Debates of Oct. 16th, 2008

This is page numbers 1689 to 1732 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library.

The word of the day was school .

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Minister’s Statement 106-16(2) 2008 Northern Economic Development Practitioners Conference

Minister’s Statement 107-16(2) Enhancement Of Resources For Youth Programming

Minister’s Statement 108-16(2) Apprenticeship And Occupational Certification Results

Tribute To The Late Cal Mains

GNWT Diamond Policies And Practices

RCMP Special Constable Program

Challenges To Home Ownership In Small Communities

High Cost Of Food In Nunakput Communities

Access To Adequate Housing For Professionals In Small Communities

Environmental Protection Of The Mackenzie River

Replacement Of Elders’ Fuel Tanks

Palliative Care Benefits Program

Increase To The Minimum Wage

Distribution Of “water Is Life” Documentary Film By Local Businessman

Committee Report 8-16(2) Interim Report On The Review Of The Official Languages Act 2008–2009

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Question 474-16(2) GNWT Diamond Policies And Practices

Question 475-16(2) Increase To The Minimum Wage

Question 476-16(2) Access To Adequate Housing For Small Community Teachers

Question 477-16(2) Challenges To Home Ownership In Small Communities

Question 478-16(2) Notification Of Hospital Bed Space In Alberta

Question 479-16(2) Retrofit Of Diamond Jenness Secondary School

Question 480-16(2) Replacement Of Elders’ Fuel Tanks

Question 481-16(2) Palliative Care Benefits Program

Question 482-16(2) RCMP Special Constable Program

Question 483-16(2) Environmental Protection Of The Mackenzie River

Question 484-16(2) Medical Care Provided To Northerners In Southern Institutions

Question 485-16(2) Medical Care Provided To Northerners In Southern Institutions

Question 486-16(2) Increase To The Minimum Wage

Question 487-16(2) Status Of The Joint Committee On Rural And Remote Communities

Question 488-16(2) Contract Terms With Alberta Capital Health Authority

Question 489-16(2) National Ranking Of The University Of Alberta Hospital

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Tabled Document 93-16(2): NWT Capital Estimates 2009–2010

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

Paul Delorey

Good afternoon, colleagues. Colleagues, it is with great sadness that I inform the House of the passing of former Deputy Commissioner Mr. Cal Mains. Mr. Mains was appointed Deputy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories by the Privy Council of Canada on October 25, 2001, and served until June 11, 2004.

Mr. Mains passed away on October 9, 2008. Services will be held for him today at 2 o’clock at the Anglican Church in Hay River. On behalf of all the Members of the Legislative Assembly I wish to offer the sincere condolences of this House to the family and friends of Calvin “Cal” Mains.

Orders of the Day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment , Mr. Bob McLeod .

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Minister’s Statement 106-16(2) 2008 Northern Economic Development Practitioners Conference

Ministers’ Statements

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform this Assembly that the Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation, in partnership with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Aboriginal Business Canada, will be hosting the third biennial Northern Economic Development Practitioners Conference in Yellowknife from December 1 to 4, 2008.

The theme for NEDP 2008 is Building Northern Capacity — an excellent fit with this Assembly’s goals and priorities for the development of our economy and our people.

Northern economic development practitioners — including community economic development officers, Community Futures staff, and federal and territorial government employees — all play a vital

role in meeting the needs of residents across the territory through the promotion and delivery of programs and services to our business community.

This conference will bring together approximately 100 economic development service providers from across the Northwest Territories. Participants will receive relevant training, increase their awareness of the programs and services available, and learn about future business prospects in the territory.

Mr. Speaker, NEDP 2008 will be an opportunity for practitioners to communicate directly with industry representatives and to make sure that the programs and services available to northern entrepreneurs are relevant, coordinated and focused on helping them to take advantage of development opportunities as they emerge.

In addition to the four host organizations, the conference planning committee includes the NWT Community Futures Association, the Rural Secretariat and the NWT Regional Program Management Advisory Committee. This project, Mr. Speaker, is an excellent example of how we are working together to ensure that our business community has the skills, knowledge and resources to realize its full potential.

I would like to thank the staff from the BDIC, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment and each of our partner organizations for their ongoing efforts to make this year’s Northern Economic Development Practitioners Conference a success.

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Minister’s Statement 106-16(2) 2008 Northern Economic Development Practitioners Conference

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Minister’s Statement 107-16(2) Enhancement Of Resources For Youth Programming

Ministers’ Statements

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, a priority of the 16th Legislative Assembly is to work with

families, communities and schools to improve the physical and mental well-being of our youth. An investment in the development of one of our most important resources, our youth, will help us achieve that objective.

The Youth Secretariat, within Municipal and Community Affairs, continues to promote healthy choices and lifestyles by improving youth programming in the Northwest Territories. Two new youth officer positions have been created in regional centres to provide support for all NWT communities and improve our ability to deliver on this commitment.

Mr. Speaker, MACA continues to deliver the Positive Role Models Program. This program involves positive role models from a variety of sectors travelling to our communities to deliver healthy lifestyle and positive choice messages to youth. In addition to the two new regional youth positions, existing staff, such as four-time Olympian Sharon Firth, are an integral part of this program.

The department is supporting additional regional youth conferences to provide a forum for youth to discuss important topics such as leadership and making healthy lifestyle choices. It is anticipated that several hundred youth will have the opportunity to participate in these events.

Mr. Speaker, one of the unique new elements of our youth programming will be the involvement of participants from prior youth initiatives. Over the past three years MACA has supported the participation of hundreds of youth from across the Northwest Territories in initiatives like the Youth Ambassador and the Northern Youth Abroad programs.

Many graduates of these programs have expressed an interest in being involved in future projects and helping other youth seek out positive opportunities for their own development. The department will now be actively recruiting these young leaders to participate in upcoming role model tours, youth conferences and other youth related events. While we assist these young people in achieving their goals, we will help develop the next generation of community leaders.

I ask Members to join me in expressing our appreciation and continued support to all youth of the NWT.

Applause.

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Minister’s Statement 107-16(2) Enhancement Of Resources For Youth Programming

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Minister’s Statement 108-16(2) Apprenticeship And Occupational Certification Results

Ministers’ Statements

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The past several months have been very busy for the Apprenticeship and Occupational Certification program. In 2007 a review of the program was

initiated by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. This review was commissioned to ensure the system remained responsive to the demand for tradespeople in the North and across Canada.

The review provided 22 recommendations, some of which were initiated immediately upon completion of the report. An executive

summary and an action plan addressing these recommendations were recently released to the public. These actions include changes to administrative and legislative processes, data collection, analysis and communications. These changes are streamlining activities, making the system more efficient for employers and tradespeople.

There is evidence of results, with the number of registered apprentices climbing by almost 25 per cent this fall, from about 320 for the past several years to just over 400 as of September 1, 2008. This increase in numbers may be in part because of changes to the apprenticeship system, but it also speaks to the increase in demand for tradespeople by employers.

Our apprenticeship program can be successful only if northern employers have jobs to fill. The Apprenticeship and Occupational Certification program is a natural and essential partnership between this government and employers. One of the first actions resulting from the review was the establishment of trades advisory committees for five key NWT trades. The employers and tradespeople who give their time to these committees will be key to maintaining current information about the needs and demands in specific trades.

I would like to thank all the stakeholders who participated in the review and whose recommendations have proved invaluable in maintaining the efficiency and effectiveness of the Apprenticeship and Occupational Certification program. I believe the review will have a real impact in ensuring that trades opportunities for Northerners continue to improve and flourish.

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Minister’s Statement 108-16(2) Apprenticeship And Occupational Certification Results

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Hay River South , Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Tribute To The Late Cal Mains

Members’ Statements

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I will devote my Member’s statement to the life and memory of Cal Mains. Mr. Mains is survived by his wife of 55 years, Alice, his daughters, Catherine and Anne, and his son, Sandy. Our condolences are extended to them at this time.

There is much to be celebrated of his life and his contribution to the North. Mr. Mains first moved to the North in 1950, serving as an RCMP officer in the communities of Aklavik, Herschel Islands and Tuktoyaktuk before retiring from the staff sergeant position in 1969 in Fort Smith. He also served for a time in the Yukon.

After retiring from the RCMP, Mr. Mains served as the deputy clerk of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories in Yellowknife. Mr. Mains is a veteran and a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, having served in the Canadian Navy during the Second World War.

Cal Mains is one of those quiet treasures whose presence made a significant impression on the people of the North for almost 60 years. During his 34 years in Hay River he was well known for his beautiful garden; his backyard was an oasis of colour and fragrance, with a screened gazebo where he and his wife, Alice, were able to enjoy the warm subarctic summer evenings.

He was an avid follower of local, territorial and federal politics. He had strong opinions about the issues of the day. He took his involvement in community and country very seriously. In that sense I would characterize him not only as a notable Northerner but an amazing Canadian who captured many of the things that we as Canadians are known for and take our greatest pride in.

This past Canada Day I took a photograph of him with his wife and his daughter Catherine at the high tea sponsored by the Hay River Museum Society. He was a very tall and striking man, very photogenic and often photographed at Legion Remembrance Day services and community events. It didn’t enter my mind that day that this could be the last picture I would take of him; he enjoyed relatively good health until his recent illness.

His family, friends and neighbours in Hay River will miss him. He was a gentleman, devoted partner, dedicated father and friend who lived his life with integrity, honour and a serving nature. I will personally miss his support, encouragement and sense of humour.

His funeral will start in Hay River at 2 o’clock, where his family and friends will gather. I wish I could be there, but I know that Cal would understand my commitment to my duties here today. May he rest in peace.

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Tribute To The Late Cal Mains

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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GNWT Diamond Policies And Practices

Members’ Statements

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to discuss the issue of diamonds and diamond policy today. The Northwest Territories produces almost 15 per cent of the global production of diamonds. We are the third largest producer of gem diamonds in the world today.

The city of Yellowknife is known as the Diamond Capital of North America, and rightly so, as we’ve been mining diamonds just north of the city for over ten years. We have four operating diamond mines in our territory. Yet as a government I believe we have been failing to ensure that our territory can benefit as much as possible from our diamond resources.

The last government made a number of bad decisions. One of those was to do away with the diamond division at ITI. We need to get to work on updating and enhancing our diamond policy. And here’s a news flash: the Northwest Territories is not the only jurisdiction mining diamonds in Canada. Ontario, Saskatchewan and Quebec are moving forward with projects. The Victor Mine in northern Ontario has made Ontario a player in the diamond industry. Unlike the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Government of Ontario is taking the opportunity in diamonds seriously.

They are looking at cut and polish plants in places like Timmins and Sudbury, and there’s also a great deal of interest in the establishment of a diamond bourse, or exchange, which is well underway in southern Canada. Town hall meetings were held recently in August in Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto to discuss the feasibility of a diamond bourse in Canada.

On June 19 of this year I predicted that other jurisdictions would pass us by. Mr. Speaker, this is happening, and we should be ashamed of ourselves. For a jurisdiction that has four operating mines, this is inexcusable.

After ten years a review of policies, objectives and strategies is long overdue. I’m afraid we just don’t get it or we just don’t understand what our potential is here in the Northwest Territories. There is no reason why we cannot set up a diamond bourse, or exchange, here in the rightful diamond capital of North America. If you have the diamonds, people will come, and there are examples of this around the world.

The fact remains that we are not progressing in this area. We need more value added industry in our territory. Why is it we are just sitting back and letting Ontario steal our thunder? I get the feeling that the Government of the Northwest Territories just does not care about diamonds and what their potential means to our economy and to our territory.

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GNWT Diamond Policies And Practices

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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RCMP Special Constable Program

Members’ Statements

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to talk about the RCMP Special Constable program and the important role it can play in community justice. In the past I can remember that this program was an excellent way of recruiting aboriginal police officers. Also having local individuals serve as special constables worked well for both communities and the RCMP.

Unfortunately, because of the mobility nature of RCMP members relocating from one community to another after only a few years, it can present a challenge to the RCMP to maintain continuity. With the Special Constable program this situation can be resolved.

In smaller communities it is not uncommon to find residents who are quite happy to live in these communities. They grew up there; their families and friends are there. These individuals have no plan to leave their community. Some of these individuals may have aspirations to work as RCMP members. Many can already be counted on to volunteer for security when it comes to helping out with community events.

With the Special Constable program these community individuals can now pursue their aspirations with the RCMP and not have to leave their communities. In addition to these individuals, the Special Constable program can be an excellent way to recruit new regular members as special constables. They can get real, on the job training, work with members and learn all about the RCMP. With this experience they are able to make a better decision about taking the next steps to become regular RCMP members or to remain in the community as special constables.

Here in the Northwest Territories I believe there can be a real benefit to the communities and the RCMP by having a Special Constable program. I have been waiting for an announcement on this. I believe that announcement was to be made this fall. However, with the recent federal election I’m not sure when the announcement will be made. Later on today I will follow up my statement with questions for the Minister of Justice .

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RCMP Special Constable Program

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Challenges To Home Ownership In Small Communities

Members’ Statements

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Mr. Speaker, one of the biggest issues for my constituents in Jean Marie River and other small Deh Cho communities is that they cannot afford to become homeowners, even with the program the Government of the Northwest Territories has in place.

There are not a lot of economic opportunities in my region, making it difficult for people to take on the responsibility of home ownership. Even if they qualify for a mortgage, Mr. Speaker, it is often beyond their means when you factor in their other monthly costs like groceries, vehicle payments and other expenses.

As I travel to the communities in my constituency, there are houses that sit empty while many families have serious housing needs. People want to be homeowners, but the cost of living makes that goal out of their reach. One of the challenges is the way the Housing Corporation calculates the core needs income threshold.

As I understand it, the way the income threshold for the home ownership program assistance is calculated is based on the construction costs, land costs, interest rates and shelter costs of a particular community. What isn’t factored in to this is an extremely high cost of living in all our smaller communities. If the core need income threshold included an adjustment that took into account the cost of living differentials between communities, it could bring the cost of home ownership down to a more affordable level for many residents in our small communities.

Interest rates are another part of the core needs income threshold calculation that could be examined. If a percentage of the mortgage rate were subsidized by the Housing Corporation, it could be used as another tool that could make home ownership more affordable for NWT residents.

The NWT Housing Corporation is trying to promote home ownership, but for many people the costs are just too high. We all agree that having a good home is the foundation to a healthy, secure and independent lifestyle. We need to make sure that the programs that are in place to support this goal actually work. I urge the Minister responsible to review the way in which home ownership assistance is calculated to make home ownership more affordable in our smaller communities. Mahsi Cho, Mr. Speaker.

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Challenges To Home Ownership In Small Communities

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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High Cost Of Food In Nunakput Communities

Members’ Statements

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Calculating and comparing the cost of food in communities such as Sachs Harbour — it’s a large centre — can often be complex and tedious. Various models can be used along with certain programs. However, results of these are always the same: it is impossible for an average family in Nunakput in the NWT on an average income to practise healthy eating.

Mr. Speaker, my region of Nunakput is by far the most expensive in the region. If it comes to the cost of eating healthy — the situation being equal dollar for dollar — people in Nunakput live in poverty conditions more than any other riding in the Northwest Territories because of this high cost of food. This has to change.

While travelling through my region, I see many people at the airport stuffing their bags full of groceries even after paying $5.77 per kilogram for excess baggage. This means that a carton of milk costs $4 in Inuvik, and in the communities it would be $10. Other purchase options such as food mail possess a unique set of challenges and costs. I think this is a great shame, for many of our elders in Nunakput have to choose between food or various health care related expenses.

While visiting elders across Nunakput, I see a growing trend: empty cupboards and refrigerators in our great territory. This is unacceptable. Many communities in the North have food banks and alternative access to healthy eating. We are not so fortunate in my small communities. As I have mentioned during our previous sittings, the cost of living in Nunakput is around 81 per cent higher than in Yellowknife, but when it comes to specific consumables necessary for healthy living, the difference can be as high as 300 per cent.

This government has a choice. Are we going to treat those who are in small isolated communities the same when it comes to tackling active, healthy living? Mr. Speaker I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Unanimous consent granted

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High Cost Of Food In Nunakput Communities

Members’ Statements

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

The large community and small isolated communities are the same. Has it come to active living barriers, or is this government going to seriously implement realistic measures to obtain affordable, accessible and reliable food for all Northerners? We owe this to our elders, our residents and our communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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High Cost Of Food In Nunakput Communities

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Access To Adequate Housing For Professionals In Small Communities

Members’ Statements

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to talk about the core challenges being faced by our communities.

You may have been listening to the radio during the last day, this morning and this afternoon, in regard to the housing crisis we have in our community, providing housing to our professional people who are supplying services from education to policing to health care, mental health, social services, SAOs, band managers — you name it. Without adequate housing in our communities for professionals to provide those services, those services will not be acted on.

Mr. Speaker, a critical component of any society is to ensure that the social and economic well-being of the community is sustained by ensuring that programs and services operate, such as education, health care, policing and municipal services. Yet we find ourselves in a predicament that was dealt with several years ago in regard to a government initiative called market housing in communities to provide housing where there was a non-market community.

As we hear in the news, teachers have to face the challenge of finding housing and the high cost of operating and maintaining units in our communities. The situation is not unique to any particular community or region, but it is essentially clear that those communities that are affected most by this scenario are the non tax based, non market communities. As a government we have a responsibility to find unique initiatives, unique ways of dealing with these challenges.

I don’t want to use the bad words by saying staff housing, but we might have to face the reality that that’s what it possibly will be. This government decision, made in the 13th Assembly, to sell off staff

housing has come back to haunt us. As a government we have a responsibility to ensure that everything is done either through Market Housing Initiatives, assistance through loan guarantees — such as corporate loan guarantees, which are provided to the Housing Corporation — and any other initiative that can be there to assist communities.

Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment questions on this matter later. Mahsi.

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Access To Adequate Housing For Professionals In Small Communities

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Environmental Protection Of The Mackenzie River

Members’ Statements

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the Thanksgiving weekend I spent some time in Fort Providence with my father-in-law, and there we spent some time on the Mackenzie River. I thought about that the time I was there, when we put the net in and we caught some fish. I thought about the Mackenzie River in terms of the type of protection that the Mackenzie River is receiving now, the type of protection that it should receive if we are not protecting it.

I was looking at the Deh Cho Bridge. I’ve been on the Mackenzie River and the Sahtu. We have to use that portion of the Mackenzie River as a highway, because we do not yet have the highway to drive into our region. I thought about this with my little boy as we were on the Mackenzie River: what types of protection, at the end of the day, are we giving to the Mackenzie River in terms of the fuel spill that happened on the Mackenzie River?

The transportation route as proposed by ATCLand another company in terms of barging down huge supplies for the Alberta tar sands…. Even the tar sands is coming up in our discussions many times in terms of when it will stop and how it is affecting the people on the Mackenzie River.

The Mackenzie River is homeland to Inuvialuit, the Métis and the Dene people. It is rich in culture, rich in history. It has lots of animals: fish, caribou, lynx. We live off the land. Mr. Speaker, we do have a tool that is in front of us right now called the Protected Areas Strategy. This tool is to help us protect our land and water. At the end of the day that is going to sustain our life for generations to come, and I want to state that this area has been talked about by many elders in the past in terms of how we protect water and land.

We cannot drink oil; we cannot drink gas or money, but the water is the containment. The second tool that we have is called the NWT Water Resource Management Strategy. There is lots of pressure on our water system. It’s very sacred and very sensitive and very culturally rooted to our lives in the Mackenzie Valley.

I would have questions to the Minister of ENR in terms of how he proposes to protect the Mackenzie Valley. I would like our people in the Mackenzie Valley to be put first, before development, so we know that we could put this into our books of history — a thought that it is very good for our children. Thank you.

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Environmental Protection Of The Mackenzie River

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Replacement Of Elders’ Fuel Tanks

Members’ Statements

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In 2006 two fuel spills occurred in the community of N’dilo as a result of old leaking fuel tanks at the private residences of elders. Neither of these elders had house insurance, and the Yellowknife Dene First Nation now faces a bill of $163,000 to remediate the spill.

These spills could easily have been prevented, which makes the environmental and financial costs that much more regrettable. The Yellowknife Dene First Nation has been in contact with the Housing Corporation on two separate occasions over eight months and has not received a formal response to the request for fuel tank replacement.

As of right now the Housing Corp has still not taken a proactive response to fuel tank replacement through the Contributing Assistance for Repairs and Enhancements program, or CARE. Both of the elders who had spills on their property had low incomes and would have been eligible for the CARE program. The Yellowknife Dene has shown its own initiative to prevention by replacing ten aging fuel tanks in public housing and buildings in their communities.

The Housing Corporation has failed to show a similar commitment of its own by implementing similar measures for private residences eligible for the CARE program. The policy is only useful if it is implemented in a way that actually benefits those who are under its mandate.

The Yellowknife Dene Housing Division has conducted an inventory of the fuel tanks of low income elders from the two communities, which they have submitted to the Housing Corp. The Housing Corporation has a responsibility through the CARE program to fund and implement a program to replace the aging tanks in these communities before there are more costly fuel spills. There are about 18 elders that might fit the bill there.

Unnecessary spills represent a huge waste of financial and human resources at a time when both are in short supply. Also, there is significant destruction to the elders’ lives with each event. This government is supposed to be about prevention. Instead of choosing to deal with leaky fuel tanks as and when they occur, let’s choose to be progressive, replace these tanks immediately and show the elders the respect and leadership they and our land deserve.

I will be asking the Minister of Housing questions on this. Mahsi.

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Replacement Of Elders’ Fuel Tanks

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Palliative Care Benefits Program

Members’ Statements

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In February 2008 I asked the Minister of Health and Social Services questions about the palliative care drug approval process for residents of the Northwest Territories who have been diagnosed as palliative. In April the Minister sent me a letter indicating the department was taking steps to simplify the process for approving coverage of palliative care drugs and that the process would be in place by this past summer.

Last week when I asked the Minister to provide me with an update, she indicated, according to the unedited Hansard of October 8, 2008, that “we have a process now where as long as the doctor says in the application for medication to Green Shield or whoever is administering our health insurance that it’s palliative care, Green Shield has been processing the documents on a 24-hour turnaround basis.”

This is great. Unfortunately, it is not consistent with the way that it is actually working on the front line. Both before and after I asked my questions of the Minister last week, I checked with a number of pharmacists to see how the implementation was proceeding and whether or not palliative patients are experiencing quicker turnaround time. None of the pharmacists I talked to have received notification that there were, or are, new processes in place related to palliative care patients. All of them were able to identify recent situations for palliative care patients who are experiencing delays in obtaining their much needed palliative care medication.

Based on this, I don’t understand how the Minister can state as she did in the unedited Hansard of October 8, 2008, that it is “working out really well.” During the May–June session I asked the Minister to work with the pharmacists in the NWT on developing and implementing a process that would help palliative care patients. I believe that for the benefit of their clients they would still like to have input and help the government streamline these processes.

Residents of the NWT who have been declared as palliative need to be treated with dignity and respect and should not be forced to wait for much needed pain management medication due to the overly bureaucratic processes and procedures of the Department of Health and Social Services.

Later this afternoon I will be asking the Minister of the Department of Health and Social Services

questions concerning the new palliative care benefit process and procedures. I will be seeking the Minister’s commitment to work with NWT pharmacists, the frontline providers of any system put in place by the department, to ensure that they are engaged and that palliative patients are not waiting for the required medications. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Palliative Care Benefits Program

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Increase To The Minimum Wage

Members’ Statements

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the past few months Members have talked a lot about the high cost of living. Gas prices at the pumps have skyrocketed, the cost of home heating fuel has increased dramatically, landlords are increasing rents, power rates are going up and groceries and other commodities are costing us more. But the NWT has not raised its minimum wage since December 23, 2003.

We have been at $8.25 for five years. For comparison purposes I would like to provide a few examples from other Canadian jurisdictions. In April of this year Alberta raised their minimum wage to $8.40. The Yukon went to $8.58, and Manitoba went to $8.50. Saskatchewan increased their minimum wage twice this year. It is now at $8.60, and they will increase it once again in 2009 to $9.25. Nunavut’s minimum wage is $10. Other provinces already have or will be increasing their minimum wage in 2008 or 2009, and some of them have established yearly increases going forward. Ontario will soon see a minimum wage of $10.25.

Yet in the NWT, where we have one of the highest costs of living in Canada, we have a minimum wage that has been fixed at $8.25 since 2003. The Premier in his Budget Address on May 22 of this year stated that for NWT residents, especially those in small and remote communities, living costs are among the highest in Canada. Prince Edward Island is the only province with a lower minimum wage than us. We have the second lowest minimum wage in all of Canada, unchanged since 2003, but our consumer price index has gone up by 8.3 per cent since 2003.

It is time for an adjustment, Mr. Speaker. A recent

article in the local paper called Looking Back showed that five years ago, when our minimum wage went up to $8.25, people could not live on the minimum wage even with the increase. Managers suggested in 2003 that the minimum wage should be at least $9, yet here we are five years later and the minimum wage amount has not changed.

How can we talk about raising taxes when we haven’t raised the minimum wage in the last five

years? I say we can’t. What we can do, Mr. Speaker, is plan for an increase to our minimum wage as soon as possible. I expect to see it reflected in the ’09–10 operations budget. Thank you.

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Increase To The Minimum Wage

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Distribution Of “water Is Life” Documentary Film By Local Businessman

Members’ Statements

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to use my Member’s statement today to trumpet the efforts of one individual in our business community, in our Yellowknife private sector, who stepped up to the plate, when government sometimes is uncomfortable, on environmental education for youth.

That person is Yellowknife’s Chris Johnston. He heard last week the lukewarm answers from our Premier about purchasing the documentary film “Water is Life.” He heard — and I quote from the October 7, 2008, page 22, unedited Hansard — that we will be prepared to “try and see what we can do to get this information out to all the students in the Northwest Territories. We ourselves are undertaking a number of issues to get on top of the water situation.”

Mr. Speaker, if someone in the business community hears and uses the phrase “we’ll think about it and maybe get back to you” or even words as veiled or not so veiled — no. Chris Johnston believes that the foundation of our youth is built with the knowledge and understanding of the world and most certainly the importance of the environmental issues in our North and in our community.

So when he said that he would buy all of those videos for all of our northern high schools, I was quite shocked and amazed and certainly excited to hear this. When he contacted me, he felt so strongly about this issue, that the government wasn’t clearly saying yes to help our youth of today, he said he would help our youth of today, because they are leaders of tomorrow and they need to be armed with knowledge and understanding of the issues of today.

He said this without any hesitation and felt it was unacceptable that it wasn’t a clear yes from the Premier ; he said he would be willing to do it. Chris Johnston is mindful of the youth. He cares very much about them. He is very strongly committed to his community and his family. He believes strongly in our North and the environment we are living in and where we will be living in the future. That is why he is doing this. He feels that he has to step up

as a business, that he needs to be committed to the North, and he feels he wants to demonstrate this.

Mr. Speaker, this is a fine example of where a business is leading on this initiative and shows the North that business cares too. I want to compliment the efforts of this young businessman in Yellowknife, Mr. Chris Johnston, for his community efforts. Thank you.

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Distribution Of “water Is Life” Documentary Film By Local Businessman

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . Item 4, reports of standing and special committees. The honourable Member for Nahendeh , Mr. Menicoche .

Reports of Standing and Special Committees

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Committee Report 8-16(2) Interim Report On The Review Of The Official Languages Act 2008–2009

Members’ Statements

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Standing Committee on Government Operations is pleased to present its Interim Report on the Review of the Official Languages Act 2008–2009.

Section 35 of the Official Languages Act requires the Legislative Assembly or a special committee of the Assembly to conduct a review of the act “at the next session following December 31, 2007, and subsequently at the next session following each successive fifth anniversary of that date.” In accordance with this statutory requirement, the 16th Legislative Assembly adopted a motion on February 11, 2008, referring the review of the provisions and operation of the Official Languages Act to the Standing Committee on Government Operations.

Mr. Speaker, I will ask my colleague Mr. Jackie Jacobson to continue with the report. Mahsi.

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Committee Report 8-16(2) Interim Report On The Review Of The Official Languages Act 2008–2009

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche . Mr. Jacobson .

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Committee Report 8-16(2) Interim Report On The Review Of The Official Languages Act 2008–2009

Members’ Statements

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Background

The 14th Legislative Assembly initiated the Special

Committee on the Review of the Official Languages Act (SCROLA) in 2001. SCROLA tabled its comprehensive final report in 2003. The report identified 65 recommendations and suggested implementation and investment schedules for these recommendations. The GNWT tabled a response to this report in 2003.

Amendments to the Official Languages Act were made during the last session of the 14th Legislative

Assembly. These changes introduced an Aboriginal Languages Revitalization Board, an Official Languages Board, and new roles for the Languages Commissioner and the Minister. The act requires a review after five years.

The SCROLA review was comprehensive and provided much background research into the socio-linguistic field of language preservation and revitalization. The findings of the Special Committee on the Review of the Official Languages Act in this regard are still valid and usable, allowing the scope of this five-year review to focus specifically on the requirements as set out in the act itself.

Mr. Speaker, I will ask my colleague Mr. Hawkins to continue.

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Committee Report 8-16(2) Interim Report On The Review Of The Official Languages Act 2008–2009

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson . Mr. Hawkins .

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Committee Report 8-16(2) Interim Report On The Review Of The Official Languages Act 2008–2009

Members’ Statements

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The 2008–2009 Review will examine:

whether progress has been made since the changes to the Official Languages Act in 2003;

whether the government implements and

administers the act effectively and efficiently;

whether the objectives and goals of the

preamble are being met;

whether the changed roles and responsibilities of the Minister responsible for Official Languages improved the administration and implementation of the act;

whether the changed role of the Languages Commissioner as an ombudsperson improved the implementation of the act;

whether the new Official Languages Board has met its mandate to review the rights, status and use of official languages; and

whether the Aboriginal Languages Revitalization Board has fulfilled its mandate to promote, maintain and revitalize aboriginal languages.

Steps for the 2008–2009 Review

The Standing Committee on Government Operations plans the following steps for the review of the Official Languages Act.

Literature and Document Review

The literature and document review covers an extensive selection of documents from the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Languages Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, other stakeholders and non-government organizations of the NWT. The review also considers literature from other Canadian jurisdictions, international organizations, and examples of language policy and activities.

Input from Aboriginal Languages Specialists and Frontline Workers

Aboriginal language specialists and frontline workers participated in surveys, interviews and regional focus groups during June, July and August 2008.

One hundred sixty-nine aboriginal language specialists and frontline workers were surveyed; 69 participants responded, which translates into a response rate of 41 per cent. All nine aboriginal official languages were represented in the response. The aboriginal language specialists and frontline workers were asked questions relating to:

the Official Languages Act;

the SCROLA recommendations;

their awareness of the implementation of these recommendations;

government services and communication with the public;

training for language specialists and frontline workers;

their awareness of language revitalization

activities from the government and the Aboriginal Languages Revitalization Board; and

community language activities.

Aboriginal language instructors, interpreter/translators and other community based aboriginal language specialists participated in eight regional focus groups. These groups discussed issues around language revitalization and obligations arising from the Official Languages Act.

Some of the highlights are captured in the “Emerging Themes”

section of this interim report. The standing committee’s final report will include a detailed

chapter on the findings of both the survey results and focus groups discussions.

The standing committee appreciates the Ministers’ support for this undertaking, in particular for sharing information and for contacting the education and health authorities to ensure they are aware of this consultation by the committee.

Mr. Speaker, I will ask my colleague Mr. Abernethy to continue the report. Thank you.

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Committee Report 8-16(2) Interim Report On The Review Of The Official Languages Act 2008–2009

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . Mr. Abernethy .

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Committee Report 8-16(2) Interim Report On The Review Of The Official Languages Act 2008–2009

Members’ Statements

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Community Visits and Public Hearings

The committee conducted community visits and public hearings in September 2008. The committee held public hearings in Délînê, Fort McPherson, Fort Resolution, Fort Simpson, Fort Smith, Inuvik and Yellowknife. The committee also had meetings with community aboriginal language groups in Behchoko, Dettah, Délînê, Fort McPherson, Fort Resolution, Fort Simpson, Fort Smith, K’atlodeeche (Hay River Reserve) and Inuvik. To ensure all aboriginal language community groups had a chance to participate, they were invited to attend the meetings for their language group. Representatives from Fort Providence, Ulukhaktok, Fort Liard, Trout Lake, Kakisa, Fort Good Hope and Tulita took

part in meetings on the Hay River Reserve and in Inuvik, Fort Simpson and Délînê.

Most gatherings were well attended, and the standing committee heard many engaged contributions addressing language issues and concerns. The vast majority of contributions during the public hearings were made by members of aboriginal language groups. The

committee

regretted that there were no contributions from the French speaking public.

Some highlights of what the members of the standing committee heard during its community visits are captured in the “Emerging Themes”

section of this interim report. A more detailed

summary will be included in the final report on the review of the Official Languages Act.

Public Committee Meetings

The standing committee expects to hear from witnesses at public committee meetings in late 2008. Witnesses will include the Minister responsible for Official Languages, the Languages Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, representatives of the Aboriginal Languages Revitalization Board and the Official Languages Board, the NWT Bureau of Statistics, the Fédération Franco Ténoise and the NWT Literacy Council.

Additional Input from the Public

The standing committee is providing further opportunities for public input. The public is encouraged to complete a questionnaire that is posted on the Assembly’s website and available from the Legislative Assembly as a paper copy upon request. This questionnaire is available until November 21, 2008. In addition, members of the public are welcome to provide written submissions to the committee. Submissions are accepted until November 14, 2008.

Final Report

The Standing Committee on Government Operations will analyze and evaluate the findings of all steps undertaken during the review and will report back to the Legislative Assembly. The final report on the Official Languages Act review will be completed and tabled in the spring of 2009. This report will include the summaries of all review steps and the committee’s analysis and evaluation. The committee may make recommendations on how to improve the effectiveness, administration and implementation of the Official Languages Act.

Emerging Themes of the 2008–2009 Review

People are concerned about the dire situation of aboriginal languages in the Northwest Territories. They worry about the survival of their languages and how they can be kept alive as languages of everyday use. There is a great awareness of the connection between language and cultural identity and that language loss has non-reversible impacts on the culture and identity of aboriginal peoples of the Northwest Territories.

The intergenerational gap of language and traditional knowledge is growing to an extent never seen before. Elders describe this gap as a total communication breakdown, because their grandchildren no longer speak the same language.

People are also disillusioned and frustrated with the lack of accountability for implementing government commitments relating to official languages.

The lack of interpreter/translators in the health and justice systems, the lack of adequate training for these interpreters and the need for on-going terminology development and standardization in an ever-changing modern environment was brought to the standing committee’s attention in every community.

Mr. Speaker, I’ll ask my colleague Mr. Krutko to continue. Thank you.

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Committee Report 8-16(2) Interim Report On The Review Of The Official Languages Act 2008–2009

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy . Mr. Krutko .

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Committee Report 8-16(2) Interim Report On The Review Of The Official Languages Act 2008–2009

Members’ Statements

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Participants also identified shortcomings within the education and school systems; for example:

aboriginal languages curriculum development and implementation is slow and under-resourced;

language instruction often does not extend

beyond elementary school grades;

lack of accountability to ensure language

funding for schools is used for language activities; and

insufficient support, resources and training for aboriginal language and cultural instructors.

This being said, people also acknowledged that some progress has been made; for example, in the development of aboriginal language curricula and with the start of some language nest programs. At the same time, participants repeatedly expressed that if government is serious about its role in aboriginal language revitalization, then the implementation of such programs needs to be accelerated and resourced adequately in order to counteract the language decline, particularly among children and younger adults.

While some people had heard of the Official Languages Board and the Aboriginal Languages Revitalization Board, most did not understand their roles and mandates or why two language boards exist. Participants also did not know who the board representatives are and are generally critical about the boards’ capacity to develop on-going relationships and communication with the community language groups, frontline workers and advocates. In addition, the appointment process for the boards, their dependent relationship with the Minister’s office and the lack of powers and resources were questioned frequently.

Participants also found the absence of any reporting mechanism or any publicly available information relating to the activities of the boards inconsistent with their mandate and intended purpose.

Mr. Speaker, I will now pass the report back to the Chair of the Committee, Mr. Menicoche .

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Committee Report 8-16(2) Interim Report On The Review Of The Official Languages Act 2008–2009

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko . Mr. Menicoche .

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Committee Report 8-16(2) Interim Report On The Review Of The Official Languages Act 2008–2009

Members’ Statements

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and thank you very much, colleagues.

There was general concern about the role and functions of the Languages Commissioner: People did not know who the incumbent is or what the commissioner does. There was no awareness of the changed role and responsibilities of the commissioner. Participants stated repeatedly that they had not seen the commissioner in their communities, nor did they know whether annual reports were published.

The messages the standing committee received with regard to community language funding were unified, loud and clear:

The major obstacle of the community language funding is that the small amounts do not match the needs for essential resources and

programs that could contribute to the survival of the aboriginal languages.

There is no funding consistency.

There are too many interruptions in the

programs due to lack of funding.

Insufficient funding also prevents program

expansions for adult language and literacy learners and pre-school programs. Such programs would be crucial for the revitalization of the aboriginal languages.

The allocation by regions and by language

groups does not consider needs.

Existing community language funding is

minimal and insufficient, not allowing for year-round programming. The proposal-based year-to-year funding forces staff and community volunteers to spend their time on proposal writing and in search of funding sources instead of on program delivery.

Information is difficult to find about funding

sources, criteria and the application process. Participants stressed that this is of particular concern when considering the expectations put on the communities, with the Official Languages Act acknowledging their essential role for language revitalization.

In several locations the standing committee was also reminded of its role to hold government accountable for its commitments to language activities and its responsibilities under the act. Those participants who were aware of the 2003 SCROLA recommendations remarked on the lack of implementation and lack of transparency of government commitments and activities. People asked the members of the standing committee to play a more active oversight and accountability role; for example, insisting on detailed implementation and progress reports.

Conclusion

The standing committee wishes to thank all the language specialists and frontline workers who participated in the survey and focus groups. Committee members express their grateful thanks to all those who welcomed us into their communities and to all residents who attended the public hearings and made contributions. Members of the standing committee are thankful to all community language groups for sharing their insights and expertise.

Members are committed to achieving the objectives of this review as stated in the Official Languages Act. The Standing Committee on Government Operations anticipates tabling this final report in the spring of 2009.

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre , that Committee Report 8-16(2) be received and adopted. Mahsi.

Motion carried.

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Committee Report 8-16(2) Interim Report On The Review Of The Official Languages Act 2008–2009

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Thebacha , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure today to be able to stand and recognize Mr. Jim Schaefer, a respected elder and former chief of the Salt River First Nation and one of the architects of their treaty land entitlement agreement with the federal government. As well, Ms. Denise Yuhas is a successful businesswoman and one of the best CAs in the business.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

I’m pleased today to recognize a constituent from Kakisa, who is the subchief of the community and is also their oil and gas adviser. He’s a private contractor and president of the Aboriginal Sport Circle and many other things: Mr. Julian Landry. Also Allan Landry from Kakisa. I’d like to welcome him, and also Mr. Ted Nolan, who’s a former NHL hockey player and coach. I’m also told he played with the Coldwell Banker Blades for one tournament here in Yellowknife.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

I’d like to recognize three pages from Yellowknife South

Edward Coad,

Emily Thagard and Lucas Othmer

and thank

them for the excellent service they provided over the past two weeks.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

I’d also like to recognize a page, Kathleen Falck of Weledeh, and I’d like to thank all the pages for the great service here. I think one of our Members today learned protocol from one of the pages on his way into the House, so they’re doing their job.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bromley . I welcome everybody in the gallery today. I hope you’re enjoying the proceedings.

Item 7, acknowledgements. Item 8, oral questions. The honourable Member for Kam Lake , Mr. Ramsay .

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Question 474-16(2) GNWT Diamond Policies And Practices

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to ask some questions today of the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, and it gets back to my Member’s statement where I was talking about the government’s support to the diamond industry and the value added industry here in the Northwest Territories.

It seems to me that the 14th Legislative Assembly

— some of my colleagues in this room were Members at that time — was very supportive of diamonds in the Northwest Territories and what they meant. But for some reason the 15th Legislative Assembly dropped the ball on diamonds. They did away with the diamond division at ITI, and support for the diamond policy and strategy sank to an all time low.

Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by asking the Minister of ITI : where exactly is our diamond policy and a strategy on trying to get the most out of our diamond industry here in the Northwest Territories?

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Question 474-16(2) GNWT Diamond Policies And Practices

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 474-16(2) GNWT Diamond Policies And Practices

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I agree with the Member that we are the diamond capital of North America, but we don’t have a monopoly on diamonds. We recognized that other provinces and territories would be finding diamonds and developing their diamonds as well.

It’s been ten years since we had the good fortune of having diamonds discovered in the Northwest Territories. We are now undertaking a policy review of diamonds and will be looking forward to getting input from the Members. We are in the process of developing a discussion paper which will help guide us in our review.

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Question 474-16(2) GNWT Diamond Policies And Practices

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Like I have mentioned previously in this House and earlier today, time is of the essence here. I don’t think we can afford, as a government, to drag our heels much longer on finding out exactly where it is that we want to take the diamond industry here in the Northwest Territories.

Earlier today I spoke of a feasibility study that’s looking at the possibility of opening a diamond exchange, or bourse, here in Canada. There were meetings held in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. Where was the Government of the Northwest Territories in this feasibility study? Were they anywhere to be found?

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Question 474-16(2) GNWT Diamond Policies And Practices

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

The diamond bourse provides for the facilitated sale of rough and polished

diamonds. This is something that our government looked at initially, when diamonds were first discovered. We determined at that time that we would get more value added by making sure that rough diamonds were made available for the secondary diamond industry. So we have proceeded on that basis. We are now reviewing our policy to see whether we should be looking at diamond bourses.

Ontario held these workshops in a number of locations across Canada. It was organized by a former resident of the Northwest Territories. The NWT attended and participated in these sessions.

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Question 474-16(2) GNWT Diamond Policies And Practices

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

I know we’ve helped out other jurisdictions in terms of policy development, because they’re new into the game, into the diamond business. Will the Minister provide us, whether it’s the House or the EDI committee, with the submission that the government gave to this feasibility study group? At any time was it suggested that a diamond bourse, or diamond exchange, should be located in the diamond capital of North America? That’s here in Yellowknife, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 474-16(2) GNWT Diamond Policies And Practices

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

The Government of Ontario looked at establishing a diamond bourse so that smaller jewellery companies could find a place to buy diamonds. As far as I know, the report has not been submitted as of yet. As soon as that’s available, we’ll make sure that it’s available to all the Members of the Assembly. We will be giving a briefing to the standing committee next week on the diamond policy.

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Question 474-16(2) GNWT Diamond Policies And Practices

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 474-16(2) GNWT Diamond Policies And Practices

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister: was the Government of the Northwest Territories there as observers, or were we actually there presenting our case so that a diamond bourse, an exchange, could be located here in the Northwest Territories, where we have four operating diamond mines in our territory?

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Question 474-16(2) GNWT Diamond Policies And Practices

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

The Government of the Northwest Territories has worked with the Ontario government to share information as they establish their diamond industry. We participated in the workshops that were held in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. We participated primarily as observers. As I said earlier, we are reviewing our diamond policy. Certainly, the establishment of a diamond bourse would be looked at as part of that review.

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Question 474-16(2) GNWT Diamond Policies And Practices

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 475-16(2) Increase To The Minimum Wage

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my statement I noted more than once that the minimum wage in the NWT has remained stagnant since 2003. I’d like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment or whichever Minister is appropriate, because I’m not absolutely positive, why there’s been no adjustment to the minimum wage in the NWT in the last five years.

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Question 475-16(2) Increase To The Minimum Wage

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 475-16(2) Increase To The Minimum Wage

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The minimum wage for the Northwest Territories, as the Member indicated, is $8.25 per hour. It has been for, as she indicated also, the last five years. It hasn’t been brought to my attention about increasing the minimum wage in the Northwest Territories by any other Members until today, so I can certainly look further into this with my department on the status. With the previous discussions that we’ve had, if there was an agreement in place that after five years there was going to be another increase, certainly I can look into that and provide the Member with more information.

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Question 475-16(2) Increase To The Minimum Wage

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

I appreciate the answer from the Minister. I guess I’m a little surprised that it’s a necessity for Members to bring these items to the attention of Ministers. I would hope in five years that the minimum wage would be a consideration for at least one department. It’s unfortunate that we have to force the government to consider the plight of some of our people who are living at the lowest level of income.

I’d like to ask the Minister: now that it’s been brought to his attention, when can we expect a change in the minimum wage?

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Question 475-16(2) Increase To The Minimum Wage

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, as I stated, I need to sit down with my department to find out where things are at. I can’t really give a specific time as to when there are going to be changes, because I need to present to the committee as well if there are going to be proposed changes.

With any proposed changes there are always cost factors as well. We need to identify how much it will cost us to increase the minimum wage and put that forward, whether it be to the committee or the Cabinet. That is the work we need to undertake. I’m willing to do that with my department, to look into that further and see where we can go with this: the last five years, what’s been discussed, and today.

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Question 475-16(2) Increase To The Minimum Wage

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

I appreciate the Minister’s answer and that it does require a certain amount of time, but I don’t know how anybody, let alone myself or the

Minister, can expect anybody to live on $8.25 an hour when they’re working. There’s absolutely no way anybody can survive on that. I appreciate that it does take time, but I think time is of the essence here, and it behoves the Minister to try and push this along.

I realize he can’t give me a specific date, but we have business plans coming forward in another month. I think that if it was the will of the department to put it forward, we could see it in the plans next month. Will we see a change to the minimum wage — upward, not downward — in the business plans upcoming?

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Question 475-16(2) Increase To The Minimum Wage

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, I did commit to the House that I will look into this with my department. Bringing that forward before the next business plan? I can’t really commit to that at this time, but I can certainly work with what we have within our department. If we need to bring it forward to part of the standing committee, then we’ll certainly do that and move forward. If it needs to be before the business plans, that’s another question we need to address.

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Question 475-16(2) Increase To The Minimum Wage

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 475-16(2) Increase To The Minimum Wage

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the willingness on the part of the Minister to try and push things forward. I think that is something that is absolutely necessary. I’ve totally lost my train of thought. You could just say yes, Mr. Minister. Will you say yes?

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Question 475-16(2) Increase To The Minimum Wage

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, I can certainly say yes to working with the Member and the Members on the other side. I am willing to work with my department and bring forward what we have to date and share it with the committee. Mahsi.

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Question 475-16(2) Increase To The Minimum Wage

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 476-16(2) Access To Adequate Housing For Small Community Teachers

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment with regard to the housing crisis we have in Aklavik and other communities throughout the Territories.

The government, in the past, implemented several initiatives related to the Market Housing Initiative. This was done through the Housing Corporation to build capacity in the communities that were non-market communities in regard to units that were designed for teachers and whatnot. Also, there is a government program, the Corporate Loan Guarantee Program, which is used to assist the

private sector to get into market housing opportunities.

In light of this situation we have in the Mackenzie Delta…. It has come up at the divisional meetings I’ve been at. It has come forward by way of letters from the Divisional Board of Education and also from the Minister’s meeting held this summer with me and Ms. Lee in the community of Aklavik. So it has been out there for some time. I’d like to ask the Minister: exactly what is this department doing to stem this problem?

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Question 476-16(2) Access To Adequate Housing For Small Community Teachers

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 476-16(2) Access To Adequate Housing For Small Community Teachers

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. With respect to the Member’s riding in Aklavik, dealing with the housing shortage or the unit that’s closed down, we have been working with the local DEA and the band, and also with the Development Corporation, because they are the ones that own the facility. We have our superintendent going to a meeting with certain parties there. We are doing what we can as the Department of Education, because we have to look after our teachers as well.

I understand there have been some meetings in the last couple of days with Mr. Furlong. I believe there has been some alternative housing that may have been identified, and it’s being worked on. So I think we’re going to come up with some solutions there, but it takes the community, our department and the Member working together to find a solution. I think we’ve come to that. We’re hoping that a solution will be identified before the November 3 deadline.

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Question 476-16(2) Access To Adequate Housing For Small Community Teachers

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Again, we find ourselves reacting and not being proactive. As government we did have staff housing in just about all the communities in the Northwest Territories by way of professional staff housing for teachers. A lot of these units are still in our communities, and they are over 30 years old. They are in urgent need of repairs and upkeep.

I’d like to ask the Minister: what are we doing to improve the housing stock in our communities throughout the Northwest Territories by way of professional housing for staff such as teachers, nurses and other professionals?

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Question 476-16(2) Access To Adequate Housing For Small Community Teachers

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, within our department we’ve done some overall inventory of the housing units that are available in the 33 communities we serve. We do have that information. Also, for this year with the teachers, the majority have found suitable housing units to stay in.

But the Member is right. We need to plan now for next year and the following years on how we can mitigate these issues or challenges we’re faced

with. It’s not only us; it’s throughout Canada as well, but throughout the North especially.

This is one of the priorities we’ve identified. We’ve had several meetings on this particular item, and this is going to be an ongoing discussion. We definitely need to have a plan in place to deal with this specific item.

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Question 476-16(2) Access To Adequate Housing For Small Community Teachers

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

I mentioned the program earlier on in regard to the Market Housing Initiative that was put in place. It was a lot of upkeep, mostly in the southern part of the territory, and we’re working our way north, but we haven’t heard much from that program in a while.

I’d like to ask the Minister of Education : has he been working with the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation to ensure we maybe consider either expanding the Market Housing Initiative in those communities where we don’t have market housing provided by the private sector or else the possibility that we could use existing housing facilities that are not occupied but are basically still functional for emergencies such as this throughout the Territories?

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Question 476-16(2) Access To Adequate Housing For Small Community Teachers

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, the Market Housing Initiative, as the Member would know, has been with us for a number of years now. I’ve been working closely with the former Minister of Housing as well as with the current Minister on identifying the units that are probably vacant and can be utilized in the community. We met yesterday as well, talking about market housing — the rent at the community level, where some rents are $700 per month and some rent at $2,200 and so on.

That’s what we’ve been talking about: how we can make it attractive for teachers and other professionals working with the development corporation and also the Member and the band. It is coming from the community, especially the small communities that are lacking the housing for staff.

That is one of the areas we are working closely on.I am working closely with the Housing Minister on this particular item. Mahsi.

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Question 476-16(2) Access To Adequate Housing For Small Community Teachers

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 476-16(2) Access To Adequate Housing For Small Community Teachers

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I definitely look forward to working along with the Minister and other Ministers to resolve this problem. It is unique to small, isolated communities, especially where it’s a non-market community.

I’d like to ask the Minister, along with the Minister of Housing , if he can provide us with any information he was able to compile on this situation in regard to where the units are located and where we don’t have units so that in the affected communities we know exactly what situation we’re in and the same

information is being shared between the affected parties.

I’d like to thank the Minister for taking on this challenge. More importantly, keep us in the loop; share that information with the affected Members so we know the exact status of the professionals’ housing in our communities. I’d like to ask the Minister if he can release that information.

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Question 476-16(2) Access To Adequate Housing For Small Community Teachers

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

We can certainly provide the information we have within my department of Education, Culture and Employment. I did talk about the inventory we have on hand and the number of vacant units that may be available.

I need to continue to work with Minister McLeod, the Housing Minister , on this particular item as well, because they’re the ones that have all the inventories of the units at the community level. We’ll provide that to the Member and also keep the Member informed of what’s happening in the community of Aklavik and also Members in the isolated communities. Mahsi.

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Question 476-16(2) Access To Adequate Housing For Small Community Teachers

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 477-16(2) Challenges To Home Ownership In Small Communities

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Housing .

Listening to the interesting debate we had between the Minister of ECE and the honourable Member, I have similar types of issues in terms of affordability of homes. I have to commend the Housing Corporation for increasing the housing stock in the Nahendeh riding, but we’re having affordability issues, meaning that people aren’t being approved or getting into these homes.

I think part of the issue there has to do with it being a non-market community. Government guidelines and procedures…. I believe they’re selling them at economic rents or at the economic rate it costs to construct them, but the issue is that in our small communities they’re being constructed at a high cost, and I think they should be sold at market cost. I’m not too sure how we’re going to get around this. Mr. Speaker, if the Minister could speak to that.

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Question 477-16(2) Challenges To Home Ownership In Small Communities

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche . The honourable Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, Mr. Michael McLeod .

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Question 477-16(2) Challenges To Home Ownership In Small Communities

Oral Questions

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Mr. Speaker, we have a number of programs that have been incorporated in the last while to assist the people across the North to get into home ownership or, in the case of repairs, to apply for repairs. In each case there is a

threshold that is established. We look at calculating the maximum construction cost. We look at factoring in the interest rate, land costs, shelter costs, and we also then amortize that over a 25 year period.

For the most part, Mr. Speaker, it seems to be working well. In the last while we’ve had a huge investment in home ownership through the Affordable Housing Initiative and the Housing Trust. That money was provided on a cost shared basis from the federal government. We’ve put a lot of units on the ground. We have heard from a number of people across the North that the opportunity to access this program is too limited. We are reviewing the thresholds to ensure that maybe we could open it up a little bit so that it’s a little more flexible.

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Question 477-16(2) Challenges To Home Ownership In Small Communities

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

That’s the absolute crux of the issues in many of the small communities. The affordability window is just so small and the income threshold, I believe, has to be reviewed. Is the department or is government going to look at reviewing the threshold this coming winter?

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Question 477-16(2) Challenges To Home Ownership In Small Communities

Oral Questions

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Mr. Speaker, the NWT Housing Corporation, including myself, has sat down on a number of occasions now to look at some of the areas that have been causing issues to come forward. The threshold seems to be an area that we need to commit to doing a review on. It’s been a while now that this program’s been in place. We’re hearing a lot of feedback in this area, and we want to do that.

The other area, of course, is to be able to deal with the large number of questions and requests that come in from the general public to the MLAs and also to me as Minister. We are working on a new initiative there, also, to look at the appeal process. Hopefully, we’ll be able to do both of those things sometime over the winter.

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Question 477-16(2) Challenges To Home Ownership In Small Communities

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Does the existing program take into account the remoteness of the smaller communities like Jean Marie? Is the income threshold lower, or is there more room for deduction, as it were, from the payment plan, Mr. Speaker?

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Question 477-16(2) Challenges To Home Ownership In Small Communities

Oral Questions

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Mr. Speaker, the answer to that question is yes. Each community has a different income threshold, whether it’s the maximum or the minimum, and each income threshold is designed and calculated from the cost of living in that community.

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Question 477-16(2) Challenges To Home Ownership In Small Communities

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 477-16(2) Challenges To Home Ownership In Small Communities

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Is that threshold limit applicable to all the programs that are there? Is that the same program

available for CARE as it is in HELP? Is that the same income threshold?

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Question 477-16(2) Challenges To Home Ownership In Small Communities

Oral Questions

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Mr. Speaker, this program is designed towards the Homeownership program. The CARE program is a lot more open and fewer conditions are placed on it for homeowner repairs.

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Question 477-16(2) Challenges To Home Ownership In Small Communities

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 478-16(2) Notification Of Hospital Bed Space In Alberta

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions will be to the Minister of Health today. I’ll be following up on both my Member’s statement and my questions from yesterday, which addressed my concern about this young mother, two in tow, a three month old nursing baby with her, who had trouble getting a hospital room and waited 34 hours.

I was reading Hansard questions yesterday. To understand some of the complexity, the frustration I’m feeling on this side of the House…. The Minister said we send people….that we use Capital Health services, because services like urology…. Well, Mr. Speaker, I was talking about neurology. That’s the frustration I’m having over here, trying to communicate this problem. I mean, it’s the study of urine and I’m talking about a stroke.

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Question 478-16(2) Notification Of Hospital Bed Space In Alberta

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 478-16(2) Notification Of Hospital Bed Space In Alberta

Oral Questions

Range Lake

Sandy Lee

Minister of Health and Social Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to just ask that the Hansard be corrected to read “neurology.” That is what I said.

Mr. Speaker, we do have a contract with Capital Health so they can provide services that we cannot in the North. We don’t have special status with Alberta, but we do have access to service that Alberta and Capital Health gives to its own residents. My understanding is and we are aware that there is a shortage of beds and facilities all over the country, and sometimes we experience some difficulties. I would be happy to provide the

Member with any details of the agreements he would like to know and that I could get hold of.

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Question 478-16(2) Notification Of Hospital Bed Space In Alberta

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Well, if I try really hard and understand that answer, what I’ll do is I’ll assume that there must be some proviso and detail that talks about potential status if the hospital is full.

Mr. Speaker, when I raised the issue about notice or communications to the Minister’s office vis-à-vis through Stanton or whatever from Capital Health and it talked about beds being full, the Minister said there was nothing, but I am getting indications that there was information passed to this government through Capital Health. I would like to be clear: does Capital Health inform this government in any way if no hospital beds are available? How do they do so, and when was the last correspondence on that matter?

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Question 478-16(2) Notification Of Hospital Bed Space In Alberta

Oral Questions

Range Lake

Sandy Lee

Minister of Health and Social Services

Mr. Speaker, as I stated yesterday, this is a medical decision. A medical doctor at Stanton decides that somebody needs to go elsewhere to receive medical care that we cannot provide here. The medical doctor would be in touch with somebody in Capital Health to receive our patients. So it’s a medical decision; it’s a medical practice decision, and I believe in this case that decision was made by the medical practitioners.

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Question 478-16(2) Notification Of Hospital Bed Space In Alberta

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

: Mr. Speaker, I certainly wish we were in a court of law so we could treat the Minister like a hostile witness to get her to answer the question. The answer wasn’t in there anywhere. My question was about the detail of communication.

All indications are that there is information that flows from Capital Health to the Northwest Territories through Capital Health, maybe through to Stanton, then it gets to the Minister’s office. So, Mr. Speaker, I will have to find another way to say the same question: is there any type of communication that gives the detail that beds are full or not?

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Question 478-16(2) Notification Of Hospital Bed Space In Alberta

Oral Questions

Range Lake

Sandy Lee

Minister of Health and Social Services

: Mr. Speaker, I don’t know what the Member means by “all indications.” I did get a call from the media telling me that the Member is suggesting I got an e-mail two weeks ago. I don’t have any such information, and I will make it clear: we do not have any information that says anything like the Member is suggesting. I don’t know what the Member is saying with “all indications.”

Once again, this is a medical decision made by the medical practitioner at Stanton, who felt that this patient needed to go to Royal Alexandra Hospital. That’s the decision that was made.

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Question 478-16(2) Notification Of Hospital Bed Space In Alberta

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 478-16(2) Notification Of Hospital Bed Space In Alberta

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

: Mr. Speaker, I am glad the Minister drew in Royal Alex, because she is very adamant that this patient went to the Royal Alex. But I actually contacted the hospital; I contacted Capital Health, and she is not at Royal Alex. As a matter of fact, she’s at the U of A. So I seem to be a little…. And there’s no problem with the Royal Alex, but obviously the detail isn’t there.

The Minister said in her remarks yesterday that she spent all day trying to do her best to get this patient into a room. There is a reference to contacting or finding information about Calgary and Grande Prairie. Well, Mr. Speaker, I called these agencies. I called the Queen Elizabeth, too, in Grande Prairie, and they said clearly that there is no way they could see 34 hours as a reasonable amount of time.

I would like the Minister to show me what correspondence and efforts were made to reasonably demonstrate that there was a push from our government to make sure someone did not have to wait in the emergency room 19 hours for an enclosure and 15 more hours for a bed.

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Question 478-16(2) Notification Of Hospital Bed Space In Alberta

Oral Questions

Range Lake

Sandy Lee

Minister of Health and Social Services

Mr. Speaker, I will be happy to provide the information as to the work the staff did, the calls the nurses made to talk to the patient’s husband in Yellowknife as well as Northern Health Services Network staff this government has hired in Edmonton to help our northern residents who are sent there. I don’t have that information handy, but I would be happy to provide him information on the steps we took to assist with this situation.

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Question 478-16(2) Notification Of Hospital Bed Space In Alberta

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee . The honourable Member for Hay River South , Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Question 479-16(2) Retrofit Of Diamond Jenness Secondary School

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are about capital projects in the Northwest Territories.

I believe that when we are considering the priority placed on capital projects, the highest priority is the protection of people. To that end, I have been trying to get tabled in this House, or given to me or given to the education authority in Hay River, the air quality reports that were done at Diamond Jenness after it was discovered that asbestos was in there.

I have been told that perhaps I am asking for the wrong report. Maybe it’s not air quality I should be looking for; it should be the report on the content of asbestos in the air. Now PWS got the reports back. The air was sent out; it came back with reports. Why can I not get a copy of them?

We are talking about spending some $20 million on an office building in Inuvik to consolidate government employees. I would like to know if

where they are located poses any risk to their health. In Diamond Jenness we have windows that don’t open, inadequate heat in the winter and inadequate cooling in the summer. We have an air quality issue there.

I would like to ask the Minister of Public Works and Services again: are there any reports that would indicate the presence of asbestos in the air in the high school in Hay River?

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Question 479-16(2) Retrofit Of Diamond Jenness Secondary School

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . The honourable Minister of Public Works and Services , Mr. Michael McLeod .

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Question 479-16(2) Retrofit Of Diamond Jenness Secondary School

Oral Questions

Deh Cho

Michael McLeod

Minister of Public Works and Services

Mr. Speaker, after the Member’s comments yesterday in the House, we did a follow-up. We are and we will be providing the reports to the Member if not tomorrow, then early next w