Debates of Feb. 7th, 2012

This is page numbers 241 - 262 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library.

The word of the day was work .

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Minister’s Statement 1-17(2): Sessional Statement

Minister’s Statement 2-17(2): Minister Absent From The House

Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Celebrations

Proposed Changes To The Old Age Security Program

Devolution Agreement Negotiations

Beaufort-Delta Regional Leadership Meeting In Inuvik

NWT Drinking Water Quality Testing Results

Northlands Trailer Park Water And Sewer Infrastructure Replacement

GNWT Role In Yellowknife Land Swap Transaction

Territorial Addictions Treatment Centre

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Weledeh Queen’s Jubilee Medal Recipients

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)

Devolution Agreement Negotiations

Doctor Shortage In Beaufort-Delta Region

Local Delivery Of Pre-Surgery Lab Work

GNWT Role In Yellowknife Land Swap Transaction

Aboriginal Engagement Strategy

Territorial Addictions Treatment Centre

Proposed Changes To The Old Age Security System

NWT Drinking Water Quality Testing Results

Northlands Trailer Park Water And Sewer Infrastructure Replacement

Addictions Treatment Programs In Sahtu

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)

Busing Services For Inuvik Students

Tabled Document 1-17(2): Interim Appropriation 2012-2013 Tabled Document 2-17(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2011-2012 Tabled Document 3-17(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2011-2012

Message To Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Of Canada, On The Occasion Of Her Diamond Jubilee

Bill 1:

An Act To Amend The Borrowing Authorization Act

Message To Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Of Canada, On The Occasion Of Her Diamond Jubilee

Orders of the Day

The House met at 1:32 p.m.

---Singing of O Canada

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---Prayer

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Prayer

Prayer

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Mr. Clerk, would you please ascertain if His Honour, the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, the Honourable George Tuccaro, is ready to enter the Chamber for the Second Session of the 17th Legislative Assembly.

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Prayer

Prayer

George Tuccaro

Commissioner Of The Northwest Territories

Good afternoon, everyone. It is with great joy and optimism that I welcome you back today to the Legislature. The tasks at hand sometimes may seem insurmountable and daunting. Through cooperation and commitment, there is success and achievement. This year holds great promise that more positive results will bring about measurable change. I wish you well in your deliberations.

I am deeply honoured, on behalf of all residents of the Northwest Territories, to congratulate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on her diamond jubilee; 60 years of dedicated service and duty to the people of all Commonwealth nations.

As we mark the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty’s

accession to the throne, we also honour her commitment to service by recognizing Canadians who, like her, have devoted themselves to the well-being of family, community and country.

A new commemorative medal has been created to mark the 2012 celebrations of the 60th anniversary

of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s accession to the throne as Queen of Canada. The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal is a tangible way for Canada to honour Her Majesty for her service to this country, and at the same time, it serves to honour significant contributions and achievements by Canadians.

The first presentation ceremony of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal to recipients in Yellowknife marks the beginning of our celebrations in 2012. Please join us at four o’clock today as we recognize these deserving Canadians who have

worked to make our city, our territory and our country a better place.

During this session the Government of the Northwest Territories will be introducing the following bills for consideration by the House:

• Interim Appropriation Act, 2012-2013;

• Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure

Expenditures), No. 3, 2011-2012; and

• Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations

Expenditures), No. 3, 2011-2012.

The government considers these bills essential to the good conduct of government business, and as such, I recommend their passage.

As Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, I now declare open the Second Session of the 17th Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, merci beaucoup, mahsi cho, quanani, koana.

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Prayer

Prayer

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Good afternoon, colleagues. On behalf of all the Members, I’d like to thank Commissioner Tuccaro for opening the Second Session of the 17th Legislative Assembly.

Also on behalf of all Members, I’d like to thank Mr. Matthew Smith for his beautiful version of O Canada, and Pastor Frank Siemens for leading us in prayer today.

I would like to welcome everyone in the gallery who has joined us here today. Welcome.

I’d like to welcome my colleagues to our first sitting of the New Year. I may be a little bit late, but I still want to wish you and all the residents of the Northwest Territories a safe and happy New Year.

Members and guests, along with the rest of Canada we are celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We began yesterday with the flag-raising ceremony with the Queen’s Canadian flag, which was flown here from sunrise to sunset to mark this special anniversary. We also have the Queen’s Jubilee flags here in our Chamber today and they will remain here for the duration of the Jubilee Year. At the close of our proceedings today, a public reception will be held in the Great Hall. I would invite everyone in the gallery to join us as we honour our recipients of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.

We are very lucky to have our Pages helping us during this sitting from the Deh Gah School in Fort Providence, Moose Kerr School in Aklavik, Ecole Boreale School in Hay River, and Louie Norwegian School in Jean Marie River. The Page Program is a great way for our young people to meet students from across the territory and find out firsthand just how our government works. To all of our Pages, a warm welcome.

Colleagues, I’d like to take this opportunity to extend my condolences to the families back in my community in my riding of Nunakput. Roy Inuktalik passed away; Agnes Felix and family; Tommy Thrasher; Ms. Jenny Pingo; Mr. Benjamin Goose; Georgina Cockney; Roy Smith; and Diamond Klengenberg.

I’d like to extend the condolences of all the House to those who have lost loved ones since we last met. Our communities are small and close knit, and we share your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families and friends who have passed on across the territory.

Members, I know that we have been working very hard to prepare for the challenges ahead and I am confident that you can work together for the good of all the Northwest Territories. I just want to remind you that we are here for our constituents. The reason we’re here and all the decisions that we make affect them directly. We must all remember that as we go about our work here today, that we’re working for the people of the Northwest Territories as a whole.

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Prayer

Prayer

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Item 3, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Premier , Mr. McLeod.

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Minister’s Statement 1-17(2): Sessional Statement

Ministers’ Statements

Yellowknife South

Bob McLeod

Premier

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Although we have a small population, the Northwest Territories is a large and diverse territory. We live in 33 communities spread over several regions. We share the territory with seven regional Aboriginal governments. We all have our own mandates, priorities and interests unique to each of our groups. Sometimes our individual priorities align with each other and sometimes it is more difficult to find consensus on specific issues.

But in spite of the individual differences that we may have, I believe that Northerners share the same bigger vision for our territory. No matter where we live or what group we represent, we all want to see a prosperous, self-sufficient territory that provides opportunities for all Northwest Territories residents in their communities and regions. We want a territory where people are healthy and educated and free from poverty and

addictions. We want a territory where Northerners make the decisions about the things that affect us. We want a territory where our environment is protected and a strong economy provides the resources we need to pay for our dreams, look after our land and care for our residents. We want a territory where strong northern governments work together in the best interests of all the people of the Northwest Territories while exercising their own authorities and respecting each other’s jurisdictions.

Creating this future is not a project for the Government of the Northwest Territories alone. We will need the participation and cooperation of business and social groups, environmental groups, community governments, Aboriginal governments and the Members of this Assembly. We are stronger when we stand together and focus on what unites us, and we will need that strength to create the kind of future we want for all the people of the Northwest Territories. Finding common ground means finding the will to see beyond any temporary disagreements that might divide us. We need to keep our eye on the big picture if we want to make our vision of a prosperous and sustainable future a reality.

This government started with a commitment to doing business differently. We know the value of partnerships and good relationships. We have made it a priority to reach out to people across the territory and look for common ground, especially with our Aboriginal governments. We began last October, even before this House formally sat, when Caucus met with leaders from all Aboriginal governments in Detah. That meeting represented our interest in a new relationship with Aboriginal governments, one built on the principles of respect, recognition and responsibility.

We need to be able to talk openly and respectfully about the issues we share in common and ways that we can work together to address them. As I have said in this House before, I am making plans for another meeting between Aboriginal members and leaders and Members of the Legislative Assembly early this year.

As part of our commitment to forging strong working relationships with Aboriginal governments, I and my Cabinet colleagues have been holding bilateral meetings across the Northwest Territories. We have had 16 meetings with leaders representing every Aboriginal government in every region of the Northwest Territories. Since the beginning of the year, Cabinet has participated in meetings with the Beaufort-Delta Regional Council and Gwich’in Tribal Council.

We have also had our first ever meeting between all Cabinet members and all members of the Tlicho Government Executive Council since the Tlicho Government was established six years ago. Minister Beaulieu , Minister Miltenberger and I also recently

participated in a meeting with the Northwest Territories Metis Nation.

I am encouraged by what I have been hearing at these meetings. In our discussions we have learned that there is already a lot of common ground for us to build on. Leaders share many of the same concerns we do. They want to see economic opportunities and jobs in their communities and region. They want their people to be healthy and educated. They want to address the need for housing in their communities. These are many of the same issues that Members of this House identified when we announced our priorities last November. These are the same issues that all our residents care about.

Finding ways that we can all work together to address these issues could be one of the most significant accomplishments of this Assembly and I believe that it can be done. We have the opportunity to create a better future for all residents of the Northwest Territories by working together, and I am reaching out to Members, Aboriginal governments and all citizens of the Northwest Territories to invite them to join us.

We also need a new, stronger working relationship with the federal government. I met with the Prime Minister last week and had the opportunity to discuss the close alignment between the priorities of this Assembly and the federal Northern Strategy. I was also able to meet with Minister Duncan and Minister Aglukkaq while I was in Ottawa. The meetings were productive and it is clear we share many of the same goals for the North as Canada does. I am confident that we can work well together on issues that are important to Canadians and Northerners.

What do we need to do to get to the kind of future we envision? Besides strengthening our relationship with Aboriginal and other northern governments, we need to invest in the people of the Northwest Territories. We need to invest in our future economy. We need to be responsible stewards of our land and our environment. We need to complete the transfer of authorities from Canada to the Northwest Territories that began 45 years ago.

This government already makes substantial investments in the people of the Northwest Territories. We offer education and training programs in communities throughout the North that give Northwest Territories residents the opportunity to build capacity and acquire job skills. We support personal wellness through ongoing health promotion and prevention programs and offer mental health and addiction programs. We deliver health care services in communities across the Northwest Territories and continue to make strategic investments in our health care facilities and infrastructure.

Addressing poverty will be another way to invest in Northerners. During this session I will be tabling What We Heard, the results of an extensive consultation on poverty undertaken by the last government. In this document, Northwest Territories residents identify some of the causes of poverty, the challenges and barriers they face, trying to break free of it and some of the things we could do to eliminate it.

What We Heard will inform the development of an Anti-Poverty Strategy that the Government of the Northwest Territories will undertake in collaboration with non-government organizations, business leaders and Aboriginal community governments. We will return to the Assembly with our proposed strategy before the end of this calendar year.

We will also continue to move forward with the Shelter Policy review as part of our ongoing work to address the need for housing in our communities. As a result of the review, we plan to come forward with a strategic framework for housing that will strengthen public housing, including implementing new rent scales. We will improve home ownership supports and address other aspects of the housing continuum like housing supply and adequacy in non-market communities, strengthen the approach to homelessness and improve housing services.

We will continue with programs to support home ownership and our strategy to replace older single detached public housing units with multi-family units wherever possible. We will begin to implement elements of the review by this June.

While we are investing in the people of the Northwest Territories, we will also need to be investing in our future economy. The Government of the Northwest Territories already provides a broad range of programs and support of economic development and diversification. There are programs to support small businesses and promote community economic development. We offer support for tourism development in the traditional economy. And we have programs to encourage and support the development of our mineral resources.

People want an opportunity to succeed, and our role as government is to make sure the conditions are right for their success. We are telling Northerners to stay in school but we need to keep up our end of the bargain so there are jobs and economic opportunities for them when they graduate. Economic development and job creation is one way that this government can help meet the needs of the Northwest Territories and the people who live here. This is a belief that was echoed by leaders in my meetings around the Northwest Territories over the past few months.

That is why this government has made it a priority to come forward with an environmentally sustainable economic development and mining strategy.

The Northwest Territories has a wealth of resources, though we are not making the best use of that potential. If we want to become a prosperous, self-sufficient territory providing opportunities for our residents, we are going to need a number of things to fall into place. We need a devolution agreement, regulatory improvement and a clear post-devolution relationship with Canada.

We need certainty around our development processes and we will need the federal government to partner with us in major nation building infrastructure projects like the Mackenzie Gas Project, the Mackenzie Valley Highway and a Mackenzie Valley fibre optic link. We are not looking for a handout. The Government of the Northwest Territories is prepared to do its part and we intend to show our good faith by investing our own resources and preparatory work for the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk highway, an eventual part of the Mackenzie Valley Highway.

Development needs to be sustainable and balanced by a respect for our land and environment. The land is not just the source of our wealth; it is the source of our well-being. We need to make careful decisions about how we manage our renewable and non-renewable resources. Our decisions need to be guided by a long-term vision that ensures our residents enjoy the benefits of the land and its resources for generations to come.

We continue to work to put the tools in place that will help us be responsible stewards of our land. On top of resource revenues and jobs, devolution will give the people of the Northwest Territories control over decisions about how we can protect our land and develop our resources in the way we want. It will also provide new opportunities for the Government of the Northwest Territories and Aboriginal governments to work together on land use, resource management and regulatory improvement. A new Wildlife Act will give us modern tools for managing our wildlife in partnership with Aboriginal governments.

Work towards a transboundary water management agreement that will help ensure the protection of territorial waters in the face of development in the Upper Mackenzie Basin continues to move forward. A territorial land use framework will help the Government of the Northwest Territories with land use matters in a consistent way based on clear interests.

Continuing to pay for our priorities and fund the programs and services we deliver will require careful management in the coming months. As Members know, our current fiscal situation is tight and we need to stick to a disciplined fiscal strategy to manage our way through the next two years. Our first priority is protecting the existing programs and services our residents rely on, while maintaining some capacity to absorb unexpected expenses or revenue shortfalls. There is no money to invest in

new initiatives or programs at this time. As our situation improves, our next priority will be to make strategic, targeted infrastructure investments that will help support economic development and growth.

While we are not there yet, I can advise Members that we are making progress on our discussions with the federal government over our borrowing limit. Mr. Miltenberger has talked with Minister Flaherty and we have been assured that Canada understands our issues and is prepared to offer some relief for the Northwest Territories. We do not expect to have a final figure until the end of this fiscal year, but Canada’s assurances have given us the ability to consider funding initial work on the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk highway. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister’s Statement 1-17(2): Sessional Statement

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Premier McLeod.

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Minister’s Statement 1-17(2): Sessional Statement

Ministers’ Statements

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Sorry, Mr. Speaker. I missed the last two pages.

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Minister’s Statement 1-17(2): Sessional Statement

Ministers’ Statements

An Hon. Member

Important pages.

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Minister’s Statement 1-17(2): Sessional Statement

Ministers’ Statements

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

The most important part.

We have the potential to be a great territory. Last November Minister Duncan wrote in the Hill Times that Canada’s North is a fundamental part of our national identity and our economic future. We share Minister Duncan’s views and the vision of Canada’s Northern Strategy of a North that can realize its true potential as a healthy, prosperous and secure region within a strong and sovereign Canada. We have the natural resources, human capital and political experience to be a self-sufficient territory, participating as a full, contributing member of Confederation.

We can achieve this Assembly’s vision of strong individuals, families and communities sharing the benefits and responsibilities of a unified, environmentally sustainable and prosperous Northwest Territories.

It will take work to get there and it will take the willingness of Northerners to come together and focus on common goals and priorities that are in the best interests of the whole territory. The people of the Northwest Territories deserve and expect a brighter future. The Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to working towards that future and invites the partnership of Members of the Legislative Assembly, Aboriginal leaders, community leaders and all those with a stake in creating a strong and prosperous Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister’s Statement 1-17(2): Sessional Statement

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Premier , Mr. McLeod.

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Minister’s Statement 2-17(2): Minister Absent From The House

Ministers’ Statements

Yellowknife South

Bob McLeod

Premier

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to advise Members that the Honourable David Ramsay will be absent from the House today and tomorrow to attend the 2012 Northern Development Ministers Forum in Goose Bay, Labrador.

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Minister’s Statement 2-17(2): Minister Absent From The House

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 4, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Hay River South , Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Celebrations

Members’ Statements

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On this the first day of sitting I, too, would like to pay my respects to the milestone of Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee. I have an affection and affinity for the monarchy, through my ancestry on my father’s side. My father, Robert Ostler, immigrated to Canada in 1947 after seven years in the British Army during the Second World War.

I grew up in a home with strong British ties and traditions. I remember as a child that no gifts were opened on Christmas Day until our family gathered in front of the black and white TV to hear the Christmas address from Queen Elizabeth. This was right up there with the reading of the Christmas Story from the Scriptures and then we could begin to partake in our Christmas Day activities.

Many, over the years, have questioned and even challenged the relevance of the monarchy. In a day and age of the rise and fall of governments and leaders around the world, indeed even the composition of the Commonwealth, the monarchy, particularly Queen Elizabeth, has remained a leader committed to many of the ideals and values held in high regard by those who founded this country and the people who have also come to call Canada home. She has remained steadfast to her commitment that she took on at the young age of 26 years. I don’t think, monarchist or not, anyone can deny the role model our Queen has been in her service to God, country and, indeed, the Commonwealth.

On this year of celebration of this amazing milestone of her Diamond Jubilee of her accession to the throne of England, can we collectively say in our Chamber today, God bless and save the Queen, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen of Canada.

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Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Celebrations

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . The honourable Member for Nahendeh , Mr. Menicoche .

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Proposed Changes To The Old Age Security Program

Members’ Statements

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. We are hearing a lot in the news lately about the possible changes to the Canadian Old Age Security Program. The current government is not saying much about it, but the responsible Minister, Diane Finley, says changes are crucial because costs are rising and there will be fewer and fewer workers paying into the system.

One of the suggestions for cutting the cost of oId age security is to change the age of eligibility for benefits from 65 to 67. Those same seniors, at least those with low incomes, would not be receiving their federally guaranteed income supplement either.

That could have a very serious outcome on our elders and this government. Two things could happen: elders will be poorer and there will be pressure on our government to provide benefits or income support for two more years until Old Age Security finally kicks in. It appears to be yet another example of the federal government planning to devolve costs to the Government of the Northwest Territories.

In the rest of Canada workers might retire later, but here in the Northwest Territories unemployment is so high in many communities that our seniors will simply face two more years of poverty. I’m concerned that low-income seniors will be the most affected. For example, our elders for the NWT senior citizens supplementary benefits have to be getting Old Age Security and the federal guaranteed income supplement. There are bound to be other ripple effects from the federal government’s change to Old Age Security.

That is why I am urging this government to make sure that we have some input on this at the federal level. Our elders are counting on us. I will be asking the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment questions about this shortly.

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Proposed Changes To The Old Age Security Program

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche . The honourable Member for Sahtu , Mr. Yakeleya .

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Devolution Agreement Negotiations

Members’ Statements

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to talk about the issue of devolution and the importance of this issue here in the Northwest Territories. In our communities we are not hearing enough on it. For example, once devolution, whenever it gets completed to a final deal, will it be a vote throughout the Northwest Territories to say yes, people in the North want this deal to go through, or will it be like in the last government where seven Cabinet Ministers said this is what we’re going to do, we’re going to sign it with the

majority of the Aboriginal governments not participating or wanting our government to sign on to negotiate towards a final agreement?

Devolution is one way to bring the Northwest Territories to a legitimate government. Right now we’re an orphan of the federal government. We have to ask them to borrow money to get us most of the resources. Devolution is a way that we take some of these resources and use it to operate ourselves.

However, the key component to a devolution deal is to involve the real landowners: the Aboriginal governments. The legitimate government that was negotiated through the land claim agreements that was negotiated in the ‘20s through the treaties, had those treaties been kept up by the federal government would have been in a better shape by our relationship. The elders tell us when those treaties were negotiated, many promises were broken. As to the existing land claim agreements now, we can start to see the cracks being open in our agreements with the land and water boards.

I want to ask the government, Premier , how we are going to solidify, produce a solid partnership with Aboriginal governments through this devolution file. I will have questions for the Premier later on.

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Devolution Agreement Negotiations

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . The honourable Member for Deh Cho , Mr. Nadli .

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Devolution Agreement Negotiations

Members’ Statements

Michael Nadli

Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I, too, wanted to make a statement on devolution. I’m deeply concerned about the current state of talks on devolution of control over lands and resources to the Northwest Territories from the federal government. As you know, no Dene governments or land claim organizations are involved in the process, and now the Gwich’in Tribal Council has taken this government and the federal government to court over what they say is a lack of consultation.

I know that our Aboriginal governments also believe that our current Devolution Agreement-in-Principle will be not much revenue or royalties for First Nations. There are also legitimate questions about how revenue sharing and control over the land would work and what role First Nations would have.

The Premier has stated that negotiations will continue anyway. We have not discussed this course of action yet in this House. It may be possible to go ahead, but it is a recipe for conflict between this government and many of the people that it is supposed to represent. This is not the Dene way of doing things. We try to reach consensus and keep working at it until we can decide what needs to be done. I’m sure I don’t need to remind the Premier that this Assembly is supposed to be a consensus government.

The Gwich’in lawsuit is a sign that this government has a lot of work to do. It should put our government on notice that there could be more serious consequences for going ahead on its own. Even now fighting over devolution could hamper our government’s effectiveness in working with regional governments. It could trigger a larger debate about constitutional development.

Progress is much more likely to be made if we settle our differences in the North and present a united front to the federal government. This is the direction I would like this government to take. I would also like an opportunity to discuss this issue in the House. The people of the Northwest Territories should know what we are doing about it. I will ask some questions later in the House.

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Devolution Agreement Negotiations

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Nadli . The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake , Mr. Moses .

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Beaufort-Delta Regional Leadership Meeting In Inuvik

Members’ Statements

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On January 9 to 11, 2012, leaders of the Beaufort-Delta met in Inuvik to discuss matters that are important to them and the people that they represent. I’d just like to take this opportunity to thank the Premier and all of his Cabinet for coming to Inuvik and listening to those concerns, and sitting down and discussing important matters with the leaders of the Beaufort-Delta region. It shows good promise that we’re going to be building on our future strengths, working with the governments and working with the departments to make sure that people of the Northwest Territories and the Beaufort-Delta region are able to succeed and live a healthy and safe lifestyle.

I also want to commend the Cabinet on all the work that they’ve been doing over the last few months in visiting with all the Aboriginal leadership and governments across the Northwest Territories. I also look forward to bringing up these concerns that were brought forth by the leaders in the Beaufort-Delta region in this session and future sessions, to make sure that these issues and concerns are met and do not fall on deaf ears, and that action is taking place to ensure that the people of the Beaufort-Delta region do succeed and that their concerns and needs are met.

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Beaufort-Delta Regional Leadership Meeting In Inuvik

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Moses . The honourable Member for Range Lake , Mr. Dolynny .

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NWT Drinking Water Quality Testing Results

Members’ Statements

Daryl Dolynny

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I wish to comment on MACA’s 2010 GNWT Report

on Drinking Water which was released in September 2011. Fundamentally, water quality and its management primarily remains a territorial jurisdiction. Arguably, both federal and territorial governments are responsible to work together under the terms and guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality which has been maintained by Health Canada since 1968. Responsibility for the creation and updating of these guidelines falls to four territorial departments – Health and Social Services, ENR, MACA, Public Works and Services – and by three federal departments – Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans, and Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.

For a quick recap, and according to our set guidelines, source water – referred to as raw water – and regular drinking water are to be tested daily for turbidity. As well, raw water is to be tested for bacteria at least monthly. Drinking water is to be tested at least four times per month. On top of that, at least one sample per year is to be tested for 28 criteria, including colour, metals, chemicals and other compounds.

Although the treatment of drinking water in the 33 NWT communities has evolved considerably in the last five years with new treatment plants and increased training of its operators, it is clear, according to this report, that testing is not rigorously being done in all communities. In fact, according to MACA’s water quality website there has been no chemical testing in Hay River or Nahanni Butte since 2009. No chemical tests were done in Yellowknife, Jean Marie River or Trout Lake in 2011. Water in Wrigley was only tested for bacteria on one date in 2011.

Bacterial testing in Lutselk’e and Trout Lake was incomplete in 2011. It is notable that many of the missing tests are in the communities in the Deh Cho administrative region.

Clearly, the GNWT knows that these water testing guidelines are meant to be a set standard aimed at assuring the protection of human health over a lifetime of consumption. That said, I’ll be asking the MACA Minister later today about these missing testing results and whether certain communities are at risk due to our lack of rigorous water testing.

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NWT Drinking Water Quality Testing Results

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Northlands Trailer Park Water And Sewer Infrastructure Replacement

Members’ Statements

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m compelled to use my first statement of this session to speak to an ongoing issue affecting my riding. Only a few weeks ago this government refused a request from the City of Yellowknife for a no-interest loan, a loan that would have been used to assist the residents of Northlands Mobile Home

Park – some 1,100 Frame Lake constituents – to assist them with the replacement of the water and sewer infrastructure in their neighbourhood.

I have spoken many times about this predicament that these Northerners are in, and I really thought that a no- or low-interest loan from the GNWT to the city was a viable solution to this problem. But the government’s response to this suggested solution was an unconditional no.

To say that I was disappointed would be a major understatement, but what was even more disappointing was that our executive simply said no without trying to find other potential solutions. Admittedly, the letter to the city did provide an answer to the direct question, but there was no indication of a willingness on the part of the GNWT to help out at all. There was no attempt to offer a different kind of help or to look for other ways to solve this difficult problem.

One of the reasons given for the refusal was that no policy currently exists to cover the request. That may be so, but if Cabinet had really wanted to help my constituents, they would have considered how to develop a policy that could help them.

We, as MLAs, whether in Cabinet or not, are elected to develop policy and to make laws. That we don’t have a policy for a particular situation has seldom been a problem before now. As long as the government wants to do something, it will happen. The necessary policy to cover the action will be put into place. Stated differently: If the political will is there, a policy can be developed to fix the problem.

My battle with the government to help my constituents is not yet over. I truly believe that there is something that this government can do to help the residents of Northlands. It may not be, nor does it have to be, a loan. It can be program assistance. It can be a policy or a regulation change. It can be a “yes we can” attitude instead of a “no we can’t” attitude.

I am committed to pursuing this issue on behalf of Northlands residents, who are a significant portion of my riding. I only hope that my colleagues across the floor, now that the city’s request has been answered, do not now wash their hands of this problem, that they actively look for something the GNWT can do to help, and that they remain open to considering different solutions when they are presented.

I will have questions for the Minister of Finance at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Northlands Trailer Park Water And Sewer Infrastructure Replacement

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro . The honourable Member for Weledeh , Mr. Bromley .

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GNWT Role In Yellowknife Land Swap Transaction

Members’ Statements

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A highly unusual Municipal and Community Affairs land swap deal has left the City of Yellowknife and the developer a legacy of problems to sort out and contributed to an unnecessary rise in the cost of new housing in Yellowknife.

Recently, MACA took over the former church property on 49th Street and transferred the Lot 501

block of Commissioner’s land adjacent to the North Slave Correction Centre to Homes North via the city. This without MACA seeking a buyer leave from the City of Yellowknife. The developer took on the property in the expectation of creating a residential subdivision according to the improvement requirements of the day. At the time, the city was transitioning to full cost recovery through development conditions.

Two years later the land swap is nearing completion and the city and the developer are still trying to find compromises that would allow an economic development that meets city requirements for sewer and water, roads, trail and park development and power supply. It has been a difficult negotiation, given the city’s need to see the cost of development paid for by purchase funds and the developer’s need for an economic project.

This should never have happened. MACA met its own needs for land without respecting the city’s need to derive revenue from the land to ensure development standards will be met and costs recovered before lands are provided. Then MACA left the two parties to sort out the most crucial and contentious issues. Had MACA dealt with the city in the first place, a land swap might still have been brokered and the costs of development being clearly stated from the outset.

But what’s the biggest tragedy here? The most unfortunate consequences accrue to our residents seeking reasonably priced housing. Our population is falling. People’s inability to find housing is a crippling, chronic drag on the territorial economy.

So what needs to happen now? MACA needs to recognize its responsibility for the situation they helped create and rejoin the discussions towards a compromise solution. We need to finally provide the city with control over unencumbered Commissioner’s lands within its boundaries.

I would support any move by the City of Yellowknife to gain control over the remaining Commissioner’s land within city boundaries to prevent such end runs happening ever again.

I will be asking the MACA Minister questions on this situation. Mahsi.

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GNWT Role In Yellowknife Land Swap Transaction

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Territorial Addictions Treatment Centre

Members’ Statements

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The need could not be greater than now for a territorial treatment centre here in the Northwest Territories. As we all know far too well, drugs and alcohol continue to have a profound impact on Northerners’ lives. It’s time for this government to get behind a detox centre, which will help the drug and alcohol problem that many people suffer from.

I’ve come to see the drug and alcohol problem kind of like an iceberg. You know, you can look far off and see the surface of the problem, but you never fully realize the size, the magnitude, what truly lies underneath the surface. I can only work with the information I have, and with that I’m trying to provide a picture that the Minister understands.

I know the Minister likes stats and numbers, so let’s give a few a try. Almost 89 percent of the people in our jails are struggling from addictions; and if he doesn’t believe me, he can nudge the guy on the left of him to ask for the facts on that one. On average, 600 people are hospitalized a year because of health problems related to mental illness, and 58 percent of those are directly related to substance abuse. Again, being a Minister who likes numbers, that’s about 350 people per year.

The rate of addictions in the Northwest Territories dwarfs the rest of Canada. Our smoking rates are twice Canada’s average. Thirty-two percent of our people who drink in the NWT are heavy drinkers, more than twice the national average. Even more shocking is the number of people who say their friendships, social lives, physical health and home life are harmed by their drinking. That applies to one in four of the people that consume alcohol, and they live in our Northwest Territories. In our small communities it’s even worse: 43 percent of the drinkers say that this habit has been consuming their lives.

Alcohol is not the only problem. Forty-one percent of our young people between the age of 15 and 24 are now smoking marijuana. One in four residents of the NWT has been experimenting with cocaine, crack, hallucinogens, ecstasy, speed and even heroin. These facts alone should be calling this government from its sleepy slumber and use it as

an act or a message to finally take up arms on this issue.

During question period I will have questions directed to the Minister of Health and Social Services about what this government will finally do on this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Territorial Addictions Treatment Centre

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Ms. Bisaro .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my great pleasure to recognize a colleague who I haven’t worked with for quite some time, but we still do pass by each other periodically. I’d like to say Mr. Ed Jeske recently had a birthday in January. He has recently turned 85 years young. Thank you.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro . Mr. Dolynny .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Daryl Dolynny

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize our good friend Mr. Ed Jeske, and accompanying him today, the lovely Vivian Squires. Thank you for coming out. I have one of my constituents here who is no stranger to the Assembly, working here in the past as a constituency assistant, Mrs. Carla Hanvold-Walker. Thank you.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny . Mr. Hawkins .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like my colleagues, I, too, would like to recognize Mr. Ed Jeske, a Yellowknife senior in the constituency of Yellowknife Centre, and at his side, as always, the true and vigilant, lovely Vivian Squires, and talented, of course. Finally, I’d also like to recognize a good friend. His name is Bill and he’s here with his wife. So that’s Bill and Helen McIntosh. They both hail from Belleville, Ontario. I’d like to welcome them to the Legislature. I believe they’re here visiting family. Thank you.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . Mr. Bromley .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Barb Hood, executive director of the NWT Seniors and a resident of Weledeh. Also a tip of the hat to Ed and Vivian. Thank you.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley . Mr. Moses .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize my constituency assistant Maia Lepage, who is here doing some business this week and learning the ins and outs of the trade of the Legislative Assembly to make our office back in Inuvik more efficient, proficient and more successful in the work that we do for the people of Inuvik. Thank you.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Moses . Mr. Bouchard .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Robert Bouchard

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d also like to recognize my constituency assistant, Myrtle Graham. She’s also helping me here this week from Hay River West Channel. Thank you.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard . Mr. Premier .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m going to go six for six here for Mr. Ed Jeske, who my favourite arena is named after. Thank you.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Nadli .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Michael Nadli

Deh Cho

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to acknowledge the presence of two Pages from my community: Brandon Constant and Lisa Constant. I’d like to acknowledge them. Brandon and Lisa are both in Grade 9. Brandon likes to play badminton, from just speaking with the principal in Fort Providence, and they both like outdoor on-the-land activities. Both completed the Student Initiative Program in Fallis, Alberta, in November. Both are wonderful youth models, and their parents are Manuel Constant and Vicky Marcellais. So I’d like to welcome them to the Legislature. Mahsi.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Item 6, acknowledgements. Mr. Bromley .

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Acknowledgement 1-17(2): Weledeh Queen’s Jubilee Medal Recipients

Acknowledgements

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to acknowledge and congratulate six Weledeh constituents to be honoured today as recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Being honoured at the presentation ceremony here in Yellowknife are Weledeh constituents Anthony Whitford, Bobby Drygeese, Barbara Bromley – hi, Mom – Patricia O’Connor and Arlene Hache. Gail Cyr is receiving her medal today at a ceremony in Ottawa. Please join me in celebrating these distinguished citizens and their richly deserved recognition. Mahsi.

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Acknowledgement 1-17(2): Weledeh Queen’s Jubilee Medal Recipients

Acknowledgements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley . Thank you, colleagues. I’d like to go back to recognition of visitors in the gallery.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Members, I’d like to recognize some special visitors in the gallery here today. We have 10 young men and women who are visiting us for a few days from the Ontario Legislature Internship Program. They are here to observe consensus government at work. So we all may want to be on our best behaviour today.

---Laughter

I’d like to recognize Mr. Evan Akriotis, Patrick DeRochie, Belinda Ellsworth, Lauren Hanna, Humera Jabir, Sylvia Kim, Diego Ortiz, Sylvia Pena,

Craig Ruttan, Monika Wyrzykowska. Thank you. Welcome.

I’d like to welcome Mr. Ed Jeske. It’s always good to have you in the House. Thank you for being here today.

I’d like to welcome all the visitors in the public gallery today. Thank you for taking an interest in our proceedings. Thank you.

Item 7, oral questions. Member for Sahtu , Mr. Yakeleya .

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Question 1-17(2): Devolution Agreement Negotiations

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I spoke about the devolution earlier this afternoon and I talked about the impacts and probably some of the thoughts in the Northwest Territories. I want to ask the Premier in terms of this devolution deal here, that we have some communities out there, some Aboriginal governments that feel there should be stronger, more meaningful participation in this process.

Basically what I’ve been told by some of my people is that the federal government has basically set the time and set the stage for the negotiations in saying the federal government was dictating the process: your team, my team, that’s it. That’s not good enough for the Aboriginal governments. Can the Premier help me understand how the Aboriginal governments can have more participation?

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Question 1-17(2): Devolution Agreement Negotiations

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . Honourable Premier , Mr. McLeod.

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Question 1-17(2): Devolution Agreement Negotiations

Oral Questions

Yellowknife South

Bob McLeod

Premier

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess as part of this process that we’ve undertaken, as the Member may recall, when we all got together as Caucus and set the priorities for the 17th Assembly, one of the priorities was to conclude

devolution negotiations and we are in the process of attempting to do so. Thank you.

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Question 1-17(2): Devolution Agreement Negotiations

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

I actually have a copy right here, and the Premier was right on the priorities. We also have a goal for a strong and independent North built on partnership, and if we don’t have those types of partnerships, how can we build a strong and independent North? We only have a few of the partners on board.

I want to ask the Premier , when they’re looking at the Devolution Agreement, is the Premier and this government going to look at a referendum where people will have a chance to say this is a good deal or not a deal we should be signing?

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Question 1-17(2): Devolution Agreement Negotiations

Oral Questions

Yellowknife South

Bob McLeod

Premier

I don’t think one predicates the other. We’ve been working very hard for the past three months to establish better working relationships. Most of the Aboriginal governments

that we’ve met, six out of seven have been very supportive, indicating they want to continue to develop a working relationship.

On the Devolution Agreement, we’re inviting all parties to participate and we’re making sure we keep them apprised of all of the progress or of any discussions that happen.

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Question 1-17(2): Devolution Agreement Negotiations

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

The Aboriginal governments want to have meaningful input at the negotiation table, rather than just being told this is what’s happening, this is how you can participate. Hence, we got the issue of the Gwich’in taking the territorial government to court. I’m not too sure how far we can have discussions on that, but that’s how our relationship has deteriorated with one of the Aboriginal governments that represent a number of communities such as the Gwich’in Tribal Council.

What costs, as the Legislative Assembly, are we willing to pay to put this deal to bed and say that’s it, this is the deal and this is how it’s going to be done? What are the costs to us?

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Question 1-17(2): Devolution Agreement Negotiations

Oral Questions

Yellowknife South

Bob McLeod

Premier

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Question 1-17(2): Devolution Agreement Negotiations

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Premier . Final, short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya .

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Question 1-17(2): Devolution Agreement Negotiations

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, money comes and money goes. Look at the relationship at a moral cost to us on a government-to-government relationship. Are we willing to pay that cost for some short-term gains for long-term damages?

It’s a heavy cost to this government here. We could use the money, but how bad are we willing to not mend some broken hearts between us and the Gwich’in Tribal Council? That cost is more important to me, so that’s what I want to ask the Premier : What will he do, what can this government do? When it comes to a final agreement, do people in the Northwest Territories have a say in saying yes, this is a good deal? Will we have a referendum?

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Question 1-17(2): Devolution Agreement Negotiations

Oral Questions

Yellowknife South

Bob McLeod

Premier

We’ve been reaching out to all the Aboriginal governments and looking for comments on all of the major issues; devolution is one part of it. We have a basis for our relationship with all Aboriginal governments through land claim agreements and through self-government agreements, and we will continue to pursue those avenues.

As far as devolution, this is something we’ll continue to seek the support of Aboriginal governments and we will continue to provide all of

the information that is available on devolution on a go-forward basis. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 1-17(2): Devolution Agreement Negotiations

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The Member for Inuvik Boot Lake , Mr. Moses .

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Question 2-17(2): Doctor Shortage In Beaufort-Delta Region

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just in reference to my Member’s statement earlier, all the good work that the government has been doing in terms of dealing with our Aboriginal governments. I’d like to follow up with raising a concern that’s been brought forth to our Minister of Health in regard to the lack of doctor services, long services from doctors in the community of Inuvik. The Minister stated at our Beaufort-Delta leadership meetings that it is the number one priority to get doctors in the region, and that was on January 10th ,

I believe, he made that comment. I’d just like to ask the Minister what has his department done since making those strong comments in addressing this issue for the shortfall of services in the Beaufort-Delta Health Authority. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 2-17(2): Doctor Shortage In Beaufort-Delta Region

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Moses . A question for the Minister of Health and Social Services , Mr. Beaulieu .

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Question 2-17(2): Doctor Shortage In Beaufort-Delta Region

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since our Beaufort-Delta meeting I’ve had many meetings, many strategic meetings with the Department of Health and Social Services. I also met with the Joint Leadership Council, which are the public administrators and the chairpersons of each of the health and social services authorities, and we’ve particularly talked about this issue several times and also several times at that meeting. Thank you.

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Question 2-17(2): Doctor Shortage In Beaufort-Delta Region

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Previous to some of the questions that I’ve asked in the past, we’ve done a lot of talking. We know what the issues are; we need to put action to these issues that have been there for a long time. Since 1994, Yellowknife recruiting staff have not done a successful job in putting a long service doctor in Inuvik. That needs to be taken care of and it needs to be taken care of with this government. One of the main things that possibly can be not having these doctors in Inuvik are the incentives for doctors to live out of Yellowknife but do locum services in Inuvik.

Can I ask the Minister how can he change that policy where there are incentives for doctors to work up in Inuvik and non-incentives for doctors to live out of Yellowknife and only do locum in Inuvik?

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Question 2-17(2): Doctor Shortage In Beaufort-Delta Region

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Our first priority is to have doctors in the regions for easy access for the patients. We need doctors to be in the regions, and Inuvik is one of the regions and has nine positions. Of the nine positions, only 0.8 positions are filled in

Inuvik. There have been attempts, there have been websites put out in an attempt to recruit, but as I said, in the Beaufort-Delta we are prepared to work with the community of Inuvik, whether it be the municipality or Beaufort-Delta leadership in order to attract doctors to Inuvik as a first priority. Thank you.

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Question 2-17(2): Doctor Shortage In Beaufort-Delta Region

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

I’d like to thank the Minister of Health for letting us all know that we’re failing in getting staff up into the Beaufort-Delta region. The health authority, 0.8 of nine is not acceptable and I think that needs to change. Even if we had one or two positions filled, that would lead to a lot of success in our region.

Right now the Beaufort-Delta Health Authority is in a big deficit and it’s been accumulating over the years and I believe that the main reason behind that are these incentives that we’re giving locums to come into our region to only work for a short period of time. I’d like to ask for a strong commitment and action plan from the Minister today that this will be addressed and that we can have an action plan before our next session in May. Thank you.

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Question 2-17(2): Doctor Shortage In Beaufort-Delta Region

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Thank you. I agree. The department has spent a lot of money on locums and at this point that has been the solution, that the locums are coming from the South to address the doctor needs, the physician needs in the Beaufort-Delta. As the Member indicated, only one doctor that works about six and a half hours a day is employed and lives in Inuvik and our attempt is to bring doctors to Inuvik. It’s very difficult to bring one or two doctors into a community. It is a lot easier to bring a fifth, sixth and seventh doctor. So we’re trying to develop a strategy that will bring many doctors in that will attract other doctors, as doctors like to work with doctors. Thank you.

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Question 2-17(2): Doctor Shortage In Beaufort-Delta Region

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu . Final, short supplementary, Mr. Moses .

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Question 2-17(2): Doctor Shortage In Beaufort-Delta Region

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Bringing in more locums just adds to the problem of a lack of quality care, a lack of continued services to our patients that need that trust in their doctors, and that’s not being met when we start bringing more people down from the communities. The incentives, bringing more locums from down south just adds to the lack of services that we’ll get in Inuvik. It’s just more incentives for locums to come from down south, get paid more money than if they were living in Inuvik. So that also needs to change. I ask the Minister if he’d be willing to commit to revising or looking at that policy on incentives for locums and getting a long-term doctor in Inuvik. Thank you.

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Question 2-17(2): Doctor Shortage In Beaufort-Delta Region

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

The Department of Health and Social Services is currently working with the Department of Human Resources on a new Physician Recruitment Strategy. The strategy is to bring the doctors into the community. That is the number one priority. We are still using locums from

the South. A plan B could be to bring the doctors from Yellowknife and then the doctors from here would work in the Beaufort-Delta and have more continuity, but we’re still trying to work on the strategy to bring doctors into Inuvik and the other regional centres that don’t have doctors.

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Question 2-17(2): Doctor Shortage In Beaufort-Delta Region

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Question 3-17(2): Local Delivery Of Pre-Surgery Lab Work

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you. I’m just anxious to dive in on this topic of locums and resident physicians, but that’s not my question today. My question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services .

We have excessive and rising costs in delivering health and social services programs to the residents of the Northwest Territories. Over a number of years I have raised this concern: If I’m a resident of Hay River and I’m having surgery at Stanton Territorial Hospital on Monday morning, I must have the pre-op work done on Friday, which means that someone has to come here on Friday, get their pre-op lab work done and then go for their surgery on Monday morning. This has been a long-standing problem and issue.

If the person comes over here at their own expense because they’re self-employed or don’t have insurance coverage, they have a choice. They can either fly up Friday and fly home and incur that cost, or they can come up and stay for the weekend and incur that cost, because we all know there’s no place to stay for patients from other communities when they come to Yellowknife, unless you can get into the Vital Abel Boarding Home, and that is limited.

So here’s my question: We have a lab in our hospital in Hay River that does blood work for everything else. Why can’t we streamline the system so that when someone needs blood work and lab work done to ensure they’re ready for surgery on Monday, why can’t that be done in Hay River and those results communicated somehow to Stanton so that we can avoid these problems? It’s ongoing, it continues, it costs us money, it costs our patients money. What are we going to do about it? Thank you.

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Question 3-17(2): Local Delivery Of Pre-Surgery Lab Work

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . Minister of Health and Social Services , Mr. Beaulieu .

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Question 3-17(2): Local Delivery Of Pre-Surgery Lab Work

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Those decisions for lab work are requested by a doctor. As we indicated here earlier today, most of the doctors are located here in Yellowknife. I mean, I’m sure that we can use a system where the lab in Hay River can be used if a doctor goes down there to take a look at the results of lab work, but at this

time it’s a clinical decision and made by physicians. Thank you.

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Question 3-17(2): Local Delivery Of Pre-Surgery Lab Work

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

May I suggest that getting a doctor to go to Hay River would also be inexpensive? I mean it would be expensive and cost prohibitive; sorry.

I was in Alaska once and had a medical test done, which was then beamed to a doctor at his house in Texas and who responded right back on what the answer was. I mean, we are only 100 miles away between Hay River and Yellowknife. Surely there’s a way that, okay, the guy doing the surgery, the doctor doing the surgery on the Monday morning wants certain tests done and lab work done. Why can those requisitions for lab work not be sent to Hay River, have the work done there, communicate the results to the surgeon that’s going to do the operation on Monday morning, and save the patient all this wear and tear and expense?

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Question 3-17(2): Local Delivery Of Pre-Surgery Lab Work

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

As I indicated, the decision is made by the doctor that’s doing the surgery. If we could go back to discuss the change here, I think we would be prepared to do that as a department, to discuss with the doctor why he makes those decisions on how he has the persons tested up here and then the individual doesn’t actually get the operation until Monday. We can, as a department, go to the doctors and find out why that occurs and get back to the Member.

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Question 3-17(2): Local Delivery Of Pre-Surgery Lab Work

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

This is 2012. This is the day and age of modern communications and quick communications. It is hard to believe that we as a medical system cannot come up with a better communication system from one health authority, one medical institution to another that could allow this to be done. This is this organization at its worst. This is a subject that has been brought to me on more than one occasion by many constituents. We have to come to Yellowknife. If you want to have a baby, come to Yellowknife. If you want to have surgery, come to Yellowknife. Well then, let’s find ways as a government to make this more affordable and easier for those who are living outside of the capital. Thank you.

Sorry; there was no question there. I’d like to ask the Minister if he could describe for us what communication channel is currently available between the health authority in Hay River and the Stanton Territorial Hospital that would allow the transmission of lab results or requisitions.

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Question 3-17(2): Local Delivery Of Pre-Surgery Lab Work

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

The Department of Health or the health authorities have recently improved the electronic health records. Electronic health records can be used and transmitted from community to community electronically.

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Question 3-17(2): Local Delivery Of Pre-Surgery Lab Work

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Question 3-17(2): Local Delivery Of Pre-Surgery Lab Work

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister if he would commit to considering the surgery

schedule for NWT residents from outside of the capital that would allow them, if necessary, to have their lab work done the same week as they’re having their surgery done, to prevent that travel, and if he would also investigate if somehow we could enhance the transmission of requisitions and results from lab procedures between health authorities.

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Question 3-17(2): Local Delivery Of Pre-Surgery Lab Work

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

It would be difficult for me to commit on the work of doctors. However, I will promise the Member that we will have a full discussion to ask the doctors why there is surgery on a different week than when the tests are done, so that the tests are done in the same week. We have no problem whatsoever to having that full discussion with the doctors and get back to the Member with those results.

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Question 3-17(2): Local Delivery Of Pre-Surgery Lab Work

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Question 4-17(2): GNWT Role In Yellowknife Land Swap Transaction

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to follow up on my statement regarding the Municipal and Community Affairs land swap deal with the City of Yellowknife and the developer. As I mentioned, MACA played a highly unusual role here setting up a deal directly with a developer, without city involvement. Typically the land is conveyed to the city and then the city sells the land and uses their income or revenue from that to manage the development. The city’s interest in this deal should have been obvious from the first moment swap negotiations began.

My first question is: Why did MACA not insist that the city be involved from the start of these negotiations? I ask that knowing that they passed legislation to try and stop this deal or frustrate it because they had been not involved. Why did MACA not insist that the city be involved from the start?

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Question 4-17(2): GNWT Role In Yellowknife Land Swap Transaction

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Question 4-17(2): GNWT Role In Yellowknife Land Swap Transaction

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe the city was involved with this deal right from the beginning. In April 2010 they had applied to MACA for two parcels of land. One was one that they could turn over to Homes North, that Mr. Bromley references. There was a second parcel of land that they had kept for their own use. So we try working with the city as much as possible. We don’t get into direct competition with the city for the disposal of land because we would then become the seller of choice if we dealt directly with

developers. The city was involved in the disposal of this property right from the start.

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Question 4-17(2): GNWT Role In Yellowknife Land Swap Transaction

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

I want to say that very strictly speaking the Minister was correct; but, as I mentioned, the Minister did this deal and forced the city to accept it. They even passed legislation to try and frustrate it and had to eventually pass additional legislation to reverse that. The main concern here, other than the irregularity and the kafuffles that this has caused, is we have 0.6 percent vacancy in the city of Yellowknife. If you’re a young person trying to get a start, you need access to housing, and reasonably cost housing as a start. It’s the residents who suffer the consequences of such irregular deals.

Given MACA’s role, and to some degree – we can argue about the degree – but to some degree, responsibility in creating this situation now confronting the city and the developer, what is the department prepared to do to assist in resolving the situation and to help the city alleviate the chronic lack of housing in Yellowknife?

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Question 4-17(2): GNWT Role In Yellowknife Land Swap Transaction

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

We can dispose of the land and the developers can then work on trying to alleviate the lack of housing in the city, but I can commit to the Member that we thought this was a very simple land swap deal and it seems to have gone off the tracks a bit.

I will commit to the Member that I will follow up on this immediately and see if we can get this transfer done, because the developer had made an application to turn this into a subdivision and that’s all up in the air right now.

I will commit to the Member that I will follow up on it and we will see what role MACA can play in trying to get this deal that’s been going on for almost two years now, try to get this deal done as quickly as possible because it would probably benefit the city and would benefit the developer, and hopefully at the end of the day it would benefit MACA because we are trying to dispose of this land. We make no profit from it. The financial beneficiaries of any Commissioner’s land within the city should be to the city, so that’s what we try and work out.

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Question 4-17(2): GNWT Role In Yellowknife Land Swap Transaction

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

I very much appreciate the Minister’s commitment there. That shows a real willingness. I think everybody has learned, and I say the responsibility is shared amongst the various parties here. I think this helps quite a bit. Obviously, we hope this won’t happen again, but a good approach to that would be the transfer of all remaining unencumbered Commissioner’s land within the city boundaries to city control. Is that something that the Minister is considering or a transfer that he would support?

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Question 4-17(2): GNWT Role In Yellowknife Land Swap Transaction

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

I won’t make that commitment right now but what we do do is work with communities to try to ensure that they have first dibs on all Commissioner’s land within their

municipalities. We’ve had applications come in from communities on Commissioner’s land within their boundaries and we try to work with the communities as much as we can to ensure that they are the beneficiaries of it. I will again commit to the Member that I as Minister will have a look at how this issue played out and ensure that we don’t run into any further problems when we’re disposing of Commissioner’s land within municipalities in the future.

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Question 4-17(2): GNWT Role In Yellowknife Land Swap Transaction

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Question 4-17(2): GNWT Role In Yellowknife Land Swap Transaction

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Very briefly, again I appreciate that commitment from the Minister. I appreciate his offer to see what can be done, because it’s taken two years and obviously under current economic conditions, costs have changed quite a bit. The city has been forced, really, to a more rigorous application of their cost recovery policies and so on, so that when we enter deals like this and the complexities that are involved, costs go up for all parties. I would appreciate it if the Minister could look into that situation, as well, that aspect of it, and see what might be done from our perspective.

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Question 4-17(2): GNWT Role In Yellowknife Land Swap Transaction

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

I will follow up on how this all played out. This deal has taken longer than anticipated. We had hoped that all parties would be able to get together. We thought it was a very straightforward land swap but, unfortunately, it’s taken two years. I will follow up on all the details of the situation and see how we can prevent this from happening again in the future.

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Question 4-17(2): GNWT Role In Yellowknife Land Swap Transaction

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Deh Cho , Mr. Nadli .

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Question 5-17(2): Aboriginal Engagement Strategy

Oral Questions

Michael Nadli

Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recently, of course, we were all elected to represent our constituents. Shortly after that we had an exercise that set the priorities and goals of trying to work together and trying to achieve some of the concerns and issues that our constituents have raised. Working together is a common survival instinct, especially for us here in the Northwest Territories. This government is founded on that very principle that we need to work together, we need to work out our differences. This process that we call consensus is a unique feature of this government.

We pride ourselves that the system can work. I’d like to believe that this is a unique system that can, indeed, work in terms of sorting out our differences. My question is to the Premier today. I want to know in terms of what his vision is of building consensus with Aboriginal governments.

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Question 5-17(2): Aboriginal Engagement Strategy

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Nadli . The honourable Premier , Mr. McLeod.

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Question 5-17(2): Aboriginal Engagement Strategy

Oral Questions

Yellowknife South

Bob McLeod

Premier

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess the approach that we’ve been taking is to reach out to all the Aboriginal governments to find a way to establish better working relationships by finding common ground. We think the best way to do that is to go out and meet with them and to identify what the basis of our relationship should be and how we should work together, and if there are any interests to formalize that arrangement, we’d be prepared to look at that as well.

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Question 5-17(2): Aboriginal Engagement Strategy

Oral Questions

Michael Nadli

Deh Cho

I thank the Premier for that. Recently we witnessed two processes. One of them was the Aboriginal Summit in terms of bringing all the Aboriginal groups together from the Mackenzie Valley, at the same time ensuring that the governments were involved through the Intergovernmental Forum. That process basically put forth some key elements in terms of what we call devolution, at that time. What is different about this devolution process than that initial process back then?

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Question 5-17(2): Aboriginal Engagement Strategy

Oral Questions

Yellowknife South

Bob McLeod

Premier

I think the Aboriginal Summit and Intergovernmental Forum, I think both of those processes at the end were dismissed and disbanded because they weren’t fulfilling the objectives that they were set up for. We’re taking a much more careful approach this time.

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Question 5-17(2): Aboriginal Engagement Strategy

Oral Questions

Michael Nadli

Deh Cho

My final question to the Premier is: At what point – I understand there’s negotiations and there’s also process ability consensus – can we have to step back and say how do we consider conflict resolution? How do we perhaps bring a sense of mediation in terms of bringing groups together? At what point would the Premier call into those conferences to ensure that we do indeed have consensus at the end of this process?

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Question 5-17(2): Aboriginal Engagement Strategy

Oral Questions

Yellowknife South

Bob McLeod

Premier

Our intention was, in follow-up through the Caucus meeting that was held in Detah with the seven Aboriginal government leaders, that it was our intention to pull together what we feel that we’ve heard and what we’ve discussed with the Aboriginal governments and that we would all sit together and put forward some indication of what we had heard, what the government would be proposing and use that as the basis for a follow-up meeting and for further discussion with the Aboriginal governments. Our expectation was to look at doing something in the next two to three months, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 5-17(2): Aboriginal Engagement Strategy

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Question 6-17(2): Territorial Addictions Treatment Centre

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to continue my Member’s statement with some

questions on the issue of a territorial addictions treatment centre that is much needed in the Northwest Territories and as and I’ve talked to the Minister of Health and Social Services on a number of occasions. I’ve talked about although it would be nice to have one here in Yellowknife, the fact is if you’re behind this issue, which means you want to support this issue, a territorial treatment centre could happen in any region in the Northwest Territories. It doesn’t have to happen here. I mean, the criteria comes down to, really, is it accessible and can it be managed well.

My question to the Minister of Health and Social Services continues to be: What action is being taken by him to lead on this particular initiative to establish, or I should say re-establish a territorial addictions centre here in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

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Question 6-17(2): Territorial Addictions Treatment Centre

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services , Mr. Beaulieu .

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Question 6-17(2): Territorial Addictions Treatment Centre

Oral Questions

Tu Nedhe

Tom Beaulieu

Minister of Health and Social Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a very serious issue across the North, especially in the small communities. They need to address the addiction issues. Right now the Department of Health and Social Services has out-of-territory placements where when they cannot be treated in the one treatment facility that does exist in the Northwest Territories, on which the department spends about $2 million. The department spends $6 million annually in supporting all of the various health and social services authorities targeted to addiction treatment and mental health.

The department also spends, specific to Yellowknife and the regions that the Department of Health and Social Services provides services to – that’s Lutselk'e and Fort Resolution – $1.1 million on addictions and mental health services. Thank you.

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Question 6-17(2): Territorial Addictions Treatment Centre

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

What’s stopping the Department of Health and Social Services from finally taking up action on this particular problem, getting their focus correctly on the issue and start planning for an addictions centre here in the Northwest Territories? It could be in any region, and the planning and execution of this plan could start in this government and be a hallmark by the end of this government. Thank you.

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Question 6-17(2): Territorial Addictions Treatment Centre

Oral Questions

Tu Nedhe

Tom Beaulieu

Minister of Health and Social Services

Use, lack of use. Right now there’s a treatment centre in Hay River and it’s 49 percent occupied. The use is 49 percent. For some reason or another it’s not being used. Although the department has gone out and talked to the people, the people are saying what we need is on-the-land treatment, on-the-land addictions and mental health treatment. The department is trying to move in that direction. That is what is preventing us from building another treatment facility in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

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Question 6-17(2): Territorial Addictions Treatment Centre

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

The Minister and I have spoken at length regarding this issue that the Northwest Territories requires a detox centre. As I’ve spoken to him, and sometimes I think he even agrees, that Stanton itself, by virtue of its design, is not a detox centre for people who have addictions. That’s the type of focus I continue here, and relentlessly want to pursue and see the government take on that challenge. Nats’ejee K’eh, with all due respect, does not suit that type of need.

When will the department start planning for an appropriate treatment centre, as I’ve discussed here today? Thank you.

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Question 6-17(2): Territorial Addictions Treatment Centre

Oral Questions

Tu Nedhe

Tom Beaulieu

Minister of Health and Social Services

That’s correct; detoxification and treatment are two different things. Detoxification sometimes occurs in the hospital for several days in order to prepare someone for treatment. Detoxification is sometimes used when somebody is coming into the hospital for detoxification, or it’s the withdrawal management system that is run by the Salvation Army here in Yellowknife. There are two separate issues. Are there enough facilities in the Northwest Territories to provide detox services to everyone? Probably not, but that’s what we have at this time. Thank you.

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Question 6-17(2): Territorial Addictions Treatment Centre

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins .

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Question 6-17(2): Territorial Addictions Treatment Centre

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

It’s no reason to give up, just because we don’t think we can solve the whole problem. I mean, that’s part of the reason why we’re here, to keep fighting this problem until we get it solved or we get the problem moved forward to a solution. One of the Sally Ann representatives talks about the types of addictions being treated here and he calls it, sort of, the stage two portion of the problem. We’re not focusing in on the root cause or the root solutions to the problem.

As many of us all know, due to research that I’ve done, the territorial addictions centre, the last one that closed down closed down strictly because of financial reasons, not because it wasn’t needed. It was struck down because of that singular failing. Again, not because addictions problems had been solved in the North.

Would the Minister be willing to look at drawing up a plan so we can work towards the future in our budgeting process with all Members about designing a detox centre solution here for the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

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Question 6-17(2): Territorial Addictions Treatment Centre

Oral Questions

Tu Nedhe

Tom Beaulieu

Minister of Health and Social Services

At this time the Department of Health and Social Services is going out to the communities. We recognize that this is an issue. We recognize that alcohol is an issue. We recognize that in small communities across the North and the part of Yellowknife that sometimes 90 percent of the small community issues pertaining to health are related to addictions. We are prepared to

work with the communities. We are asking the communities what do they feel the solutions are. The communities are coming back and saying we need treatment on the land. We need to get our people out on the land, and that’s what we’re pursuing. Thank you.

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Question 6-17(2): Territorial Addictions Treatment Centre

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Question 7-17(2): Proposed Changes To The Old Age Security System

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just want to follow up on my Member’s statement on the federal government revisiting the Canada Old Age Security and reforming it. I’d like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment about what is the Minister and our government doing today to protect the NWT seniors from any negative impacts resulting from the federal changes to the Old Age Security system. Thank you.

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Question 7-17(2): Proposed Changes To The Old Age Security System

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Question 7-17(2): Proposed Changes To The Old Age Security System

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. We are closely monitoring what the federal move is on the old age pension. That’s been a controversial issue at the national level. We, as the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, do provide assistance to, as the Member indicated, income support clientele. If the move goes forward as we’ll probably see, we need to prepare our department. We need to prepare the GNWT on the repercussions of the decision that is going to be made. We will be closely monitoring what the decisio