Debates of Feb. 1st, 2010

This is page numbers 3837 – 3872 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 4th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library.

The word of the day was communities .

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Minister’s Statement 47-16(4): Transfer Of The Public Housing Rental Subsidy

Motion To Move Minister’s Statement 47-16(4) Into Committee Of The Whole

Minister’s Statement 48-16(4): Review Of The Public Housing Rental Subsidy

Minister’s Statement 49-16(4): Mackenzie Valley Highway Project Description Reports

Minister’s Statement 50-16(4): Fur Auction Results

Consultation On Caribou Conservation Measures

Safe Playground Equipment For Fort Liard

Growing Number Of High School Dropouts

High School Grade Extensions To Small Communities

Caribou Management Measures

Frustrations Regarding Interactions With The Executive Council

GNWT Services And Supports Provided To Businesses

Smart Energy Solutions For NWT Residents

Consultation On Caribou Conservation Measures

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Caribou Management Measures

Caribou Management Measures

Safe Playground Equipment For Fort Liard

Additional High School Teachers For Sachs Harbour

Additional High School Teachers For Tsiigehtchic

GNWT Services And Supports Provided To Businesses

Cabinet Strategic Initiative Committee

Caribou Management Measures

GNWT Services And Supports Provided To Businesses

Smart Energy Solutions For NWT Residents

Written Question 14-16(4): Cost Of Physician And Registered Nurse Visits To Tsiigehtchic

Written Question 15-16(4): Caribou Management Measures

Bill 10: Exemption Act

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

The House met at 1:36 p.m.

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---Prayer

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Prayer

Prayer

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the Chamber. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation , the Hon. Robert McLeod .

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Minister’s Statement 47-16(4): Transfer Of The Public Housing Rental Subsidy

Ministers’ Statements

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to provide some context on this government’s decision to transfer the administration of the Public Housing Rental Subsidy back to the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. This decision restores full responsibility for all aspects of the Public Housing Program to the Housing Corporation and its community partners, the local housing organizations.

The Public Housing Program plays a critical role in meeting the housing needs in our communities. With the ever increasing need for housing in the Northwest Territories comes an increasing reliance on our programs, and an increasing demand to ensure that tenants in communities receive the highest level of service possible through programs designed to suit the needs of Northerners.

During the 15th Legislative Assembly, the

Government of the Northwest Territories approved the Income Security Policy Framework for Personal Self-Reliance. This framework was designed to create a one-stop shop for income security programs and for greater consistency in the administration of those programs. However, in subsequent years, concerns have been raised by tenants, MLAs, and other stakeholders about the administration of the Public Housing Rental Subsidy.

Since the responsibility of the Public Housing Rental Subsidy was transferred to ECE, the Housing Corporation and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment have been working closely in an effort to better align the

program with the Income Security Policy Framework. Providing timely assessments and having tenants become accustomed to the new process has been a continuing challenge that resulted in duplication of effort on the part of many clients who were accessing one service, increased rental arrears and lack of financial stability at LHOs.

Mr. Speaker, as Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation , I have given direction to my officials that the focus of the corporation will continue to be on our tenants. I believe that in order for the Public Housing Program to respond to the needs of the Northwest Territories and its residents, it is essential to have partnerships with tenants that can better inform our decisions as they relate to housing programs, policies and needs. It is clear that the process of assessing rents has been less convenient for most tenants in recent years.

We have heard tenants’ concerns in this area and are addressing them. It is important that the future delivery model for public housing be designed to provide not only fair and equitable treatment to all tenants, but to do so in a respectful, locally driven and dignified way.

Residents of the NWT expect and deserve efficient service from government departments and agencies. In our effort to provide improvements to programs and initiatives, we must also be willing to learn from our tenants, leaders and citizens, respect their needs and consider their guidance in program design and delivery. As Minister responsible for the NWTHC, one of my primary goals is the provision of improved client service and ongoing improvements to our Public Housing Program and its delivery. I am also committed to identifying and taking advantage of improved efficiencies that can result from coordination between departments and agencies.

Mr. Speaker, it is important to note that the transfer of responsibility for public housing subsidies back to the NWTHC is not simply a turning back of the clock to the old way of doing business. Our focus going forward will be on correcting the problems that have arisen over the past five years and building on the improvements that were made during that time. Most importantly, we recognize that in order for housing programs to be effective, they must be developed and improved in partnership with stakeholders. As Minister

responsible for Housing, I believe it is critical that local solutions for housing are developed that reflect northern need while recognizing the significant challenges we face. We will now turn our focus to working more directly with our tenants, LHOs, NWTHC and ECE staff, MLAs and other stakeholders to make necessary changes to the delivery of public housing.

Effective communications are vital in our future approach. We intend to continually improve our communications not only to provide better information to our clients but to be more responsive to their concerns. Ultimately, the housing challenges being faced by the NWT can only be addressed through the provision of northern programs that address northern needs and a clear partnership between tenants and government. These partnerships will guide us in our efforts to provide adequate, affordable and suitable housing to residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister’s Statement 47-16(4): Transfer Of The Public Housing Rental Subsidy

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Motion To Move Minister’s Statement 47-16(4) Into Committee Of The Whole, Carried

Ministers’ Statements

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh , that Minister’s Statement 47-16(4) be moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Motion To Move Minister’s Statement 47-16(4) Into Committee Of The Whole, Carried

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko . There’s a motion on the floor. The motion is in order.

---Carried

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Motion To Move Minister’s Statement 47-16(4) Into Committee Of The Whole, Carried

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Minister’s Statement 47-16(4) will be moved into Committee of the Whole.

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

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Minister’s Statement 48-16(4): Review Of The Public Housing Rental Subsidy

Ministers’ Statements

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment assumed responsibility for administration of the Public Housing Rental Subsidy on April 1, 2006. Leading into the transfer, some specific goals were put in place for improvements to the program in the overall context of the income security framework.

A lot of hard work has been undertaken and we have met with some success. We are pleased to report that Education, Culture and Employment has strengthened the Public Housing Rental Subsidy Program over the past four years and have

developed new tools including a policy and procedures manual, forms, training material, an electronic information system, and overall monitoring and reporting procedures. The department has also implemented an appeal process for clients who do not agree with the outcomes of their assessments. These new and improved policies and processes make the program more effective and efficient from an accountability perspective and also ensure that clients are treated fairly and equitably across the Northwest Territories.

During this time, much emphasis was put on maintaining the dignity of income security clients and increasing support for people to make productive choices to enable them to have a better quality of life. Mr. Speaker, at all times, we deliver income security programs with a client-focused perspective and it was with this vision that the PHRS was merged into the basket of programs available to help our residents. The one-stop shop for subsidies also meant a number of clients could access information on benefits other than the Public Housing Rental Subsidy in one location.

While the goals we set were achieved, in undertaking this work we also discovered ramifications that were not immediately apparent.

Mr. Speaker, for instance, although we much improved service to our income security clients, those clients who only required the Public Housing Rental Subsidy became disconnected from the local housing organizations. Over time, it emerged that this disconnect was not helpful to those clients and concerns have been expressed that their dignity was compromised.

Since the transfer occurred, Education, Culture and Employment and the Housing Corporation, including local housing organizations, have worked diligently and cooperatively in a strong effort to resolve issues and make improvements around the service of providing subsidies to public housing tenants through the Public Housing Rental Subsidy Program. In addition, the government undertook a review of the administration of the program. The findings of the review are being examined by an interdepartmental steering committee.

Mr. Speaker, we have all but concluded this work and we have reached a decision regarding the future administration of the Public Housing Rental Subsidy Program. The responsibility of the program will return to the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation to be delivered by local housing organizations.

We all agree that the good work that Education, Culture and Employment has accomplished over the past years will be built upon by the NWT Housing Corporation and the local housing organizations to produce an even greater process, still with a strong client focus, that will better serve

the people of the Northwest Territories. We must continue our work together to help people move ahead in their lives and support those with the greatest need.

Education, Culture and Employment and the NWT Housing Corporation will work closely together over the coming months to provide for a seamless transition. We will be sharing an ongoing rollout and communications plan with Members over the coming weeks and months.

Mr. Speaker, we would like to thank Members for their advice and guidance during this time. It is only through honest collaboration, such as this, that we can continue to make system improvements to the benefit of our people in the North. Mahsi.

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Minister’s Statement 48-16(4): Review Of The Public Housing Rental Subsidy

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . The honourable Minister of Transportation , Mr. Michael McLeod .

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Minister’s Statement 49-16(4): Mackenzie Valley Highway Project Description Reports

Ministers’ Statements

Deh Cho

Michael McLeod

Minister of Transportation

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to provide Members and the public with information related to the future Mackenzie Valley Highway to Tuktoyaktuk.

On Friday, January 29th , the Government of

Canada announced it has agreed to commit $3 million over two years toward a $7 million project description report on the construction of an all-weather highway from Wrigley to the Dempster Highway. This report will work in combination with a previously announced $1 million commitment to a project description report for the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk portion.

The project description report will provide baseline environmental and engineering information required for the consultation and regulatory process of the proposed route of the Mackenzie Valley Highway. It identifies the scope of work, predicted impacts and mitigation measures that will be required when the project proceeds. It will provide an opportunity for communities that will be affected by the highway to identify concerns and requirements to better inform the planning process for the design and development of the highway. It is an important next step for this project, which has been identified by the 16th Assembly as a significant priority.

In combination with the work that has already been done in building 34 of the 40 required bridges for the Mackenzie Valley winter road, this funding announcement is an indication that our

government’s efforts to put the construction of the Mackenzie Valley Highway on the agenda of federal decision-makers has been at least partially successful. Members have my assurance that this government will continue to make the case for federal funding and support for the construction of a Mackenzie Valley Highway that will lower the cost of living and improve economic opportunities for the valley, and that will connect Canadians from coast to coast to coast. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi cho.

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Minister’s Statement 49-16(4): Mackenzie Valley Highway Project Description Reports

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment , Mr. Bob McLeod .

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Minister’s Statement 50-16(4): Fur Auction Results

Ministers’ Statements

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, trapping has long been a way of life for the people of the Northwest Territories. It’s a fundamental part of our culture. It is part of who we are.

Trapping is also an important economic activity, especially in many of our smaller communities. Trapping is not easy work, but it is rewarding work and it allows our people to get out on the land -- just as their ancestors have done for centuries -- and make a few dollars while they are at it.

Mr. Speaker, results from a recent fur auction show just how important that activity is to the Northwest Territories. At the Fur Harvesters Auction Inc. Wild Fur Sale held in North Bay, Ontario, in early January, $100,000 worth of genuine Mackenzie Valley furs were sold.

Worth noting from that sale is that all of our muskrats pelts were sold -- over 12,600 in all -- and 95 percent of our beaver and red fox fur pelts were also sold. Prices for muskrat, beaver and fox increased as much as 20 percent compared to last year’s prices, a strong indication that the market for furs is improving. Most of the demand at the North Bay auction came from Chinese and Greek buyers.

The next auction where genuine Mackenzie Valley furs will be sold is in Seattle, Washington, on February 19, and we look forward to more positive results from that event.

Mr. Speaker, to further illustrate the economic impact the trapping industry has on the Territory, I must mention our 2008-2009 sales results from Northwest Territories wild furs. From October 2008 to June 2009, $1.1 million worth of genuine Mackenzie Valley furs were sold.

These are outstanding results, given that demand for furs dropped substantially over the past couple of years due to the global recession. It is also a testament to the work done by this government to promote the traditional fur economy through the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program.

Since the program was created in 2002, our government has worked with Northwest Territories fur harvesters and the fur industry to support and promote the trapping industry. Thanks in large part to those efforts and the hard work of our trappers, genuine Mackenzie Valley furs are now recognized as some of the finest wild furs in the world.

Through initiatives like our guaranteed advances, the Prime Fur Bonus Program and the Grubstake Program, our government provides Northwest Territories trappers with the proper support and incentives to keep them harvesting wild fur and to keep this traditional way of life alive.

And, Mr. Speaker, there is evidence our work is paying off in more than just fur sales. It is paying off in the increased number of Northwest Territories residents who are going out on the land and actively trapping.

Last season the number of active trappers in the Northwest Territories was 809. That is up from 627 trappers in 2007-2008 -- a 30 percent increase -- and it is the highest number of active trappers we’ve had since the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program began. That growth in trappers is especially evident in the South Slave and Sahtu regions.

Mr. Speaker, the health of our trapping industry in the Northwest Territories is a good news story. Mega projects like the Mackenzie Gas Project tend to grab all of the attention and headlines, but it’s community-based sectors like the trapping industry that truly help diversify our economy, which is one of the goals of the 16th Legislative Assembly.

As the recent results from the North Bay auction and our 2008-2009 sales of genuine Mackenzie Valley furs prove, trapping is one of those opportunities, and I look forward to even better results in 2010. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister’s Statement 50-16(4): Fur Auction Results

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre , Mr. Hawkins .

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Consultation On Caribou Conservation Measures

Members’ Statements

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to continue to talk about the caribou issue today in terms of trust and relationship. Today I don’t want to talk about whether the decision was good or bad, right or wrong; I want to talk about it in the context of consultation as more than a fly-by, a coffee, a hey, how you doing? That is a southern mentality that has been brought up here for years when they speak to true Northerners and it does not work. Anyone here even for a short time can tell you that is not how decisions need to be made.

Last week I heard a wise man say, what good is a right if you can’t exercise it? He was true to his point. Because no one wants to hear the last rifle shot to take down the last of the caribou. The GNWT must realize that the caribou harvest is more than a right. It is an essence of spiritual being of the aboriginal people of our North. There needs to be some decision with context that works with them. It’s not about our lawyers are smarter than their lawyers and the Constitution tells us what we can tell you. It’s about working together. It’s about the moral obligation to ensure that the aboriginal people are sharing in their treaty rights, their destiny as how we work together.

It’s turning into more of a school-ground argument where my dad is tougher than your dad. But I’ll tell you, their lawyers are just going to waste more money on our lawyers and we’re going to lose in our relationship of trust.

There is more here than the law at stake, it’s politics; the politics of what we can do with our friends and their friends. I think there’s an equal relationship that needs to be constantly fostered between the Northwest Territories government and the aboriginal leadership.

The decision of the caribou needs to be a decision with the aboriginal people. A political decision like this is not just about the caribou, it is rather about the Dene culture. I think it’s time for this Minister and this government to immediately call upon a caribou summit that invites the Dene leadership to discuss this issue. Leave the special interests at home. Leave the bureaucrats, those Mandarins, at home. Have a face-to-face, eye-to-eye conversation with the leadership of the Dene and our government leader on this issue, Mr. Miltenberger , and we’ll find an immediate solution by calling a summit and together we’ll find a path to work together.

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Consultation On Caribou Conservation Measures

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Safe Playground Equipment For Fort Liard

Members’ Statements

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Today I want to speak about the need for safe playground equipment in Fort Liard. We are well aware of the importance of physical activity for children’s health. Recently the media has reported that exercise is linked with a greater ability for children to concentrate in classrooms. This is important for us to ensure that our children have opportunities to play games and have fun. I’m not talking about sedentary activities like computer games and indoor activities.

When the weather’s a bit warmer than today, if you go by a school playground at recess you’ll hear a swirl of voices as children move around and talk and yell. We pretty well take playgrounds for granted, but they are very important.

The Acho Dene School’s, in Fort Liard, existing equipment is beyond repair and the pressure treatment used on the wood does not meet current national standards for safety. The equipment is currently frozen in place and attempting to remove it before spring is almost impossible as the site also needs to be backfilled and re-levelled. It’s too bad the playground couldn’t have been upgraded earlier.

However, the Dehcho Division Board of Education is working with Education, Culture and Employment regarding funding for the replacement to the equipment and the Public Works and Services facility planning division has also been in contact with ECE regarding replacement. Education, Culture and Employment is working to identify the funding in next year’s budget, if possible. That’s in 2011. I believe that the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment should ensure that funding is provided to remove and replace this playground in this fiscal year. I also believe that safety to our school children is a priority that we cannot wait until next year for.

I will ask the Minister questions at the appropriate time.

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Safe Playground Equipment For Fort Liard

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Growing Number Of High School Dropouts

Members’ Statements

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are many reasons why students in Nunakput drop out of school, but my major concern is that they do so because we are not supporting them. If we’re asking kids to stay in school, we need to step up and meet them half way. We need to provide them with resources, moral support, a good school environment, and a safe and reliable place for them to stay and live. So far we’re not providing many of these services and that is a shame.

Currently I have eight students in the Nunakput community of Sachs Harbour who, for various reasons, have left high school in Inuvik and moved back to Sachs Harbour; reasons such as nowhere to live, not enough resources, and no moral support.

This government must get serious about providing an equal standard of schooling all across the Territory, not just in larger centres. The government should provide a teacher immediately so these students can continue their education and earn at least some high school credits this year. Eight

students would warrant and justify resources of a teacher in the larger centres or Aurora College. Why are these eight students in Sachs Harbour any different?

I cannot fathom how the government does not have any program initiatives to assist in addressing the high school dropout situation all across the North, especially with so many jobs and careers that now require more and more education. Many students have to leave strong family support networks to larger centres such as Inuvik. Unfortunately, that seems to be a growing trend in many regional centres, that students are finding it harder and harder due to limited resources and changing high school environments.

This is a different time that students are facing. It’s not like when we were in high school. These kids are facing a lot more intense situations these days. A growing number of students are dropping out of high school because of the problems and serious concerns. The inadequacies are the perfect example of discrepancies between the communities and lack of government initiatives and efforts to resolve them. As I expressed in my previous Member’s statements, recent closure of homes in regional centres across the Northwest Territories has emphasized these problems.

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

---Unanimous consent granted.

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Growing Number Of High School Dropouts

Members’ Statements

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Many of us have lived in the North all our lives, or a length of time, and have all heard the challenges, problems and statistics related to students in small, isolated communities. Hearing situations like these makes me wonder if these are some of the causes. Mr. Speaker, I’ll have questions for the Minister of ECE at the appropriate time. Thank you.

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Growing Number Of High School Dropouts

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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High School Grade Extensions To Small Communities

Members’ Statements

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, too, have similar concerns in regard to the students in Tsiigehtchic who now are having to go off to get their high school education in Inuvik by way of home boarding.

Mr. Speaker, there was a decision made by the government, I believe in the 12th Assembly, to

implement high schools in all communities in the Northwest Territories from K to 12. Yet, Mr. Speaker, almost 20 years later we still haven’t been able to implement that decision made by previous governments. Mr. Speaker, when we have the dropout rates that we’re seeing in regard to home

boarding or regional hostels, it’s a wonder why this government is not implementing that policy fully by ensuring that students, regardless of where they are -- Sachs Harbour, Tsiigehtchic -- can receive a high school diploma in their home community.

Mr. Speaker, I believe it’s critical that this government find a unique solution to this problem and if that means bringing in extra teachers, two or three teachers into Sachs Harbour and two or three teachers into Tsiigehtchic, so those students do not have to leave their home communities to receive their high school diploma somewhere else, and realizing in the last two years since this has been tried, the dropout rates in both communities have been grave.

I think, Mr. Speaker, it’s time that this government found solutions around the decision to offer high school programs in all communities and not continue to use the scenario student/pupil ratio, because it does not fit in small communities. I think, Mr. Speaker, that this government has to make a capital investment to either find more teachers for those communities or find a way around the problems we’re seeing with home boarding and students having to leave their home community and simply dropping out and going back home before the school year is out. Again, Mr. Speaker, I’ll leave that for the Minister of Education . I will be asking him some questions later on this matter. Thank you.

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High School Grade Extensions To Small Communities

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Caribou Management Measures

Members’ Statements

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to weigh in on the caribou issue here today. It is something that has certainly caught the attention of the many, many people in the North who depend on this valuable resource as a way of life. Although I’m not one of those people, I am observing the situation and I have some comments that I would like to make on it as well.

Mr. Speaker, I’ve had an opportunity, through the Minister of ENR and his staff, to see some of the science around the declining and virtually threatened numbers and the populations of the different caribou herds. Some of the impacts are fairly obvious. Some are not so obvious. There are many potential impacts and not all of them are the traditional harvest of the caribou by people. There are many other things that seem to be affecting this and, like I said, not all of them are absolutely quantifiable.

However, Mr. Speaker, we hear from the Department of ENR that they have gone out and they have done their best to consult with

stakeholders and those who are impacted by any actions this government may take to protect this resource. I do not doubt, to some extent and as documented, that that kind of consultation has taken place. But, Mr. Speaker, there’s probably a subtle difference when we share the responsibility for the management and conservation of this resource with other governments. There is probably a subtle difference between consultation where you go and just tell the information to people and the type of consultation where you receive the feedback.

I think that the consultation should have taken on the format of inquiring of those people who probably value the resource as much or more than we do as legislators in asking the question: if this scientific data and if this population census is correct, what are we going to do? What’s the solution? What is the collective solution? What are the answers to these questions?

So, Mr. Speaker, although I know that this does call for decisions and it does call for a response to the problem, I believe that we all have a duty to be a part of that and if there is a way of extending our hand to our other stakeholders in a way of asking the question about what the solution is as opposed to telling them, I think it would go a long ways. Thank you.

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Caribou Management Measures

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . The honourable Member for Frame Lake , Ms. Bisaro .

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Frustrations Regarding Interactions With The Executive Council

Members’ Statements

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will use my statement today to air some frustrations; frustrations with our Executive Council and the behemoth of a bureaucracy that is our government. I find myself believing that even though we’re just over half way through our four-year term, I sense that our Executive Council, our leaders, those presumably taking charge and showing the way, that they’re placing less and less emphasis on working. I already see the downward slide or slowdown that I’m told sets in and immobilizes government in the last year of any Assembly’s life. This is certainly not my preferred course of action.

If this Assembly can manage to work hard, continue to pass legislation, develop new ideas and put plans in place right up to dissolution, then I would be one very happy MLA. But I already see us slowing down both mentally and physically. It may be a perception that only pertains to me, but perception is nine-tenths of the law and it should be heeded.

Why do I feel this way? Well, here are a few examples: There’s a distinct lack of visible progress from the Strategic Initiatives committees. What are they accomplishing? We’ve heard nothing from several of these committees for many months -- the Cost of Living Committee, the Managing this Land Committee, the Maximizing Opportunities Committee, the Building This Land Committee. I can’t remember when we last had an update on the work of these committees. The only one which seems to be productive is the Refocusing Government Committee.

A second indicator is the abnormally long list of outstanding requests for information from standing committees, the Economic Development and Infrastructure committee especially. There have been opportunities for Ministers to meet with Regular Members but the briefings have not been forthcoming. Is it because the Strategic Initiatives committees have no work to report? It seems that way to me. It may be due to a delay in reports coming from the department, but a Minister should at least advise Members of a known delay. All we want is to be kept informed. Believe it not, Mr. Speaker, some of us over here do keep track of due dates and monitor the progress, or lack of it, in regard to reports.

I’m dismayed at my lack of access to Ministers in the last several months. Ministers seem to have been out of the office more than in it. For weeks before and after the Christmas break one could almost roll a bowling ball down the Executive offices hallway without encountering any resistance. Perhaps I exaggerate, Mr. Speaker, but it’s a concern for me when I have to struggle to find a Minister and get their attention to discuss an issue of importance to my constituents.

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

---Unanimous consent granted.

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Frustrations Regarding Interactions With The Executive Council

Members’ Statements

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

I hope these impressions of mine are overstated, but even if they are, the Executive Council must take note and do some soul searching. At this point in our term we all need to stop and check our pulse, make sure the heart is still active and beating strongly. Both sides of this House should be working full tilt for the next 20 months. There’s lots we can do if we keep our nose to the wheel. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Frustrations Regarding Interactions With The Executive Council

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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GNWT Services And Supports Provided To Businesses

Members’ Statements

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to speak today about the services and funding provided to businesses here in the Northwest

Territories. During the business plan review of the draft main estimates in the fall, the Department of ITI stated that they were working toward a one-window system being in place for business-related services in every region.

Mr. Speaker, this is a very interesting statement for the department to make, considering the fact that the last government and this one to date have done nothing to move toward a one-window delivery model that numerous studies and reports have recommended. Is ITI going to be the authority in all of this? And what about the BDIC? I’ve asked many questions previously about the role, mandate and future of the BDIC. This becomes even more murky now that it looks as though ITI is moving toward a one-window approach without the BDIC.

Given current economic conditions, we need to be doing everything in our power to ensure what little support we have for businesses is getting into the right hands. Mr. Speaker, let me be frank: most departmental funding is not going into business creation or expansion. What little infrastructure that is in rural communities is old and outdated. There really has been little to no diversification of our economy in the past six years. Overall, business growth is negative. Manufacturing is in decline. Tourism products and sales are in serious decline.

Mr. Speaker, last year 15 clients received more than $100,000 in contribution financing from ITI. This accounted for two-thirds of the value of all ITI contributions. How many of these clients were private businesses? The answer, Mr. Speaker, is none. Mr. Speaker, not a single, solitary one. Then, Mr. Speaker, there’s the SEED program, ITI’s main business development program where less than one-third of all funding actually found its way into businesses. We need to be very, very concerned over these trends, Mr. Speaker.

In the backdrop to all of this is the BDIC. Eighteen months ago I called on the government to have a meaningful, comprehensive and coordinated suite of services for economic and business development in our Territory. We have not made any headway, Mr. Speaker. In fact, statistics do not lie. We continue to regress.

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

---Unanimous consent granted.

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GNWT Services And Supports Provided To Businesses

Members’ Statements

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

I recently read a quote from an American legislator, Jim Collin, that I would like to leave you with: The signature of mediocrity is not an unwillingness to change. The signature of mediocrity is chronic inconsistency. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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GNWT Services And Supports Provided To Businesses

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Smart Energy Solutions For NWT Residents

Members’ Statements

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we need a complete rethink of how we meet the energy needs of our residents and businesses. Messing about trying to tweak electricity rates to redistribute costs, reviewing yet again our Power Corporation with no creative guidance and ignoring community partnerships goes nowhere towards addressing our real problems and opportunities. A smart approach to meeting today’s energy needs can serve a range of important government priorities.

The unfortunate circumstances of depressed local economies, rising energy costs and impacts of environmental issues dictate the need for energy services that meet these issues head on. We need utility structures and energy strategies that reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, provide local economic and skill development and reduce our environmental impacts. Fostering partnerships with our communities and regional corporations to provide clean energy to meet total energy needs can achieve these goals while increasing affordability of energy, revenues to utilities and ability of the public to pay.

Times are changing and real leadership for progressive responses is required. We have studied small hydro development for years, but where is it? Small hydro, biomass and solar power will eventually meet many of our energy needs while serving broad government goals, but where is this reflected in any of our thinking on utility restructuring and capacity? We have made a few initial steps within government infrastructure, but where is any implementation on a community level? And where is the recognition and integration of these realities in any of the costly reviews we have underway?

The huge opportunities for increased energy efficiency are glossed over in our reviews. Where is the energy efficiency strategy, particularly electrical efficiency? The Arctic Energy Alliance has demonstrated that investment in converting electric hot water heaters to oil fired in thermal communities could save the NWT taxpayers and ratepayers hundreds of thousands of dollars, and this is just one example. Moving to clean energy, electricity for heating and to power vehicles are increasingly strong global responses to climate change and fuel prices, but it takes foresight and planning to reap the benefits.

Where is the recognition of these trends? Where is the time of day pricing policies commonly employed elsewhere to bring new system efficiencies, increased affordability and improved revenues to utilities?

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

---Unanimous consent granted.

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Smart Energy Solutions For NWT Residents

Members’ Statements

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, NTPC is a government-owned provider directed by GNWT and we have not provided written guidance to them since 2005. A close look at our review work to date is not inspiring. It is my fervent hope that rather than getting stuck in the same mould approaches, we will clearly see the need for energy services that reflect our values, recognize our scales and serve our priorities within the realities of today’s challenges. Mr. Speaker, I will be asking questions of the appropriate Minister. Mahsi.

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Smart Energy Solutions For NWT Residents

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Consultation On Caribou Conservation Measures

Members’ Statements

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this afternoon, before lunch I had caribou stew.

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Consultation On Caribou Conservation Measures

Members’ Statements

Some Hon. Members

Oooh.

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Consultation On Caribou Conservation Measures

Members’ Statements

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Before I ate my caribou stew, my wife mentioned to me, she said, you know, this issue about the caribou, the specific area that there is a ban on hunting, this is what we are fighting about. You know, to have caribou in our life. This specific issue here is about this whole thing about our way of life, our food, and when I talked to several people over the weekend about caribou and asked how does it seem like on the radio in terms of this whole issue from this government, from this Legislative Assembly, most of the replies were that it’s not very good. It seems like the government is telling us what to do.

It seems like they are telling us we have money and we should go to the store only and buy pork chops or steak or bacon. It seems like they don’t want us to eat our food; for what reasons, I don’t know.

So I want to talk about the issue of consultation in terms of coming to an agreement of what this government has done in terms of coming to an agreement to put this ban on. Certainly the Minister has some weight in terms of the conservation issue. It is in the agreements. I am not sure if the timing is right, because right now there seems to be a lot of resistance to this. I think it was bad timing. I think we should have had more consultation. As Mr. Hawkins has said, we should come to an emergency summit with the people of the Northwest Territories and have a real good discussion on it, look at all the factors. It should be something like that with the people of the Northwest Territories.

This issue is a very big issue in our communities. As one elder has told me, I wish I could come down to the government and speak to them right face to face on this issue; I’m so mad. So I think that if this

government could come to an emergency discussion on this issue with the people of the Northwest Territories, I think we’ll have a win/win. Thank you, Mr. Speaker

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Consultation On Caribou Conservation Measures

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Nunakput , Mr. Jacobson .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I have the great pleasure of having youth from Ulukhaktok who are in the territorial trials here and all over the Territory in badminton, soccer and hockey.

I have Zakkery Kudlak -- and if you could stand up and say hi to home -- Zakkery Kudlak, Nathan Pogotak, Frances Himiak, Cynthia Oliktoak, Gayle Ogina, Ronald Oliktoak, Adrian Kagyut, Johnathan Kuneyuna, Bradly Olifie, Troy Akoaksion, Brian Kimiksana, Patrick Joss, my good friend Patrick Joss, and everybody knows Pat. Welcome Patrick. Kirstin Ekpakonak, Brandon Okheena, Elliot Malgukak, Kassandra Ekpakonak, Rose Inuktalik, Erica Alanak, Chelsey Olifie and Adele Okheena. If I messed up a bit, I’m sorry on your names. I apologize.

I’d like to also recognize my wife who was with me for this weekend and it’s always good to have my support, and she’ll be home tomorrow, Kids. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson . Welcome everyone in the gallery today. I hope you’re enjoying the proceedings. It’s always good to have an audience in here.

Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River South , Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Question 223-16(4): Caribou Management Measures

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of ENR . You know, many would applaud the decisive measures that the Minister took to protect the caribou and this was not an easy decision, I am sure of that. However, some people out there are unhappy with the decision and feel that people were not properly consulted and that, in fact, this is an infringement on treaty hunting rights. So, Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister today if he, looking back at the situation, can see any opportunity where things could have been done differently that would not have us at this level of acrimony here today over this very valued resource, valued by everyone. Thank you.

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Question 223-16(4): Caribou Management Measures

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 223-16(4): Caribou Management Measures

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First, I’d like to point out that since 2005, and even earlier, since the signing of the land claims up and down the valley, the co-management boards have been working very successfully with the government to look after and make the right decisions with wildlife, including caribou, and even investing significant monies since 2005. We’re now dealing with the issue of rapid decline with the Bathurst herd in the North Slave.

Ideally if the Wekeezhii process could have been able to meet its initial targets in October/November prior to this hunting season, we would not be in this situation given the precipitous drop in numbers to look at interim emergency measures. We are fully committed, of course, to the process going forward to look at the long-term Bathurst management plan that’s going to involve, Tlicho, Akaitcho, Northwest Territories Metis. It’s going to spill over and look at the Ahiak, the Bluenose-East, which involves the Sahtu as well as the Inuvialuit. That’s going to be a fairly complex undertaking.

The key now is to get through this hunting season without putting any further pressure on this herd which is in a dire state. Thank you.

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Question 223-16(4): Caribou Management Measures

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

I’d like to thank the Minister for putting this into a context and a perspective that it is in terms of the specific herd and the management board responsible for that herd. The Minister also indicates that this is an interim emergency measure, which would indicate that this is temporary. Can the Minister offer any explanation as to why these other management boards have been able to be so involved in the wildlife management and what is the holdup and the delay and the deferring of the Wekeezhii board’s work on the Bathurst caribou issue? Thank you.

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Question 223-16(4): Caribou Management Measures

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

There are a number of factors here. The Wekeezhii board is part of the Tlicho Government and it’s new. It’s getting up and running. This is going to be its first full test. The other co-management boards have been successfully in place now, in many cases, for decades and have worked out the bugs. They have a good working relationship. As well, the North Slave circumstance is very politically complex where you have not only the Tlicho but the Akaitcho, Northwest Territories Metis, two unsettled claim areas and requires that extra work.

So there are all these factors that have been playing together, as well as the fact that the Wekeezhii process didn’t quite meet its targets requiring these interim emergency measures to protect the herd. Thank you.

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Question 223-16(4): Caribou Management Measures

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

I’d like to ask the Minister what steps is our government taking now to ensure that this board, this management board, does get up to the same level of capacity and ability to address the caribou in this region. I understand perhaps that the makeup of it is complex and the politics of it are a little bit different, but what can our government do to facilitate this board getting up to the same level of expertise, knowledge and capacity that the other management boards are?

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Question 223-16(4): Caribou Management Measures

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

The board, I believe, is working as fast and as fully applying themselves to this issue as they can. They are now looking at being able to be finished their work consultation and such and recommendations that can be considered both by the Tlicho and territorial government by I believe it’s now April or May. In the meantime, the support we’re giving is to do what they asked us to do back in July when they themselves identified the state of the Bathurst herd and the precipitous drop from 2006, 120,000 animals, to around 30,000 in 2009.

The need to have these interim emergency measures to protect the herd to allow this process to go through its cycle and looking at being able to then make in a more measured, careful way the longer term decisions that are going to be required to be done through that consultative process all the Members have been talking about.

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Question 223-16(4): Caribou Management Measures

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 223-16(4): Caribou Management Measures

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just one more point of clarification then. This temporary ban that is in place on this particular herd in this specific area, how long does the Minister anticipate that will be in place before the Wekeezhii Management Board will then put measures in place to protect this herd? Just so we put that in context as well, not saying that someone else being responsible for the management at this regional level is going to solve all the problems facing the caribou and the impacts that are causing them to decline, but just as far as this government’s role in having to step up and put this kind of a ban in place. How long will that be in effect?

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Question 223-16(4): Caribou Management Measures

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Of course, our choice would be the shortest time possible, but we have tied the ban to come off as soon as we can get the report from the Wekeezhii board and be able to respond and engage as well, then, with the Tlicho Government, the Akaitcho and the Northwest Territories Metis to come up with a longer term plan. The targets for that report, their recommendations to be done are April or May, at this point.

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Question 223-16(4): Caribou Management Measures

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 224-16(4): Caribou Management Measures

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to follow along with my Member’s statement today, which is my concern about the caribou issue in context of the relationship with the aboriginal peoples of the Northwest Territories.

In my Member’s statement I called for the Minister to show some immediate leadership to this issue, such as working together in a partnership context by calling a caribou summit. This would well be under the authority of the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources to call upon the Dene leadership, as well as the Wekeezhii board chair to get them there, and anyone else who would have a definite interest in this issue.

Would the Minister be willing to take that under advisement and perhaps maybe even some serious consideration that we can do something in a timely way, recognizing that the Wekeezhii board is not going to make some type of decision on this issue for at least three, four, possibly even five months from now?

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Question 224-16(4): Caribou Management Measures

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 224-16(4): Caribou Management Measures

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First I’d like to point out that the government and the co-management boards and the aboriginal governments across the Northwest Territories have been showing leadership in this issue of declining caribou herds for quite a few years now. We were just in the Yukon, meeting with the various principals to look at the Porcupine herd, for example. They have been hard at work on a quota through co-management process and it’s been working with the Inuvialuit, Gwich’in, Sahtu. The Tlicho is not putting themselves into position to do that as well.

The Caribou Summit, as the Member has pointed out, was held in Inuvik and was very successful, but expensive. It was about a half million dollar exercise. What we recognize first is there’s a need. We have committed already to start working to bring the co-management chairs in with some delegates to look at the very many overlapping issues that are now before us in almost every herd that is now in the Northwest Territories in a state of decline.

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Question 224-16(4): Caribou Management Measures

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

The issue at hand here is that an emergency caribou summit should take place not just with the co-management but also with the affected Dene leadership and groups. That is the issue at hand. I’m not suggesting making the Caribou Summit, which I had the good fortune of attending three years ago, but ultimately the issue is let’s get people here immediately working together on a common solution or path. Would the

Minister show some guidance to this issue of saying, I’ll do that right away and we’ll get on that right away and we’ll work together with these groups?

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Question 224-16(4): Caribou Management Measures

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

There are two distinct issues. There’s the issue of the longer term plan for the Bathurst herd as well as the related Ahiak and Bluenose-East herds. It’s going to take time and it’s going to require a considerable amount of work with the affected aboriginal governments and the territorial government and other stakeholders.

The other big most immediate issue is right now, at present, there are no conditions that would allow protection of the Bathurst herd, whose numbers have gone precipitously down from 120,000 to 30,000 animals. Without action that has been taken, there is a very significant, real chance that within a year or two with the hunting remaining unchanged, that the herd would disappear. We’re committed in the longer term to pull together the appropriate folks and appropriate venue to do that longer term planning. In the meantime we have to offer the herd protection until the Wekeezhii process is finished.

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Question 224-16(4): Caribou Management Measures

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

I appreciate being schooled in the long-term vision, but the reality is the short-term vision seems to be very nearsighted. The issue here is partnership trust. It’s a relationship that needs to be fostered continually. Therefore, I continue to ask the Minister quite clearly, could we pull a small group of the aboriginal leadership together? Could we work together with the chair of the management board and out of that could follow perhaps a positive direction on the short term, as we all know that the decision is going to be at least three, four, or five months away? How much more destruction on the relationships are we going to continue?

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Question 224-16(4): Caribou Management Measures

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

The issue is, when the Member speaks of destruction, making sure that we avoid the destruction of the Bathurst herd, we have, I believe, a very strong working relationship with the aboriginal governments and co-management boards across the land. We’ve successfully done a Water Strategy, we’ve collaboratively drafted and put in legislation the Species at Risk Act, and we’re doing the same with the Wildlife Act; very progressive and unique processes fully engaging the aboriginal governments. The Premier is engaged in a process with the regional leaders on a regular basis to bring them to the table.

This issue in the North Slave, there is support from a whole host of areas. The Tlicho Government has supported us in our efforts, the Northwest Territories Metis has, most of the other folks have as well, the Northwest Territories North Slave Metis up here. So we have some issues to work out with the Yellowknives and we’re

intent on doing that, but let’s keep this thing in perspective. We want to avoid the destruction of the Bathurst herd by making the right decisions.

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Question 224-16(4): Caribou Management Measures

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 224-16(4): Caribou Management Measures

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The long-term vision won’t change with anyone. Everyone wants the caribou herd to survive. Everyone wants the caribou to be around forever. The decision may not change, but the fact is they would be party to the decision. They would be involved into the discussion of the decision and they would also feel responsible because they would be part of the outcome. That’s the type of discussion I’m talking about. I’m talking about getting rid of southern style of consultation by making sure that everyone’s involved in the outcome. That’s why I’m asking for an immediate caribou summit with the leadership. Would the Minister reconsider this?

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Question 224-16(4): Caribou Management Measures

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

I seriously consider everything the Member says. I know his heart is in the right place, his intentions are honourable and pure. Sometimes we have to look at the process, though, and how do we get to where we want to be, which is to protect the herd until these other longer term processes kick into gear. We are, I would suggest to you, probably one of the most consultative governments in this Dominion of Canada.

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Question 224-16(4): Caribou Management Measures

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 225-16(4): Safe Playground Equipment For Fort Liard

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment questions on the playground in Fort Liard. The National Playground Code about six to eight years ago came into place. We assessed our schools and replaced what we could. In Fort Liard that remained undone. I’d like to ask the Minister why that one school playground equipment was not replaced.

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Question 225-16(4): Safe Playground Equipment For Fort Liard

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 225-16(4): Safe Playground Equipment For Fort Liard

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. That particular school was brought to our attention just in December that their playground needs to possibly be replaced within a few months or a couple years. So those are the discussions that we continue to have with the Dehcho Board of Education, specifically with the superintendent, that has brought this to our attention. The focus is that we’re going through our budget planning process

this period, but part of the planning process will be to put this into next year’s budget. Mahsi.

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Question 225-16(4): Safe Playground Equipment For Fort Liard

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

The parents and the teachers are very concerned in Fort Liard. They raised it with me in my December visit. They’re actually so concerned that they’re looking for ways to fundraise to replace the school ground equipment, but it’s our responsibility, Mr. Speaker. The need is immediate. I’d like to ask the Minister what can be done in this coming fiscal year. Can we release some resources so that we can begin the preliminary work or even remove some of this dangerous pressure-treated wood equipment? Thank you.

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Question 225-16(4): Safe Playground Equipment For Fort Liard

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, part of the planning process will be to work closely with PWS. It is the responsibly of that department to look at the infrastructure itself, if it needs to be taken out of the ground when it’s thawed out. Those are discussions that we need to continue having along with the Dehcho Education Council, with the superintendent, and keeping the board members informed of the progress being made and also the Member in that respective riding. So we’ll continue to make that progress as we go along. Mahsi.

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Question 225-16(4): Safe Playground Equipment For Fort Liard

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

I’m just trying to get a handle on will the playground equipment be removed this year. Probably the planning process to replace the playground in 2011 sounds good, but am I correct in understanding that they’re looking at removing the playground equipment this fiscal year? Thank you.

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Question 225-16(4): Safe Playground Equipment For Fort Liard

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, safety is our first priority so we will definitely look at the playground this summer. Whether to remove that due to safety precautions, we certainly need to discuss that further with PWS. Mahsi.

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Question 225-16(4): Safe Playground Equipment For Fort Liard

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 225-16(4): Safe Playground Equipment For Fort Liard

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you very much. When will the discussions take place and how soon can I know, or even the school in Fort Liard know, about the plans for that playground? Thank you.

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Question 225-16(4): Safe Playground Equipment For Fort Liard

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, the issue was brought to our attention in December and the discussion is ongoing. We can’t really do anything until it’s thawed. Definitely, we’ll keep the Member informed of our progress to date. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 225-16(4): Safe Playground Equipment For Fort Liard

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 226-16(4): Additional High School Teachers For Sachs Harbour

Oral Questions

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. From my Member’s statement today: Mr. Speaker, given that currently there are eight students in the

Nunakput community of Sachs Harbour that have, for various reasons, left high school and moved back to Sachs Harbour -- reasons such as nowhere to live, not enough moral support or resources -- will this government immediately commit the funds and resources available for one high school teacher in Sachs Harbour for the term of about two and a half months left in the school year so they can at least earn some credits for their high school diploma? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 226-16(4): Additional High School Teachers For Sachs Harbour

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 226-16(4): Additional High School Teachers For Sachs Harbour

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, regarding the high school students, as I stated in the House on numerous occasions, we want every student to succeed. We do provide funding to district education councils and the DEA that falls under them that deals with these matters. I have to respect their decision, as well as the boarding homes’ and so forth. But it would be under the direction of the Beaufort-Delta to make those decisions based on the funding that we provide to them. We’ll continue to work with the Beaufort-Delta Education Council as we move forward. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 226-16(4): Additional High School Teachers For Sachs Harbour

Oral Questions

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Since the Minister is the Minister of Education , can the Minister direct the Beaufort-Delta education board and give them the $70,000 or whatever amount is required? Can he give them the money and the funding to get a teacher in the community for the next two and a half months?

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Question 226-16(4): Additional High School Teachers For Sachs Harbour

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

As I’ve indicated, we’ve already allocated funds for the operation this school year. I can’t, as a Minister, stand up and say, hire a teacher in the community. I have to respect their decision. We have empowered the board of education to make those types of important decisions, because they are the experts at the community level. They’re currently, I believe, dealing with this matter. I believe MLA Jacobson has already met with the board or will be meeting with the board. So this discussion is ongoing and we will continue to monitor that. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 226-16(4): Additional High School Teachers For Sachs Harbour

Oral Questions

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

I met with one of the representatives from the education board in Inuvik. They told me that they would get back to me. I didn’t meet with the board, but they already got back to me via phone and said they cannot support this position because of the funding and the community of Sachs Harbour has the student/teacher ratio already and are not required to provide a teacher. But, Mr. Speaker, there are eight students here in a community that needs a teacher for two and a half months. Will this government commit spending the money to service these eight students? They’d do it for the South

Slave. Why can’t they do it for Nunakput? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 226-16(4): Additional High School Teachers For Sachs Harbour

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gets very complicated where we’ve allocated funds based on where the students are enrolled. So we do provide the funding. We do provide the service to those eight students the Member is referring to. It’s just a matter of choice that the students are back in the community. Again, the decision lies with the Beaufort-Delta Education Council to make that decision, and the district education authority. If they are exploring options of extending high schools, those are discussions that need to take place as well. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 226-16(4): Additional High School Teachers For Sachs Harbour

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Final supplementary, Mr. Jacobson .

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Question 226-16(4): Additional High School Teachers For Sachs Harbour

Oral Questions

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I need the Minister to commit the money I need for the eight students in the community of Sachs Harbour. Like I said earlier, he is the Minister. He could try to find the funding to make this possible. You have eight students here who are not getting an education. That’s not right. If he’s not going to do it today, I am going to come back for the next 20 days of sitting and I’ll ask him in his office. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 226-16(4): Additional High School Teachers For Sachs Harbour

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

We continue to work with each district education council on the enrolment issues and also having those students enrolled and also being successful in their programs. We continue to strive there. We continue to provide funding to them to make that a successful program in the communities. So, Mr. Speaker, I can commit today to continue to work with the Beaufort-Delta Education Council, what the status is of those eight students who have been identified here and what the board of education is going to do as we go forward. We can continue monitoring that and we can get back to the Member on that particular item. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 226-16(4): Additional High School Teachers For Sachs Harbour

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 227-16(4): Additional High School Teachers For Tsiigehtchic

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Education with regard to my Member’s statement, similar along the lines of Mr. Jacobson . We have a similar problem in Tsiigehtchic and I believe in all small communities with populations under 200. Using the student/teacher ratio does not work to get another teacher in the community. To be fair to those students who are having to go up to Inuvik and elsewhere to get their high school education, the reason they are going there is because the

teachers are in those larger schools which provide the ability to provide that curriculum. Because of that situation we have in the small communities where you only have two teachers in Tsiigehtchic to provide an education program for the communities, you need extra teachers on the ground in order to make those programs work.

Mr. Speaker, when they had the home boarding in Inuvik, they were spending almost $500,000 for 20 students out of Inuvik; $500,000. You could have taken that $500,000 and given $250,000 to Sachs Harbour, $250,000 to Tsiigehtchic, offered them two teachers apiece, you would have solved your problem. Will the Minister consider looking at an option of putting more money into those communities over and above the exact formula that is there now to offer high school education in those communities?

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Question 227-16(4): Additional High School Teachers For Tsiigehtchic

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 227-16(4): Additional High School Teachers For Tsiigehtchic

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. We are looking at various options on how we can enhance our services in small, isolated communities such as Tsiigehtchic or Sachs Harbour and Ulukhaktok and other communities. Part of the ongoing discussion we’re having with the education council is identifying those resources. There is also the enrolment issue. We’re dealing with an enrolment that is going down, and that doesn’t help in small communities. So, certainly, those are the strategic thinking that we are having with our departments and with the community organizations. We need to find a solution. One solution is to increase funding.

How can we do that? Where can we find the funds? Those are options we are currently exploring.

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Question 227-16(4): Additional High School Teachers For Tsiigehtchic

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

If the Minister would be seriously considering the cost right now that is being borne by the divisional board of education in Inuvik for home boarding or for a hostel, which is already part of their budget, take those dollars and give it to those communities so the community students don’t have to leave their home communities and put it into those communities so they can hire more teachers.

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Question 227-16(4): Additional High School Teachers For Tsiigehtchic

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

This particular discussion can be undertaken by my department with the education council in the Beaufort-Delta. I definitely wouldn’t want to dictate on where the money should be going. It was their decision. Like I stated earlier, those are the experts around the table. We need to get the advice from them. We can certainly meet with them to identify where we should extend it, whether it be home boarding or other areas. Those are the types of discussions that can certainly be undertaken.

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Question 227-16(4): Additional High School Teachers For Tsiigehtchic

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

So what happens to the students who have dropped out? Are they basically going to

lose their whole education because of having to go back to their home communities and having no high school education or programs there to assist them? Like Mr. Jacobson , I’d like to know if there is a support mechanism in the Department of Education to assist those students who have gone back to their home communities, by way of funds for tutoring, funds to work with them to make sure they don’t lose their whole school year. Are there ways we can salvage the school year so they can move forward with their education?

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Question 227-16(4): Additional High School Teachers For Tsiigehtchic

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Again, that type of discussion needs to happen at the district education council with our department, identifying funding or resources within our department and also within the board department. We’ve already allocated funds for this school year operation, and those eight students or other students that Mr. Krutko is alluding to, we need to look at their status. The funding that’s been allocated to Inuvik, certainly they will lose that if the students are back in Tsiigehtchic. We need to adjust in those areas as well. The board needs to make those decisions as well. I have to respect those decisions. Certainly we can discuss that at the board level as we move forward.

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Question 227-16(4): Additional High School Teachers For Tsiigehtchic

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 227-16(4): Additional High School Teachers For Tsiigehtchic

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Presently they’re spending about $180,000 in regard to the home boarders. I’m just wondering if that money could be given to the community so they can maybe hire a few extra teachers in those communities to assist these students to keep them in school and get them into the classroom and keep them there to try to salvage the year end. There is money still in the budget no longer being expended. It was for the purpose of home boarding. Can those dollars be reallocated to those communities and get those kids back into school?

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Question 227-16(4): Additional High School Teachers For Tsiigehtchic

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

That is the type of discussion that we will certainly be having. I would advise Members to try to meet up with board members on the educational factor, because it’s the board of education that is telling us where they are going to expend their money a year in advance. Sometimes we hear complaints or issues or opportunities that we move forward with, but those are discussions that we need to have with the board of education.

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Question 227-16(4): Additional High School Teachers For Tsiigehtchic

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 228-16(4): GNWT Services And Supports Provided To Businesses

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Industry ,

Tourism and Investment. It goes back to my Member’s statement where I talked about the future of the delivery and provision of business services here in the Northwest Territories.

Since I became a Member in 2003 this has been an issue. During the business plan review last fall the Department of ITI commented in their business plan that they were interested in a one-window service delivery model, something that’s been talked about for a number of years. I’d like to ask the Minister when exactly the department will have a presentation in front of committee to have a look at this service delivery model.

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Question 228-16(4): GNWT Services And Supports Provided To Businesses

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 228-16(4): GNWT Services And Supports Provided To Businesses

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is the first indication I’ve heard from the Member that he wanted a presentation to the standing committee, but we’re quite prepared to present at the committee’s convenience.

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Question 228-16(4): GNWT Services And Supports Provided To Businesses

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

For obvious reasons that I cited in my Member’s statement -- the lack of business start-ups, creation, the lack of any real economic diversification in our economy -- I think that time is of the essence that the department and the government move on this. I’d like to ask the Minister what the future is of the Business Development Investment Corporation in the rollout of this new plan.

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Question 228-16(4): GNWT Services And Supports Provided To Businesses

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

I guess I’m a bit surprised at the Member’s line of questioning since he was involved with developing legislation for BDIC and also the standing committee was consulted extensively in setting up the SEED program, which I think is working very well.

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Question 228-16(4): GNWT Services And Supports Provided To Businesses

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

I guess whether it’s working really well or not, if less than a third of the overall funding of the SEED program is actually going into businesses, then it’s debatable whether or not that’s actually working. I’d like to ask the Minister -- and I know I was around when BDIC was created and everything -- how it is that we allow the BDIC to have a board in place and do the work on behalf of that corporation when it appears that they’re under direct and immediate control of the Department of ITI?

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Question 228-16(4): GNWT Services And Supports Provided To Businesses

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

I think if you look at the legislation establishing BDIC you would see that they are an independent board. There is no opportunity for political interference with approval of loans and the only avenue is for me to provide general direction to the board, and that is according to the legislation.

With regard to the SEED program, which is Support for Entrepreneurs in Economic Development policy, in the consultation we were, with committee it was very clear that the focus should be on what we call

level two communities. I’m pleased to report that since its inception, the SEED program has been oversubscribed. Last year we gave out $2.9 million. This year we will be giving out $3.3 million. To date we’ve allocated approximately $2.9 million. I think the SEED program is working very well for what it’s intended. The money is going out to the smaller communities and it’s allowing the people at the small community level to get involved with business.

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Question 228-16(4): GNWT Services And Supports Provided To Businesses

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 228-16(4): GNWT Services And Supports Provided To Businesses

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we have to make sure the money is getting into real businesses and diversifying our economy. Again, I think if only one-third of that funding is actually going to businesses, that is debatable.

The Minister talked about political interference and I know the BDIC was before standing committee late last year. The presentation they gave committee that day was quite vague and void of any real numbers. I’m just wondering, was that presentation vetted through the Department of ITI before it was given to standing committee?

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Question 228-16(4): GNWT Services And Supports Provided To Businesses

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was provided with a copy of the presentation. I don’t believe it was vetted by myself. But basically when we make a presentation to committee, we tried to respond to what the committee wishes to be briefed on, and unless they give us some very specific direction, generally we would give a very broad presentation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 228-16(4): GNWT Services And Supports Provided To Businesses

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 229-16(4): Cabinet Strategic Initiative Committee

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are addressed to the Premier in relation to a number of the Strategic Initiatives committees. I spoke in my Member’s statement about my concern for the lack of accomplishments of a number of these committees and the lack of reporting from those committees back to Regular Members. So my first question to the Premier is to try to get some information about one of the Strategic Initiatives committees which is near and dear to the Regular Members’ hearts and where we haven’t seen any accomplishments that I’m aware of.

So I’d like to ask the Premier if he could outline the accomplishments of the Cost of Living Strategic Initiatives committee and what they’ve done over the last year. Thank you.

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Question 229-16(4): Cabinet Strategic Initiative Committee

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The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro . The honourable Premier , Mr. Roland .

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Question 229-16(4): Cabinet Strategic Initiative Committee

Oral Questions

Inuvik Boot Lake

Floyd Roland

Premier

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Strategic Initiatives committees have been continuing to do their work. Just the other day the

Member asked about the program review office. That’s that office feeding the work, for example, the Refocusing Government Initiative. Some of the work that we had ongoing feeds into that. For example, the electricity rate review one could have an impact on the work within the Cost of Living committee, for example. I can provide the Members an update, a sheet of the work that’s been undertaken and is ready for presentation to committees and the work that is ongoing. So I’ll get that prepared for Members. Thank you.

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Question 229-16(4): Cabinet Strategic Initiative Committee

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

I guess if there’s that much work that is ongoing and there’s a sheet that’s available, I’m curious why the Premier can’t provide that information to Regular Members on an ongoing basis. I guess I also want to say that if the information that we’re getting is the same information that’s already in the budget and in the business plans, I’m aware of that. I want to know specific actions, specific plans, specific programs that are being undertaken relative to these committees. So I’ll ask the Premier again: are there any specific accomplishments that the Cost of Living Strategic Initiatives committee has managed to complete in this past year? Thank you.

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Question 229-16(4): Cabinet Strategic Initiative Committee

Oral Questions

Inuvik Boot Lake

Floyd Roland

Premier

Mr. Speaker, much of the work that we do do feeds the system that we operate under and that’s a budget system. So, as the Member stated, she’s aware of the budget process and has that information. Ongoing work in the Strategic Initiatives committees, there’s some of the program review areas that are still needing to be completed and done. So as I stated, I will get that information to the Member.

As well, the Member, in her Member’s statement, talked about it seems like we’ve slowed down, there’s nobody in the offices to do the work. Well, simply, the fact is that not all work gets done behind a desk in Yellowknife; Ministers travel to their constituencies, work out of their offices there, as well as travel with Members to their own constituencies at the request of Members or take

part in F/P/T. We have to be careful what we say here and the language we use in the sense of describing what’s happening, because I could talk about the mornings I’ve been here when I go down the hall and who do I have a chance to speak to or bounce ideas off of, but we won’t go there. Thank you.

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Question 229-16(4): Cabinet Strategic Initiative Committee

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

That’s an interesting challenge. I guess I would like to know from the Premier what time of day he’s coming up and down the halls, because I tend to be there most mornings. I have another question for the Premier . I’d like to know, relative to all this information, or all these accomplishments, all the work that’s going on that the Premier has referenced, how is that our public and our residents can become aware and be

informed about the work of our Strategic Initiatives committees? Thank you.

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Question 229-16(4): Cabinet Strategic Initiative Committee

Oral Questions

Inuvik Boot Lake

Floyd Roland

Premier

Mr. Speaker, there are a number of processes that we would inform the public for a change in direction that we would do. For example, we would incorporate many of our initiatives into the budget process. Members are aware that budget items that are brought forward feed that system. Our energy work that’s been done is fed through that system. The work that we have then approved as an Assembly gets put onto our website, either policy changes, program changes and updated in that manner as well. So we can look at how to expand that.

But simply and first, those Strategic Initiatives committees are looking at how we do business and will feed the budget process, the policy process and the program process we have available. As we as an Assembly decide that it is time and there’s enough information to make a decision for further changes, then we would go out either for, as committees take bills out that are changed or, when we need to, an initiative where we take a process out and go with committees or a department goes out with initiatives to get feedback from people across the Territories. Thank you.

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Question 229-16(4): Cabinet Strategic Initiative Committee

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland . Your final supplementary, Ms. Bisaro .

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Question 229-16(4): Cabinet Strategic Initiative Committee

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I hesitate to… Well, I won’t. The information from the Premier is pretty vague. It’s nice that that information is there. It’s nice that the information is in the budget, but our public does not have access to the business plans as we do. What is in the budget really doesn’t reference the activities of the Strategic Initiatives committees, so there really isn’t any way for our public to become aware. The Premier also didn’t indicate where on the government’s huge number of websites this information is located. So I would ask the Premier if he could be a little more specific.

Where is information posted relative to the accomplishments of Strategic Initiatives committees that o