Budget, Oral Questions, Judicature Act, Securities Act — 14 June 2012 (17th Assembly, 3rd Session, pp. 1163–1212)
2012-06-14, 17th Assembly 3rd Session, pp. 1163–1212
Northwest Territories — Debates (Hansard)
Debates of June 14th, 2012
This is page numbers 1163 - 1212 of the Hansard for the 17th 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 report .
Topics
Oral Questions
Members Present
Prayer
Minister’s Statement 46-17(3): Taking Action Against Family Violence
Minister’s Statement 47-17(3): Settlement Of Collective Agreements
Minister’s Statement 48-17(3): 10th Anniversary Of Declaring National Aboriginal Day As A Statutory Holiday
Minister’s Statement 49-17(3): Mine Rescue Competition 2012
Minister’s Statement 50-17(3): Nahanni Butte Evacuation
Minister’s Statement 51-17(3): Session Review
Decentralization Of Government Positions Out Of The Capital City
Achievements Of Weledeh Constituents At 22nd Annual NWT Track And Field Championships
Nahanni Butte Flood And Evacuation
Teams In Hay River Relay For Life Cancer Fundraising Event
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
Reflections On The Budget Session And Summer Good Wishes
Aboriginal Policing Program Candidate Gerald Pascal
Summer Student Employment In The Deh Cho Region
Perceived Conflict In Workers’ Safety And Compensation Appeals Tribunal
Support For The Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway
Committee Report 3-17(3): Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The Office Of The Northwest Territories Languages Commissioner Annual Report 2010-2011
Motion To Receive Committee Report 3-17(3) And Move Into Committee Of The Whole
Committee Report 4-17(3): Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The Status Report Of The Auditor General Of Canada To The Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly
Motion To Receive Committee Report 4-17(3) And Move Into Committee Of The Whole
Committee Report 5-17(3): Standing Committee On Rules And Procedures Report On The Introduction Of Electronic Petitions In The Legislative Assembly Of The Northwest Territories
Motion To Receive Committee Report 5-17(3) And Move Into Committee Of The Whole
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Decentralization Of New Government Positions
Nahanni Butte Evacuation And Flood Damage
Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway Project
Summer Student Positions In Deh Cho Region
Homelessness Coalition Report Recommendations
Deh Cho Bridge Project
Perceived Conflict In Workers’ Safety And Compensation Appeals Tribunal
Community Disaster Funding
Mental Health And Addictions Plan
Establishing A Film Industry Tax Credit
Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway Project
Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway Project
Return To Written Questions 1-17(3): Shelter Policy Review – Proposed Seniors Rent Scale
Return To Written Question 2-17(3): Negotiated, Sole-Source Or Similar Contracts
Tabled Document 38-17(3): Government Of The Northwest Territories Response To Motion 3-17(2), Aboriginal Languages Secretariat
Tabled Document 39-17(3): NWT Health Care Services 2012 Client Satisfaction Questionnaire
Tabled Document 40-17(3): Northwest Territories Community Futures Program 2010-2011
Tabled Document 41-17(3): Shaping Northern Housing Options: NWT Housing Corporation Annual Report, 2009-2010 Tabled Document 42-17(3): Sustainable Housing For NWT Residents: NWT Housing Corporation Annual Report, 2010-2011
Tabled Document 43-17(3): Traditional Knowledge Annual Report, 2011-2012
Tabled Document 44-17(3): Results Report 2011-2012 - 20/20: A Brilliant North NWT Public Service Strategic Plan
Tabled Document 45-17(3): Department Of Transportation Negotiated Dot Contracts April 2009 – June 2012 Tabled Document 46-17(3): Department Of Transportation Sole Source Dot Contracts April 2009 – June 2012
Tabled Document 47-17(3): Report Of The Chief Electoral Officer On The Administration Of The 2011 General Election
Tabled Document 48-17(3): From Despair To Wisdom: Perpetual Care And The Future Of The Giant Mine – A Report On A Community Workshop Tabled Document 49-17(3): Building Public Trust And Confidence: Report Of A Workshop On Oversight Of The Giant Mine Tabled Document 50-17(3): Giant Mine Perpetual Care
Mental Health Court Diversion Measures
Recorded Vote
Extended Adjournment Of The House To October 17, 2012
Bill 9: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2012-2013
Bill 10: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 7, 2010-2011
Bill 11: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2010-2011
Bill 7:
An Act To Amend The Judicature Act
Bill 8:
An Act To Amend The Securities Act
Bill 9: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures) No. 1, 2012-2013
Bill 10: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures) No. 7, 2010-2011
Bill 11: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures) No. 7, 2010-2011
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Ensuring The Public Service Understands And Honours The Provisions Of The Official Languages Act
Sensitive Terminology Around Official Languages
GNWT Response To Languages Commissioner’s Recommendations To Legislative Change
Comprehensive Response Within 120 Days
Premier And Department Of Executive’s Response To Auditor General’s Status Report
Workers’ Safety And Compensation Commission’s Claims Processing
NWT Housing Corporation’s Mortgages Repayable
NWT Housing Corporation’s Monitoring Of Local Housing Organizations And Reporting On Condition Of Public Housing Stock
NWT Housing Corporation’s Implementation Plans For Auditor General’s Recommendations
Departments Of Transportation And Public Works And Services Strengthen Quality Assurance Processes
Inspection Of Daycare Facilities And Measurement Of The Impact Of Early Childhood Education Programming
Adult Literacy And Basic Education
Comprehensive Response Within 120 Days
Implementation Of Ongoing Electronic Petitions Service
Necessary Amendments To Rules To Allow For Use Of Electronic Petitions
Report of Committee of the Whole
Bill 1:
An Act To Amend The Student Financial Assistance Act
Bill 3:
An Act To Amend The Human Rights Act
Bill 9: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2012-2013
Bill 10: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 7, 2010-2011
Bill 11: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2010-2011
Assent To Bills
Orders of the Day
The House met at 1:31 p.m.
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
---Prayer
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Prayer
Prayer
The Speaker
Jackie Jacobson
Good afternoon, colleagues. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Premier , Mr. McLeod.
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Minister’s Statement 46-17(3): Taking Action Against Family Violence
Ministers’ Statements
Bob McLeod
Yellowknife South
Mr. Speaker, this Assembly is committed to sustainable, vibrant, safe communities and to taking action against family violence. Homes should be places where strong individuals and families support and love each other. All people have the right to live free from the fear of violence in their own homes and communities.
But we have challenges. The Northwest Territories has the second highest rate of family violence in Canada and we know that many incidents are never reported. This is a territorial tragedy. It affects every community. Many of our people live every day in fear.
With the release of the coroner’s report on the death of Alice Black, we are once again faced with some stark facts about how communities are struggling to cope with issues of addictions, family violence and security.
Strong leaders confront difficult issues. The Government of the Northwest Territories cannot address family violence on its own. We need the daily cooperation of community leaders, social service agencies and non-government organizations. Business, Aboriginal and community governments and individuals themselves have to call attention to the terrible toll family violence takes on its victims and society.
Our government funds shelters in Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Smith, Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk. They give victims and their children a safe place to stay while they think about what to do next. Emergency protection orders can be part of a longer-term safety plan for victims and their children. Staff are working with communities to make sure that victims
always have support and safe places to stay, no matter where they live in the Northwest Territories.
We need to change the way people think about family violence if we are going to end it. Family violence is not just about shelters. It is about making our homes and communities safe places to live. Our new Domestic Violence Treatment Options Court gives abusers a chance to change their behaviour. The interagency family violence protocols make sure that we all work together to provide the supports our clients need.
As my colleague the honourable Mr. Abernethy advised the House last Friday, “We have to change the attitude, we have to change the fundamental beliefs and ideas around family violence.” We need everyone to be part of this.
Mr. Speaker, the Members of this House are aware that one of the leading voices in this struggle is the Coalition Against Family Violence. I would like to take a moment to acknowledge their important contribution.
Mr. Speaker, later today the Minister of Finance will be introducing a supplementary appropriation bill that includes $367,000 for the Department of Health and Social Services to support initiatives related to the Family Violence Action Plan. Together with the Minister of Health and Social Services and my Cabinet colleagues, long-term, ongoing investments are being developed as part of the business planning process for next year.
This supplementary appropriation also includes an additional $49,000 to support a community-based intervention p r o g r a m t o assist men to direct their own change to end violence. Ongoing support will be sought through the 2013-2014 business review process.
Mr. Speaker, family violence cannot be a special awareness week or a one-time initiative. Our health
and well-being depends on breaking the silence and working together in meaningful and coordinated ways to end all forms of family violence. When we see violence, we need to speak up. Protecting the most vulnerable people in our society is everyone’s responsibility.
This Assembly is part of the solution. We cannot be overwhelmed by the challenges; there is no choice but to continue. We need to be strong leaders. We need to speak up. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Minister’s Statement 46-17(3): Taking Action Against Family Violence
Ministers’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackie Jacobson
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Members, before we continue on with Ministers’ statements, I would like to welcome a former Speaker and MLA, Mr. Sam Gargan, who is in the House today.
---Applause
At the table, we have our former Commissioner, Speaker, Minister, Member, Sergeant-at-Arms, Honourary Clerk of the House, Mr. Anthony W.J. Whitford. It’s always good to have you here.
---Applause
The honourable Minister of Human Resources , Mr. Abernethy .
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Minister’s Statement 47-17(3): Settlement Of Collective Agreements
Ministers’ Statements
Great Slave
Glen Abernethy
Minister of Human Resources
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to speak today about the successful negotiation of three new agreements with the bargaining units that represent our employees.
A contract has been negotiated and ratified with the Northwest Territories Medical Association, and collective agreements have been negotiated and ratified with the Union of Northern Workers and the Northwest Territories Teachers’ Association. They are all four-year agreements, which provide our employees with predictable, stable terms of employment in a volatile economic environment. Four-year agreements also provide the GNWT with the stability we need to address the large priorities of the 17th Legislative Assembly, including
devolution and a sustainable health care system. The increases provided to employees are very reasonable, given our fiscal position and the global financial situation. In fact, when comparing our settlements to those in other public governments across the country, I would venture to say that we are providing an excellent package.
The GNWT values its employees. We treated them fairly and respectfully throughout the collective bargaining process. I want to thank our partners – the NWT Medical Association, the NWT Teachers’ Association and the Union of Northern Workers – for coming to the table as partners with shared interests, wanting to find workable solutions to the challenges we all faced. I would also like to thank all the staff involved – within both the GNWT and
the bargaining units – in negotiating, researching, analyzing and proposing creative solutions during negotiations.
While there are a range of accomplishments in all of the new agreements, I would like to highlight two memoranda of understanding that were negotiated with the Union of Northern Workers, given the profile that these issues warranted over the past six months.
The first MOU involves the safe disclosure of information by public servants. Both parties want to create an environment where employees who, in good faith, believe a wrongdoing has occurred, can bring that forward freely, confidentially and safely. Employees should never have to fear reprisal when they come forward to raise concerns about potential wrongdoing.
Through this MOU, we have agreed to jointly develop interim provisions that provide protection for employees who disclose information in certain situations. These will include an independent mechanism for reporting situations where the employee, in good faith, believes wrongdoing is occurring. They will remain in place until legislation providing protection for employees who disclose information is enacted by this Assembly.
The second MOU addresses rest periods, which represent an important safety issue. There are circumstances where the lack of adequate rest between scheduled hours of work may present health and safety concerns in some work environments. The Government of the Northwest Territories and the Union of Northern Workers will establish a joint working group to review all relevant issues related to employee rest periods, to test implementation and to provide unanimous recommendations.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is very pleased to have negotiated these agreements with our partners who represent our employees. We appreciate the valuable work carried out by GNWT employees. Despite challenging economic times, we wanted to provide terms of employment, including salary increases, that recognize this. We are now working to implement the collective agreements, and to continue to work collaboratively with the bargaining units in partnership during the life of these new agreements. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Minister’s Statement 47-17(3): Settlement Of Collective Agreements
Ministers’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackie Jacobson
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy . The honourable Premier , Mr. McLeod.
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Minister’s Statement 48-17(3): 10th Anniversary Of Declaring National Aboriginal Day As A Statutory Holiday
Ministers’ Statements
Bob McLeod
Yellowknife South
Mr. Speaker, on June 21st we will celebrate National Aboriginal Day. This is an
opportunity to celebrate Aboriginal people’s outstanding contributions to the history, languages, arts and cultures of our territory and Canada.
As my colleagues are aware, our celebration of this national holiday in the Northwest Territories is unique. In 2002, National Aboriginal Day was declared a statutory holiday in the Northwest Territories. This year marks the 10th anniversary of
that declaration. To this day, the Northwest Territories remains the only jurisdiction in Canada to recognize it as a statutory holiday. For this we can be very proud.
National Aboriginal Day acknowledges the valuable contribution of Aboriginal peoples to the healthy development of our communities, our territory and our country.
The Government of the Northwest Territories commitment to the Dene, Inuvialuit and Métis of the Northwest Territories extends well beyond this holiday.
A key priority of the 17th Legislative Assembly’s
vision of “Believing in People and Building on the Strength of Northerners” is renewing and strengthening relationships with Aboriginal governments. The Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to engaging them in a spirit of mutual respect, recognition and responsibility. Government-to-government cooperation is an essential part of the North’s foundation and legacy.
Today we are particularly proud to honour the Dene, Inuvialuit and Métis of the Northwest Territories. They play a vital role in contributing to our economic development, protecting our environment and enhancing our traditional knowledge through learning and sharing.
Every year National Aboriginal Day events are organized across the country. The Northwest Territories communities celebrate by showcasing the North’s culture through drum dances, traditional games and foods, music and artwork. I hope you enjoy the festivities in your community and I wish everyone a happy National Aboriginal Day. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Minister’s Statement 48-17(3): 10th Anniversary Of Declaring National Aboriginal Day As A Statutory Holiday
Ministers’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackie Jacobson
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Workers ’ Safety and Compensation Commission, Mr. Lafferty .
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Minister’s Statement 49-17(3): Mine Rescue Competition 2012
Ministers’ Statements
Jackson Lafferty
Monfwi
The Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission, WSCC, proudly sponsors the annual Mine Rescue Competition in celebration of Mining Week, held in June each year. This year the Mine Rescue Competition is June 15th and 16th .
The WSCC sets standards for mine safety certification for the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. The Mine Rescue Competition brings together rescue teams from the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and, recently, the Yukon. The event helps align northern training and response techniques across the territories and with the rest of Canada.
The North’s mining industry has a history of outstanding achievements in mine safety due to its emphasis on prevention and risk management. We are fortunate in the Northwest Territories. When need arises, we have highly skilled professionals ready to deal with emergency situations.
Teams consist of volunteers who take time out of their schedules to practice and train. If summoned for a rescue operation, every move they make impacts the safety of the rest of their team, the people in the mine and the mine itself. These men and women display remarkable teamwork and communication. They show tremendous skills and safety when dealing with a crisis.
The Mine Rescue Competition tests these skills. It gives teams an opportunity to obtain certification in Mine Safety, and gives the northern mining community confidence that mines operating in the North are able to face any challenge.
The week’s events conclude Saturday, June 16th ,
with the remaining competitions taking place in public view at the Yellowknife Community Arena. At that time, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Chamber of Mines hosts their annual Miner’s Picnic and community barbeque.
I encourage everyone to take advantage of this special event, and join the WSCC and the community on Saturday, June 16th , at the Mine
Rescue Competition and the Miner’s Picnic.
The WSCC works in partnership with stakeholders across all industries, to ensure workplace safety and care for workers. Together, we can eliminate workplace diseases and injuries. Mahsi cho.
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Minister’s Statement 49-17(3): Mine Rescue Competition 2012
Ministers’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackie Jacobson
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs , Mr. McLeod.
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Minister’s Statement 50-17(3): Nahanni Butte Evacuation
Ministers’ Statements
Inuvik Twin Lakes
Robert C. McLeod
Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I rise to update Members on the status of the recent flooding in Nahanni Butte and the incredible efforts of many individuals and organizations who are working together to help ensure the safety of residents.
As is the nature of most emergencies, this event caught us by surprise. Water in the Liard River basin reached heights not seen in many years, and in fact, it may turn out to be a record year.
Despite the fast moving nature of floods, residents were not caught off guard. Officials from Nahanni Butte worked together with a number of organizations to ensure residents were notified in advance, and emergency plans could be enacted in time to ensure a safe and coordinated evacuation.
Within our government, MACA coordinated the emergency response, the Department of Transportation worked to provide evacuation transport, Health and Social Services provided emergency shelter and supplies to evacuees, and Environment and Natural Resources has offered to provide fire crews from the region to help with community cleanup once floodwaters subside.
Mr. Speaker, I am very impressed with the level of cooperation amongst everyone involved. One positive thing we can take away from this unfortunate situation is that it proves our emergency planning efforts are working. It is also an indication that we need to continue to be ready for emergencies by working together to plan and prepare for future events.
We’ve all heard about climate change and what that might bring. Wildfires last year and record-breaking floods this year all point towards the need to remain focused on our efforts to build resilient communities.
Throughout this event, I worked very closely with my colleague, the MLA for Nahendeh, Kevin Menicoche . In addition to his obvious concern for the residents of Nahanni Butte, Mr. Menicoche praised the village of Fort Simpson for their incredible generosity and giving during this period of need. I, too, add my praise for the people of Fort Simpson who have gone above and beyond to assist the Nahanni Butte evacuees.
MACA continues to work with communities to build and sustain effective emergency plans, to familiarize officials with their important roles and responsibilities during an emergency, and to support community governments in the management of emergencies.
Today residents from Nahanni Butte remain in Fort Simpson, and it may still be some time before they are able to return. Members should be assured that all those who have combined to support the evacuation remain committed to supporting these residents until such time as they are able to safely return to their community.
Once the water recedes, MACA, in conjunction with the Department of Public Works and Services and the Department of Transportation, will undertake an assessment of the community to determine the full extent of the damage. I would like to assure
Members and the residents of Nahanni Butte, that we are sensitive to the impact of this flood on their lives and we will be examining all options in getting the community up and running again, including accessing financial assistance under the federal Disaster Assistance Policy.
Given the circumstances of the recent events, we are once again reminded of how important preparedness and partnerships are when responding to emergencies in the North. I invite my colleagues to join me in commending the organizations and personnel who contributed to a successful emergency response. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Minister’s Statement 50-17(3): Nahanni Butte Evacuation
Ministers’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackie Jacobson
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Premier , Mr. McLeod.
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Minister’s Statement 51-17(3): Session Review
Ministers’ Statements
Bob McLeod
Yellowknife South
Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment before we all leave for the summer to reflect on our accomplishments as a Legislative Assembly over the past few weeks.
This has been the first extended working session of the 17th Assembly. It has been a long session,
especially at this time of the year, but we have done some important work together.
One of the most important things we have done is passed the budget for the 2012-2013 fiscal year. As an Assembly, we have agreed to a vision of strong individuals, families and communities sharing the benefits and responsibilities of a unified, environmentally sustainable and prosperous Northwest Territories. The budget we have reviewed and approved will give our government the money to start making that vision a reality for all the people of the Northwest Territories.
Our debates have not been without their disagreements, Mr. Speaker. As leaders, we will often be called upon to make difficult decisions, decisions where the path forward is not always clear. There are many priorities and many demands; many things that we want to do for our people.
Unfortunately, our resources as a government are limited and will be for the foreseeable future. That means that we have to choose our priorities carefully. Together, we need to find the right balance of program spending and capital investment that will help us make progress on our social, environmental and economic agenda.
I want to thank Members on both sides of the House for the time and energy they have put into our debates these past three weeks. While we have not always agreed, I know that your questions and your decisions have always been made with the best interests of our people in mind. And in the end, we have succeeded in passing a budget that will
put us on a path towards achieving the vision, goals and priorities that we set out when we first met. This is consistent with the spirit of consensus government.
The budget supports our people with funding to implement Building for the Future, for early childhood development, for mental health and addictions and to ease the transition to higher electricity rates. Our budget supports our economy with funding for sustainable mineral development and economic development strategies and for the negotiation and implementation of devolution. It supports our environment with money for renewable energy, for negotiating transboundary water agreements and the development of a sustainable land use framework.
This session has seen the Sahtu rejoin the devolution process by signing the agreement-in-principle. We saw the delivery of a Commissioner’s opening address laying out this government’s agenda. We unanimously passed a motion in support of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We saw the tabling of the Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan, of the Aboriginal Government Engagement Strategy and of the Department of Justice Strategic Plan. We have committed to returning with an Anti-Poverty Strategy. These are accomplishments we can be proud of and which will help us achieve our vision as an Assembly.
We have done good work in our first three sessions as a government, but it is only the beginning. There is more work to come.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my good wishes to all Members and all the people of the Northwest Territories. I hope we all have a relaxing, enjoyable summer and look forward to returning to work when we convene again in the fall. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Minister’s Statement 51-17(3): Session Review
Ministers’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackie Jacobson
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Colleagues, I’d like to draw your attention to some special guests we have in the gallery today.
Please join me in welcoming Mr. Hermann Sitz, Consul General of Germany, and his wife, Mrs. Ninna Sitz, on their first official visit to the Northwest Territories. Welcome to our Assembly for what I hope will be the first of many visits.
The Consul General and Mrs. Sitz will be joining the Premier and myself for the planting ceremony for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee shrubs which will take place during our recess this afternoon. I invite all Members and members of the pubic to join us for this commemorative event.
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Minister’s Statement 51-17(3): Session Review
Ministers’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackie Jacobson
Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Hay River South , Mrs. Groenewegen .
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Decentralization Of Government Positions Out Of The Capital City
Members’ Statements
Jane Groenewegen
Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My Member’s statement says that I love Yellowknife, but let’s dial that back a little bit. I like Yellowknife. Yellowknife is a great place to visit, but as the Member for Hay River South I don’t begrudge government headquarters. We need to have a capital somewhere and the amenities, attractions and jobs that that brings to our capital. What bothers me is that we have not managed to put more government jobs in other communities.
All Members of this Assembly, including those from Yellowknife, agreed last fall to “increase employment opportunities where they are most needed, by decentralizing more GNWT positions.” This is a priority of the 17th Assembly which is
publicly advertised on our website. Yet it seems that we’re actually going backwards.
In 2012-2013, the Government of the Northwest Territories planned to add 62 new full-time jobs. More than 90 percent of these new positions go to Yellowknife. You guessed it. How much consideration was given to whether any of the 57 full-time positions placed in Yellowknife could be located in other communities? It’s true that these figures don’t account for the loss of positions through sunsets or position deletions, but if you look at the net increase in positions, the picture is even uglier.
After sunsets and position deletions, Yellowknife is up 34 full-time positions and regional centres like Hay River are down four full-time positions, and small communities get a few part-time positions for government service officers but they are also down one full-time position. Yellowknife will benefit from an additional $4.3 million budgeted for positions located there. Meanwhile, regional centres and small communities will see an overall reduction for government salaries and benefits.
We aren’t decentralizing at all. We are once again centralizing government positions and the dollars that go with them in Yellowknife.
Later today I will have questions for the Premier , who is responsible for the decentralization initiative. It is discouraging to those of us from areas where the economy is in a slump, to see this kind of action on the part of this government and we have to do something about it and we have to do something soon.
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Decentralization Of Government Positions Out Of The Capital City
Members’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackie Jacobson
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . The honourable Member for Weledeh , Mr. Bromley .
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Achievements Of Weledeh Constituents At 22nd Annual NWT Track And Field Championships
Members’ Statements
Bob Bromley
Weledeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to dedicate my last statement today to recognizing the great achievements of Weledeh constituents competing at the 22nd NWT Track and
Field Championships held June 6th to 8th in Hay
River.
I’ll start with Hannah Clarke, who was named first overall in the junior female category and took the gold in the 400, 800 and 1,500 metres, and a bronze in the triple jump. Hannah was also nominated as this year’s Sport North Junior Female Athlete of the Year in speed skating, so she’s an all-season all-rounder.
Congratulations to Greg Littlefair’s new record in the Master’s 500 metre race of 18 minutes 24 seconds. Greg also won gold in the Master’s 800 and 1,500 metre races. Claire Littlefair followed suit for the family, with top-three placings in the Midget 800, 1,500 and 3,000 metre races.
Again in the Master’s category, Michelle Culhane won gold in the 400 metre, and silver in the 800 metre and triple jump. Debbie Meade was a medalist for Master’s in the 800, 1,500 and 3,000 metre.
In the Tyke category, Wren Acorn won top three placings in the 200 metre, high jump and long jump. Our own Myra Mercer claimed gold in the Tyke’s 400 and 800 metre. Anika Affleck took fourth in the Bantam triple jump, 800 and 1,500 metre.
Henry Ksydaig – excuse me if I pronounce that wrong – took bronze in the Bantam high jump. Emily Hodgins won bronze in the Bantam shot put. Linnea Stephenson took bronze in the Bantam discus throw, and Nova Stephenson at fifth in Bantam 800 metres. Logan Bulger silver in the Peewee long jump. Dakkar Henry silver in the Peewee 200 metres, Jill Stewart bronze in the Seniors 800 metres, and Kerry Egan took fifth in the Master’s 800 metres. Last, but not least, Gillian Furniss took silver in the seven years and under Tyke category for 50 metre dash.
For any of the great Weledeh competitors I may have missed, please accept my apologies and my huge congratulations for turning out. Of course, the games were not only possible through the participation of the 1,200 keen athletes, 110 coaches, and an amazing 420 volunteers came through again to organize and present the NWT’s premier summer sporting event in Hay River.
My congratulations to all competitors, coaches, volunteers and spectators on a great event. Mahsi.
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Achievements Of Weledeh Constituents At 22nd Annual NWT Track And Field Championships
Members’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackie Jacobson
Thank you, Mr. Bromley . The honourable Member for Nahendeh , Mr. Menicoche .
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Nahanni Butte Flood And Evacuation
Members’ Statements
Kevin A. Menicoche
Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to dedicate my Member’s statement to the residents of Nahanni Butte and the community of Fort Simpson, who is reaching out to help them in this time of need. I just wanted to say that even though we are calling an evacuation and flood of Nahanni Butte, I believe that conditions are worse than we think, worse than we thought, especially with the recent media report, that damage cannot be understated.
I was searching for a word last night and this morning, but I think the word that I am looking for is a “disaster” at Nahanni Butte at this point. The power plant may be damaged. The airport is out and has been flooded. The highway is gone. There are no phone lines. The band office has been flooded as well as many homes. I just want to state that we as a government are going to have to reach out, plan for how to best help the residents, give them every support that they need, and over it all we can’t forget that the residents themselves miss their homes, lives and livelihoods. We are going to have to plan, and mitigate, and best try to return them to their homes.
Later on today in oral questions, I will be asking the MACA Minister or other appropriate Minister, as well, how and what steps are we taking to help the residents of Nahanni Butte to help plan and get through this disaster. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Nahanni Butte Flood And Evacuation
Members’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackie Jacobson
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche . The honourable Member for Hay River North , Mr. Bouchard .
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Teams In Hay River Relay For Life Cancer Fundraising Event
Members’ Statements
Robert Bouchard
Hay River North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to dedicate my speech today to the dedicated team in Hay River that is planning for the Relay for Life this Friday night and early into Saturday morning. The organizers have done a great job putting these teams together and fundraising a great deal of money for cancer research. I would like to thank all of the teams that have been doing fundraising for the last several months in Hay River. As I indicated, they will be walking around the Hay River track and field track overnight. They are dedicated and they have been working hard.
I would also like to share a little bit of a moment. My Dad was affected by cancer this year. He passed away. With that, I would like to wish everybody happy Father’s Day on Sunday as well. Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker.
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Teams In Hay River Relay For Life Cancer Fundraising Event
Members’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackie Jacobson
Thank you, Mr. Bouchard . The honourable Member for Frame Lake , Ms. Bisaro .
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
Members’ Statements
Wendy Bisaro
Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Tomorrow, June 15th , is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. I
would like to thank all Members in the House who are wearing purple for doing that in recognition of tomorrow. Elder abuse is a significant threat to the residents of all of our communities. For many years elder abuse has been a private matter, hidden from view and not talked about. Thanks to a significant public education campaign, elder abuse has become a much more higher profile in our society. It is seen as a national problem needing attention.
The NWT Seniors’ Society has been advocating tirelessly to change the situation. As a result of their efforts, elder abuse is getting the recognition it deserves. The GNWT and the public have a better understanding of the magnitude of the problem.
Elder abuse is defined as any kind of physical, sexual, psychological or financial abuse, as well as neglect. Abuse happens when family members extort money from their elders or force them to sign over property.
All elders, male and female, are at risk for abuse as they are easy targets because of physical frailty or, in some cases, diminished mental capacity. Our elders should be respected and honoured. They hold the wisdom, the history and the knowledge of our communities and our territory. We cannot ignore elder abuse, and understanding it gives us the power to fight it.
What’s needed is for society to recognize that elder abuse and neglect does exist and to raise our awareness of the problem. We need to inform health and social service practitioners about elder abuse, ensure that everyone can identify the signs of elder abuse and that they know where to find help. We need to use the media to change attitudes and to reduce stereotyping of the elderly, and we need to educate our elders as well. All of these actions help to bring the problem of elder abuse out into the open, to acknowledge that it’s a problem and then we can start to eradicate it.
In the long term our government must give a higher profile to elders and start to consider elders as a cohort of their own, gather statistical data for elders and fund elders as a distinct segment of our society, much as we do for youth, but paramount is the need to fund a separate program whose aim is to reduce and eliminate abuse of older adults. At the moment, funding comes under the umbrella of a Family Violence Action Plan. Funding for elders needs to be separated out and funded on its own, within the Family Violence Action Plan perhaps, but funded as a separate line item.
In closing, this is Senior Citizens Week in the NWT and I hope all Members take action sometime this
week to show their respect for NWT elders. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
Members’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackie Jacobson
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro . The Member for Range Lake , Mr. Dolynny .
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Reflections On The Budget Session And Summer Good Wishes
Members’ Statements
Daryl Dolynny
Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I love Yellowknife and up until a few minutes ago I loved Hay River, but I’ll click the like button for now.
---Laughter
We just survived a very long budgetary process and it was very well debated and it shows a strong respect for consensus government in action, but yet we can improve. As the Premier said today, we have to find that right balance; and he’s very right in that assumption.
Our success in this budget is due to the public service working behind the scenes tirelessly and providing us all the information that we require to do our jobs properly. To the machinery of the Legislative Assembly, to our clerks, support staff, it was tireless and we are thankful to our Pages. We apologize for the long nights; we have to apologize to the parents as well. To our translators behind the glass here working tirelessly to translate our every word. To our on-site media hosts, which scrutinize every word and report back to the taxpayer what is important.
And it could be debated, but this budget may go down in history as the one where most concessions were agreed to by both Cabinet and Regular Members. We’ll let the historians debate that over the summer.
As this House breaks for the summer months, I’d like to wish the best of luck to all of our students writing their final exams, to the students graduating and leaving for the first time and maybe leaving for a repeated semester. To those families, the new families joining us in all our communities, and as we heard today, a special message of support for those families affected by flooding in Nahanni Butte.
Just to let you know, Mr. Speaker, all Members are working during the summer. We’re here to help, and help our constituents. Many of us will have the opportunity to meet you in many of your communities. I myself will have the pleasure of going to Hay River, Enterprise, Behchoko and eventually Fort Simpson.
Walking around Range Lake the other day, I noticed many boats and trailers and recreational vehicles in our yards. So if you find yourself this summer on the land, on our water or on our highways, especially Highway No. 7, please be safe, look out for one another and have a great summer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Reflections On The Budget Session And Summer Good Wishes
Members’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackie Jacobson
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny . The Member for Inuvik, Boot Lake, Mr. Moses .
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Aboriginal Policing Program Candidate Gerald Pascal
Members’ Statements
Alfred Moses
Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister of Justice made a Minister’s statement early in this Assembly regarding the Aboriginal Policing Program. Today I’m very happy to say that we have a young fellow in Inuvik who is participating in that Cadet Program and I look forward to seeing the fruits of his hard work, as he’s been a young guy trying to get into the program for quite a number of years. Although it is a Cadet Program, it’s going to teach him all the skills that he needs to further his career.
The fellow that I’m talking about is Gerald Pascal. I’ve had the pleasure of working with him in the past. He’s a volunteer. He’s a youth ambassador. He’s an Inuit games demonstrator. He also volunteers for the local fire department. He’s very involved and I’m very happy to see him in this program. I’m really excited for all the cadets that are in this program as they move forward.
At this time I would like to wish Gerald and all the other cadet recruits the best of luck and success on the start of their journeys into a great community career that’s going to have a positive impact on our local people and be a role model for our future generations as we move forward here.
It’s a great program. I’m really glad to see it’s going through. I’m really glad to see that our local Aboriginal youth are taking advantage of that.
Just to wrap up here, sometimes we get so wrapped up in our jobs, especially during budget session, we sometimes don’t have time to look at some of the real impacts on our communities and people.
At this time, as we’re closing up the budget session, that we can start to focus on what is a very devastating issue in the Northwest Territories, and that is the Nahanni Butte situation. The residents, leaders, and people that are putting in endless hours to help out these residents. I look forward to putting some focus on that and helping out my colleague from the Deh Cho.
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Aboriginal Policing Program Candidate Gerald Pascal
Members’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackie Jacobson
Thank you, Mr. Moses . The honourable Member for Deh Cho , Mr. Nadli .
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Summer Student Employment In The Deh Cho Region
Members’ Statements
Michael Nadli
Deh Cho
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’m asking students in the Deh Cho riding to apply for summer jobs with the territorial government. It is a great opportunity for all students who continue their
studies after graduating from high school. The pay is generally very good, but it does vary depending on the job.
I would also like to remind the students that every department, board and agency does their own hiring, so you need to make the rounds when you’re job hunting. It is a good idea to do that even if you have already applied on-line.
The GNWT summer jobs provide valuable hands-on experience for our students and help them save money for their school terms. The students are also a valuable resource for the government. As the Minister of Human Resources said yesterday, these students are our public servants of the future.
As of last week, 240 students have been hired. About half are Aboriginal Northerners and the other half are non-Aboriginal Northerners. Unfortunately, this government has not hired as many students this year. In 2011 our government hired 286 students and 58 percent of them were Aboriginal Northerners.
I want to highlight this next statistic, so I hope the Minister and all my colleagues are ready for it. In my riding, this government has only hired one summer student so far this year. I’m pretty sure we can do better.
We can also improve the information we collect from the students. Human Resources does not track them by gender, age, or where they are going to school. Our programs to support students are good, but this information could help us do even better.
I want to conclude my final statements of this session with a few words to our students. By all means, continue your studies after high school, take advantage of all the support our government offers, especially Student Financial Assistance, and go hard to get a summer job with the government. They’re looking to hire more students, especially in the Deh Cho riding.
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Summer Student Employment In The Deh Cho Region
Members’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackie Jacobson
Thank you, Mr. Nadli . The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre , Mr. Hawkins .
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Perceived Conflict In Workers’ Safety And Compensation Appeals Tribunal
Members’ Statements
Robert Hawkins
Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today because I wanted to talk about a conflict. Whether it’s perceived or real shouldn’t be so much the issue. It’s the matter that it’s thought there might be a problem. A constituent has brought to me a complaint where they believe, quite strongly, that there is a perceived bias within the WSCC process. In this case my constituent has informed me that, when they were working through the process, they used to approach this person when they were the claims advisor. But in the way process changes
here, this person has now become the adjudicator. When their file went from we’re here to support you, now they’re ruling against them.
I know good people are at the helm here and it’s not a question of was the right type of decision done ethically, and I don’t view that being the problem. I think it’s more a situation where we’ve allowed ourselves to overlook the possibility of bias, in the context of conflict only, whether again it’s perceived or real.
The act is clear when it comes to staff or workers of the WSCC, and members of the staff and the Appeals Tribunal, are not eligible to be a worker’s advisor. It doesn’t apply the other way around when you work up through the system, because it appears to be silent whether this particular case could be seen in that regard. This is, again, about a perceived conflict and bias and the importance of a fresh, clear and fair type of decision.
We may have ended up with the same result if someone else had heard the case but, quite frankly, we will never know. I’ll tell you why. Because this constituent approached, as I talked to them and the advice I gave them, they had approached the Governance Council for some strategic advice on how to deal with this perceived or real conflict. The Governance Council replied that they felt the decision by the Appeals Tribunal did not improperly or unreasonably apply because of policy or legislation. What’s funny about this situation and how I characterize it is simply because there is no policy on this particular problem.
I will be asking the Minister of WSCC how we will be dealing with this perceived or real type of conflict. All people are asking for is a fair hearing to ensure there was no bias or challenge based on the fact that one time they were in favour of it but now they’re in a deciding role and are now against it. People are only asking for fairness and I think that’s the least we could offer them.
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Perceived Conflict In Workers’ Safety And Compensation Appeals Tribunal
Members’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackie Jacobson
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta , Mr. Blake .
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Support For The Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway
Members’ Statements
Frederick Blake Jr.
Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Beaufort-Delta region is facing a real downturn in the economy over the last couple of years. Residents are very concerned about employment. We have many people in Inuvik who are selling their homes and moving away. Running low on natural gas is only one reason a lot of people are moving.
The residents of the Beaufort-Delta need the support of the 17th Legislative Assembly to
implement our key priority, which is the Inuvik to
Tuktoyaktuk highway. We have begun the process and I am hopeful that we can begin construction within the year.
Some Members have been quick to criticize the building of the Inuvik-Tuk highway. It’s easy for a Yellowknife MLA to be critical. Yellowknife is home to thousands of government jobs and services, and access to government officials is available. There is a life outside of Yellowknife. There is life in my riding of the Mackenzie Delta and in the Beaufort-Delta. We deserve every opportunity to economic development and prosperity that some people in this House take for granted.
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Support For The Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway
Members’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackie Jacobson
Thank you, Mr. Blake . Item 4, reports of standing and special committees. The honourable Member for Deh Cho , Mr. Nadli .
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Committee Report 3-17(3): Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The Office Of The Northwest Territories Languages Commissioner Annual Report 2010-2011
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Michael Nadli
Deh Cho
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Standing Committee on Government Operations is pleased to provide its Report on the Review of the Office of the Northwest Territories Languages Commissioner Annual Report 2010-2011 and commends it to the House.
Introduction
The Standing Committee on Government Operations met on May 24, 2012, to review the Northwest Territories Language Commissioner’s Annual Report for 2010-2011. The committee thanks the Languages Commissioner, Ms. Sarah Jerome, and the former Languages Commissioner, Ms. Shannon Gullberg, for their attendance at the public hearing.
2010-2011 Annual Report
Complaints and Inquiries
In 2010-2011 the Languages Commissioner received approximately 100 inquiries and dealt with three complaints under the Northwest Territories Official Languages Act. The standing committee was concerned that the continuing low number of formal complaints may be due to residents’ lack of awareness of their official languages rights and of the complaints process.
However, the committee notes that the report lists several additional concerns brought to the Commissioner which she either referred as outside her mandate or resolved through mediation. The committee encourages the Commissioner to provide more detailed information on complaints
and concerns dealt with that did not go through the complaints process and inquiries in her next report, including information for past years so that trends can be tracked over time.
In view of her experience with complaints and concerns the Languages Commissioner recommended that the government should ensure that members of the public service understand, honour and respect provisions of the Official Languages Act. The committee concurs.
Recommendation 1
The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories report to this House on measures taken in 2011-2012 and plan actions for 2012-2013 to ensure that the public service understands, respects and honours the provisions of the Official Languages Act.
The committee further encourages the government to use the services of the Languages Commissioner to make presentations and promote her office within the public service.
At the public hearing, Members asked the Commissioner to expand on a statement in her previous report that many of our Dene people are not comfortable in dealing with the complaints. The Commissioner suggested that this attitude might be the result of silencing the Aboriginal people during the residential school era, especially where Dene and Inuvialuit children were forbidden to speak their languages.
The committee recognizes that a legislative complaints process may be intimidating, and encourages the Commissioner to make the process as user friendly and culturally sensitive as possible. Members agree with a further recommendation from the Commissioner, regarding sensitivity to terminology such as the word regime that may have negative connotations for residential school survivors.
Recommendation 2
The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends:
• that the Government of the Northwest
Territories refrain from the use of the word regime in documents concerning official languages;
• that the Government of the Northwest
Territories consult with residential school survivors and Aboriginal language communities on other terminology that may act as a barrier for Aboriginal people in asserting their rights under the Official Languages Act; and
• that the Government of the Northwest
Territories ensure that public servants are
aware of sensitive terminology in speaking and writing in the area of official languages.
Now I will pass the floor to my colleague, the deputy chair of the committee and Member for Frame Lake , Ms. Bisaro .
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Committee Report 3-17(3): Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The Office Of The Northwest Territories Languages Commissioner Annual Report 2010-2011
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
The Speaker
Jackie Jacobson
Thank you, Mr. Nadli . Ms. Bisaro .
Budget
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Committee Report 3-17(3): Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The Office Of The Northwest Territories Languages Commissioner Annual Report 2010-2011
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Wendy Bisaro
Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The 2010-2011 budget for the office of the Languages Commissioner was $220,000, up by $77,000 over the previous year. Approximately $35,000 remained unspent because an administrative assistant position was not filled until close to the end of the fiscal year.
At the public hearing, the Commissioner noted that additional funds were received to create and publish a directory of interpreters and translators for all official languages. While some funds again remained unspent, Ms. Jerome said that all of the outstanding surplus would be taken up in the first quarter of 2012-13, with the costs of publishing and distribution of this directory.
Promotion of the Office
Since 2004, the promotion of official languages has been the responsibility of the Minister for Official Languages. However, it is Ms. Jerome’s role to promote the office of the Languages Commissioner, the rights, status and privileges of official languages speakers pursuant to the Official Languages Act, and her availability to answer questions or to investigate complaints.
The office of the Languages Commissioner is accessible through its website, a toll-free phone line, and an office in Inuvik. The office is also promoted through radio advertisements in all official languages, the distribution of promotional items, media interviews and by Ms. Jerome’s attendance at public functions and summer assemblies.
A major theme of the Languages Commissioner’s report, stemming from her travels to communities, is concern with the decreasing availability of trained and certified interpreter-translators for Aboriginal official languages in the Northwest Territories. The older generation of well-trained and experienced interpreter-translators is beginning to retire and they are not being replaced.
It is effectively impossible for the Official Languages Commissioner to promote her office without these services. This concern is what motivated the Commissioner to undertake the interpreter-translator directory project.
The Future
Under the Official Languages Act, the Languages Commissioner is empowered to make recommendations for necessary or desirable changes to the act as part of her annual report. In her latest report, the Languages Commissioner commented extensively on the recommendations of the 2008-2009 Review of the Official Languages Act by the 16th Assembly Standing Committee on
Government Operations. That review recommended the creation of designated areas for service provision in Aboriginal official languages, where the languages are indigenous.
The Commissioner recommended that the government move forward with the committee’s recommendations, but consider that not all speakers of Aboriginal official languages reside in their traditional territories. She also noted that residents must often travel outside their home areas to receive services.
At the public hearing, the Commissioner suggested using non-traditional means, such as audio or video conferencing, to provide services in official languages for residents who reside in or travel to the Northwest Territories locations outside their indigenous language area. The Languages Commissioner also believes the government and the Legislative Assembly should have a positive obligation, in legislation, to protect as well as promote official languages. A number of these recommendations were made in the Commissioner’s previous report.
The Standing Committee on Government Operations very much appreciates the Commissioner’s input. As required under the Official Languages Act, the committee will begin its five-year review of the act in February of 2013. Members intend to review and update the previous recommendations for legislative change. Pending this review, the committee wishes to obtain the government’s response to the legislative recommendations of the Commissioner.
Recommendation 3
The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories review and respond to the Languages Commissioner’s recommendation’s for legislative change, namely recommendations three and four on page 20 of the 2010-2011 Annual Report.
Mr. Speaker, I would now like to return the reading of the report to the chair of the committee, Mr. Nadli , Member for Deh Cho . Thank you.
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Committee Report 3-17(3): Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The Office Of The Northwest Territories Languages Commissioner Annual Report 2010-2011
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
The Speaker
Jackie Jacobson
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro .
Conclusion
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Committee Report 3-17(3): Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The Office Of The Northwest Territories Languages Commissioner Annual Report 2010-2011
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Michael Nadli
Deh Cho
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Standing Committee on Government Operations is grateful for Ms. Jerome’s deep commitment to official languages in the Northwest Territories. Members look forward to working together with the Languages Commissioner in the coming year to ensure that NWT residents’ official language rights are respected and honoured.
Recommendation 4
The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a comprehensive response to this report within 120 days.
That concludes the report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations on the Review of the Office of the Northwest Territories Languages Commissioner, 2010-2011 Annual Report.
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Motion To Receive Committee Report 3-17(3) And Move Into Committee Of The Whole, Carried
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Michael Nadli
Deh Cho
Therefore, I move, seconded by the Member for Frame Lake , that Committee Report 3-17(3) be received by the Assembly and moved into Committee of the Whole for further consideration.
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Motion To Receive Committee Report 3-17(3) And Move Into Committee Of The Whole, Carried
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
The Speaker
Jackie Jacobson
Thank you, Mr. Nadli . The motion is in order. To the motion.
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Motion To Receive Committee Report 3-17(3) And Move Into Committee Of The Whole, Carried
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
An Hon. Member
Question.
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Motion To Receive Committee Report 3-17(3) And Move Into Committee Of The Whole, Carried
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
The Speaker
Jackie Jacobson
Question has been called. The motion is carried.
---Carried
Mr. Nadli .
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Motion To Receive Committee Report 3-17(3) And Move Into Committee Of The Whole, Carried
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Michael Nadli
Deh Cho
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 93(4), and move Committee Report 3-17(3) into Committee of the Whole for today. Mahsi.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Nadli . Mr. Nadli .
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Committee Report 4-17(3): Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The Status Report Of The Auditor General Of Canada To The Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Michael Nadli
Deh Cho
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Standing Committee on Government Operations is pleased to provide its Report on the Review of the Status
Report of the Auditor General of Canada on the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly and commends it to the House.
Introduction
The Standing Committee on Government Operations held its public review on the Status Report of the Auditor General of Canada on March 26 and 27, 2012.
The standing committee thanks the Auditor General of Canada, Mr. Michael Ferguson, and his staff for their work in preparing the report and assisting the committee with its review. The committee also thanks the vice-president of the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission, the president of the NWT Housing Corporation, the NWT comptroller general, the deputy ministers of Finance, Transportation, Public Works and Services, and Education, Culture and Employment and their staff for their attendance and participation.
Role of the Auditor General of Canada in the NWT
The office of the Auditor General of Canada is a vital source of independent and authoritative advice for the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly.
The Auditor General conducts two main kinds of audits in the Northwest Territories: financial audits and performance audits. Financial audits answer the question: Is the government keeping proper accounts and records and presenting its financial information fairly? Performance audits answer broader questions: Are programs being run with due regard for economy, efficiency and environmental impact? Does the government have the means to measure their effectiveness?
Since 2006, the Auditor General has conducted six performance audits in the Northwest Territories. Completed audits include:
• workers’ compensation, June 2006;
• public housing and home ownership programs,
February 2008;
• contracting for goods and services, June 2009;
• education in the Northwest Territories, May
2010;
• health programs and services, March 2011;
• management of the Deh Cho Bridge Project,
March 2011.
A performance audit of income security programs is currently underway. The Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on Government Operations is mandated to review the reports of the Auditor General of Canada and make recommendations to the Government of the Northwest Territories. The committee’s goal is to help the Legislative Assembly hold the government accountable. Members look for efficiencies, best practices and
gaps, with the intent of improving services to the people of the Northwest Territories. The objective information and advice of the Auditor General are essential tools in Members’ scrutiny of government spending and performance.
The Status Report of the Auditor General of Canada
The status report conveys the results of a follow-up audit which examined the government’s progress in addressing selected recommendations from the first four of six completed performance audits. Audit work was completed on August 31, 2011, and a report was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on February 14, 2012.
The audit focussed on the implementation of recommendations concerning:
• administration of the claims process of the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission;
• management of public housing and home ownership programs, and the strategic planning process for the NWT Housing Corporation;
• contract
administration with the departments
of Finance, Transportation and Public Works and Services; and
• program monitoring and reporting by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.
All the program areas covered in this audit have an impact on the lives of NWT residents, in terms of our economy, society and quality of life.
The standing committee is pleased to report that overall, the Auditor General addressed the GNWT’s progress in acting on the selected recommendations as satisfactory. The committee will review progress in each of the areas audited later in this report.
GNWT-Wide Barriers to Effective Program Management
First, however, Members wished to express concern over the Auditor General’s observation, stated in the preface, that the Government of the Northwest Territories faces serious barriers to effective management across programs.
Effective program management requires that:
• performance indicators and program standards
are established;
• performance is measured and monitored
against standards; and
• issues are identified and action taken to improve
programs.
The Auditor General found three key barriers to sound program management, not just for one
program or department, but for most of the GNWT programs and organizations over the last six years. These barriers are:
• inadequate information to manage programs
and make decisions;
• insufficient monitoring of third-party program
delivery; and
• an absence of detailed action plans clearly
setting out how and when organizations intend to implement recommendations made in the audit reports.
Inadequate information to manage programs and make decisions
The Auditor General found that the GNWT’s ability to manage its programs is hampered by a lack of data and by the poor quality of the data collected. As stated in the report, the Auditor General believes GNWT senior managers realize the importance of gathering high quality information on a regular basis. However, pressures to deliver as many programs as possible to as many clients as possible predictably result in pouring scarce dollars and person years into programming instead of into databases, performance monitoring and program evaluation.
The committee understands the pressure on the government to “do anything, but do something.” Members consider, however, that there is little sense in putting more money into a program without good evidence that the resources will achieve objectives.
The Auditor General concludes and the committee concurs that GNWT organizations must make a sustained effort to improve the quantity and quality of data collected.
Insufficient monitoring of third-party delivery
Almost half of GNWT expenditures are allocated to third parties through grants and contributions. Third parties, including, among others, health, education and housing authorities, deliver most services in regions and communities.
The standing committee supports this highly decentralized model of program delivery. Members believe that local and regional organizations, with local and regional boards, are in the best position to understand and respond to residents’ needs in a geographically vast and culturally varied territory.
The committee agrees, nevertheless, that GNWT organizations that delegate program delivery to third parties should regularly monitor their performance. This is the only way to make sure the third parties are following GNWT policies and program standards, including standards for data collection and reporting.
The committee, therefore, concurs with the Auditor General that the GNWT must consistently monitor third-party program delivery.
An absence of detailed plans to implement agreed recommendations
In spite of GNWT commitments to implement recommendations of previous audits, the Auditor General often did not find detailed plans showing how and when the government would take action. Without consistent action plans, it is difficult for the standing committee to assess the government’s progress in implementing agreed recommendations.
When issues have been identified by the Auditor General and the GNWT has committed to address them, the GNWT organizations must provide detailed plans, with actions and time frames for implementing the agreed recommendations.
Need for a coordinated response to government-wide barriers
The barriers to effective program management identified by the Auditor General are government-wide. They must be addressed if the GNWT is to improve programs and services to residents within the current framework of fiscal restraint. The standing committee is well aware that the government cannot report inefficient, ineffective or inequitable programs and services.
Members point out that the Premier is publically mandated to “increase and improve interdepartmental planning, coordination and communication in support of cross-departmental goals and priorities.” Further, one of the 17th Assembly’s cross-departmental government goals is “effective and efficient government.”
The committee also notes that the audits covered in the status report were not financial audits, typically referred to the Department of Finance, but the performance audits, similar to the program reviews for the program review office within the Department of Executive.
The standing committee, therefore, recommends that the Premier and the Department of Executive review the February 2012 Status Report of the Auditor General of Canada and report back to the committee on how the three GNWT-wide barriers to effective program management identified in the report will be strategically addressed.
The committee wishes to stress, again, that the Premier and the Department of Executive should play a major role in coordinating the response of the GNWT-wide findings to the Auditor General’s performance audits and addressing systemic issues.
Recommendation 1
The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Premier and the Department of Executive:
• review the February 2012 Status Report of
the Auditor General of Canada;
• coordinate the government’s response; and
• propose solutions to overcome the three
government-wide barriers to effective program management identified by the Auditor General.
Members recently received confirmation in the House from the Premier that the Department of Executive will coordinate the response to government-wide findings of the Auditor General’s performance audits. The committee understands that the Department of Executive will work with the Department of Finance and the Refocusing Government Committee of Cabinet to review the report and propose solutions to the identified barriers. Members look forward to receiving the results.
Now I will pass the floor to my colleague, the deputy chair of the committee and Member for Frame Lake , Ms. Bisaro .
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Committee Report 4-17(3): Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The Status Report Of The Auditor General Of Canada To The Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
The Speaker
Jackie Jacobson
Ms. Bisaro .
Main Findings
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Committee Report 4-17(3): Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The Status Report Of The Auditor General Of Canada To The Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Wendy Bisaro
Frame Lake
Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General’s progress assessment took into account how long government organizations had to implement recommendations and how difficult the recommendations were to implement. The Auditor General cautions that a rating of satisfactory does not mean complete implementation. Similarly, a rating of unsatisfactory does not mean there were no improvements.
While the standing committee is pleased that enough progress has been made for the Auditor General to give the government an overall rating of satisfactory, there is much room for improvement. The audited organizations were considered to have made satisfactory progress in nine of 14 recommendations and one key issue reviewed for this audit, which amounts to a grade of only 60 percent. The committee considers this a bare pass, especially in light of the cautions mentioned earlier.
The Auditor General’s follow-up audit found that satisfactory progress had been made in the following areas:
• The Workers Safety and Compensation
Commission improved its processing of workers’ claims;
• The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation
improved its management of home ownership programs;
• The Department of Finance strengthened its
contracting policy framework; and
• The Department of Education, Culture and
Employment is improving its monitoring of education councils and adult education programming.
The standing committee commends the organizations for these efforts and encourages them to continue.
The Auditor General found unsatisfactory progress in the following areas:
• The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation
has not improved its monitoring of local housing organizations and it has not developed a strategic plan that identifies priorities and links actions to its mandate;
• The Department of Transportation and the
Department of Public Works and Services have taken steps to improve their contract administration. Nevertheless, preventable errors were found in one-third of the contracts audited; and most seriously
• The Department of Education, Culture and
Employment has made unsatisfactory progress in inspecting daycare facilities.
Members were horrified to learn that some ECE-inspected daycare centres were not following health and safety requirements. Worse, the department has no set procedure for following up when inspections identify problems. In the words of the Auditor General, “Without proper follow-up on instances of noncompliance, children are at risk.”
Matters such as a blocked fire exit, chemicals for cleaning left out, or an uncovered electrical outlet may seem trivial on a day-to-day basis, but they can have tragic consequences. The committee regards the safety of children in government-inspected facilities as a sacred trust. There is no acceptable excuse for safety deficiencies in the protection of our children.
Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission
The Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission of the NWT and Nunavut ensures compensation and pensions are awarded to injured workers or their dependents under the Workers’ Compensation Act. In 2010, the WSCC registered 2,233 claims for incidences in the Northwest Territories. The Auditor General identified the administration of the claims process as a key issue for review in the follow-up audit.
In the sample reviewed by the Auditor General, the WSCC made timely decisions and payments for approximately 90 percent of claims, and payments were accurate. The commission has improved its claims processing since 2006 with mandatory plain
language training for claims officers, an on-line training program for new employees and an on-line reference system for standards and procedures.
It was a pleasure to hear the commission’s vice-president, Ms. Gloria Badari, say at the public hearing, “Service to our clients is our top priority.” In 2006, the 15th Assembly’s Standing Committee on
Accountability and Oversight identified a bureaucratic, corporate culture as an underlying obstacle to service improvement. The WSCC clearly has worked hard to meet or exceed the Auditor General’s recommendations and the corporate culture has been reoriented to customer service.
The standing committee is also pleased to see that the WSCC is also continuing to work on service improvements. The Auditor General reported that the WSCC is now working to establish a complete quality assurance and control framework with standards and procedures to ensure claimants are treated consistently, fairly and equally. In 2011, WSCC developed and approved an organization-wide service standard and plan to implement them in 2012.
At the time of the follow-up audit, the WSCC did not have an established process for approving and communicating changes to procedures and standards, a mechanism for reporting errors to senior management, or a comprehensive mechanism to measure and monitor performance. The Auditor General recommended improvement in this area and the committee concurs.
Recommendation 2
The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission:
• develop and implement a more complete
and consolidated quality assurance and control framework for the processing of claims;
• establish a process for approving and
communicating changes to its claims processing procedures and standards; and
• report in detail on its actions in this area to
the Legislative Assembly by the end of fiscal year 2012-13.
Northwest Territories Housing Corporation
The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is mandated under the Housing Corporation Act to ensure there is a sufficient supply of affordable, adequate and suitable housing to meet the needs of NWT residents. Its operations are highly decentralized. The NWT Housing Corporation delivers home ownership programs through five district offices, while public housing is delivered by 23 independent local housing organizations.
Of all the matters reviewed to date by the Auditor General, the standing committee deems the fair provision of adequate housing to residents in need as a concern second only to the safety of children. The committee finds the number of outstanding deficiencies listed by the Auditor General for this agency to be unacceptable.
Members are aware that the Housing Corporation has experienced organizational upheaval since the 2008 Audit Report. The corporation had to manage the unexpected $150 million upsurge in construction and repair of homes resulting from Canada’s economic stimulus spending to counter the recession. In the same relatively brief period, the public housing rent scale was transferred to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and then transferred back to the Housing Corporation.
Under the circumstances, it is not surprising, but it is regrettable, that the Housing Corporation was unable to implement many of the Auditor General’s recommendations. The Housing Corporation’s results in this audit provide examples of all three of the government-wide barriers identified by the Auditor General. Now that other major issues are receding and the Housing Corporation has new corporate leadership, the committee expects the Housing Corporation to move quickly to remedy the deficiencies identified by the Auditor General.
Management of the Homeownership Program
On the positive side, the Auditor General rated the Housing Corporation’s progress in the management of the Homeownership Program as satisfactory. The Housing Corporation has evaluated its Housing Choices Program and taken steps to ensure that outstanding mortgage receivables are collected. The corporation has also improved its oversight of home ownership assistance to ensure that policies and procedures are followed.
The committee is glad to hear of these improvements. Members, however, are not entirely satisfied with the Housing Corporation’s progress in collecting its mortgage receivables. In 2007, the Housing Corporation stopped offering mortgages to low-income clients and introduced its Housing Choices Homeownership Program. This left the corporation with a significant number of clients who still owed money on mortgages provided under the older program.
In the earlier 2008 audit, the Auditor General found that 81 percent of Housing Corporation mortgages were in arrears. The follow-up audit found that the Housing Corporation had taken the following steps:
• introducing a repayment options plan;
• engaging legal counsel to issue demand letters;
and
• contacting all clients with repayable mortgages.
By April 2011, 150 of 468 clients chose a repayment option. Committee agrees that the steps taken represent progress, but notes that only one-third of the clients had chosen a repayment option as of last year. The Government of the Northwest Territories and its agencies need every dollar of the amounts owing that they can reasonably receive. The president of the Housing Corporation also considers collection rates lower than acceptable.
Recommendation 3
The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the NWT Housing Corporation:
• continue its effort to collect mortgage
receivables; and
• report annually to this House on the number
of clients who have chosen a repayment option, the total dollar amount of repayments and the total amount still outstanding as of April 1st of each year, starting with the data
as of April 2012.
The Auditor General rated the corporation’s progress in two other important areas as unsatisfactory: monitoring of local housing organizations and development of a strategic plan.
Monitoring of Local Housing Organizations
The Housing Corporation’s unsatisfactory progress in monitoring local housing organizations comprises what are, in the committee’s view, several serious deficiencies. Lack of annual assessments of LHOs, insufficient monitoring of public housing application assessments for compliance with policies, and inadequate reporting of public housing condition ratings
Lack of Annual Assessments at LHOs
The Housing Corporation has universal partnership agreements with local housing organizations which represent the LHOs, which require the LHOs to follow Housing Corporation policies and procedures. Under these agreements, the Housing Corporation is responsible for yearly assessments and the LHOs are required to provide annual audited financial statements and quarterly financial and administrative reports.
The standing committee was not pleased to learn that the Housing Corporation has flouted its own agreements with LHOs. The follow-up audit found that the Housing Corporation has not conducted any annual assessments of LHOs for policy compliance, nor does it have a strategy for doing so. The corporation says it does not have the capacity to conduct these assessments.
Instead, since 2008 the Housing Corporation has directed district offices to enhance their monitoring and reporting of LHO activities to ensure compliance with policies. In January 2011 the
Housing Corporation finalized forms to gather activity data, but did not provide guidance to district offices on when and how often forms are to be completed. In the two district offices the Auditor General’s staff visited, forms had been completed for two of 13 LHOs and partially completed for another two.
Annual assessments of operations are a key requirement of the corporation’s universal partnership agreements with LHOs. The Auditor General notes that by not conducting the required annual assessments, the Housing Corporation has lost the opportunity to have a structured and scheduled way to consistently and thoroughly monitor the LHOs.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to pass the reading of the report to my committee colleague, the Member for Range Lake , Mr. Dolynny .
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Committee Report 4-17(3): Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The Status Report Of The Auditor General Of Canada To The Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
The Speaker
Jackie Jacobson
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro . Mr. Dolynny .
Public housing allocations not monitored for policy compliance
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Committee Report 4-17(3): Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The Status Report Of The Auditor General Of Canada To The Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Daryl Dolynny
Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Auditor General examined a representative sample of 47 public housing applications in four LHOs visited. Only 36 percent had been assessed according to key procedural requirements. While some of these discrepancies may be minor, the committee is concerned about the credibility of the public housing allocation process. Applications must be consistently evaluated according to the Housing Corporation policies and procedures by all LHOs, or people will not believe the process is fair.
In 2010, the Housing Corporation began developing a territorial housing information management system which would require LHOs to electronically record applications, point-rating forms and arrears checking. This new centralized system was expected to be operational by April 2012. At the public hearing, the corporation’s representative said the system represents a quantum leap in the Housing Corporation’s ability to monitor LHOs. The Auditor General agreed that this is a positive step but pointed out that the Housing Corporation still does not have a clear picture of the delivery of the public housing program, including LHO compliance and policies and consistency of delivery among LHOs.
The Housing Corporation has also modernized administrative manuals for the LHOs. The manuals, which had not been updated since the 1990s, were to be released in mid-April and made available on-line. Finally, resources were added through the business planning process to improve training and workshops for LHOs.
The committee hopes that these measures will enable the Housing Corporation to report that they are fully implementing the Auditor General’s 2008
recommendation on the regular monitoring and documentation of the public housing allocation process before the end of fiscal year.
Inspection and Reporting on Public Housing Units
The Housing Corporation is responsible for managing public housing and reporting on its condition. The Auditor General found that the unit condition ratings were being completed annually but there was no consolidated system to capture condition rating information. Further, the Housing Corporation was not conducting random inspections to confirm the LHO condition ratings.
The corporation agreed with the concerns expressed by the Auditor General. At the public hearing the president of the Housing Corporation said that this February the Housing Corporation implemented a new process for inspecting units, training inspectors, and monitoring and reporting on unit condition ratings. The new process provides support and training for those completing unit condition ratings. Monitoring and verification of the condition ratings is now taking place through the use of random inspections. Condition ratings will also be linked year over year to help identify major changes during the capital planning process.
In addition, the corporation plans to complete the replacement of its outdated maintenance management operating system, MMOS, in 2012. The new system will improve management and reporting capabilities and be integrated with the Housing Corporation’s financial systems.
The committee is pleased to hear that the corporation is starting to take measures to improve the consistency and accuracy of public housing condition ratings. However, Members are concerned at the length of time it has taken for the work to begin in this area.
The Auditor General noted, finally, that the Housing Corporation has not been monitoring or reporting publicly on the condition of its public housing, either in its annual reports or in separate reports. As of August 31, 2011, the Housing Corporation had not tabled an annual report in the Legislative Assembly since 2007-2008. The corporation was, therefore, noncompliant with both the Housing Corporation Act and the Financial Administration Act. The committee considers it unacceptable for a government funded agency to ignore the law.
The 2008-2009 Annual Report on the NWT Housing Corporation was tabled in February. The Housing Corporation president committed to tabling the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 annual reports during this session of the Legislative Assembly. The Auditor General recommended that the GNWT should prepare and submit annual reports to the Minister in a timely manner. The committee concurs and includes this advice in the following
recommendation on monitoring of the local housing organizations.
Recommendation 4
The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends:
1. That the NWT Housing Corporation meet its
obligations for consistent and thorough monitoring of local housing organizations under the universal partnership agreements, either by funding the resources to conduct annual assessments of operations or by changing the agreements to specify some other form of structured or scheduled monitoring with a follow-up in cases of noncompliance.
2. That the NWT Housing Corporation improve
its monitoring of and support of local housing organizations and allocating public housing to ensure all applications are consistently point-rated and adequate documentation is on file to support allocation decisions within the 2012-2013 fiscal year.
3. That the NWT Housing Corporation improve
its monitoring, verification and consolidation of public housing unit condition ratings, in order to obtain a complete picture of the condition of its public housing portfolio, within the 2012-2013 fiscal year.
4. That the NWT Housing Corporation fulfill its
statutory responsibility to ensure that the information on the condition of its public housing is publicly available by preparing and submitting annual reports to the Minister for tabling in this House in a timely manner, with all previous years’ reports submitted by the end of the 2012-2013 fiscal year.
The Housing Corporation does not have a complete strategic plan
The Auditor General concluded in 2008, that the NWT Housing Corporation would benefit from a strategic plan in dealing with issues such as budgetary restraints, arrears and vacant units. The Auditor General suggested, and the committee agrees, that a strategic plan should include:
• a clearly stated vision for the organization;
• clearly defined stages for realizing the vision;
• specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and
time-limited expected outcomes;
• high level direction or means to be pursued; and
• financial and human resources to put the plan
into effect.
In the follow-up audit, the Auditor General assessed the corporation’s progress on finalizing its strategic plan as unsatisfactory. The corporation had issued a Framework for Action 2008-2011 in response to
the 2008 recommendation, but this was described as an action plan and part of the strategic planning process rather than strategic plan.
In April 2012 the corporation issued a Building for the Future: Northern Solutions for Northern Housing, subtitled A Strategic Framework for Housing in the Northwest Territories. The document does not contain a detailed plan or clearly defined stages for accomplishing the Housing Corporation’s goals.
Since that time, the corporation has taken some initial steps in implementing its strategic priorities and has improved its annual performance measures reporting. While the Standing Committee on Government Operations would like to see the corporation take a more complete and comprehensive approach to strategic planning, Members are aware that the organization still has much work to do to remedy the other deficiencies identified by the Auditor General. The committee would not want the corporation to devote scarce resources to the production of more paper, rather than ensuring more and better housing for Northerners.
The Auditor General recommended that the Housing Corporation should develop implementation plans for recommendations from the 2008 audit on which progress to date has been unsatisfactory or incomplete. The Standing Committee on Government Operations concurs.
Recommendation 5
The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends:
1. That the NWT Housing Corporation develop
detailed implementation plans for all of the Auditor General’s recommendations on which progress to date has been unsatisfactory or incomplete, including specific goals, targets, action items, timelines for achieving results, and indicators for measuring progress.
2. That the NWT Housing Corporation provide
information annually in its business plan on how its strategic priorities are being implemented.
3. That the NWT Housing Corporation revisit its
strategic framework within the life of the 17th Assembly, with a view to providing a more detailed plan with clearly defined stages after other deficiencies identified by the Auditor General have been addressed.
Contracting for Goods and Services
The Auditor General’s review of contracting in the Government of the Northwest Territories did not cover the awarding of the contracts, but rather their administration. The Department of Finance is responsible for contracting policy through its
Financial Administration Manual, FAM. Each department is responsible for its own contract administration. In the 2009 audit, the Auditor General found that most of the contracts examined had not been administered according to GNWT requirements, with errors in 57 percent of the contracts examined.
The contracting policy framework has been improved
In 2009, under the Financial Administration Act, contract authority was delegated to the deputy ministers to designate expenditure and accounting officers and Finance has revised the FAM accordingly. The Auditor General noted that improvement was needed in documenting these delegations. The deputy minister assured Members at the public hearing that this documentation has now been completed.
As well, a vendor complaint process was established in November 2010 to provide for independent contract dispute resolution. The standing committee learned at the hearing that only four complaints have been referred for resolution to date, and all those complaints concern the contract to work processes rather than administrative issues such as timely payment.
Improvement in contract administration is limited
In the 2009 audit, the Auditor General found deficiencies in the contract administration of the Department of Transportation and Department of Public Works and Services. These included:
• receiving goods or services before the contract
was issued;
• not issuing contract change orders according to
GNWT policy;
• exceeding spending authority; and
• approving payments before obtaining required
certifications.
In the follow-up audit, the Auditor General found that both Transportation and Public Works and Services, PWS, had taken steps to strengthen their internal processes through:
• training and procurement at Transportation;
• establishment of a checklist for procurement
files at PWS; and
• workshops across the GNWT on procurement
and contracting at PWS.
However, in a review of sample files from the two departments, the Auditor General found errors in 15 of 44 contracts, or 34 percent. The Auditor General rated progress in contract administration as unsatisfactory.
The standing committee also views this continuing rate of error as unacceptable. As the Auditor General points out, errors in contract administration place the GNWT at risk of overpayment or purchases of inappropriate goods and services. The government cannot afford such mistakes. The Auditor General recommends that these two departments strengthen their contract administration quality assurance processes, and the committee agrees.
Recommendation 6
The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends:
• that the Department of Public Works and
Services and the Department of Transportation strengthen their quality assurance processes for monitoring adherence to applicable regulations and policies in the administration of contracts; and
• that
these
departments report annually to
the House on the measures taken and their results.
I will now pass the floor to my colleague, the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake , Mr. Moses .
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Committee Report 4-17(3): Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The Status Report Of The Auditor General Of Canada To The Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
The Speaker
Jackie Jacobson
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny . Mr. Moses .
Education
Please select the issue you noticed * :
Misattribution
Formatting
Missing Words
Other
If Other, please indicate the problem: (Optional)
Submit
Thanks!
We'll take a look into it.
Sorry!
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.
Copy Copied
Committee Report 4-17(3): Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The Status Report Of The Auditor General Of Canada To The Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Alfred Moses
Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Department of Education, Culture and Employment is responsible for employment and cultural programs, early childhood, primary, secondary, adult literacy and basic education (ALBE) and post-secondary education (PSE), and training in the Northwest Territories. The department shares responsibility for education with eight regional education councils and Aurora College, among other education and training delivery agents.
ECE has made uneven progress in its monitoring of early childhood education
Inspections of daycare facilities
Earlier in this report the standing committee registered its alarm at the Auditor General’s findings with respect to daycare facility inspections. The Auditor General considers ECE’s progress on these inspections to be unsatisfactory.
In the 2010 audit, the Auditor General reported that the Department of Education did not inspect all daycare facilities each year as required by law. The
department responded that this was due to a shortage of staff and committed to developing an electronic tracking and reporting function for inspections within its client management system (CMAS).
In the follow-up audit, the Auditor General found that ECE had started to develop the electronic system but had not yet been able to generate reports on the inspections. The Auditor General reviewed the two most recent inspections for each of the 121 daycare facilities in the NWT, and found that only 90 percent of the facilities had been inspected in 2010. The committee considers these results not just unsatisfactory but unacceptable.
The standing committee is extremely concerned that the Auditor General found “serious issues related to noncompliance with health and safety requirements” in some of the completed inspection reports with no record of follow up. Issues included locked fire exits, chemicals within reach of children, and uncovered electrical outlets. The Auditor General found that the department has no guidelines for following up on inspections when a facility is found to be violating requirements.
The deputy minister noted at the public hearing that the department has taken actions on the issues identified in the inspection reports and has started to develop guidelines to ensure daycare operators adhere to health and safety regulations. The committee considers this response slow at best.
Measuring the impact of early childhood education
Early childhood education is a particularly striking example of the GNWT’s overall problems with data collection. In 2010 the Auditor General reported that ECE was not collecting data on the educational component of daycare programming. The department had not developed a way for early childhood educators to share information with the K to 12 system on the progress of children entering school, nor had the department developed performance indicators to assess whether children who had attended daycare performed better than those who had not.
Further, ECE had not evaluated its 10-year-old Early Childhood Development Framework. After the 2010 audit the department committed to evaluate programming developed under the Early Childhood Development Framework for Action in the 2010-2011 fiscal year. The deadline for completing this evaluation was then pushed to early 2012. This evaluation has not yet been tabled.
In the follow-up audit, the Auditor General found that ECE had introduced the early childhood environment rating scale, used to determine if programming is improving, and completed 16 assessments using the scale. Thirteen daycare facilities had developed quality enhancement plans;
however, the department indicated that it is not yet in a position to revise its early childhood programming because it has not yet collected data on children’s cognitive development, language and communication skills, and emotional and social well-being.
While the Auditor General considers progress in measuring the impact of early childhood education to be adequate, the standing committee would like to see much, much more improvement in this area.
The 17th Legislative Assembly has placed great
emphasis on early childhood development. On May 30, 2012, the Assembly passed Motion 5-17(3) strongly recommending that the Ministers of Health and Education work together to bring forward proposals for a new and comprehensive early childhood development program to begin in the current fiscal year.
The Standing Committee on Government Operations endorses the recommendations of the Auditor General on the inspection of daycare facilities, and adds its own, with respect to measuring the impact of early childhood education. The committee is pleased that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment will now have the resources to implement these recommendations on the monitoring of early childhood education with greater speed.
Recommendation 7
The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends:
1. that the Department of Education, Culture
and Employment address any outstanding issues of noncompliance identified in the current daycare facility inspection reports;
2. that the Department of Education, Culture
and Employment ensure that inspections of daycare facilities are carried out annually and that immediate action is taken for any identified deficiencies;
3. that the Department of Education, Culture
and Employment address the outstanding issues with regard to measuring the impact of early childhood education, including collection of data on the educational components of daycare programming, information sharing with the K to 12 system, development of performance indicators, and collection of data on children’s development and well-being, and that the department report on these measures annually in its business plan; and
4. that the Department of Education, Culture
and Employment carry out the renewal of the Early Childhood Development Framework in partnership with the
Department of Health and Social Services within the 2012-2013 fiscal year.
Monitoring of Education Councils
Twenty ministerial directives give Northwest Territories education councils detailed direction on the requirements of the Education Act.
In 2010, the Auditor General examined how well the Department of Education, Culture and Employment monitored councils’ compliance with the reporting requirements of the directive of an Aboriginal language and culture-based education (ALCBE). The Auditor General found poor information in reports and lack of follow-up by ECE.
The Auditor General recommended that the department:
• follow up on corrective actions taken by
education councils;
• develop a strategy and timetable for assessing
the effectiveness of education directives; and
• strengthen the reporting requirements for the
ALCBE directive.
The Auditor General considers progress on the monitoring of education councils to be satisfactory, and the standing committee encourages the department to continue its progress in this area.
In the follow-up audit, the Auditor General found that ECE reviews and provides feedback on some reports received from education councils. More follow-up is still required. The department has also established a
schedule for assessing the effectiveness of directives, and developed a new reporting template for the Aboriginal language and culture-based education directive that requires more detailed data from schools.
Monitoring of Adult Literacy and Basic Education Programming
In 2010, the Auditor General examined how the Department of Education, Culture and Employment monitors Aurora College’s compliance with the adu