on dust suppression. However, Mr. Speaker, in order to effectively deal with the dust problems, the community must first be properly drained. That is something that I will continue to work on.

Mr. Speaker, I have had some discussions with the chief and the Minister on the youth and how we may be able to work together to be able to provide a youth centre in Lutselk’e and also working on some of the on-the-land programs for youth.

Mr. Speaker, I am watching the progress made by the local DEA on grade extension for Lutselk’e and I am ready to support the DEA where necessary to make this a reality for Lutselk’e. In addition, Mr. Speaker, the Lutselk’e school will need some renovations for grade extension and to provide a proper place for students to take industrial arts and home economics.

I have had many discussions with the Minister of ITI on support towards small businesses in Lutselk’e and support for local trappers. I am happy to say that some of the local trappers have recently been able to take a course through ITI.

Mr. Speaker, the cost of living issue is also a huge item for the community and the people of Lutselk’e. The cost of power, heat, transportation and food are all items that I, as MLA, have worked on with the government in an attempt to bring these costs down.

Mr. Speaker, these are not all of the items but are the key items that I have been working for the community of Lutselk’e and thought it would be important to update them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Concerns Of Lutselk’e Constituents

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Affordable Rent Protection Measures

Members’ Statements

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to revisit an issue I have raised here in the Assembly a number of times as well as I wish to acknowledge my colleague from Frame Lake who has raised the same issue. The issue is about affordable rent and protection measures for our northern residents here. Mr. Speaker, it doesn’t go any further than this. It is the lack of protection and those measures to protect our citizens from unbearable rent increases that they cannot control.

Mr. Speaker, this is truly breaking the northern family and it is certainly getting worse. Mr. Speaker, I am getting e-mails that talk about this to tell me line by line. They detail their expenses and stress how it is difficult for the working poor to get by as rents increase.

Mr. Speaker, yes, the legislation as echoed by the Minister is correct. The landlord can have one increase a year. But, Mr. Speaker, we continue to

leave our residents unprotected from what amount that may be in the end.

Mr. Speaker, I agree wholeheartedly that the landlord needs to cover their costs and certainly make a reasonable profit. I support this fully. But, Mr. Speaker, at the cost to the residents when they cannot afford their rent anymore, I start to question about what is considered reasonable.

Mr. Speaker, the rental office, it is true, is out there to hear complaints and concerns. But, Mr. Speaker, when you write or even cry to the rentals officer, it does nothing more than be a therapeutic release, because they cannot produce any results from the fact that if you cry or write or complain about what increase you have received, they just sit there with their hands tied.

Mr. Speaker, as I have said before, what the issue really comes down to is this: the ball is in the court of the landlord. How nice are they this time around? How generous are they going to be on the increase? How unfriendly are they going to be with the increase? Mr. Speaker, we can deal with this quite simply with the Residential Tenancies Act. I challenge the Minister of Justice to bring forward an amendment that protects working families, because we leave them certainly exposed to the market rents that could be increased.

Mr. Speaker, if the Minister of Justice does not want to support and protect working people, I can assure you that there are Members over on this side of the House that will work to do so. Mr. Speaker, again I say, let’s not call this rent control, but let’s call this fair protection for working families. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Affordable Rent Protection Measures

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . The honourable Member for Nunakput , Mr. Jacobson .

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Income Support Cheque Distribution Process

Members’ Statements

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I am speaking in regards to income support cheque payments. The previous government dramatically changed the way income support was given, against the recommendation of most community governments and organizations. Furthermore, the previous government offered no support, notice or plans to help communities and residents deal with the changes.

Today Nunakput is dealing with the legacy of neglect and this government seems to endorse this legacy. Leaders and elders, support staff were all asking the government to re-evaluate the way cheques are given to recipients so bills can be made, people can put food on the table and the

continued cycle of dependency can stop. Due to these challenges, people are getting deeper and deeper into arrears to the point where it becomes overwhelming.

Recently in Tuktoyaktuk, a family of four and a baby were evicted from their home. Now they can get no support because they don’t even have an address, Mr. Speaker. This government must help families with personal difficulties to end this cycle of dependency, but this government needs to go one step further to work with the local suppliers of grocery stores and to help the residents and the communities work out a system where the families can put food on the table, a program similar to food stamps.

Since these changes were made, the longer the government waits, the bigger the ticking bomb will get. We will need a true one-stop shop where people can deal with all their issues where payments and expenses can be resolved before the recipient receives a cheque. Getting the run around and the blame game when dealing with the government departments and financial problems in the communities can be exhausting. Communities in my riding especially need the government to be creative, proactive and realistic when dealing with the government income support payments, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I will have more questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment at the appropriate time. Thank you.

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Income Support Cheque Distribution Process

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson . The honourable Member for Frame Lake , Ms. Bisaro .

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Disclosure Of Outside Activities By GNWT Employees

Members’ Statements

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to speak about some concerns that I have with actions that we, the GNWT, the employer, require of our employees; actions that, to me, feel like an infringement on their rights. As individuals, we all have our own interests and activities that we pursue outside of our work day and our work environment. I firmly believe we are each entitled to our own opinions and beliefs, but I also firmly believe that those beliefs, activities and passions should only be curtailed or interfered with in exceptional circumstances.

As a government, we have policies in place to protect both the employee and the employer. That is a good thing. Some of our employees are in positions requiring impartiality or the perception of impartiality. Our deputy ministers, directors and senior managers should not be actively engaged in political activities, for instance. The vast majority of

our employees, however, should have free reign to take

part in any activity of their choice as long as it is outside of their work environment or their work hours and as long as it does not put them in a conflict of interest position.

Imagine my surprise and disbelief when I learned that many GNWT employees are required to report their personal activities to their supervisor; activities such as being a member of a board for an organization such as coaching a sports team, such as attending a workshop honouring International Women’s Day. My problem is with the need to disclose everything and every activity. My examples are activities that are unpaid, volunteer interests unrelated to an employee’s work duties or job. Volunteering is healthy and has value for both the participant and the community. It should be encouraged by an employer.

Yet employees must ask permission to take part. The department has to monitor the results of a membership on a board. That is not right, Mr. Speaker. How does my coaching a basketball team have any impact on the GNWT or my job performance? Does the employer even have the right to ask the employee to report his or her activities?

Our policies exist to limit the negative actions or impacts against the GNWT by an employee, but by our actions we are presuming that employees will act badly. Where is the trust in this relationship? I have said before and will say again, we have good employees with good morals and ethics with the sense to know when to report an activity which might be sensitive to a supervisor and seek advice on it.

Do we really value our employees as much as we keep saying? Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

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Disclosure Of Outside Activities By GNWT Employees

Members’ Statements

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, colleagues. Do we really value our employees as much as we keep saying? If so, we need to give them the credit they are due and trust them to be responsible, not start from a position of mistrust. If my information is correct, Mr. Speaker, and we treat our employees as described, it is a small wonder we are not the employer of choice anymore. Thank you.

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Disclosure Of Outside Activities By GNWT Employees

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro . The honourable Member for the Sahtu , Mr. Yakeleya .

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Funding For Norman Wells Breakwater Project

Members’ Statements

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Norman Wells has the smallest population of any tax-based municipality in the Northwest Territories.

Located on a very large river, in the spring when the Mackenzie breaks up, ice jams cause flooding and shore lands can be battered.

Since its construction about 70 years ago, the town’s water treatment plant and macerator building have been at risk of ice damage and flooding and possible demolition of these very important buildings. The council requests funding from MACA to cover costs of a breakwater or seawall. The town thought the costs would come from the infrastructure funding available from the Building Canada Plan first announced in 2007 federal budget.

On February 21, 2008, the NWT was promising funding for $185 million for a seven-year period for transportation and community infrastructure. The town applied twice for funding and had been rejected twice. The town council and residents remain puzzled as to why the applications were rejected.

Last fall the town council of Norman Wells had designs drawn up to build a breakwater to protect the facility. It was a community ready project. Completion was required before breakup and so a contract has been tendered and awarded, given the short construction window. The federal government told MACA that the Norman Wells Sea Project is not eligible for funding as the construction has already been completed. The budget for the project was $613,000. If this wasn’t done by the town, Mr. Speaker, the situation would have been disastrous, costly and catastrophic. This is a very unfortunate situation.

As of today, Canada has now, through Building Canada Plan, infrastructure projects for 2009-10. When are we going to find out about this funding? Miraculously, if it wasn’t for a strand of birch trees opposite the sewer power building acting as a natural barrier and preventing the building from being destroyed, the town did the only thing that any community would have done for its people. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Funding For Norman Wells Breakwater Project

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. I would like to welcome everyone in the gallery today. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South , Mr. Bob McLeod .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to recognize Mr. Jean Francois Pitre, owner of PIDO Productions and member of the board of directors for CDETNO and Sylvie Francoeur, director general for CDETNO. Welcome.

---Applause

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for the Sahtu , Mr. Yakeleya .

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Question 292-16(3): Funding For Norman Wells Breakwater Project

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. How can the GNWT help the town of Norman Wells with the seawall project that was budgeted for $613,000? I would like to ask the Minister of MACA , how can his department help the town?

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Question 292-16(3): Funding For Norman Wells Breakwater Project

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs , Mr. Robert McLeod .

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Question 292-16(3): Funding For Norman Wells Breakwater Project

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

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Question 292-16(3): Funding For Norman Wells Breakwater Project

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, the town of Norman Wells only did what any other community would have done to save its sewer plant, water intake plant. Certainly we would support the Minister in terms of going forward with the Building Canada Plan in terms of the projects. What is the status of these BCP projects in terms of 2009-10 with this government?

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Question 292-16(3): Funding For Norman Wells Breakwater Project

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

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Question 292-16(3): Funding For Norman Wells Breakwater Project

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, the town of Norman Wells would be very appreciative of the Minister’s response. I want to ask the Minister in terms of another source of funding under the Emergency Measures Fund, or are there other emergency funds his department has that could also help with this situation?

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Question 292-16(3): Funding For Norman Wells Breakwater Project

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, again, the town of Norman Wells identified a need and they were protecting some infrastructure. I will assure the Member that MACA will explore all of our options in trying to access funding for the project in Norman Wells. Thank you.

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Question 292-16(3): Funding For Norman Wells Breakwater Project

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 292-16(3): Funding For Norman Wells Breakwater Project

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, again, the town will be very appreciative of the response here. In terms of this situation here, can I ask the Minister in terms of instructing his officials when they do meet with us, what constitutes emergency measures such as a situation like this with Norman Wells? Does this type of funding that the town is requesting fit in some type of policy that constitutes an emergency for this situation?

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Question 292-16(3): Funding For Norman Wells Breakwater Project

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, I would imagine that this would fit under an emergency, as this seawall needed to be built to protect their infrastructure. As I advised the Member, I will be bringing all this forward with the department and we will see what kind of options we have and I will advise the Member and the community of Norman Wells. Thank you.

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Question 292-16(3): Funding For Norman Wells Breakwater Project

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Frame Lake , Ms. Bisaro .

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Question 293-16(3): Disclosure Of Outside Activities By GNWT Employees

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned in my statement, I talked about a number of policies. I have some questions in regards to the comments in my statement for the Minister of Human Resources . My first question would be to know what policies exist that apply to employees within the GNWT public service. Thank you.

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Question 293-16(3): Disclosure Of Outside Activities By GNWT Employees

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro . The honourable Minister of Human Resources , Mr. Bob McLeod .

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Question 293-16(3): Disclosure Of Outside Activities By GNWT Employees

Oral Questions

Yellowknife South

Bob McLeod

Minister of Human Resources

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have a code of conduct for employees respecting conflict of interest. We also have an oath of secrecy for employees. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 293-16(3): Disclosure Of Outside Activities By GNWT Employees

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thanks to the Minister and those are the ones that I was aware of as well. By the way, both of those policies are quite valid and they should be there. I think they are important. Relative to some of the comments that I made in my statement that employees are required to report activities to their supervisors, could the Minister advise us whether or not there is an established practice or procedure to request activities outside of an employee’s work environment from the employee? Thank you.

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Question 293-16(3): Disclosure Of Outside Activities By GNWT Employees

Oral Questions

Yellowknife South

Bob McLeod

Minister of Human Resources

The code of conduct that I referred to outlines responsibilities of employees as to how to prevent themselves from getting into conflict of interest situations and the reporting requirements I am not aware of any reporting requirements for the examples that the Member used in her Member’s statement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 293-16(3): Disclosure Of Outside Activities By GNWT Employees

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thanks to the Minister. I totally agree that if any employee is involved in an activity that could put them in a conflict or could leave them in a situation where they have access to confidential information, that should not be shared publicly. So I fully agree with the policies that are there, but is the Minister aware -- if he doesn’t know of a practice or procedure -- of instructions that are given to managers, deputy ministers, directors, or senior managers to find out from their employees what activities they are involved in?

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Question 293-16(3): Disclosure Of Outside Activities By GNWT Employees

Oral Questions

Yellowknife South

Bob McLeod

Minister of Human Resources

I’m not aware of any specific directions that are given to deputy ministers or senior managers other than I know that most employees take it upon themselves to report to their supervisors if they are involved in any organizations and so on, just to be on the safe side, I presume.

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Question 293-16(3): Disclosure Of Outside Activities By GNWT Employees

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Ms. Bisaro .

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Question 293-16(3): Disclosure Of Outside Activities By GNWT Employees

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister. I guess that sounds to me as though employees of their own free will are providing this information. That’s not the impression that I was given when I got this information. I would like to ask the Minister if he would be willing to look into this situation and to determine whether or not there are managers who are asking for this information as opposed to taking it from the employee when they offer it of their own free will.

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Question 293-16(3): Disclosure Of Outside Activities By GNWT Employees

Oral Questions

Yellowknife South

Bob McLeod

Minister of Human Resources

Certainly, Mr. Speaker, I’ll endeavour to do that. Certainly we don’t want employees reporting on things that we have no interest or no need to be involved with.

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Question 293-16(3): Disclosure Of Outside Activities By GNWT Employees

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Nunakput , Mr. Jacobson .

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Question 294-16(3): Income Support Cheque Distribution Process

Oral Questions

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My Member’s statement today was on the income support cheques and regarding the way they’re distributed to the communities. Will the government re-evaluate the way income support cheques are distributed and how various government departments deal with residents in the small communities?

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Question 294-16(3): Income Support Cheque Distribution Process

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 294-16(3): Income Support Cheque Distribution Process

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Member did bring that to my attention a while ago about distribution of cheques into the small community, whether it be some sort of non-cash item in the stores. Some family members are not getting the actual food that they should be getting. Those are the areas we are seriously looking at, how we can distribute a certain amount, whether it be the cheques or vouchers to the stores, so that the families can certainly benefit from it. I’m glad the Member is raising this issue because it is important to us, the well-being of the children and the community.

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Question 294-16(3): Income Support Cheque Distribution Process

Oral Questions

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Will the government commit to develop a true one-stop shop for all government support services?

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Question 294-16(3): Income Support Cheque Distribution Process

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Certainly that is one of our goals when we transfer the program, the one-stop shop that we’ve been talking about here in the Assembly. We continue to do so; provide various subsidies in a one-window approach. So we continue to improve in that area. However, if we can improve in certain areas, we’d like to hear from the Members as well. Certainly that will be one of our mandates to move forward, to have a one-stop approach.

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Question 294-16(3): Income Support Cheque Distribution Process

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 295-16(3): Affordable Rent Protection Measures

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The issue that I raised today in my Member’s statement will be the focus of my questions to the Minister of Justice . I keep raising the issue of fair rent for working families. My first question to the Minister of Justice is, what is stopping his department from looking into the issue of some type of rent control that provides protection for working families due to increased cost to the rent?

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Question 295-16(3): Affordable Rent Protection Measures

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . The honourable Minister responsible for Justice , Mr. Lafferty .

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Question 295-16(3): Affordable Rent Protection Measures

Oral Questions

Monfwi

Jackson Lafferty

Minister of Justice

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The rent control is a separate issue that we’re currently talking about here. That area will definitely have, whether it be positive or negative, impacts. We realize that other jurisdictions do have rent control and we have reviewed that. We have investigated that. There are pros and cons. We can certainly share that with the standing committee if we need to move in that direction. The local contractors may not be able to build units if they can’t control the rent. So those are the areas that we seriously looked at. We continue to do more research in that area.

With respect to how the rental officer deals with issues or complaints that are brought to attention on notification of rent increase given notice, those are the areas that the rental officer is in charge of. We continue to work with that.

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Question 295-16(3): Affordable Rent Protection Measures

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

I would like to ask the Minister of Justice if he would take on the initiative to consult with people in a public way on their feelings regarding rent control and the matter of providing reasonable protection for renters and, at the same time, provide reasonable protection for landlords who have to make sure they cover their costs and make a reasonable profit. Would the Minister take on that challenge and create some type of public discussions so that we can have some public awareness and some real, true public feedback on this issue?

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Question 295-16(3): Affordable Rent Protection Measures

Oral Questions

Monfwi

Jackson Lafferty

Minister of Justice

Certainly this is one area we need more consultation with the general public. It will be, I guess, a bigger discussion that we need to have within this Legislative Assembly. We need to hear the input of the general public. We can certainly work towards that with the Members of the standing committee on how we can pursue that.

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Question 295-16(3): Affordable Rent Protection Measures

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

The Minister had said we need more consultation with the public and then he said a few other things I didn’t quite write down, but he also said works towards this with the standing committee. I just want to be clear, in my experience here, that almost sounded like a commitment that the Department of Justice will investigate this issue and create some type of public dialogue. Can I get that clearly on the record today, that the Minister of Justice will create some type of dialogue framework or discussion paper, get out, speak to committee as well as speak to the public?

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Question 295-16(3): Affordable Rent Protection Measures

Oral Questions

Monfwi

Jackson Lafferty

Minister of Justice

As the Minister responsible for Justice , I continue to work with the standing committee and I certainly don’t want to run

with the legislation without consultation with the standing committee. As a commitment from my perspective portfolios and also this government, we need to consult with the standing committee. I will continue to do so. I’m making a commitment to work with the standing committee on a moving-forward basis.

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Question 295-16(3): Affordable Rent Protection Measures

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 295-16(3): Affordable Rent Protection Measures

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that. Can I get some clarification from the Minister when the particular committee, which would be the Standing Committee on Social Programs, when does he expect to be able to reach out and create some type of discussion with that committee before going public with the public discussion paper on the issue of fair rent for working families?

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Question 295-16(3): Affordable Rent Protection Measures

Oral Questions

Monfwi

Jackson Lafferty

Minister of Justice

I did mention in this House that there is a business plan in process that will be underway after session concludes. That’s when we can start opening a discussion with the standing committee. I’m willing to meet with the standing committee and we will continue with our dialogue on how we can improve our program.

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Question 295-16(3): Affordable Rent Protection Measures

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 296-16(3): Improvements To Family Law Services

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Justice in response to his Minister’s statement on improving family law services. I’m quite pleased to hear the announcement that they’re going to be moving or setting up a new mediation project with a roster of five mediators. I know that a number of Members in this House, both in the House and in the back hall, have been encouraging the department to go in this direction of setting up a mediation process.

My first question is just a question for clarity to the Minister responsible. Is this mediation going to be mandatory or is it going to be optional?

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Question 296-16(3): Improvements To Family Law Services

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy . The honourable Minister responsible for Justice , Mr. Lafferty .

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Question 296-16(3): Improvements To Family Law Services

Oral Questions

Monfwi

Jackson Lafferty

Minister of Justice

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I think on a long-term basis we’d like to have this on a mandatory basis. I did mention in my Minister’s statement that other jurisdictions do provide it on a mandatory basis. We’ll continue to work towards that. This is a new program we want to initiate. We’d certainly like to look at the pros and

cons of the particular program, but that’s a long-term commitment that we have within our Justice department.

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Question 296-16(3): Improvements To Family Law Services

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

I’d like to thank the Minister for that. I think it’s a great program. I’m really happy to hear that they’re looking to going mandatory. I’ve done some research on this as well, and everything that I’ve seen has suggested that mandatory will save us a lot of money. To the Minister, how long do you think it will be until we can make some sort of decision as to whether or not we are going to make this mandatory for the sake of the children?

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Question 296-16(3): Improvements To Family Law Services

Oral Questions

Monfwi

Jackson Lafferty

Minister of Justice

Certainly the program will be rolled out within a couple of weeks, three weeks. Certainly we will continue to monitor the program itself and how the program is going, and also looking out for other jurisdictions and how their program is doing, with mandatory or without mandatory. We can probably say late fall we’ll certainly look at this as if it could be mandatory at that time. Certainly we need to have some time to deliver the program, see how it turns out. From there we’ll certainly decide to move forward and we’ll certainly give the standing committee an update at that time.

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Question 296-16(3): Improvements To Family Law Services

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 297-16(3): Stable Funding For Daycare Operations

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is also for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment . It’s regarding my Member’s statement earlier today. I’m wondering if funding to daycares...Well, we know it fluctuates quarterly in unpredictable ways. I’d like to know what we are doing to stabilize that funding and make it more predictable for daycares so they can provide consistent service.

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Question 297-16(3): Stable Funding For Daycare Operations

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 297-16(3): Stable Funding For Daycare Operations

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Certainly I appreciate the Member’s comment on this area. This is one of the priorities within our government, within our own department as well. Early childhood and the daycare facilities, the daycare funding is a priority for us. We do provide ongoing funding. We have increased our funding as well. Back in 2007 we increased our contribution to licensed, non-profit, early childhood providers by 30 percent. So through investment of $600,000. Also, 2007-2008 we included funding to assist eligible providers with basic rent or mortgage expenses. So the subsidy can contribute a

maximum of 25 percent rental towards the mortgage expense. So those are areas we continue to improve in our programs and we continue to monitor and evaluate our programs where we need to increase funding.

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Question 297-16(3): Stable Funding For Daycare Operations

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thanks for the comments from the Minister. I really am appreciative of the increased funding and the help with mortgages for daycares. Specifically on the consistency and providing predictable funding, which would really help budgeting for these daycare centres, do we still penalize the daycare centres when a child is missing for five consecutive days? Do we still penalize them financially? And are we still assessing the daycares four times a year instead of providing them funding on the basis of average attendance?

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Question 297-16(3): Stable Funding For Daycare Operations

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

The daycare funding is based on the enrolment of the children in the daycare, similar to the school operation. We continue to monitor that. We talked about it within our department how we can improve in those areas where students may be missing for up to five days. I guess you can say the organizations get less funding due to that fact. But we will continue to look at that. Certainly we continue to re-evaluate our position, our programs within our current system, again, highlighting what kind of penalization is there for an organization and how we can improve in those areas. We continue to monitor that.

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Question 297-16(3): Stable Funding For Daycare Operations

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

I just have to comment that rather than more review and monitoring we really need actions now. Our daycares have highlighted that this is a problem. Let’s not review and monitor; let’s act on those problem areas.

Are we considering legislation or at least setting standards for early childhood and child care workers?

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Question 297-16(3): Stable Funding For Daycare Operations

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

I believe the Member alluded to the Early Childhood Certification Program through Aurora College. We do certify them in that respect. Whether it be the legislation to, I’m not sure what the Member’s referring to, but certainly those are the areas we need to continue to discuss. I’d like to hear more feedback from the Member on where he’s going with this. Certainly we’re open to ideas and suggestions within our department. As I stated earlier, we will be going through our next phase of business planning process, so we continue to look for options from the Members.

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Question 297-16(3): Stable Funding For Daycare Operations

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 297-16(3): Stable Funding For Daycare Operations

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On the issue of training our child care workers, it’s been

highlighted in the past that we are not providing certified child care workers up to national standards. That’s the basic fact. We really need to address that. I appreciate the Minister’s willingness to do that. Finally, given the new recognition of the clear benefits associated with economic stimulus packages that focus actually on early childhood development and child care, what has the Minister done to increase funding this year since we’ve learned about the recession that is now impending on the Northwest Territories along with the rest of the globe?

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Question 297-16(3): Stable Funding For Daycare Operations

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Certainly early childhood and the language nests, more specifically, has been sunsetted by the federal government. We continue to pick up that program through our territorial government. That has been our commitment. We believe that it is an important piece of program that we need to continue with. New Initiatives Program increased funding in the early childhood. So those are the areas we continue to improve and increase our programming dollars. We continue to monitor those again. We will continue to work with the Members on updating them on current status and where we’re going at the next level. We’ll continue to work with the standing committee.

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Question 297-16(3): Stable Funding For Daycare Operations

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 298-16(3): Funding Alternatives For Large-Scale Infrastructure Projects

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Transportation with regard to the Deh Cho Bridge Act that was passed in this government to build a $165 million bridge across the Mackenzie River at Fort Providence. As part of that proposal, which was to look at the design, build, and finance and own the bridge by way of the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation in which the government will be responsible for paying the cost for what the ferry operation is today with the cost of the bridge crossing, which is about $101.8 million, and then they topped it off to about $2 million a year going forward.

We also found out we’re paying for the cost of the tolls that have to be collected for that bridge. It was a proposal that was given to the Minister and Premier by the Gwich’in Tribal Council to look at the possibility of doing a similar project with regard to the Peel River. Yet in response to a letter we see back from the department and especially from the Department of Transportation it seems that they’re not too enthused to do anything like that. They are saying this has to fit within the government’s capital planning process. I’d like to

ask the Minister why it is that other bridges built in the Northwest Territories cannot follow what was agreed to under the Deh Cho Bridge Act.

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Question 298-16(3): Funding Alternatives For Large-Scale Infrastructure Projects

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 298-16(3): Funding Alternatives For Large-Scale Infrastructure Projects

Oral Questions

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My understanding is that the unsolicited proposal that came from the Beaufort-Delta was brought forward with a price tag and request to put it through the conventional capital process and that’s what we’re doing. I don’t believe I’ve seen a request to a proposal outlining the concepts similar to Deh Cho Bridge.

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Question 298-16(3): Funding Alternatives For Large-Scale Infrastructure Projects

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

That’s exactly my point. Under the conventional system of putting this into the GNWT capital planning process, it ain’t going to see the light of day. Yet the Deh Cho Bridge was billed for $165 million by simply passing

an act in this House. Will the Minister bring forward a Peel River Bridge Act so that we can do it under the same circumstances as the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation?

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Question 298-16(3): Funding Alternatives For Large-Scale Infrastructure Projects

Oral Questions

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

The Deh Cho Bridge Act was brought forward as a result of many years of discussions and a very detailed proposal. If the Member would want to bring a proposal for us to consider, we would be pleased to take a look at it. Thank you.

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Question 298-16(3): Funding Alternatives For Large-Scale Infrastructure Projects

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

I heard a yes there, so there is hope for this project after all. Mr. Speaker, I believe that in order for this proposal to see the light of day, we do have to find a unique way of doing it. We may have to consider tolls. We may have to consider how you finance it, the cost for the ferry operations, the cost for the ice bridge going forward and also exactly how long a term of the lease there is.

Right now, there is a proposal being developed looking at the different scenarios of a 30 or 40-year lease commitment. Will the Minister consider looking at the possibility of looking outside the GNWT capital planning process and finding ways to finance these projects?

Again, we have

an act in place. There was supposed to be some legislation coming forward in regards to a P3 project. I would like to ask the Minister to consider some flexibility in regards to how we look at these projects -- this is not the only bridge that is out there -- and to be able to have the flexibility to at least make an attempt to look at what our options are, looking at these types of big capital projects.

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Question 298-16(3): Funding Alternatives For Large-Scale Infrastructure Projects

Oral Questions

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

The Member is correct when he states we have to be creative when we

look at the projects, and that is going to be the way forward, in my opinion.

There are a number of projects. There are a number of bridges that need to be built across the Territories, five fairly large ones in all told that we need to, at some point, address. Right now, the challenge is to find the financing. If there is a way to do the work and package it up so that it is attractive, affordable and viable, then certainly we would be willing to look at that and talk to my Cabinet colleagues and the federal government or whoever the sources of funding would be arranged through.

Up to now, Mr. Speaker, the request for me to process the submission that was made through the conventional methods, that is what I am doing. That is where the project has been forwarded to for consideration among other projects, Mr. Speaker. Up to now, we have not seen a detailed proposal nor have we asked for one, actually, Mr. Speaker. Until that time, it is difficult to analyze what the concept would be. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 298-16(3): Funding Alternatives For Large-Scale Infrastructure Projects

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Your final supplementary, Mr. Krutko .

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Question 298-16(3): Funding Alternatives For Large-Scale Infrastructure Projects

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, we talked about unconventional ways of building capital. That is what the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation Act is. It is an unconventional way of building a bridge for $165 million. All I ask from the Minister is to allow other organizations or bridges to be considered for replacement or being built under public infrastructure that we consider having that option on the table similar to what was in place with the Deh Cho Bridge in light of what is being considered for the Peel River Bridge.

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Question 298-16(3): Funding Alternatives For Large-Scale Infrastructure Projects

Oral Questions

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Mr. Speaker, I am not one to discourage good ideas coming forward. I mentioned before that we would be willing to look at any unsolicited proposal. If it makes sense, if it is viable, if there is a way that we can identify the resources to do it or whatever that means may be, I would be glad to do an evaluation on it, having our people see if it is something that is doable, have the discussion with the other Members and talk to my colleagues about the potential of projects such as this. I don’t know where else I can go with it or what else I can commit. The Member has asked for something that I have already agreed that I would look at. Thank you.

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Question 298-16(3): Funding Alternatives For Large-Scale Infrastructure Projects

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 299-16(3): Health Choices And Physical Activity Efforts

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have some questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services . It gets back to my Member’s statement where I was talking about some research that has been conducted. It appeared in the Canadian Journal of Public Health in regards to chronic diseases and indicators that would suggest that the trend in northern Canada is not a good one, Mr. Speaker. We need to be doing more in the area of prevention. It is not too late to look at prevention. I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services if her department is aware of the research that has been undertaken. Thank you.

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Question 299-16(3): Health Choices And Physical Activity Efforts

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 299-16(3): Health Choices And Physical Activity Efforts

Oral Questions

Range Lake

Sandy Lee

Minister of Health and Social Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Member for the question as well as providing me with a copy of the research. Mr. Speaker, I can advise the Member that this is an issue that is on top of the minds of everyone who is involved with Health and Social Services system. There is a lot of research done on that and the need for work that we are all aware, Mr. Speaker. In fact, one of the writers, Dr. Kue Young was in my office last month because he is very involved with the research in the North, especially aboriginal health.

He is pursuing a multi-year, multi-million dollar grant program to do further research. He asked me and the department for support. I was glad to do that. The research is important. There is a lot of research in the books already. All of the previous Health Ministers have been talking about how, and including myself, we need to make a lot more advances on this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 299-16(3): Health Choices And Physical Activity Efforts

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

I am glad to hear that the Minister has been in contact with one of the researchers. Getting back again to my Member’s statement, the government spends millions and millions of dollars on prevention but the numbers just don’t seem to be corresponding to the investment that we are making there. How do the Minister and the department suggest that we get Northerners more physically active? What is the game plan going forward to try to get people who live in northern Canada more physically active? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 299-16(3): Health Choices And Physical Activity Efforts

Oral Questions

Range Lake

Sandy Lee

Minister of Health and Social Services

I think the Member should be aware that this is part of our everyday work. There is staff in the department. We spend about $2 million. We could use more, but we spend about $2 million within the department to promote active living and healthy living. That is what our front-line staff work on. We work with other departments like

MACA and Education that work on that. I think the

article that I read in Hill Times talked about the importance of investing in prevention.

In my meetings with the federal Minister of Health , we need federal Health to do a health prevention strategy and make some investment in this area because, ideally, you would want to spend at least 3 percent of your health budget on health promotion. We don’t have as much funding, but we do a lot of work with the money that we are spending. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 299-16(3): Health Choices And Physical Activity Efforts

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Mr. Speaker, I have been here for five years. I know we do a lot of work each and every day on prevention. I know that work happens. What I am suggesting is that I don’t think things are getting much better. What I would suggest to the Minister and the government is we need to take more of a policy look at what we are doing. And I agree with something that the Minister said: it starts early. I think we have done a disservice to our youth by allowing curriculum to be taken out where it pertains to physical activity.

Children today in the classroom or in a school in the Northwest Territories don’t get the physical activity that I had when I was in school. I know that. They get a half hour. They get 45 minutes a week. It is not enough, Mr. Speaker. Kids need to be more physically active. How is the Minister going to get children more physically active in this territory? Thank you.

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Question 299-16(3): Health Choices And Physical Activity Efforts

Oral Questions

Range Lake

Sandy Lee

Minister of Health and Social Services

More sporting events in schools, I know that the Minister of Education works on that area, but I think that the Member would agree with me that we need our people to eat healthier, exercise more, drink and smoke less. Our people drink more, and more heavily. We know the prevention strategy does work and the government has spent money on a non-smoking campaign that has worked. I think it is important to note that there are people in our community clinics who work on prenatal, on children, on healthy families, on Diabetes Strategy, even FSC is a preventive disease. That work is being done. I could update the Member on exactly what we do in that area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 299-16(3): Health Choices And Physical Activity Efforts

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee . Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay .

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Question 299-16(3): Health Choices And Physical Activity Efforts

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The numbers that I suggested are made in my Member’s statement. They don’t lie. The numbers are there. The thing I like about this research is that it is done over a five-year period. It is not just a snapshot; it is the whole nine yards, Mr. Speaker. Again, in terms of policy, what is the government going to do in terms of policy to get people more physically active in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

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Question 299-16(3): Health Choices And Physical Activity Efforts

Oral Questions

Range Lake

Sandy Lee

Minister of Health and Social Services

I realize this is a longitudinal study over five years. I can tell the Member that I just talked to someone with Healthy Food North who is actively engaged. We have groups in the North, health care professionals, who are involved in communities who are talking to the people, doing a study actually as things happen, not five years ago, an academic study, but working with the communities to see what their eating patterns are, what their exercise patterns are and what they can do in their everyday life with the traditional food and things they can do around their communities that could help them.

There is work being done. I think the Member could benefit from some of the profiles. I think I should provide that. I would like to really thank the Member for raising this issue, because we all understand that it is an important issue. Thank you.

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Question 299-16(3): Health Choices And Physical Activity Efforts

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee . The honourable Member for the Sahtu , Mr. Yakeleya .

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Question 300-16(3): Community Consultations On Sahtu Housing Concerns

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for Minister McLeod, Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation . Mr. Speaker, in light of the recent announcement of the housing funding that is coming to the Northwest Territories, I wanted to ask the Minister in terms of future plans going ahead. Would his Crown corporation look at sitting down with the regional bodies in the Sahtu or any other region and look at how they can design and make use of these units that are coming into the Northwest Territories? Would the Minister be able to look at some future consultation with the Sahtu region?

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Question 300-16(3): Community Consultations On Sahtu Housing Concerns

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . The honourable Minister of the Housing Corporation , Mr. Michael McLeod .

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Question 300-16(3): Community Consultations On Sahtu Housing Concerns

Oral Questions

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The new funding has not been decided upon, as we all know. The agreement has not been signed yet. We are anticipating that these new dollars will certainly assist us in the area of housing needs across the Territories. We would like to have something brought forward fairly quickly. I don’t believe that is going to give us an opportunity to meet with all regional leaders. Certainly we don’t have a budget to travel across the Territories and set those up.

Our plan was to have our allocations based on some of the needs assessments that have been done, and have a discussion with Regular Members and my Cabinet colleagues and see if we can have everything in place for the new fiscal year as that is just around the corner. Thank you.

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Question 300-16(3): Community Consultations On Sahtu Housing Concerns

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I say this in terms of the uniqueness and challenges in the Sahtu to construct houses. I am very happy. Yesterday the Minister had some positive exchanges with Mr. Menicoche in terms of the threshold communities like Colville Lake or Fort Good Hope. They need to come together and look at some of the challenges in terms of land and buildings, in terms of reading requirements to obtain a house here. That is why I asked the Minister if he would consider from his department to bring people together in the Sahtu and look at some of the unique challenges of constructing these homes here and see where people can actually build the houses that are empty right now in the Sahtu.

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Question 300-16(3): Community Consultations On Sahtu Housing Concerns

Oral Questions

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Mr. Speaker, right now our biggest challenges in the communities, especially in the area of public housing that has been raised in this House many times, is having our units brought up to a better standard, having our units a lot more energy efficient and to place a lot of these units so our targets or intentions are to focus on doing some of that work in the public housing area, and also to look at the programs we have so that we can deliver more opportunity for private houses in the communities. Those are the two areas that I have been really looking at for the last while.

Along with that, of course, we are doing some evaluations, some tweaking on our programs in terms of changing our thresholds and looking at providing a better forgivable mortgage if that is possible. There are a lot of things that we need to do that I have raised in this House and that Members have brought to my attention. Those are the areas that we are focusing on. Thank you.

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Question 300-16(3): Community Consultations On Sahtu Housing Concerns

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, the challenges that we have in our region is the short construction period by the time the materials get to our region. Again, in terms of going forward, if the people from the Sahtu could somehow sit down with the district office and list some of the concerns from the 2008 Auditor General’s Report -- the inspection, the construction, the material -- this would be very beneficial to the corporation. Again, I would ask the Minister in his reviewing of this budget, would he be able to get the leaders and people from the Sahtu to sit down in the district office and say this is how we see things, housing in the Sahtu?

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Question 300-16(3): Community Consultations On Sahtu Housing Concerns

Oral Questions

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Again, I don’t know if there is going to be opportunity for me to do that. I am sure the Member has heard all the concerns from his leaders and his visits in his communities. He probably could package that up just as well and deliver it to us for consideration, Mr. Speaker. I would certainly be open to hearing anything that the community leaders want to bring to my attention.

I have heard from most of the community leaders over the last while. We have had opportunity to

have some discussions around housing with some of the aboriginal governments, the Beaufort-Delta. The visit gave us a chance to talk to the Gwich’in on some of the issues and also the Inuvialuit. We have had discussions with the Akaitcho people also, Mr. Speaker. I would be glad, if there are other aboriginal governments that want to provide input, we would certainly be open to have that discussion.

I don’t think time is going to give us that opportunity between now and the time we need to have our houses on the ground, Mr. Speaker. We have two years to deliver $104 million worth of projects. We need to be able to hit the ground running and have them on the ground over this two-year window that we have in front of us. We understand the direction is use it or lose it. So we want to be able to spend all the money. We want to be able to put them into where the projects across the Territories have the needs in the area of housing lessened. Thank you.

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Question 300-16(3): Community Consultations On Sahtu Housing Concerns

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. A final, short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya .

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Question 300-16(3): Community Consultations On Sahtu Housing Concerns

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certainly I will be sending over a housing package to the Minister in terms of the needs here. Again, Mr. Speaker, because of the uniqueness of the challenges in the Sahtu, hoping that over time here the Minister will be able to look at some of the unique challenges in the Sahtu. I think he needs to hear from the people in the communities who are actually right on the ground in terms of what cha