Debates of March 4th, 2014

This is page numbers 4135 – 4182 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 5th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library.

The word of the day was going .

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Birthday Wishes For Mary Kendi

Reduction Of Regulatory Burdens And Red Tape

Mental Health Services In Fort Liard

Appreciation To The “odd Squad” For Combating High Risk Behaviours

Tobacco Tax Collection And Reporting

Protection Of Land And Water In The Sahtu Region

Elimination Of Poverty Traps

Radon Gas Exposure

Inclusive Schooling Funding Formula

GNWT Employment Opportunities

Income Support Guidelines

Mental Health Services In Fort Liard

Radon Gas Exposure

Efforts To Combat The Illicit Drug Trade

Tobacco Tax Collection And Reporting

Sahtu Region Hydraulic Fracturing Baseline Studies

Repairs To Louis Cardinal Ferry

GNWT Employment Opportunities

Review Of Inclusive Schooling

Louis Cardinal Ferry Hours Of Operation

Tabled Document 55-17(5): Waste Reduction And Recovery Program 2012-2013 Annual Report

Tabled Document 56-17(5): 2013 Annual Report Northwest Territories Public Utilities Board

Tabled Document 57-17(5): Statistics Canada – Smoking Survey Excerpt From 2011 And 2012

Tabled Document 58-17(5): Report Of The Auditor General Of Canada To The Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – 2014: Child And Family Services – Department Of Health And Social Services And Health And Social Services Authorities

Expansion Of Policing And Nursing Services

Bill 18:

An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Conclusion Of Public Works And Services Department

Summary

Conclusion Of Executive Department

Summary

Conclusion Of Legislative Assembly Department

Summary

Concurrence Of Tabled Document 22-17(5), NWT Main Estimates 2014-2015

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

The House met at 1:32 p.m.

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---Prayer

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Prayer

Prayer

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Good afternoon, colleagues. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. Item 3, Members’ statements.

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Birthday Wishes For Mary Kendi

Members’ Statements

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure today to wish one of the most respected elders in the Mackenzie Delta a very happy 99th birthday.

Gwich’in elder Mrs. Mary Kendi, from Aklavik, is to be commended for reaching a milestone on living a healthy lifestyle. Mary has singlehandedly raised her children and provided a safe home for them.

Mary, in her life, has hunted, trapped and even owned her own dog team. In her 99 years of living, I wish to acknowledge Mary for promoting the Gwich’in culture and for speaking the Gwich’in language to many of us who know her.

Mary Kendi has a huge extended family who is celebrating with her today. Friends and family are gathering in Inuvik to have dinner and wish her well. Mrs. Kendi’s livelihood, act of living and positive outlook on life and family has given her the opportunity today to spend precious time with her family at 99 years young.

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Assembly, please join me in celebrating Mrs. Mary Kendi on her birthday today. I will also be celebrating on Saturday with the community as well. Thank you.

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Birthday Wishes For Mary Kendi

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Blake . Best wishes go out to the Kendi family and Mary on her birthday.

The honourable Member for Hay River South , Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Reduction Of Regulatory Burdens And Red Tape

Members’ Statements

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I hope I live to be 99 years old.

Within the next 30 days, the Northwest Territories takes on the responsibility for land and resource management. We have never had a better opportunity or a greater need to cut the amount of red tape related to doing business in the North.

Every year the Canadian Federation of Independent Business grades provinces and territories on their efforts to reduce red tape through political leadership, public measurement and constraints on regulators, legislative commitment, and progress on action to reduce regulatory burdens. The Northwest Territories, unfortunately, was on the bottom of the list. We even dropped a grade from when the federation conducted its evaluation last year.

Places that scored the lowest lacked leadership on action to create a better environment for doing business in their environment or territory and forward momentum on policy initiatives aimed at decreasing the amount of permitting, licensing, taxes, bylaws, registrations, regulations, penalties and wait times for private enterprise.

BC scored the highest, surpassing the federal government and all other jurisdictions for its proactive approach for lifting the regulatory load and limiting in the future. The province has successfully reduced its regulatory requirement for business by 42 percent since 2001. Any proposed new regulation must be evaluated through a small business lens.

Other jurisdictions that earned top marks demonstrated commitment to regulatory accountability and public reporting, engaging all departments and agencies in finding ways to reduce red tape, implementing a one-window approach and on-line service delivery and moving forward on initiatives to streamline systems and increase efficiencies.

Failing grades should be taken as a warning. As the government prepares to take on responsibility for our land and resources, the time has never been better to improve our score. Successful regulatory

reform is about public accountability. It needs our commitment, as legislators, to make the Northwest Territories a better place to live and do business.

I am very confident going forward with our new proposed, assumed responsibilities that this score will be much better the next time it’s reported. Thank you.

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Reduction Of Regulatory Burdens And Red Tape

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Mental Health Services In Fort Liard

Members’ Statements

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Residents of Fort Liard would like consistent mental health service delivery. Fort Liard has long been asking for help with the mental health and addictions of the residents. Having a full-time dedicated mental health worker would help. People need to build trust and it’s hard to do that when there’s always someone new to see.

Residents of Fort Liard care about their relatives and friends who have addictions as this not only affects the families but the community as a whole. We want this government to build a stronger and steadier northern workforce and there is no greater urgency than the area of long-term mental health and addictions professionals.

I’ll have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you very much.

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Mental Health Services In Fort Liard

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Appreciation To The “odd Squad” For Combating High Risk Behaviours

Members’ Statements

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today’s youth face difficult choices, enormous peer pressure and more readily available and potential mind-altering drugs than any other time in history.

I’m very proud to say that in my previous careers that I’ve had, I had the opportunity to work with a group called the Odd Squad. The Odd Squad is a group out of Vancouver who does a lot of trips throughout the Northwest Territories and to other Aboriginal communities across Canada to educate the public about devastating effects of high risk behaviour and the impact it has on members of our communities.

This is a group that’s out of Vancouver and may partner here with the Tree of Peace and other organizations, in some cases oil companies and diamond mines, to educate the youth about the drugs coming up to the Northwest Territories. Some Members here might be familiar with some of the

work and productions they’ve done such as the video called Through a Blue Lens, as well as Tears for April and more up to date is a TV show called The Beat, where they walk the streets of Vancouver and they educate people about drugs and introduce you to people who have had a hard time battling their addictions.

Today we still continue to see that problem in the Northwest Territories of all these mind-altering and very potent drugs that take people’s lives, that ruin families and ruin communities.

I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank the Odd Squad for the hard work and effort they do coming to the Northwest Territories and educating our youth, educating our people and, more importantly, educating our leaders that we need to support all these educational components to stop these kinds of addictions happening in our communities.

I’d just like to thank the Odd Squad and all their partners for helping educate, stop crime, as well as help people not partake in drug use in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Appreciation To The “odd Squad” For Combating High Risk Behaviours

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Tobacco Tax Collection And Reporting

Members’ Statements

Daryl Dolynny

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have spoken on more than one occasion about this government’s loophole policy with its manual self-reporting remittance portion of the GNWT tobacco tax. As I have stated clearly, this government’s open-door reporting process, which has the potential for exploitation by out-of-province wholesalers and local retailers, begs to put into doubt this government’s ability for accountability and public trust.

So, why once again does this Member feel the need to bring this issue before the House? One only needs to look at the recently tabled public accounts for 2012-2013 to clearly see we continue to have a serious concern on this tax collection. On page 34,

section 2 of the non-consolidated

schedule of revenues by source, it indicates the actual tobacco tax collection for 2012 to be $17.1 million and that we were forecasted for a slight increase in 2013 Main Estimates for $17.3 million. Without prejudice, the actual tobacco tax came in lower than expected. In fact, it was off by 11.2 percent at $15.5 million.

So, to the question: Why the approximate $2 million loss in tobacco tax revenues? Did we have 11.2 percent fewer smokers that year? Did the daily smoking rate decrease by the same percentage proportionally? We really don’t know.

What we do know, according to the recently tabled Department of Health Annual Report 2012-2013, smokers made up 37.3 percent of the population and it indicated, even with a marked improvement in the percent of smokers in the NWT, we were still higher when compared to the 2012 Canadian rate at 20.7 percent. So, okay, this has to be accurate, so why wouldn’t we accept this information as being truthful, right?

However, what is mindboggling is when you look up Statistics Canada for the percentage of residents who smoke in the NWT, in 2011 it says 34.9 percent, and in 2012 a slight increase at 35.8 percent. So do we assume that our Health department’s recently tabled 37.3 percent of our population who smoke to be an increase from 2012 or is this an error? We’re not quite sure. But what we are sure, and reminded by the Minister of Finance , is that we have fewer smokers year after year.

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

---Unanimous consent granted

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Tobacco Tax Collection And Reporting

Members’ Statements

Daryl Dolynny

Range Lake

These statistics don’t match, and clearly, the tobacco tax revenue shortfall makes even less sense.

Let’s take a moment to summarize all this information today. First of all, when it comes to the data of smoking, Stats Canada reports different numbers than the GNWT. Why? Our Department of Health reports very little data on smoking and so much is left to the imagination. Why? Our actual tobacco tax collection, according to public accounts, is way off in the 2013 Main Estimates. Why? Finally, the smoking gun question I ask every session: Why does our Finance Minister continue to ignore the issue of the tobacco tax self-reporting loophole, especially from southern wholesale distributors?

The only one who can shine light on this mystery is our Minister of Finance, and I’ll have questions for him later today. Mr. Speaker, I will be tabling supporting documents as well. Thank you.

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Tobacco Tax Collection And Reporting

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny . Member for Sahtu , Mr. Yakeleya .

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Protection Of Land And Water In The Sahtu Region

Members’ Statements

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It was said by our Premier that land is life and it is so true in the Northwest Territories. Because of our issues in the Sahtu, land is life and certainly our elderly people know that this is so true. From the land we get power, a way of life, we put food on our tables and we build our homes. Everything comes from the land. When we think about it and listen to our elders, even when we go outside to do our work,

they always tell us to make it protocol to go out there and thank the land and the water. Before you do anything, remember where you come from.

It’s so ingrained in us that it’s a struggle sometimes with today’s economy and the way of life we have, but we need to come together and talk about the changes that are happening in our lives today.

We have a controversial issue, such as the economic development that’s happening in the Sahtu region. People are wondering what type of mechanisms, what type of assurances we’ll have to protect our land and our water and our air and our animals. Yet at the same time, we know changes are happening as we speak today and people are also wondering: what are the older people, the elders, saying about this? We should be able to get together with our elders and talk about our land and our water and our air with the young people and see how we can work things out in the North, up in the Sahtu region, and look at what land is going to be doing for us.

I will have questions for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources on the land and water in the North. Thank you.

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Protection Of Land And Water In The Sahtu Region

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . The Member for Weledeh , Mr. Bromley .

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Elimination Of Poverty Traps

Members’ Statements

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This government has committed to eradicating poverty and I fully support that statement. Looking at the Anti-Poverty Strategy and action plan, they contain many good ideas that will tweak the system and gently increase overall wellness in our communities, but tweaking the system is not going to eliminate poverty.

Our northern cultures put a high value on helping each other get through difficult times and making sure that everyone has an equal opportunity to get ahead. Our efforts to eliminate poverty should reflect those values. Despite our best intentions, however, the maze of government-funded programs has created poverty traps rather than a social safety net.

I get a lot of calls from constituents who are struggling to get out of the poverty traps that our system creates. The ones that really get to me are from those who have children. Over the next few days I’ll describe what life is like for people under our current system and suggest some solutions.

Let’s start with Charles, a single father looking after two young kids with a third in Grade 4. He lost his job last year and he has a hard time finding work because he has to look after the kids and daycare is too expensive. Unemployment insurance ran out a while ago. Even though he did not want to, he went to see income support. Income support was a

humiliating experience for Charles. To qualify for income support you need to prove that you have nothing left, so Charles had to sell his truck. The paperwork was more complicated than filling out his taxes and he had to do it every month. He was shocked at how many bureaucrats it took to make sure he was actually in need of help and he felt like he was being accused of trying to take advantage of the system. Refusing to help people until they have reached absolute rock bottom and then effectively forcing them to beg for help every month has a profound psychological effect. It creates a self-fulfilling story.

We have many programs that transfer money to people that need it. Every time we all fill out taxes, we all get assessed for northern living allowances, GST tax credits, child tax credits, cost of living tax credits and so on. We all get assessed. We are all expected to fill out our taxes honestly and we all know we may get audited. Millions of dollars are transferred to all Northerners using the tax system and it does not cost us much to do it.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Mahsi.

---Unanimous consent granted

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Elimination Of Poverty Traps

Members’ Statements

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

I cannot think of a single reason why Charles could not get the help he needs through a similar system. There is no difference between the cost of living tax credit and an income support payment. It all comes from the same pot. So let’s treat everyone with the same respect and help people get back on their feet instead of psychologically trapping them in poverty.

I will have questions and I will have more on this tomorrow. Mahsi.

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Elimination Of Poverty Traps

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley . The Member for Deh Cho , Mr. Nadli .

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Radon Gas Exposure

Members’ Statements

Michael Nadli

Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Most of us tend to think that the natural environment is good for us, but it is not always true. Our elders and experienced hunters know that the land feeds us and nurtures, but it can also be dangerous. Knowledge of dangerous areas is passed on from generation to generation. Of course, our elders have no experience with radon gas, which is invisible and has no taste or smell, and it has never bothered them. We know that radon is found at low levels almost everywhere and it’s not dangerous that way, but in high concentrations over time radon can cause lung cancer.

Radon comes from the natural decay of uranium, so it is radioactive. It is very diluted in outside air but it can build up where there’s little or no airflow. That includes buildings with basements and closed-in crawlspaces.

The good news is homes and buildings in the NWT and Nunavut have had the lowest concentrations of radon gas in Canada. One reason may be permafrost, which is a good barrier against radon. On top of that, most homes built by our housing corporations have vented foundations so the danger of radon exposure in them is very low, so low in fact that the NWT Housing Corporation doesn’t bother to test for radon or monitor radon levels.

We all know temperatures have slowly risen in the NWT over the past few decades and some permafrost is melting. It might be prudent to make sure that radon levels are still very low, especially where some homes and buildings have enclosed foundations. Testing is no big deal and it’s cheap to do. Test kits only cost about $50. It might be a good idea for the NWT Housing Corporation to make them available or do some spot checks around the territory. I think public awareness could be much improved.

Precautions to control our radon are also easily taken. For example, allow more air to flow through enclosed foundations and seal cracks and openings around pipes and drains.

To sum up, we have enough people getting cancer as it is without radon being a factor. It doesn’t take much to make sure radon stays out of the picture, so let’s do it.

I’ll have a few questions for the Housing Minister .

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Radon Gas Exposure

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Inclusive Schooling Funding Formula

Members’ Statements

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We spend huge dollars on our Education department, almost 25 percent of our total $1.6 billion budget, and of the money appropriated for Education, Culture and Employment, $26.6 million is allocated to ensure our schools follow the ECE Inclusive Schooling Directive.

All classrooms are not created equal. Some have one or more special needs children who require a personal classroom assistant in addition to the classroom teacher for them to be able to be included in a regular classroom. That extra staffing requirement is funded by ECE through funds allocated to the authorities by a formula. NWT education authorities have recognized the unfairness of the current funding formula for inclusive schooling programs, and for years superintendents and board chairs have been asking ECE to revise the formula to make it better, to provide adequate funding to the boards that need it, but we have yet to see that happen.

The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment has promised several times that the department would look at an evaluation of the inclusive schooling funding formula. I believe an informal one was even done a few years ago, but nothing has changed. Neither MLAs nor school boards have seen any report. The latest comfort, I believe, we were given by the Minister of ECE around the issue of inclusive schooling funding was that it would be part of the Education Renewal and Innovation Initiative. The ERI Strategy is completed and public now and the action plan is currently being developed. Again, we have yet to see a report on the inclusive schooling funding formula.

Some education authorities are providing classroom assistants for their identified special needs students and funding them internally, tapping into their operating surplus to ensure these special needs students have adequate support in their classrooms. It must be recognized that our larger communities, because they have more services and programs than our smaller ones, attract families with special needs children who need that extra support both in and outside of school and that puts an extra financial burden on those education authorities.

This financial burden is not currently acknowledged by the department, evidenced by the way it funds the education authorities at the moment, and these education authorities are being penalized for reaching out and trying to provide equitability for all the students in their regions.

I have to ask, when will we see revisions to the inclusive schooling funding formula that makes it fair for all authorities in the NWT?

I will have this question and others for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you.

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Inclusive Schooling Funding Formula

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro . Member for Yellowknife Centre , Mr. Hawkins .

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GNWT Employment Opportunities

Members’ Statements

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A few days ago I went back to my office and on my desk there was a Snickers bar sitting there, and all of us here know what that represents. Well, I certainly don’t care who dropped that off, and as a matter of fact, they could drop a truckload of those Snicker bars off and it still won’t change my resolve to the concern about job opportunities unfairly being denied to Northerners.

It’s simply this: This McLeod government continues to fail its people by not providing those job opportunities Northerners need. Over this past month, many Members were shocked to know that this government had 1,150 vacancies, and since we’ve heard from the Finance Minister , they are actively pursuing 571 of those vacancies. I, like many Members, found this very interesting.

When I immediately visited the government’s website, like many people in the public, we found that there were just over 100 job opportunities posted there, why so few? How does anyone actively pursue 571 vacancies when you can find just merely 100?

We, as Members, continually hear about the lack of availability of much needed jobs in every one of these communities. Whether you live in a big community or a small community, jobs are important. But the government says they’re actively pursuing them – those are their words, not mine – so, many Members are concerned about this.

People need these jobs; they don’t need excuses. Can anyone imagine in this modern day that our government tells everybody that, oh, don’t worry, jobs are out there, but when they look, they’re not there. This is a difficult challenge to grapple with.

Again I went to the government website this morning, my goodness sakes, and there are only 71 jobs there. Where are the other 500? Mr. Speaker, what is this government’s definition of actively pursuing?

The average person will tell you it’s energetic, it’s engaged, it’s striving to gain and maybe even to obtain. Unlikely as those words would be, they do not match the definition of actively pursuing.

This government has a 20 percent absentee on their workforce. They say they are pursing 571 jobs, but are they really?

The public and I agree: these jobs need to be listed; these are opportunities that are being denied. At the end of the day, who knows where the money is going? Are these jobs really being pursued to be filled, or is the money being earmarked for projects by… Well, we already know who. Thank you.

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GNWT Employment Opportunities

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

I would like to welcome you here today in the public gallery and thank you for taking the time.

Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Weledeh , Mr. Bromley .

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Question 209-17(5): Income Support Guidelines

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to follow up from my Member’s statement earlier today with questions for the Minister of ECE . I would like to know why we treat people differently, depending on how much money they make. Recognizing that the Minister is working hard on this issue, could the Minister explain what is the underlying philosophy as to why the system his department operates inherently treats people who

are living in poverty with less respect than other people? Thank you.

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Question 209-17(5): Income Support Guidelines

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley . Minister of Education, Culture and Employment , Mr. Lafferty .

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Question 209-17(5): Income Support Guidelines

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Within the income support division, we treat everybody equally and respectfully and there is a reporting mechanism that is in place. We have to work closely with the office of the Auditor General that did the overall, intensive and comprehensive review of our income support division. Based on the feedback that we received from the office of the Auditor General, there’s a guideline we have to follow. The regulations have been established. The reporting mechanism is a key front of the discussion that we have with clientele.

They have to report, whether it be income classification, the documentation that needs to be submitted. Those are some of the questions that the client service officers ask to those individuals, but the individuals aren’t treated differently. We have to treat everybody equally, as much as we can, throughout the Northwest Territories. Mahsi.

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Question 209-17(5): Income Support Guidelines

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thanks to the Minister. I know that the Minister is working hard on this. Unfortunately, it’s an inherent thing that I think even enters the policy-maker’s view of things and ends up with these policies that create poverty traps.

The Minister recently provided information in a response to a written question on the cost of running our income security programs. Income support spent $3.5 million to distribute $16 million. In comparison, Student Financial Assistance costs $660,000 to distribute $16 million while the cost of living tax distributed $21.5 million and did not cost us anything. Why does the Income Support Program cost millions more to run when it distributes less money to fewer people? Mahsi.

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Question 209-17(5): Income Support Guidelines

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mahsi. When we talk about the income support division, it does consist of various programs and part of it is the seniors’ home heating subsidy, income assistance in general to support those individuals and providing assistance to residents 19 years of age and over for basic food necessities, shelter and clothing expenses and we have to attend to those most vulnerable individuals in the communities, the clientele. So, these are just some of the areas: NWT territorial workers supplement, NWT child tax, senior citizens supplementary benefits, SFA. All of these fall under income support.

So, yes, the number the Member highlights, $3.5 million to distribute $16 million, obviously our target is to get people off income support. That’s why we’re focusing on a Labour Market Agreement with the federal government to allocate this towards the readiness for work and we’re doing what we can as a department to alleviate that, but this is what we

have to date with the policies that are driven. So, we’ll continue to stress that with the constituencies and also with the federal government for job readiness. Mahsi.

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Question 209-17(5): Income Support Guidelines

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

The Minister and I have the same goals and what I’m saying is, after decades of failure, keeping people in poverty, recognizing this government’s commitment to get out of poverty, help people get out of poverty, let’s do some changes here and I’m suggesting some.

The Minister recently announced a clearly sensible policy that recipients of Student Financial Assistance will only have to report every three months instead of monthly. We are all aware that we have to fill out our annual tax returns pretty soon.

Why does the department continue to require that income support paperwork be completed month after month after month? Mahsi.

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Question 209-17(5): Income Support Guidelines

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Again, I will have to reflect back on the office of the Auditor General. As you know, they are here this week as part of the review process for Health and Social Services, as we did last year. It’s a very comprehensive review that they’re going through and we must follow the guidelines and they strictly highlight the reporting mechanism, not only that but the monthly reporting mechanism, how we should be working with the clientele. So, all the documents are in place.

Those are just some of the guidelines we have to follow, the regulations that are before us and through the legislation that has been through this House is part of the process that we have to go through. Again, with the policies, policies can also go through changes. We made some changes in 2007, drastic changes, and every year we go through the review process of the policies. Those are just some of the options that we’ll consider. Mahsi.

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Question 209-17(5): Income Support Guidelines

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Question 209-17(5): Income Support Guidelines

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister doesn’t know that we make those policies, we make those guidelines, we make those regulations, we have the power. When an elder becomes eligible for a pension, no one asks them if they have spent every penny and sold their vehicle before they are eligible. When a business owner goes bankrupt they are allowed to keep their registered retirement savings. So why does the income support system require a single parent who cannot work because they are looking after their children to use up all their assets before they are eligible for income support and thus create this poverty trap?

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Question 209-17(5): Income Support Guidelines

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Again, we’re following the guidelines of what has been passed in this House. Yes, we changed those policies, we

changed that legislation, the regulations in this House. At the same time, we have to follow the office of the Auditor General. Simply, there are strict guidelines for us to follow. Obviously, we don’t want to break those policies, those programs, those regulations that are in place. At this point there’s a reason for it. At the same time, the reporting mechanism is in place for various reasons. There are individuals who may be going through certain stages.

We need to identify if there has been some deposits into their bank accounts, and there are times where there is no reason given why there is a substantial amount of funds in their account. Those are just simplistic reasons why we need to know, because income support is a basic necessity for those individuals that are struggling. Again, it is policy driven. We can make those recommended changes and we will definitely consider those as we move forward.

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Question 209-17(5): Income Support Guidelines

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . The Member for Nahendeh , Mr. Menicoche .

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Question 210-17(5): Mental Health Services In Fort Liard

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I spoke about a consistent full-time mental health worker in Fort Liard. I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services a question. I did raise this issue last fall. I’d just like to ask once again, when will the department be hiring a full-time mental health worker in the community of Fort Liard?

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Question 210-17(5): Mental Health Services In Fort Liard

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche . The Minister of Health , Mr. Abernethy .

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Question 210-17(5): Mental Health Services In Fort Liard

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We invest about $6 million annually in community counselling positions across the Northwest Territories and community counselling services.

With respect to the exact position in Fort Liard, I’m not actually aware of the position in Fort Liard or whether or not it’s vacant, so I will have to have a conversation with the Dehcho Health and Social Services Authority to get a status update, which I will share with the Member and I’ll work with the authority to figure out how to get an incumbent into that position.

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Question 210-17(5): Mental Health Services In Fort Liard

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

I think one of the issues last fall, as well, was a matter of who does the recruitment. I know that we’ve got the Department of Human Resources, but is the health authority doing their own recruitment?

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Question 210-17(5): Mental Health Services In Fort Liard

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

The Department of Human Resources provides technical expertise in competitions but the health authority is certainly involved in every competition for any incumbent of their organization, so it’s a combined effort.

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Question 210-17(5): Mental Health Services In Fort Liard

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

I guess one of the other issues in the small communities and hiring professionals is the high turnover rate. I was wondering if the department has been addressing this, have been looking at this, and finding some alternate strategies in order to keep longer term employees in the small and remote communities.

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Question 210-17(5): Mental Health Services In Fort Liard

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

During the last fiscal year, the Department of Health and Social Services took over the health human resources unit from the Department of Human Resources. That unit is now in the department and they’re developing a comprehensive human resources plan for the department and working with the authorities, as well, so we’re hoping to come up with some useful and beneficial programs that will help recruit and retain Northerners throughout the Northwest Territories, whether that’s training people or bringing people in, it should include both of them. We are going to be coming forward with that strategy.

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Question 210-17(5): Mental Health Services In Fort Liard

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy . Final, short supplementary, Mr. Menicoche .

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Question 210-17(5): Mental Health Services In Fort Liard

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Is that something similar to what Human Resources is doing with the Regional Recruitment Strategy? Is that what the Department of Health and Social Services is looking at right now?

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Question 210-17(5): Mental Health Services In Fort Liard

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

We’re looking for ways to recruit and retain health and allied health professionals throughout the Northwest Territories that may involve a variety of programs. We haven’t really determined all the details at this point. But the Regional Recruitment Program is available to all departments, boards and agencies, so if we have positions that don’t have a statutory requirement, we could certainly engage the Department of Human Resources to utilize the Regional Recruitment Program as it stands now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 211-17(5): Radon Gas Exposure

Oral Questions

Michael Nadli

Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I talked about radon gas and its prevalence in the NWT. We are all aware that climate change is occurring throughout the world, but mostly so in the NWT. We have seen the temperature rise, affecting the permafrost in some instances, as permafrost is indeed melting. My question is to the Minister of the Housing Corporation .

When was the last round of testing for radon done in the NWT communities by the Housing Corporation? Mahsi.

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Question 211-17(5): Radon Gas Exposure

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Nadli . The honourable Minister responsible for Housing , Mr. McLeod.

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Question 211-17(5): Radon Gas Exposure

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Because of the fact that most of our inventory is above ground, it’s really not a factor at this point. Plans are being put into place to look at our inventory and we want to develop some plans to do some testing for radon gas in some of the NWT Housing Corporation homes. That way we’ll have a better idea of the risks that are there and whether there is a presence of radon gas or not. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 211-17(5): Radon Gas Exposure

Oral Questions

Michael Nadli

Deh Cho

What is being done to make sure the public is aware of the dangers of radon gas and how to prevent radon exposure and how to test for it?

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Question 211-17(5): Radon Gas Exposure

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

This is something that’s starting to develop and is a concern. It is an issue we will have to have a look at. Once we educate ourselves more on the potential risks of this, we will start educating the public out there.

I wanted to use this opportunity to assure the public that our tenants, at this point, there is really not a big risk. Most of our units being above ground helps lessen that risk. As we get into new construction, units are sealed fairly well and, again, that limits the chance for radon gas to accumulate. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 211-17(5): Radon Gas Exposure

Oral Questions

Michael Nadli

Deh Cho

I’d like to thank the Minister for his reply. I know there are test kits that people can get in stores for about fifty bucks that could be made available.

Will the Minister provide leadership and start a program for spot checks for radon in NWT communities and provide the results? I understand the Minister and the department is indeed taking measures to do tests, but when and where will those tests happen? Mahsi.

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Question 211-17(5): Radon Gas Exposure

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Again, it is early in the stages. Once we do start the testing, we will be providing the Member and committee with updates as we go forward on this. Again, I just want to assure the public out there that this isn’t a crisis and they don’t need to run out and buy gas masks or anything like that. It is under control and the Housing Corporation will ensure that there is no risk to the tenants in our units. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 211-17(5): Radon Gas Exposure

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Nadli .

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Question 211-17(5): Radon Gas Exposure

Oral Questions

Michael Nadli

Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The commercial builders, especially in office and apartment buildings with enclosed foundations, have to test for radon and publish the results. If not, why not? Mahsi.

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Question 211-17(5): Radon Gas Exposure

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

I’m not sure if the Member was asking if we have done the tests yet or he wants us to publish the results of the test. As I’ve said, we haven’t started the testing yet. Once we do start the testing, if there is an opportunity for

us to publish the results or put the results on our website, we will look at that option and see where we go from there. If the opportunity is there, I will assure the Member that we will do our best to ensure the Member and the public are informed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 211-17(5): Radon Gas Exposure

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Question 212-17(5): Efforts To Combat The Illicit Drug Trade

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During my Member’s statement I talked about some of the illicit drug use in the Northwest Territories and how we have organizations outside of the NWT and within the NWT that are combating the drug dealers and drug use and high risk behaviours in the Northwest Territories.

I’d like to ask the Minister of Justice , with such incidents happening in the Northwest Territories and we’re seeing an increase of illicit drugs coming into the North by road, by plane, by boat, however it comes in, what is the Minister’s department doing to crack down on the influx of these types of drugs coming into the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 212-17(5): Efforts To Combat The Illicit Drug Trade

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Moses . The honourable Minister of Justice , Mr. Ramsay .

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Question 212-17(5): Efforts To Combat The Illicit Drug Trade

Oral Questions

Kam Lake

David Ramsay

Minister of Justice

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for his question. Certainly, the prevalence of drugs in the Northwest Territories is something that is a very serious concern for us. We handle the enforcement of the drug trade through the RCMP “G” Division. They do an excellent job for us in trying to combat the amount of drugs that enter the territory. We’ve had some very high profile drug busts here in Yellowknife recently and also in Hay River. We also have the canine unit that helps in that regard as well.

I know the RCMP work on a multijurisdictional approach because the drugs have to come from somewhere to get into the NWT. So the RCMP are continuously working with their counterparts in southern Canada and other parts of northern Canada to combat the illegal drug trade here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

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Question 212-17(5): Efforts To Combat The Illicit Drug Trade

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

I could get into more details in terms of drug use. This might come up as a written question at some point or the Minister could possibly give me a commitment to get some stats on how many of our crime-related offences are related specifically to illicit drugs that we don’t normally see in the Northwest Territories.

Would he be willing to get me that information or let me know what kind of percentage we are looking at for type of crimes committed in the Northwest

Territories that are specifically associated and relate to illicit drug use? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 212-17(5): Efforts To Combat The Illicit Drug Trade

Oral Questions

Kam Lake

David Ramsay

Minister of Justice

We can certainly look at putting those statistics together for the Member and other Members of the House. Thank you.

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Question 212-17(5): Efforts To Combat The Illicit Drug Trade

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Just recently in Inuvik, we opened up an emergency shelter that allowed more time for the RCMP officers to do other types of work rather than deal with public intoxication and things like that. Shortly after the emergency shelter kicked into effect, there was a big drug bust in the community, which meant that the RCMP had more time to actually conduct their business and go out and do more important work. With that said, we’re putting a lot of resources into all these crimes that are associated with illicit drug use. If we put more money into prevention, we can prevent the drugs from coming up here before we have to deal with the issue at hand.

Would the Minister be willing to provide more resources for airport checks and screening as well as access roads and screening to combat these types of issues, especially with transportation companies that actually bring up goods, not through the post office or mail system? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 212-17(5): Efforts To Combat The Illicit Drug Trade

Oral Questions

Kam Lake

David Ramsay

Minister of Justice

During the winter months with the advance of the winter road season in the Northwest Territories, I do know the RCMP are very diligent on stepping up their efforts to look at drugs that are being transported on the winter road system in the NWT.

Also, we have the Not Us! campaign. Important to all of this discussion today in the House is everybody has a role to play in trying to stop the trade of illicit drugs in the Northwest Territories today. We have the Crime Stoppers program, as well, and people can anonymously, if they are aware of illegal activity in their community, a 1-800 number to identify that type of illegal activity.

Again, it is up to all of us to try to stamp out the trade of illicit drugs here in the Northwest Territories. I do know the RCMP do a good job for us and they are out there, but they certainly need all of our help in trying to combat illegal drugs in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

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Question 212-17(5): Efforts To Combat The Illicit Drug Trade

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Question 212-17(5): Efforts To Combat The Illicit Drug Trade

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to make reference to this TV program that I watch, it’s called Border Patrol, and they have an RCMP canine unit that goes around sniffing bags and things like that. We know when we’re getting people coming up to the North. When the ice roads go in, there’s a lot of traffic when that happens. The same with Inuvik when we have a big activity coming up, we have transportation vehicles coming to the Northwest Territories.

Would the Minister look at committing and dedicating those canine units at the busiest times of the year to do spot checks within our Northwest Territories communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 212-17(5): Efforts To Combat The Illicit Drug Trade

Oral Questions

Kam Lake

David Ramsay

Minister of Justice

I do know that those units are deployed, as the Member suggests, already. As far as a

schedule or whatnot, again, I’d have to go back to the department. We wouldn’t want to publicize when a canine unit would be on a specific ice road here in the Northwest Territories, for obvious reasons. But certainly I do know that during the winter months, when the winter roads are in use, that the RCMP do step up their efforts on our winter road system. Thank you.

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Question 212-17(5): Efforts To Combat The Illicit Drug Trade

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . Member for Range Lake , Mr. Dolynny .

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Question 213-17(5): Tobacco Tax Collection And Reporting

Oral Questions

Daryl Dolynny

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I raised a number of concerns on differing statistical numbers between Stats Canada and the GNWT pertaining to the subject of tobacco. However, what is most concerning, according to our public accounts, is that our actual tobacco collection is way off from the 2013 Main Estimates by a whopping $1.7 million. My questions will be for the Minister of Finance today.

Can the Minister offer an explanation why the data for smoking, smoking rates by population and daily average smoking rates, for example, differ between what the Government of the Northwest Territories reports and what Statistics Canada reports? Thank you.

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Question 213-17(5): Tobacco Tax Collection And Reporting

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny . Minister of Finance , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Question 213-17(5): Tobacco Tax Collection And Reporting

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In dealings with the federal government over the years on issues of statistics, the one thing that has always stuck in my mind when we’re trying to get accurate numbers is that we are such a small jurisdiction that they consider us, in many cases, statistically insignificant when it comes to determining national trends and numbers. Thank you.

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Question 213-17(5): Tobacco Tax Collection And Reporting

Oral Questions

Daryl Dolynny

Range Lake

Mr. Speaker, I wish I could accept that as a response, but I guess that’s what we’ll get from the Minister.

Can the Minister inform the House what type of census or controlled survey occurs in the Northwest Territories that monitors and reports on tobacco purchase, use, tax collection and audits on a yearly basis? Where can one find all this information publicly? Thank you.

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Question 213-17(5): Tobacco Tax Collection And Reporting

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

I listened to many issues raised in the Member’s statement and

his questions and his interest in getting a lot of detailed information, so I’ll take that question as notice. Thank you.

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Question 213-17(5): Tobacco Tax Collection And Reporting

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Member for Sahtu , Mr. Yakeleya .

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Question 214-17(5): Sahtu Region Hydraulic Fracturing Baseline Studies

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of ENR in regards to the environmental protection in working in the area of Sahtu in regards to the economic development that has happened there. I want to ask the Minister in regards to the work that needs to get up there in regards to environmental issues.

Has the Minister commissioned studies in regards to some of the environmental concerns that are coming up with the hydraulic fracking?

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Question 214-17(5): Sahtu Region Hydraulic Fracturing Baseline Studies

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . Minister of Environment and Natural Resources , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Question 214-17(5): Sahtu Region Hydraulic Fracturing Baseline Studies

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are still working on what we see as some needed improvements to fracking practices. That work is still working its way through the process. We’ve received some feedback from committee and we’re looking at bringing forward revisions reflecting the changes that were recommended as well as the fact that we are now going to be our own regulator.

We’ve laid out the Land Use and Sustainability Framework, which is a broad framing document with some very critical principles. We have money that we’ve allocated through the Environmental Research Fund to start doing baseline work on groundwater and wildlife, and we’ve had meetings with industry to make use of what they do on wildlife and groundwater monitoring that is project and site-specific that we want to make sure that we include in the work that we do so that we have as comprehensive amount of baseline data as possible. Thank you.

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Question 214-17(5): Sahtu Region Hydraulic Fracturing Baseline Studies

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you. Can the Minister inform the House and me as to when he expects an official policy, framework policy, to the work that he’s doing that would look at hydraulic fracking in the North?

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Question 214-17(5): Sahtu Region Hydraulic Fracturing Baseline Studies

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

As has been pointed out by the Minister of ITI , after April 1st we

will be the regulator and he will be the Minister responsible. The NEB’s existing policies and guidelines will stay in effect and the work that we are doing, in terms of reviewing fracking as a government that we’ve been looking at now for a number of months, will come forward sometime after April, that will look at improving upon what is currently there. But in the meantime, the National

Energy Board policies and filing guidelines are what will be the policies of the day. Thank you.

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Question 214-17(5): Sahtu Region Hydraulic Fracturing Baseline Studies

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, one of the interesting things that the Minister pointed out was baseline studies in the Sahtu because of the ecological sensitivity of our area. Are some of the baseline studies near completion, and I take it that that’s going to be used as guidelines for the policy that could come ahead in the next couple of months or so. Are the specific baseline studies being worked on and computed as we go through this whole new exploration on hydraulic fracking?

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Question 214-17(5): Sahtu Region Hydraulic Fracturing Baseline Studies

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Regional baseline studies are going to take some time. We have initiated that process. We are looking, as I had indicated as well, as trying to build off and use the work that has been done with industry, the work that they’ve done on wildlife and groundwater, and we’re going to continue to invest money over the coming years to get that baseline work complete.

In the meantime, the work on fracking that has been done, that we’ve initiated a couple of months ago, is going to continue and we expect early in April to be able to bring that forward for some public feedback as well as industry feedback. Thank you.

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Question 214-17(5): Sahtu Region Hydraulic Fracturing Baseline Studies

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Question 214-17(5): Sahtu Region Hydraulic Fracturing Baseline Studies

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On the public feedback, I’m wondering if the Minister would consider working with the Department of ITI to look at possibly a summit for the elders for the traditional knowledge and information that they have on the land. That’s good feedback with the elders’ knowledge in developing future policies and guidelines to the hydraulic fracking work that’s being done in the Sahtu.

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Question 214-17(5): Sahtu Region Hydraulic Fracturing Baseline Studies

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

As the Minister of Lands and Minister of ITI have pointed out before this House, because their budgets were reviewed, the development assessment process we are putting in place, now that we’re going to be the regulator after April 1st , sees an integrated

cooperative approach between the two departments chaired by the Minister of Lands. We will do the work on fracking and we will make sure that when it is put out for public feedback, we will consider the Member’s suggestion. We’ll be looking for feedback from people across the North but especially where it’s impacting in the Sahtu as well as the industry. Thank you.

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Question 214-17(5): Sahtu Region Hydraulic Fracturing Baseline Studies

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Member for Mackenzie Delta , Mr. Blake .

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Question 215-17(5): Repairs To Louis Cardinal Ferry

Oral Questions

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This past fall was the first time the Department of Transportation extended the ferry service in

Tsiigehtchic. I’d like to ask the Minister of Transportation , when will the work begin to repair the Louis Cardinal ferry for service in June? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 215-17(5): Repairs To Louis Cardinal Ferry

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Blake . Minister of Transportation , Mr. Beaulieu .

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Question 215-17(5): Repairs To Louis Cardinal Ferry

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Mr. Speaker, I have talked to the department and the ferry will be ready to go when it’s in the water. It will be fully repaired and fully functional. Thank you.

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Question 215-17(5): Repairs To Louis Cardinal Ferry

Oral Questions

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to ask the Minister, what was the estimated cost of damages to the vessel this fall? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 215-17(5): Repairs To Louis Cardinal Ferry

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Thank you. We have not completed a complete evaluation and cost estimate on the damage that may have been incurred by the Louis Cardinal ferry during the time we were attempting to continue to run it round season. We did put $400,000 worth of capital into the ferry in order to make it possible to run all season. Thank you.

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Question 215-17(5): Repairs To Louis Cardinal Ferry

Oral Questions

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

Will the department also be repairing the Merv Hardie this year? Thank you.

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Question 215-17(5): Repairs To Louis Cardinal Ferry

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

I’m not expecting to put the Merv Hardie into service, so anything that may be done with the Merv Hardie will only be done when we plan to put it into service. Thank you.

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Question 215-17(5): Repairs To Louis Cardinal Ferry

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Question 215-17(5): Repairs To Louis Cardinal Ferry

Oral Questions

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you. I recall last year the Minister was saying that the ferry would be ready for replacement if an emergency was to happen, so that ferry should be operational.

I’d like to ask the Minister, will the Minister replace the Louis Cardinal vessel with the Merv Hardie? Thank you.

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Question 215-17(5): Repairs To Louis Cardinal Ferry

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Thank you. Indications tell us that by evaluating the Merv Hardie versus the Louis Cardinal that there would be no benefits gained by moving the Merv Hardie down river to Tsiigehtchic to that crossing. So at this time there is no plan to replace the Louis Cardinal with the Merv Hardie. Thank you.

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Question 215-17(5): Repairs To Louis Cardinal Ferry

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu . Mr. Hawkins .

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Question 216-17(5): GNWT Employment Opportunities

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement I talked about the job opportunities that are being denied the public, for goodness sakes.

On the GNWT’s website there were only 71 postings, half were in Yellowknife and half were outside of Yellowknife.

Where are the remainder of the 500 jobs that the Finance Minister proclaims to the public that they are actively pursuing? I’m asking the Minister of Human Resources , where are the other jobs? Thank you.

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Question 216-17(5): GNWT Employment Opportunities

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . Minister of Human Resources , Mr. Beaulieu .

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Question 216-17(5): GNWT Employment Opportunities

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As of February 17, 2014, of the 571 vacant positions, 156 of them were filled and the other ones are in the various processes, currently being filled by transfer assignment or casual while we’re trying to find an incumbent, they were recently vacant or at some point been through the interview stage or the advertising stage or the offer stage. So they’re at the various stages and it would not be possible for us to advertise and fill 571 jobs at one time. Thank you.

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Question 216-17(5): GNWT Employment Opportunities

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

What the Minister failed to say was how many new job openings were created while these 156 jobs are in the process of being filled. At the same time, the Minister says he can’t advertise the jobs because it would be impossible. Why? Well, I don’t know because, my goodness, how do you fill the jobs if you don’t advertise? So can the Minister answer that interesting quagmire he has now found himself in?

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Question 216-17(5): GNWT Employment Opportunities

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Thank you. The number of 571 is a snapshot on October 31, 2013, and that’s when those vacancies were positioned. However, throughout the year we advertise the jobs and fill the jobs. So, yes, I’m positive that there have been more vacancies since October 31st , but we won’t

know that number until we take another snapshot six months after that. We’re taking the PeopleSoft system and we’re taking it off the PeopleSoft on a semi-annual basis. Thank you.

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Question 216-17(5): GNWT Employment Opportunities

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

You would think it would be a very paramount job of the Minister of Human Resources to know exactly how many vacancies we have, not to wait to each quarter or semi-quarter, who knows how you want to paint it.

Why doesn’t the Minister, realizing how important this issue is, while the House is sitting, why doesn’t he know how many jobs are vacant because these are rolling vacancies if someone gets hired, somebody changes their mind and doesn’t want to work there anymore. So we have an average vacancy built up throughout the Northwest Territories government at all times.

Why doesn’t the Minister know what’s going on with these vacancies and about how many are available? Thank you.

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Question 216-17(5): GNWT Employment Opportunities

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Thank you. The PeopleSoft system is designed to give us snapshot reports. We use that as a management tool to hire, track, recruit, retain our employees and this was a snapshot that we provided to the House on October

2013 and we’ll do that again in April of 2014. We act accordingly. We continuously are attempting to fill positions. We work with the departments and it’s important for us that we make every effort to fill the vacancies and we do. Thank you.

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Question 216-17(5): GNWT Employment Opportunities

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Question 216-17(5): GNWT Employment Opportunities

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If anyone doesn’t know, apparently we use PeopleSoft, because I think it has been said at least seven times if not more. Maybe we should have the PeopleSoft program sitting in one of those seats answering all these questions because if we only have information from October and we don’t get new information until April, that has to be at least six months. This is such an important issue.

What is the Minister going to do to ensure Northerners have current information before them so they can apply for these jobs? Because I can tell you, up and down this Valley, all four corners of the Northwest Territories, people want to work and if nobody knows in that government, in that department where these jobs are, how will Northerners know? What will the Minister do? Thank you.

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Question 216-17(5): GNWT Employment Opportunities

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Thank you. We have recruitment and marketing strategies to fill vacancies. That’s what we’re doing. We’re working with the department. Every effort is being made. PeopleSoft is not actually a person; PeopleSoft is a system that we go to, to capture information from. Thank you.

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Question 216-17(5): GNWT Employment Opportunities

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu . A little bit of order here. Order! Okay, oral questions. The Member for Range Lake , Ms. Bisaro .

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Question 217-17(5): Review Of Inclusive Schooling

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to follow up on my Member’s statement and I have some questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment . I mentioned in my statement I’m looking at an inclusive schooling review that has been mentioned by the Minister a number of times and I think the latest statement by the Minister was that the Education Renewal and Innovation Initiative was going to involve a review of inclusive schooling. So the ERI work that either has taken place already or that is taking place now, I’d like to know whether or not the department has undertaken or will undertake as part of the ERI work, a review of the inclusive schooling funding formula. Thank you.

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Question 217-17(5): Review Of Inclusive Schooling

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro . Minister of Education, Culture and Employment , Mr. Lafferty .

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Question 217-17(5): Review Of Inclusive Schooling

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the whole inclusive schooling is part of the ERI that we are moving forward and developing an

action plan. We are currently in the process of reviewing the inclusive schooling directive and funding consultation, of course, engaging the education authorities. The review will be completed no later than the end of this year, 2013-14, because we want it to be part of the action plan as we move forward.

So, as I indicated, the education boards and the Northwest Territories Teachers’ Association will be part of the working group. We wanted to involve those individuals and that would have the most positive impact in the communities with all the school boards and the community members. So, yes, we will be reviewing. Mahsi.

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Question 217-17(5): Review Of Inclusive Schooling

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thanks to the Minister. I got a little confused there. The Minister started off saying that they were doing a review and then I think he said that they will do a review, so I’d like a little clarification.

Is the review underway, and if so, who is undertaking that review for the department? Is it an internal review or is it somebody external that is doing the review for the department?

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Question 217-17(5): Review Of Inclusive Schooling

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

What I said is it is under review. As part of the whole inclusive schooling, it will be part of the education renewal. That’s what I was referring to. Inclusive schooling is currently under review. By 2013-14, the end of this year, we want to have the product at hand. We are, as a department, going through the review process, again, working with the school boards and the superintendents, the NWTTA, through their program support teachers, engaging them and providing recommendations. Those recommendations will be brought forward to my attention and I will be sharing that with the standing committee in due time.

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Question 217-17(5): Review Of Inclusive Schooling

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thanks to the Minister. I’m glad to hear that something’s going to be done by the end of March. I think he said the end of ’13-14, so that’s in about three weeks’ time. I’m very glad to hear that. I didn’t hear an answer to my question of who is doing the review.

Has the department hired a contractor or are they doing the review internally?

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Question 217-17(5): Review Of Inclusive Schooling

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

When I said no later than the end of 2013-14, I want to bring this back to session in the spring session, the May and June Legislative Assembly. That is my overall target and goals and objectives to deliver that. I have to get back to the Member on who has been hired as a contractor to deliver this review of inclusive schooling as part of the education renewal.

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Question 217-17(5): Review Of Inclusive Schooling

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . Final, short supplementary, Ms. Bisaro .

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Question 217-17(5): Review Of Inclusive Schooling

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister. I look forward to receiving that

information on who is doing the review. The Minister indicates that we’re going to get something in the May/June session, and I appreciate that.

I guess I would like to ask the Minister, if the department has the review completed prior to that, would he circulate the review to Members, particularly the Standing Committee on Social Programs electronically prior to May/June?

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Question 217-17(5): Review Of Inclusive Schooling

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Once

the

information is available to me, then I will be more than willing to share that with the standing committee.

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Question 217-17(5): Review Of Inclusive Schooling

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . The Member for Mackenzie Delta , Mr. Blake .

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Question 218-17(5): Louis Cardinal Ferry Hours Of Operation

Oral Questions

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In January the Minister of Transportation accompanied me on a tour of the Mackenzie Delta and while we were in Tsiigehtchic the community asked a question to the department, so I’d like to also ask the same question to the Minister.

Has the department considered starting at 8:00 a.m. until midnight as suggested by the community of Tsiigehtchic?

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Question 218-17(5): Louis Cardinal Ferry Hours Of Operation

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Blake . The Minister of Transportation , Mr. Beaulieu .

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Question 218-17(5): Louis Cardinal Ferry Hours Of Operation

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we are considering that. We wrote to the contractor. I sent a letter off to the contractor asking if there were any issues or detriments to us following the hours that were suggested by the community of Tsiigehtchic.

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Question 218-17(5): Louis Cardinal Ferry Hours Of Operation

Oral Questions

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

A reason a lot of the Members wanted this change in hours was a lot of people are missing their flights to Inuvik because of the delays that happen in the morning.

I’d like to ask the Minister, will these hours be in place this coming spring?

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Question 218-17(5): Louis Cardinal Ferry Hours Of Operation

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

In the letter that I sent to the contractor, it is for this coming season. We had asked them to consider doing it this coming season. We had a very clear explanation from the community why that was an issue. It is sort of the crossing from Tsiigehtchic to both sides of the Mackenzie, as well, so we recognize there are delays there. We’ve put that in the letter and we’re asking that a decision be made for this season.

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Question 218-17(5): Louis Cardinal Ferry Hours Of Operation

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu . Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees

on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. Mr. Miltenberger .

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Tabled Document 55-17(5): Waste Reduction And Recovery Program 2012-2013 Annual Report

Tabling of Documents

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “Waste Reduction and Recovery Program, Annual Report.” Thank you.

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Tabled Document 55-17(5): Waste Reduction And Recovery Program 2012-2013 Annual Report

Tabling of Documents

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Mr. Ramsay .

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Tabled Document 56-17(5): 2013 Annual Report Northwest Territories Public Utilities Board

Tabling of Documents

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “2013 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Public Utilities Board.”

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Tabled Document 56-17(5): 2013 Annual Report Northwest Territories Public Utilities Board

Tabling of Documents

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . Mr. Dolynny .

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Tabled Document 57-17(5): Statistics Canada – Smoking Survey Excerpt From 2011 And 2012

Tabling of Documents

Daryl Dolynny

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two documents here, both from Statistics Canada. One is the percentage of residents who smoke in the Northwest Territories, 2011, at 34.9 percent; and smoking of 2012, at 35.8 percent.

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Tabled Document 58-17(5): Report Of The Auditor General Of Canada To The Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – 2014: Child And Family Services – Department Of Health And Social Services And Health And Social Services Authorities

Tabling of Documents

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny . I wish to table the report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – 2014: Child and Family Services – Department of Health and Social Services and Health and Social Services Authorities.

Item 15, notices of motion. Mr. Yakeleya .

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Motion 14-17(5): Expansion Of Policing And Nursing Services

Notices of Motion

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, March 6, 2014, I will move the

following motion:

now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake , that this Legislative Assembly strongly recommends that the government identify at least two priority communities for new nursing and/or policing services and provide those services within the 2014-15 fiscal year; and further, that by December 31, 2014, the government completes long-term plans working with community governments and including timelines for implementation to expand police and nursing services into the communities now lacking those services; and furthermore, that the government provide a comprehensive response to this motion within 120 days.

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Motion 14-17(5): Expansion Of Policing And Nursing Services

Notices of Motion

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Mr. Blake .

Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

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Bill 18:

An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act

Notices of Motion

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, March 6, 2014, I will move that Bill 18,

An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, be read for the first time.

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Bill 18:

An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act

Notices of Motion

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Blake . Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills.

Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, with Mrs. Groenewegen in the chair.

By the authority given to me as the Speaker, by Motion 10-17(5), I hereby authorize the House to sit beyond its daily hour of adjournment to consider business before the House.

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Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

Jane Groenewegen

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order this afternoon. I could read that list of documents, but I think I’ll just say there are numerous items before the committee today. I’d like to ask what is the wish of the committee. Ms. Bisaro .

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Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, we do have a lot in front of us. We wish to continue with Tabled Document 22-17(5), NWT Main Estimates 2014-2015. We’d like to start with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, then Public Works and Services, then the Executive, and then the Legislative Assembly. Thank you.

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Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro . Is committee agreed?

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Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. We will commence with that after a brief break.

---SHORT RECESS

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Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

Robert Bouchard

I will call Committee of the Whole to order. We are reviewing Tabled Document 22-17(5). Next on our list is Environment and Natural Resources. Committee agreed?

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Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

Robert Bouchard

Minister Miltenberger , do you have any opening comments?

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Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The 2014-2015 Main Estimates for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources propose total operational expenses of $87.5 million for the upcoming year. This represents a 22 percent or a $16 million increase from last year’s budget primarily for increased program and services due to devolution.

The mandate of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is to promote and support the sustainable use and development of our natural resources and to protect, conserve and enhance the environment for the social and economic benefit of all residents.

This mandate will be further strengthened as of April 1, 2014, when the department assumes responsibility for the management of onshore water resources.

During the 2014-15 fiscal year, activities within the department will increase to meet our enhanced role in the broader regulatory environment, particularly in the areas of water, conservation, environmental monitoring and stewardship.

A major expense is the creation of two new divisions for the department with $10.7 million allocated for the water resources division and $8.4 million for conservation, assessment and monitoring.

The water resources division will ensure the water resources stewardship and management objectives of our government are met in an integrated and timely manner.

Division staff will be responsible for providing technical advice to Northwest Territories boards that issue water licences; coordinating the process for ministerial approval of both Type A and B water licences; ensuring knowledge to make water resource management decisions and develop water resources programs is current and relevant to the Northwest Territories; and continuing the effective implementation of the Water Stewardship Strategy guided by the principles of ecosystem-based management within watersheds and the use of the

best available scientific, local and traditional knowledge.

The