Debates of Feb. 26th, 2009

This is page numbers 2615 - 2654 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 3rd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library.

The word of the day was going .

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Minister’s Statement 41-16(3): NWT Quitline

Minister’s Statement 42-16(3): Launch Of Bizpal In The Northwest Territories

Minister’s Statement 43-16(3): Summit On Aboriginal Education

Air Carrier Services In Small Communities

Workers’ Safety And Compensation Commission Service Delivery Practices

Reforms To Health Care Service Delivery

Capital Infrastructure Investments In Small Communities

Impacts Of Proposed Tax Increases In Small Communities

Community-Based Wellness Program Alternatives

Water Clarity And Quality Issues In Jean Marie River

Equity Position In Mackenzie Gas Project

GNWT Cost-Cutting Initiatives In Times Of Declining Revenues

Regional Approach To The Mackenzie Valley Highway Construction

Parenting After Marital Separation

Impact Of Proposed Tax Increases On The Hospitality Industry

Construction Of The Mackenzie Valley Highway

Workers’ Safety And Compensation Commission’s Service Delivery Practices

Impacts Of Global Recession On GNWT Revenues

Air Carrier Services In Small Communities

Equity Position In Mackenzie Gas Project

Parenting After Marital Separation

Community-Based Wellness Program Alternatives

Capital Infrastructure Investments In Small Communities

Water Clarity And Quality In Jean Marie River

Protection Measures For Northern Air Carriers

Welcome Centre For Immigrants

Written Question 4-16(3): Mackenzie Valley Highway Construction

Extended Adjournment Of The House To March 2, 2009

Extended Adjournment Of The House To March 2, 2009 Carried

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

James Gruben Regional Airport Manager Carried

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

The House met at 1:36 p.m.

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---Prayer

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Prayer

Prayer

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the Chamber. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services , Ms. Lee .

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Minister’s Statement 41-16(3): NWT Quitline

Ministers’ Statements

Range Lake

Sandy Lee

Minister of Health and Social Services

Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to announce a new Tobacco Cessation Initiative in support of our Territorial Tobacco Strategy.

The most recent youth survey has shown an encouraging trend downward in the number of young people who are starting to smoke. I believe our successful programs such as the “Don’t Be a Butthead” campaign and the school-based tobacco media program “Smoke Screening” are contributing to the decreasing numbers.

We are now about to put more supports in place for smokers who want to quit. Beginning on March 1, 2009, we will be launching the NWT Quitline, a toll-free service that will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This is in addition to our current Tele-Care Health Line. Translation services will be available in all NWT languages. The NWT Quitline will have funding support from Health Canada for 2009-10 in the amount of $44,000.

This initiative is also in line with federal plans for 2010, which call for a 1-800 number to be printed on all cigarette packs that would direct the caller to a cessation line in their own province or territory. When that initiative is up and running, we will be ready.

The NWT Quitline will be staffed by registered nurses or cessation counsellors who are specifically

trained to help people quit smoking. It will feature personalized call back options based on the client’s needs.

A caller can receive up to five calls from a counsellor to support their own quitting process at times that are convenient for them. Phone line counselling will also be supplemented by a mail-out of support materials.

The launch of this support line is an important step towards fulfilling our cessation goals identified in the Territorial Tobacco Strategy. We expect that this additional tool will help us to continue the downward trend in our population’s addiction to tobacco. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister’s Statement 41-16(3): NWT Quitline

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Minister’s Statement 42-16(3): Launch Of Bizpal In The Northwest Territories

Ministers’ Statements

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to advise my colleagues of the launch tomorrow of BizPaL in the Northwest Territories.

This on-line service will officially be available tomorrow in Hay River and Fort Smith. It will provide entrepreneurs and prospective business owners in these two communities with one-stop access to permit and licence information.

Information for all levels of government in the Northwest Territories and across Canada.

Individuals seeking to start or expand a business will need only to answer a series of questions on the type of business they want to operate. The BizPaL system will then provide the start-up information they require within seconds.

For each permit and licence identified, users will also be provided pertinent information such as fees, processing and renewal times, contacts and links to sites where they can learn more.

Future plans will see the addition of on-line application and payment capabilities to further increase efficiencies and reduce costs even more.

Mr. Speaker, our economy is reliant on the economic diversification that is provided by the small business sector. They are the backbone of our northern economy.

BizPaL will allow Northwest Territories residents to reduce paperwork and assist them in pursuing their dream of owning and operating a small business.

Hay River and Fort Smith are just the beginning of our initiative to provide this important tool to all businesses and communities in the Northwest Territories.

This work reflects our stated priority to support the development of small businesses and sustainable local economies. It is also providing a more client-focused, service-oriented approach to delivering government information to Northwest Territories residents. All of this information is easily and conveniently accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Mr. Speaker, this important initiative is the result of ongoing collaboration between the Government of the Northwest Territories Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment and the federal Department of Industry.

I look forward to expanding the Northwest Territories BizPaL network in coming months in support of Northwest Territories business in every one of our 33 communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister’s Statement 42-16(3): Launch Of Bizpal In The Northwest Territories

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 43-16(3): Summit On Aboriginal Education

Ministers’ Statements

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

It is good to be back, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to provide Members with highlights of an important and historical event that took place earlier this week in Saskatoon. For the first time ever, Ministers of Education from across the country met as a group with the leaders of the national and regional aboriginal organizations to discuss aboriginal education. The summit hosted by the Council of Ministers of Education Canada provided an opportunity for a pan-Canadian dialogue among the participants on eliminating the achievement gap between aboriginal and non-aboriginal students.

I wish to thank Betty Villebrun, president, Northwest Territory Metis Nation and Bill Enge, president, North Slave Metis Alliance for joining me at this conference. The Dene Nation and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation were not able to join us at this event but they have conveyed their strong interest

in this important topic. I also want to thank Mr. Robert Hawkins , Member for Yellowknife Centre , for joining me at the summit.

Aboriginal leaders from across the country spoke with great passion about the concerns and the challenges they face in their communities with respect to education. Some of the issues are more particular to situations related to education of students on reserves, for example. However, there were a number of common elements that the leaders identified in their presentations to the Ministers.

These include the need to strengthen aboriginal language and culture in the schools, the need to include aboriginal history in school curriculum, the need for early childhood programs that help young people get a good start in life, and the need to provide supports to students who wish to pursue post-secondary studies.

The summit gave me an opportunity to reflect on a number of the programs and supports that we have in the Northwest Territories that support aboriginal education. We have early childhood programs that include aboriginal language nests to provide young people with an opportunity to learn their aboriginal language. We are working on curriculum for our schools to provide students with further opportunities to learn their culture and language and we are developing resource materials that support the languages.

The history of our aboriginal people is also included in various curriculum including social studies and northern studies, with northern studies being a compulsory course to meet graduation requirements.

The Literacy Strategy that we recently released spans the lifespan and includes goals and objectives to improve literacy levels for all ages and also aims to support aboriginal language literacy. We have a Teacher Education Program that leads to a full degree and we also have an Aboriginal Language and Culture Instructor Program that prepares educators to teach aboriginal languages. The curricula for these programs have been reviewed and adapted to ensure aboriginal perspectives are included.

We are also undertaking work to renew the Aboriginal Languages Strategy in which we will be working closely with our aboriginal language partners to enhance, revitalize and promote our nine official aboriginal languages. As Members are aware, we have also launched a new initiative to work with various partners in the Northwest Territories, including aboriginal governments, to identify initiatives that will help eliminate the education achievement gap between aboriginal and non-aboriginal students.

Mr. Speaker, the summit participants all agreed that improving aboriginal education achievement is a responsibility for everyone and that we can address

many challenges by working closely in partnership. Participants also agreed that improvement in education for aboriginal people is not only beneficial to aboriginal people but is beneficial to Canada as a whole. Aboriginal people are the youngest and fastest growing segment of the population. With an aging workforce in many parts of the country, it is clear that aboriginal students today will be a significant portion of Canada’s future workforce. Having a well-educated aboriginal workforce is of significant importance for Canada’s future economic and social well-being.

In business, they say success is based on location, location, location. For education, I believe that the focus of success is the student, the student, the student. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister’s Statement 43-16(3): Summit On Aboriginal Education

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Nunakput , Mr. Jacobson .

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Air Carrier Services In Small Communities

Members’ Statements

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about air transportation and how important these services are in our northern communities. Our true northern air carriers are Canadian North and First Air. These companies service communities outside of Yellowknife, the area of the Beaufort-Delta. We need to thank them for the commitment to providing this service into these smaller communities. They provide this service 12 months of the year during the busy seasons and the quiet times. Many Northerners do not have any alternative methods of transportation, so air services are essential services.

It’s our only method of transportation for a trip south of the community. Most of us can’t drive down the highway or take a bus out of town like Yellowknife, Hay River and Fort Simpson.

Southern companies like Air Canada have shown us that they have no interest in providing service to the rest of the communities in the Northwest Territories or outside of Yellowknife. WestJet will start a seasonal service to Yellowknife in May of this year. That extra service will have a significant impact on northern carriers because of the way they will be impacting services to communities outside of Yellowknife.

The new carriers such as Air Canada and WestJet, Mr. Speaker, are cherry picking the marketplace by providing services on only some routes. They do

not consider the damage that they can cause and the viability of the services into the communities.

Northerners in Nunakput can spend $1,000 just to leave town on a flight south. We don’t need these flights to become more expensive and less frequent, Mr. Speaker.

I hope the Minister of Transportation understands his responsibility to protect and support our northern air carriers and smaller communities. I expect the Minister of Transportation has quality activities in place to support our true northern air carriers who provide services in the small communities. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you.

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Air Carrier Services In Small Communities

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Workers’ Safety And Compensation Commission Service Delivery Practices

Members’ Statements

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak today about some issues my constituents are having in their interactions with the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission, in particular I would like to share some of the insights of an injured worker during his journey through the process after a permanent injury suffered over a year ago. It includes suggestions on how the WSCC could improve their service for the betterment of injured workers.

In 2006, the Workers’ Compensation Board was audited and a number of recommendations from the Auditor General indicated how they could improve delivery of services to injured workers. A key one was:”The board should present its policies to workers more clearly and comprehensively specifying what is covered and what is not and explaining its rules, procedures and, most importantly, its limitations.”

Although the board responded positively, two years later they are still failing to fully inform workers as to what their rights are as laid out by the Workers’ Compensation Act. Indeed, after many and repeated interactions with WSCC and then finally going through the act itself, my constituent discovered a number of rights he had not been informed of. He found that while the worker’s handbook does give basic information about filing a claim, it is by no means a comprehensive document. There is much room for improvement here.

Another source of problems is the recent change from a worker’s advocate to a worker’s advisor. Workers should have an advocate working for

them, not just someone to give them advice. As my constituent has discovered, disputing a claim can be difficult for someone who is out of work and has reduced capacity for physical labour. While the WSCC is armed with lawyers and doctors and authority, the injured person is provided with no such free access to these resources. While a hard working worker’s advisor can try to help, this position does not offer legal expertise. The ultimate purpose of the WSCC is to help injured workers and we need to ensure that the people they employ are there to do just that, not to make it difficult for workers to effectively assert their right to compensation.

It is only through repeated, costly, and often difficult and fruitless meetings with WSCC that my constituent eventually learned of the full range of options available to him. More free-flowing information and a helpful approach would go a long way to address this situation. Statistics clearly etch out a record of failure on appeals, so while oft referred to, appeals are seldom a real possibility for those who, through injury on the job, no longer have the financial resources to command the expertise that would match the deep pockets of government. I call on the Minister to make the changes required to address this situation.

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Workers’ Safety And Compensation Commission Service Delivery Practices

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Reforms To Health Care Service Delivery

Members’ Statements

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to talk a bit about our health care system. Across Canada and including here in the North. For some 20 years now we’ve been telling ourselves to do more with less, except in health care, and northern health care is no exception. As Members know, health care costs are constantly on the rise. In a recent speech by Dr. Robert Ouellet, the current president of the Canadian Medical Association, he spoke of the need for “a strategic, considered, and focused plan for improving care for patients.”

The NWT health care system struggles to provide excellent and accessible service and still keep the health budget in check. Keeping our costs under control is no mean feat given our huge geographic obstacles and our small population, which is often widely spread and isolated.

There is a new model for the provision of health care under discussion which could revamp Canada’s health care system and improve services. To quote from CBC Radio, February 15th , in

describing this model they said, “Under this reform, all services carried out by this hospital, including

not only patient care, diagnostics, and all manner of procedures, but also teaching and research, were converted into revenue-generating activities.” How is that different from what we do now? Well, now the current practice is to fund our hospitals and health authorities on a global funding model. That means that authorities receive an annual budget allotment and funds are not tied to numbers of patients or quality of service measures. It doesn’t matter if the number of patients seen drops by 25 or 30 percent. The presumably unused funds are not clawed back.

Changing to patient focused funding is a fundamental shift in policy relative to the delivery of health care, but some change is necessary for our current good levels of service to survive and, where it’s needed, to get better. And we must seriously consider this model.

Funding hospitals and health centres for services delivered and paying doctors by salary instead of on a fee-for-service basis has been proven to work and to work successfully. Admittedly, there are problems with this model. There are expenses associated with the transition from one model to the next, and our smallest communities may not fit into this model, but we have to at least think about it.

I look forward to discussing this idea with the Department of Health and my colleagues on the Standing Committee on Social Programs.

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Reforms To Health Care Service Delivery

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Capital Infrastructure Investments In Small Communities

Members’ Statements

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the economic times we’re in, I think it’s more important than ever for this government to do whatever it can to stimulate our local economies in regard to capital planning and also allow for communities to have the ability to deal with high unemployment, especially when people are being laid off in the different sectors, such as mining and oil and gas. As a government, we do have to stimulate our communities and local economies.

Reviewing the capital planning from this government, the majority of the expenditures between now and 2012 will be spent primarily in the larger centres such as Yellowknife, Hay River, and Inuvik. We do have to work with our local communities to stimulate their economies in light of the capital expenditures mentioned by the government of some $700 million over the next number of years. The majority of that is being spent in three communities.

I think it’s important to realize that we have 33 communities in the Northwest Territories and we do have to find ways to stimulate those economies. The majority of the communities have work by way of seasonal employment. In most cases the work that is in our communities is based on the housing initiative that was put out where we got 500-some units on the ground. That was a good start.

We now have $50 million for housing that I think we have to find a way to make the number one priority to implement those funds while realizing that we need to stimulate our economy in our smaller communities where there are already high unemployment rates and no other options like in larger regional centres. We have to do whatever we can to find ways to generate those programs.

I, for one, fully supported the previous government’s initiative to build community capacity by allowing communities to identify projects that they’d like to deliver through a formula which was base-plus funding so that communities were able to take on projects that they felt they didn’t have an opportunity to put forward such as the Main Street Chipseal Program, which was there to assist communities. This program was eliminated.

I will be asking the Premier questions on this matter later, on how we’re building capacity in our small communities.

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Capital Infrastructure Investments In Small Communities

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Impacts Of Proposed Tax Increases In Small Communities

Members’ Statements

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to talk a little bit about the proposed tax increase identified by the Minister of Finance . I agree with the increases in the so-called sin taxes. If we’re going to be increasing taxes on anything, the best place to start is on luxury items as opposed to taxing essentials. The $11.20 increase on a carton of cigarettes starting on April 1st , 2009, is a good move. If the increase encourages people to reduce or quit smoking it will help reduce the cost of health care in the Northwest Territories, which is obviously good.

For those individuals who don’t quit smoking it will result in increased revenues for the GNWT which can be used to help us continue to provide the high-quality health and other services currently delivered by the GNWT.

In principle, I also agree with the 10 percent average increase on alcohol for many of the same reasons. However, I do have one little concern. Specifically, how will this increase affect the hospitality industry? I’ve heard from a number of owners of licensed establishments -- bars,

restaurants, hotels, et cetera -- and they have indicated that according to the NWT Liquor Act they are already required to pay a 5 percent surcharge on the purchase of liquor and that they must purchase liquor from the warehouse. Now they have to pay the additional 10 percent tax as well. In this industry, the hospitality industry, where profit margins are already tight, this 10 percent could be the difference between success and failure.

The hospitality industry employs the larger number of people in the Northwest Territories. Alcohol sales are one of the areas where they can recognize profit, which allows the employers to hire and maintain staff who pay taxes in the Northwest Territories. Yes, I mean, of course they can increase their prices, which will offset some of their potential losses, but it may also result in a direct decrease in sales not just on alcohol but for food and non-alcoholic drinks as well, as fewer people choose to go out for food or drink. This could mean that businesses will have to reduce staff numbers in order to make ends meet.

In these tight economic times, I’m worried that this change, without some consultation with the industry, could backfire and result in more people on social assistance. Although I agree with the increased sin tax, I worry that not enough consideration was taken into account regarding the effects that the liquor increases may have on the economy. I’m worried that the hospitality industry was never consulted on the options that may support the 10 percent increase while at the same time offset some of the damages it may cost to the industry itself.

At the appropriate time I will have some questions for the Minister of Finance .

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Impacts Of Proposed Tax Increases In Small Communities

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Community-Based Wellness Program Alternatives

Members’ Statements

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Last year has been hard on many family budgets and businesses have been hit hard. This government has made efforts to offset the effects of economic crisis. At the community level in our smaller communities the recent economic turmoil has added to a more serious community issue. I’m talking about the overall well-being of the individuals and the community.

In my riding community wellness is a concern for many residents. They feel current systems and practices are not doing a lot to solve the root causes of the problems and issues. Sure, they

address and treat symptoms, but the problems are not going away.

The communities in my riding have a high aboriginal population, residents that speak the aboriginal language and residents that continue to lead traditional lifestyles. In these communities, there is a different perspective on the outside world. Life is simpler. Their needs are simpler. It is a different way of life. The culture is significantly different than life in the larger non-aboriginal communities.

Mr. Speaker, it is a big part of the reason why current mental health and addiction treatment programs have limited success. The current system focuses on treating the physical symptoms of an individual. Healing involves a mental, emotional and spiritual well-being and it means addressing all of these issues at the same time, not individually, not one by a psychologist, another by a physician, but all at the same time.

Mr. Speaker, the community is no different when it comes to healing. A classic case is of the powerful story of Alkali Lake Indian Band in British Columbia. Mr. Speaker, under the current system, there are no resources, no programs or any formal recognition of healing the community. I think we need to look at implementing something like this.

Mr. Speaker, I have spoken time and time again about the addiction and mental health problems that continue to plague Fort Resolution and Lutselk’e. I think it is time and long overdue for this government to look at other community alternatives. Community wellness is one such program we need to look at. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Community-Based Wellness Program Alternatives

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Water Clarity And Quality Issues In Jean Marie River

Members’ Statements

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Water is one of the most critical and essential resources that we have. Here in the Northwest Territories we are fortunate to have some of my best quality of fresh water in the world. I also would like to say our government has an acceptable strategy to provide water reservoirs for our communities. Even with this abundant resource right at our doorstep and creation of large water infrastructure systems, people still have trouble accessing good quality drinking water.

This is the case in Jean Marie River for residents have been dealing with discoloured, mineral-like tasting water for some time. They no longer drink the water that comes from the community reservoir. Instead they rely on bottled water at great expense and cost.

They ensure that trips for groceries to Fort Simpson include a good week’s supply of purchased water. This is necessary for them.

Mr. Speaker, the water has been tested over and over again. The people of Jean Marie River have been told that the water is good. It does meet the requirements of the NWT Public Health Act and the guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality, but, Mr. Speaker, they aren’t drinking the water because they don’t trust it. The bottom line is don’t tell people their water is good if they are not drinking it. I say work with the community towards quality water that they can use daily and that they can trust.

The community is looking for some innovative short-term solutions until the problem can be resolved on a permanent basis. There are a number of ways people could have access to clean tap water, like filters on their taps or trucking in water from another source. At the same time the community needs the systems from the government to identify a strategy to address their drinking water and to resolve this issue for the long term.

Mr. Speaker, the 15th Legislative Assembly passed

a motion on the right to water. It stated, and I quote, “Water is integral to the ecological, social, cultural and economic fabric of the health of the Northwest Territories. Water is a renewable resource that, if managed wisely, will sustain the people and the ecosystems of the NWT far into the future.”

Mr. Speaker, that right extends to good quality drinking water for our residents. I urge the government to work with the community of Jean Marie River to take action to resolve this problem. Mahsi cho.

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Water Clarity And Quality Issues In Jean Marie River

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Equity Position In Mackenzie Gas Project

Members’ Statements

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to speak about the Mackenzie Gas Project. I have spoken in support of this project in the past and I want to stand up here today again and reiterate my support for the project.

Mr. Speaker, I do respect the regulatory process that is at play and look forward to the report from the Joint Review Panel when it becomes available. Mr. Speaker, it may be taking too long for some, but the work needs to be completed. I believe the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline can and will be built in a manner which will minimize the impacts on the environment. It will bring much needed economic development and activity for our communities and the residents, especially in the Sahtu and Beaufort-Delta.

The Mackenzie Gas Project is not without competition, Mr. Speaker. There is much pressure on the new Obama administration in Washington to find billions of dollars in support of a new Alaskan pipeline. I applaud the efforts of the federal Environment Minister , Mr. Jim Prentice, and the federal government for realizing what is at risk. The stakes are very high, Mr. Speaker. The national economy and the economy here in the Northwest Territories could certainly use the investment this $16 billion mega-project would bring. I support Minister Bob McLeod and his Department of ITI in their efforts to support the Mackenzie Gas Project.

Anything I can do to lend support to this, I would be more than happy to do, Mr. Speaker. In the five and a half years I have been here, I have seen our government spend millions of dollars getting ready for the pipeline. In my estimation, in that time between the positions, the pipeline office and other expenses, it is close to $50 million. This is a substantial investment. However, our government seems to be the only one without an equity stake in the pipeline. The federal government has stepped up. The details of this are a bit sketchy, but where is our government in all of these discussions, Mr. Speaker?

The pipeline will be constructed down the very heart of our Territory. Mr. Speaker, it is about time we start discussing what the returns will be to the residents here in the Northwest Territories. Like the oil companies and like the federal government are going to get, our government needs to get an equity position in this pipeline. I will have some questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you.

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Equity Position In Mackenzie Gas Project

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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GNWT Cost-Cutting Initiatives In Times Of Declining Revenues

Members’ Statements

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know we can’t stop living just because there is a recession going on out there, but like so many people have had to do in their personal finances, we, as a government, need to start thinking about what we can live without. What are the things that a family or individual looks at when they know that they may be encountering a change in their household income? They look for things that can be reduced or removed from their spending that does not impact or threaten their basic needs or overall quality of life. I think it is safe to say that the level of corporate tax revenue that our government receives is likely to decrease in the next while.

I didn’t really appreciate the approach to reductions that our government took or tried to take during our

last budget session. That is why we saw an unprecedented number of motions with regard to that budget. To be constructive in our approach to any potential reductions in last year’s budget, Regular Members spent considerable time coming up with a list of areas where we thought savings or efficiencies could be realized. That list didn’t get much attention from this government. But looking forward, Mr. Speaker, it is always a good time to look for ways of doing things smarter and doing things better, but especially in view of some of the economic news which is getting closer to home now. We need to think about these things again.

I don’t support a percentage across the board approach to reductions. I don’t support viewing our public service as an easy target for reductions. I believe in putting people first in any approach to looking for savings. I think we need to draw on the ideas and suggestions of our public and our public service when we are looking for areas of wasted or misplaced resources.

If I can give you a few examples, things like running off to every federal/provincial/territorial Ministers meeting regardless of the topic is something we should take a look at. I don’t support spending $3 million going to the 2010 Olympics for this small government. These are just to name a couple of things.

We cannot be seen to be spending excessively, oblivious of the realities being faced by our northern businesses and residents. Later today I will have questions for the Minister of Finance on the ongoing efforts of this government in light of potential future decreased revenues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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GNWT Cost-Cutting Initiatives In Times Of Declining Revenues

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . The honourable Member for Sahtu , Mr. Yakeleya .

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Regional Approach To The Mackenzie Valley Highway Construction

Members’ Statements

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was reading a book. I read in the book there is a quote here that says, “Give me a lever and a place to stand and I will move the world,” so said Archimedes. Mr. Speaker, I was looking at this quote here. I was wondering about this quote here. I want to talk somewhat on the Mackenzie Valley Highway construction. I was having some of the thoughts last night and certainly had been dreaming about roads last night and looking at the future where the people can give the world an opportunity to look at how we can build the Mackenzie Valley Highway from a Sahtu point of view.

I looked at the solutions in the Sahtu, and as the Member spoke about, some of our community

members are very skilled in labour in terms of operating equipment, in terms of designs and in terms of work. I want to ask the Minister later on today in terms of his creativity and his challenges and to come to our region, come to the Sahtu communities and talk about the options, the opportunities, how they can build a Mackenzie Valley Highway through a community approach, through a regional approach.

The Mackenzie Valley Highway will pass through the Sahtu. About 80 percent of the land mass will be taken in the Sahtu and the numbers that I’ve reviewed are from the departments of Transportation and Public Works, and certainly these have to be updated in terms of knowing what the reality of the costs are going to be today. For example, when I read the report, the Bear River Bridge was $12 million. Now, today, this bridge is considered around $50 to $60 million.

I would ask the Minister if he would be willing to look at other programs and services that this department has in terms of looking at community approaches in terms of long-term economic stimulus in terms of having the people gain some capacity, gain some skills and start building the Mackenzie Valley Highway as it’s been duly noted by some other programs within this department such as the Tuk-Inuvik winter access road. That’s a start there, but there are other areas that we certainly could look at in due time.

Mr. Speaker, I think it’s time now that you can get the resources and come to the Sahtu and talk to the good people in the Sahtu as to how to build a real road down the Mackenzie Valley. Thank you.

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Regional Approach To The Mackenzie Valley Highway Construction

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Parenting After Marital Separation

Members’ Statements

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Sadly there are times out there when a family relationship has come to an end and a divorce is imminent. Each experience is unique to its own process that has led to the final chapter. It is my view, and by all accounts, this can be one of the saddest experiences a family can go through. Only second, of course, to the untimely death of a loved one that comes far too soon.

In the closing chapters, sometimes in these sad events what is far too often overlooked is the stress and the impacts it has on young children. They stand innocently by as the erosion of a once special relationship and a world falls apart in front of them. In their view, nothing but bitter conflict is all they now see.

Children of all ages, Mr. Speaker, have a unique talent. They can find ways that we could never conceive of. They can find ways of believing that they are the focus of the blame and they are the reason why these sad events must be happening. They have a talent to say things like did Mommy buy these shoes for me I needed or even wanted for school and now we don’t have any money, so was it my fault that things are bad.

Mr. Speaker, once the spiralling fall begins, many of us know so many examples of where the destruction seems to find no end and, regardless of the objectives, collateral damage of the children often happens. Oddly enough, these campaigns are launched in the names of these children. Now, not all relationships, in fairness, and in the wake of destruction some are able to find a peaceful end without scorch and burn, but these blessings are often examples that are far too uncommon.

To no surprise, this Legislature, even with its best intentions, could not save every marriage. Today I rise to talk about this matter not because I want to talk about failed marriages, but rather I want to talk about the impacts it has on children and what can be done. In Alberta and British Columbia there is a court-ordered program called Parenting After Separation. Mr. Speaker, I brought this issue to the Department of Justice and they’re certainly looking at it right now. It is a program that works with parents to help them learn and understand that their actions, their words and their behaviour has a significant impact on their children.

I don’t have time to go through the statistics of what happens to children in broken homes, but, Mr. Speaker, we can come to the aid of these families when no one else will. Mr. Speaker, this program promotes positive communication. Mr. Speaker, let’s bring a little hope back to families during this crisis. Mr. Speaker, we can do better. Let’s help everyone through these times. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Parenting After Marital Separation

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . Item 4, reports of standing and special committees. Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Welcome to everyone in the gallery today. I hope you’re enjoying the proceedings. Item 7, acknowledgements. Item 8, oral questions. The honourable Member for Great Slave , Mr. Abernethy .

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Question 208-16(3): Impact Of Proposed Tax Increases On The Hospitality Industry

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Finance and are related to my Member’s statement from earlier today. I talked about the hospitality industry and the increase to liquor. Were any groups from the hospitality industry engaged in discussions with the Minister’s department on the proposed 10 percent increase on liquor? Specifically, did they have an official opportunity to express concerns and offer alternatives for consideration? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 208-16(3): Impact Of Proposed Tax Increases On The Hospitality Industry

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy . The honourable Minister of Finance , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Question 208-16(3): Impact Of Proposed Tax Increases On The Hospitality Industry

Oral Questions

Thebacha

Michael Miltenberger

Minister of Finance

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During the course of the revenue options exercise, documents were sent out far and wide, input was solicited. As well, we had a round table last fall where there were 22 different groups that had representatives there including the tourism folks and the chamber people. We, as well, got a number of e-mails and quite a few submissions to us giving a lot of very frank opinions about taxes. I could point out to the Member that one consistent set of taxes that people seem to be willing to consider were the sin taxes.

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Question 208-16(3): Impact Of Proposed Tax Increases On The Hospitality Industry

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

I know that that document did go out and I know that you did get feedback. I’m curious if you got anything specific from the hospitality industry itself. I also support the sin taxes. I think if we’re going to be taxing something, the sin tax is something we should be looking at. But the hospitality industry is going to be affected. In order to ensure that the hospitality industry remains healthy and an employer of many Northerners, has the Minister of Finance considered maintaining the 10 percent increase to the taxes and modifying the Liquor Act by reducing the 5 percent surcharge on the purchase of liquor for businesses in the North? Meet the industry half-way, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 208-16(3): Impact Of Proposed Tax Increases On The Hospitality Industry

Oral Questions

Thebacha

Michael Miltenberger

Minister of Finance

That particular offset has not been considered. I will commit to the Member that I will have the department review it to see what the cost would be and what the impact would be in terms of the relatively modest amount of revenue that we’re proposing to generate. I think it was about $7.3 or $7.5 million. Thank you.

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Question 208-16(3): Impact Of Proposed Tax Increases On The Hospitality Industry

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 209-16(3): Construction Of The Mackenzie Valley Highway

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to talk about the motion that was passed yesterday and I would like to ask the Minister of Transportation : Would the Minister initiate consultation processes with most of the affected communities or regions that will be impacted by the construction of the Mackenzie Valley Highway as this was done on June 8, 1998, in Norman Wells with territorial stakeholders?

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Question 209-16(3): Construction Of The Mackenzie Valley Highway

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 209-16(3): Construction Of The Mackenzie Valley Highway

Oral Questions

Deh Cho

Michael McLeod

Minister of Transportation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s good to see that the Member is very anxious to get going. We just passed the motion yesterday and I haven’t really had a chance to digest it, Mr. Speaker. I certainly expect there’s a lot of anticipation and a lot of information that people in the communities have to share. We’ve actually had a meeting with one of the MLAs and some people from one of the land claims areas in the NWT this morning -- quite keen to talk about the Mackenzie Valley Highway.

From the government’s standpoint, we haven’t had a chance to really regroup since this motion has been passed and have a good discussion with my Cabinet colleagues. I would commit to doing that as soon as possible and start laying out a plan of where do we go next.

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Question 209-16(3): Construction Of The Mackenzie Valley Highway

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, the people in the Sahtu can just taste the Mackenzie Valley Highway, so we’re anxious to get going here. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister dust off the old studies of the construction of the Mackenzie Valley Highway and look at initiating an advisory committee to examine the entire project, even initiating regional advisory committees to begin to initiate the possibilities on areas they can contribute to the construction of the Mackenzie Valley Highway?

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Question 209-16(3): Construction Of The Mackenzie Valley Highway

Oral Questions

Deh Cho

Michael McLeod

Minister of Transportation

That’s certainly an option for us to consider. We’ve already had other options brought forward in terms of do we set up working groups for each portion of the highway or do we look at phased in? This is an option we will certainly bring forward to our discussions.

We have a lot of work ahead of us. We have to develop a strategy. How do we get the attention of the federal government? I’ll certainly keep the Member informed of the next steps.

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Question 209-16(3): Construction Of The Mackenzie Valley Highway

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Certainly we have some opinions of how to get the attention of the federal government. I hope the Minister will review those opinions. I understand there’s a huge document in the Department of Transportation office sometimes

referred to as the Bible of the Mackenzie Valley Highway. Can the Minister review and possibly discuss with other Ministers, as he said earlier here, as to where there are existing programs that can be directed to the communities or regions to initiate the construction of the Mackenzie Valley Highway as we have done with the Tuk-Inuvik access road?

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Question 209-16(3): Construction Of The Mackenzie Valley Highway

Oral Questions

Deh Cho

Michael McLeod

Minister of Transportation

That is our intention, to review all the information. We have been looking at all the different avenues that we have used to try to attract investment in this important piece of infrastructure in the Northwest Territories. We’re also doing some additional work in the area of studies and baseline assessments. We want to compile all the different pieces of information, all the different areas that we’ve done assessments and maybe have to upgrade a few things. But we want to package it up and have a discussion with my colleagues on this side of the House and the Regular Members and standing committee.

I would expect we would hear, as we are already, from different organizations and people across the Territories.

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Question 209-16(3): Construction Of The Mackenzie Valley Highway

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 209-16(3): Construction Of The Mackenzie Valley Highway

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my research I’ve noted that pre-engineering and design to complete the Mackenzie Valley Highway was ready to go to tender package for most of the highway. I appreciate the Minister’s enthusiasm to see this project off and running.

I would ask the Minister if he would seriously consider the community approach in terms of building this highway as a long-term economic stimulus in our regions and working closely with his counterparts in terms of meeting with the people in the affected communities at the existing, sorry, the government’s existing programs such as the Opportunities Fund as something they could look at to construct some of the access roads that would have to go into the main highway.

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Question 209-16(3): Construction Of The Mackenzie Valley Highway

Oral Questions

Deh Cho

Michael McLeod

Minister of Transportation

We have not come to any kind of firm conclusion of how we’re going to approach and move forward. That is being done at this point. I think we have to get a better handle on what the cost estimates are. As the Member has stated, we have done a lot of work in the area of surveys and estimation and we have a pretty good idea on the scope of work that’s required. It’s all conceptual at this point. There have been some suggestions that have come forward that suggest maybe there’s a better way to do it, maybe there’s a different route.

We’d have to look at all these things before I can make any commitments to start going into the communities and talking about potential work and contracts and business opportunities. I think that’s a little bit early. We have to hear and see what the federal government’s level of interest

is there. There are many things to cover before we can make any firm commitments.

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Question 209-16(3): Construction Of The Mackenzie Valley Highway

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 210-16(3): Workers’ Safety And Compensation Commission’s Service Delivery Practices

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister responsible for the Workers ’ Safety and Compensation Commission. I want to preface my questions by saying that I’ve appreciated the assistance of this Minister in dealing with constituent issues and in learning about the operations of this institution.

My questions here attempt to deal with the bigger picture. On a case-by-case basis I realize that the Minister must be at arm’s length, but I think ultimately there’s an important role of oversight and tune-ups when needed. The Minister is clearly in control. Would the Minister commit to working with the commission to improve communications with their clients such that rather than rote answers, have employees sit down and explore the unique situations that individuals represent. In other words, an actual discussion in reply to their questions that gets to the layers of issues and the real meaning behind their questions.

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Question 210-16(3): Workers’ Safety And Compensation Commission’s Service Delivery Practices

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bromley . The honourable Minister responsible for the Worker's Safety and Compensation Commission, Mr. Robert McLeod .

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Question 210-16(3): Workers’ Safety And Compensation Commission’s Service Delivery Practices

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m glad to finally get some questions on the WSCC. I was starting to feel like the Maytag repairman.

---Laughter

The question posed by the Member there, it is WSCC has listened to the recommendations made by the committee in the 15th Assembly into

improving their work with the injured workers. They have gone a long way in trying to implement that. It’s important to note that of all the claims that are filed, very few go to an appeal stage. It’s for these few people that we have to sit down and iron out the details and hopefully get a better plan of communication going with the injured workers.

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Question 210-16(3): Workers’ Safety And Compensation Commission’s Service Delivery Practices

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

I’d like to note that I also deal with stress through a sense of humour from time to time. So I appreciate the Minister’s answer.

I believe what I will do is send the Minister a copy of my statement because he clearly missed the point.

That is, the reasons these situations arrived is because the communication is not happening. To claim that there are just a few oddballs out there is missing the point. Again, I appreciate the Minister’s response. I think he did offer to try to deal with it a little more in-depth. I’d like to move on to my next question, which is, in the change from worker’s advocate to worker’s advisor, obviously a change in title there. What were the changes in the mandate of those positions with that change in title?

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Question 210-16(3): Workers’ Safety And Compensation Commission’s Service Delivery Practices

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

I live in one of the greatest places in the country. I have no stress. I can assure the Member of that. It’s just something I always do. I don’t think that I referred to anyone that we deal with as an oddball. I just want to make those points clear. Okay. The skin is just getting no thicker here so I’ll go on to answer.

The worker’s advisor is not in a position to give legal advice, but they are there to help the workers try to navigate their way through the workers’ compensation application and appeals process.

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Question 210-16(3): Workers’ Safety And Compensation Commission’s Service Delivery Practices

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

So that infers that the worker’s advocate was in a position to give legal advice as opposed to the current situation. Is that correct? And if so, I would ask why this government is taking away from the rights of an injured worker. Obviously with an injury there is reduced capacity for income and a reduced ability to go out and seek and pay for legal advice on their own. This is the situation of many of my constituents, or those that come to me with these issues. I’d like clarification on that.

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Question 210-16(3): Workers’ Safety And Compensation Commission’s Service Delivery Practices

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

The worker’s advisor is a position that helps them to navigate through the whole process. I would assume that would include seeking legal advice. As to providing actual legal advice itself, I’m not sure that would have been the job of the worker’s advisor. I hope that answers the Member’s question.

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Question 210-16(3): Workers’ Safety And Compensation Commission’s Service Delivery Practices

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 210-16(3): Workers’ Safety And Compensation Commission’s Service Delivery Practices

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for the comments from the Minister. I think at the basis here is that legal assistance is required for an appeal. The Minister has said we’re doing great because there are no appeals. Well, there’s no wonder there are no appeals. So what will the Minister do to help address the situation so it’s not a David and Goliath situation here if the worker is indeed wanting to make an appeal and if there is a real basis for appeal, which there could be.

I know in situations, for example, where there’s a new injury that hasn’t been classified before, there is a precedent being set for all subsequent people who have that type of injury. Here’s where an appeal might serve both the client and the government, but

there’s no assistance to the client. How can the Minister commit to providing that legal expertise where it really should be there?

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Question 210-16(3): Workers’ Safety And Compensation Commission’s Service Delivery Practices

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

In the story of David and Goliath I think Goliath the giant got slain. This is something we would have to go back and have a look at. The worker’s advisor would help the worker navigate through the whole process, which can be a complicated process as we all well know from the many cases that were out there. There are appeals that are happening and I don’t think I meant to say there were absolutely no appeals, but there are some appeals that are happening. The worker’s advisor would help the workers try to navigate their way through the whole system.

I can go back and speak to WSCC and get some clarification on this and pass that on to the Members so we’re both on the same page as far as this whole appeals and worker’s advisors process goes.

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Question 210-16(3): Workers’ Safety And Compensation Commission’s Service Delivery Practices

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 211-16(3): Impacts Of Global Recession On GNWT Revenues

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Finance . Our government is supported and funded through various sources of revenue. I would like to ask the Minister of Finance if he feels that in view of the global recession are any of those major sources of revenue at risk of decreasing at this time.

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Question 211-16(3): Impacts Of Global Recession On GNWT Revenues

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . The honourable Minister responsible for Finance , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Question 211-16(3): Impacts Of Global Recession On GNWT Revenues

Oral Questions

Thebacha

Michael Miltenberger

Minister of Finance

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated in my budget address, we anticipate there is going to be significant downward pressure on our revenues. We’ve all heard the news about the diamond mine layoffs, Laurelton Diamonds, the credit issues, the drying up of the exploration, the commodity market going down, the fact that we have sunsetted programs on health, that funding we have yet to negotiate an extension to, the CMHC funding is going to take another $3 million hit next year. We already have some diminished population statistics in the works that are going to affect our formula funding. So, yes, we do anticipate our revenues are going to be squeezed significantly.

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Question 211-16(3): Impacts Of Global Recession On GNWT Revenues

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

I’d like to ask the Finance Minister what specific actions he is undertaking in anticipation of these lower revenues going forward. Are we just carrying on business as usual or are we burning the midnight oil trying to

make sure that we do not find ourselves in an untenable financial situation?

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Question 211-16(3): Impacts Of Global Recession On GNWT Revenues

Oral Questions

Thebacha

Michael Miltenberger

Minister of Finance

We’re doing a number of things, recognizing pressures from a number of quarters. The issue of reducing services, protecting the service levels, trying to minimize in this time of turmoil and layoffs in other sectors, the amount of layoffs we have here, looking at the program pressures, not wanting to raise taxes, at the same time trying to offset the decreased revenues, it’s going to take all our ingenuity and collective efforts to deal with that issue. I’ve been saying publicly and I’ve been saying to Members opposite already that by this fall we’re going to be gathering around the table to reassess where we sit fiscally.

Yes, we are currently looking at options to control our costs. We did have the good sense collectively to unanimously agree to a budget in 2008 that helped us bring our costs somewhat under control, but those pressures have not relented and they have in fact been exacerbated by the economic downturn.

So, yes, we are looking at various other scenarios and by fall, collectively we will be gathering around the table and intend to share our quarterly variance reports with committee going forward here so we can all track the expenses of government and we’re going to have to put our heads together.

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Question 211-16(3): Impacts Of Global Recession On GNWT Revenues

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

I’d like to ask the Minister if it’s possible for our government to expend our resources in a way that continues to be a significant economic stimulus in our northern economies, but at the same time is prudent enough to keep ourselves out of financial peril, really.

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Question 211-16(3): Impacts Of Global Recession On GNWT Revenues

Oral Questions

Thebacha

Michael Miltenberger

Minister of Finance

I think we have to look at what we see as the role of government in this time of economic turmoil when we’re in a flat out, big, ugly recession that’s getting worse. The role of government to provide stability, to be an anchor during the storm here, as the economic, the private sector struggles with all the things that are going on with commodity prices and layoffs.

We, like every other government, are going to be forced to look at how do we maintain programs, how do we control our costs recognizing that we may have to go into deficit as we are going to do in this budget, but not in a very controlled short-term way as we work our way through what we hope will be a two to three-year process before the private sector once again rebounds.

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Question 211-16(3): Impacts Of Global Recession On GNWT Revenues

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 211-16(3): Impacts Of Global Recession On GNWT Revenues

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s been my experience that I always find good

advice from people who are perhaps in the public or the public service who are seemingly very good at pointing out things that maybe we don’t recognize or things that we spend money on that we don’t really need to. Can the Minister think of any way to engage perhaps the public service or the public-at-large in a process that could help us to identify areas where we could reduce spending and not have a negative impact further on our economy?

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Question 211-16(3): Impacts Of Global Recession On GNWT Revenues

Oral Questions

Thebacha

Michael Miltenberger

Minister of Finance

There are a number of ways we are engaging with the people of the Northwest Territories and the business sector. The Minister of ITI just had his advisory panel gather around the table. We’ve committed through Finance to our own roundtable in the fall to look at the budget, to look at the state of the economy and where do we go from here. We’ve had discussions in this House about the need for fundamental things on the ground for smaller things like the Green Teams that are forming in government to look at our own government costs.

There are, I would suggest, probably tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars of savings just on the simple things that have been talked about in this House, like timers on coffee pots and having computers shut off at night instead of having thousands of computers and monitors and printers running quietly all night long. Very simple things. We are going to have to look at the whole range going forward. This budget before this House gets us through 2009-2010, but by halfway we’re going to be looking at how to readjust.

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Question 211-16(3): Impacts Of Global Recession On GNWT Revenues

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 212-16(3): Air Carrier Services In Small Communities

Oral Questions

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I have for the Minister going back to my Member’s statement on air transportation. How does the Minister ensure there are adequate and affordable air services in the NWT communities?

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Question 212-16(3): Air Carrier Services In Small Communities

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson . The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation , Mr. Michael McLeod .

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Question 212-16(3): Air Carrier Services In Small Communities

Oral Questions

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The airlines in Canada are not regulated, so we let the market decide.

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Question 212-16(3): Air Carrier Services In Small Communities

Oral Questions

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

What kind of support does the government provide to northern carriers which fly into small communities?

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Question 212-16(3): Air Carrier Services In Small Communities

Oral Questions

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

The aircraft carriers that are recognized as northern carriers and are BIPed as such are supported by this government by

requiring most of our travel to be conducted with these airlines and not the others.

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Question 212-16(3): Air Carrier Services In Small Communities

Oral Questions

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Why is this government removing counter space at the Yellowknife Airport from our northern carriers and giving them to temporary carriers like WestJet?

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Question 212-16(3): Air Carrier Services In Small Communities

Oral Questions

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

This department is mandated to work with all carriers and that is what we’re doing with WestJet. We’re ensuring that the transition is effective and efficient as possible, without placing undue burden on other space that is required by other air carriers.

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Question 212-16(3): Air Carrier Services In Small Communities

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 212-16(3): Air Carrier Services In Small Communities

Oral Questions

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve been advised that both airlines have been asked to give up their counter space. If they have leased space, then why is the department making them do this? That’s not right. Both these airlines are good corporate citizens.

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Question 212-16(3): Air Carrier Services In Small Communities

Oral Questions

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

If we had another option for more space we would probably not be requesting the other companies to give up space. For the most part this is counter space that is not being fully utilized or only used on interim or certain flights. We don’t think it’s going to be an impact. We’re getting some reluctance from companies that don’t feel this company should be coming in. We don’t have a choice in the matter. It’s a system that’s not regulated in Canada and we have to find some way to accommodate them.

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Question 212-16(3): Air Carrier Services In Small Communities

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 213-16(3): Equity Position In Mackenzie Gas Project

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During my Member’s statement I spoke of the importance the Mackenzie Gas Project will mean not just to the territorial economy here in the Northwest Territories but in fact the entire country of Canada. In January the federal Environment Minister , Jim Prentice, announced that the federal government was going to offer an undisclosed amount to the $16.2 billion project’s infrastructure and pre-construction costs, thus sharing in the risks and possible returns on that pipeline. I’d like to ask our Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment if our government knows to what extent the federal government is coming to the table on the MGP.

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Question 213-16(3): Equity Position In Mackenzie Gas Project

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 213-16(3): Equity Position In Mackenzie Gas Project

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our government, what we know we’ve heard through third parties. We’ve had discussions with Minister Prentice and he’s indicated that his preference is that they let the deal arrangements be worked out and then we can go public with information.

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Question 213-16(3): Equity Position In Mackenzie Gas Project

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Considering the pipeline is being built down the Mackenzie Valley and not anywhere near the Rideau Canal in Ottawa, I think it’s important that our government be at the table when these type of discussions are going on, that we know exactly what the federal government is putting on the table, and it gets back to my other point I was trying to make in my Member’s statement. The Government of the Northwest Territories throughout this process, even though we’ve invested at close to $50 million over the time that I’ve been here, we don’t have an equity stake in this project.

If the federal government is going to come to the table, the pipeline is going to be built in our backyard. Where is our government when it comes to an equity position in this pipeline?

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Question 213-16(3): Equity Position In Mackenzie Gas Project

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Certainly I share the Member’s enthusiasm for our government to get involved and take equity pieces on development, because that makes us a real player. But too often we don’t have a shared vision that everybody will buy into. Secondly, we don’t have devolution and resource revenue sharing.

The federal government has the responsibility for oil and gas development. The federal government collects all the royalties. If we were like Newfoundland, we could legislate a percentage share of the pipeline. We could back in and collect royalties so that we could get a piece of the action. But we’re not Newfoundland. We don’t have devolution. We are focusing our investments on the people of the Northwest Territories so that they get training so that we can get ready for the pipeline.

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Question 213-16(3): Equity Position In Mackenzie Gas Project

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

The bottom line remains that these are our resources. They’re located in the Northwest Territories. Once this pipeline is built the residents in the Northwest Territories are going to have to live with that piece of infrastructure in our Territory for decades to come. It would seem to me that our government has an obligation, on behalf of everybody here in the Northwest Territories, to get a seat at that table. If the federal government is throwing around all this cash, aren’t we going to get anything out of the fact that that pipeline is going to be located in the Mackenzie Valley in the Northwest Territories?

What price is our government going to put on that piece of infrastructure being constructed in our Territory for the future of our residents?

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Question 213-16(3): Equity Position In Mackenzie Gas Project

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

We have provided qualified support to the pipeline and we have always said

that we support it subject to regulatory approval. I’m not sure where the Member is getting the figure of $50 million from, but certainly our government has been investing approximately a couple million or $1.5 million to prepare for the pipeline. We see the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline as a basin opening project for the Northwest Territories. Once oil and gas companies can see that they explore and discover oil and gas and they can export it to get immediate returns, you’ll see a dramatic increase in exploration.

Alberta, for example, drills about 27,000 wells a year. This year in the Northwest Territories we’re drilling two wells. And it stops at the border. The only reason it stops at the border is there’s no transmission facility for oil and gas to be exported out of the Northwest Territories.

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Question 213-16(3): Equity Position In Mackenzie Gas Project

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 213-16(3): Equity Position In Mackenzie Gas Project

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I agree with the Minister on the support for the pipeline. I agree with the Minister on the economics of it and the fact that it will open up other opportunities for oil and gas development in our Territory. However, this opportunity is only going to come around once in our lifetime. It’s not every day that you talk about building a $16 billion pipeline down the heart of your Territory.

I think we’re missing the boat if we’re not in the room with the federal government, if we are not demanding of the federal government that they give us an equity position in this pipeline, because at the end of the day it is going to be in our backyard. My final question to the Minister: What will it take for this government to get us an equity position in the Mackenzie Gas Project?

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Question 213-16(3): Equity Position In Mackenzie Gas Project

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

I’ve had the opportunity to discuss the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline with Minister Prentice on a number of occasions, and the federal government does have the responsibility for dealing with the fiscal arrangements to allow the pipeline to go ahead. Certainly he’s assured us that we will be involved and we expect to be involved. The only thing that’s holding us up from getting an equity piece of the pipeline is money. If we get money and recognizing that the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline is a $16.2 billion project, APG, for example, will be getting a 10 percent share of the pipeline.

So for us to say...Let’s say we get a 1 percent share of the pipeline. That’s $1.6 billion. So not only do we have to pay on the expenditures side, then we would collect on the revenue side, and that’s where it’s good to have an equity piece. But the main issue is the availability of money.

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Question 213-16(3): Equity Position In Mackenzie Gas Project

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 214-16(3): Parenting After Marital Separation

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I talked about a parenting after separation course. It’s a program offered in Alberta and Saskatchewan. I know this is not a flashy issue for most and it doesn’t create a lot of controversy, and it will probably get zero attention through the media process because there’s no kicking and screaming. But the fact remains about this issue is I hope it doesn’t lose the chance that we have for promoting a positive relationship when parents go through a divorce to help children.

I brought the issue to the attention of the Minister of Justice and he forwarded me on to his staff members to bring the idea to them. They had heard about it. I had an excellent meeting with his staff and I think it was very productive about this. I’d like to hear from the Minister of Justice about this issue, to see if they’ve done any work on a possible program called Parenting After Separation to help parents communicate, learn a little bit about themselves, and learn a lot about their behaviour and the impact it has on children. What work has been done through the Department of Justice?

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Question 214-16(3): Parenting After Marital Separation

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . The honourable Minister responsible for Justice , Mr. Lafferty .

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Question 214-16(3): Parenting After Marital Separation

Oral Questions

Monfwi

Jackson Lafferty

Minister of Justice

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Certainly our programs within the Justice department, the Family Law Program, all have goals of reducing the separation and divorce impact on children. Specifically to the program the Member has alluded to, he did raise those questions in the House during the previous session and we did follow up as a department. I’m glad to stand up today and highlight that we’re going to be offering a pilot program to deal with this particular issue. That will be slated for this fiscal year. It will be kick started. We are looking forward to that as well, and will continue to look at options on a long-term basis. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 214-16(3): Parenting After Marital Separation

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, if the Minister could elaborate what the pilot program will mean. Are they going to promote the program publicly? The reason this program works, Mr. Speaker, is one of the key elements...I guess I will say it this way. It is court ordered. That is through legislation. The judiciary doesn’t have a choice whether they do it or not. They say, if you are going through a divorce with children, you have to take this program that teaches you how to communicate. I am just curious about how the pilot project will work, recognizing these special elements that are key to the success of this program. Thank you.

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Question 214-16(3): Parenting After Marital Separation

Oral Questions

Monfwi

Jackson Lafferty

Minister of Justice

Mr. Speaker, certainly this program will be on an interim basis as a pilot project. We are looking at options on a going-forward basis to make this program mandatory. In order to do that, Mr. Speaker, we need to identify the additional resources that will be required to deliver on a long-term basis. It will be once that happens, then information will certainly be available via Woodside or through our department on to the regions. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 214-16(3): Parenting After Marital Separation

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, I’m not sure if the program is developed far enough along yet for this pilot project, but I am wondering if the Minister knows at this time if the project is going to be mandatory or not or is it just being set up as a voluntary basis that it will be suggested by the court. Has that step gone to that process yet to deciding whether it is mandatory or voluntary? Thank you.

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Question 214-16(3): Parenting After Marital Separation

Oral Questions

Monfwi

Jackson Lafferty

Minister of Justice

Mr. Speaker, the program is not up and running yet, but it will be. It is all preliminary right now. It will be part of the option of looking at it on a mandatory basis on a moving-forward basis, but not just a pilot project to deal with issues at hand. Mahsi.

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Question 214-16(3): Parenting After Marital Separation

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 214-16(3): Parenting After Marital Separation

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

I just have one last question for clarification on the pilot project. When can we expect to see this up and running? In what type of form? Will the Minister be setting up an office, public awareness campaign? What details will be brought forward perhaps maybe through the Family Law? I’m not sure. I’m just looking for a little more detail. There are people out there that this could really help. If anything, we could be helping kids move forward in a more positive environment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 214-16(3): Parenting After Marital Separation

Oral Questions

Monfwi

Jackson Lafferty

Minister of Justice

Mr. Speaker, this particular program, Parent Education Program, will begin before the end of this fiscal year. We will be working closely with agencies that we have in the regions and in the communities to spread the news that this particular program is available to those individuals that will need it. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 214-16(3): Parenting After Marital Separation

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . Oral questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe , Mr. Beaulieu .

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Question 215-16(3): Community-Based Wellness Program Alternatives

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I talked about the need to formally recognize and support the concept of healing the community. I

would like to follow up my statement with questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services . Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me if currently there is a program that addresses the issue of community healing? Thank you.

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Question 215-16(3): Community-Based Wellness Program Alternatives

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 215-16(3): Community-Based Wellness Program Alternatives

Oral Questions

Range Lake

Sandy Lee

Minister of Health and Social Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department does have a basket of programs and services that we provide to our residents with respect to community wellness and mental health. We do have mental health and addictions workers and community wellness workers in our communities. We do have contractual relationships with local governments in some communities to provide counselling. We do in some communities have some examples of community wellness programming. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 215-16(3): Community-Based Wellness Program Alternatives

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Mr. Speaker, the whole way in which you go about healing is a very individual type of approach, but that is what my issue is. It is an approach that the government takes which is individualistic, which is good for some issues, but you can gain synergies by trying to heal the community together. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to know if the Minister would look at the development and implementation of something that looks at healing the whole community where you are looking at healthy people mixed with unhealthy people to try to gain synergies and try to heal the whole community. That is what I’m after. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 215-16(3): Community-Based Wellness Program Alternatives

Oral Questions

Range Lake

Sandy Lee

Minister of Health and Social Services

I do agree with the Member that we should look at all approaches and, at the end of the day, we as a government and the department and the program has to be measured by the outcome and the results, specifically to Lutselk’e and Resolution. My understanding is that we do spend about $290,000. There is the Brighter Futures program. There is a basket of programs going on, but at the end of the day, the program has to make sense to the community. It has to be something that the community feels ownership to.

So I am willing to actively work with the Member to review what we have and implement a pilot program that suits the needs of the community if that is what is necessary. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 215-16(3): Community-Based Wellness Program Alternatives

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

I would like to thank the Minister for her response. It is a good commitment to look at a pilot project for the community. Would it be possible to have a small pilot project like the beginning of the community healing project for Lutselk’e and Resolution in 2009 or if not both, then at least one of the communities and maybe one the following year? Thank you.

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Question 215-16(3): Community-Based Wellness Program Alternatives

Oral Questions

Range Lake

Sandy Lee

Minister of Health and Social Services

For example, in Deh Cho, I understand that a couple of communities, Kakisa and Fort Providence, have worked out specific programming that worked in their communities, so I don’t see why we couldn’t do that in Lutselk’e. Of course, I have to look at what budgets we have and where we could find the money, but I am most interested in working with the Member and the community of Lutselk’e, if that is the one we start with, and work on Resolution as well, work with the community as to what kind of proposal that they want to have and what sort of needs they have.

I’m not sure if we could try to fill the entire community at once, but I do agree that we should try a model or a pilot program that suits the communities. I look forward to working with the Member to advance this idea.

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Question 215-16(3): Community-Based Wellness Program Alternatives

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 215-16(3): Community-Based Wellness Program Alternatives

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Again, I would like to thank the Minister for her response. Mr. Speaker, to switch gears a little here, I would like to ask the Minister if she is prepared to travel with me into Lutselk’e to meet with community leaders to discuss this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 215-16(3): Community-Based Wellness Program Alternatives

Oral Questions

Range Lake

Sandy Lee

Minister of Health and Social Services

Yes, I understand that the department officials were there last July and met with the community leaders but I have not been able to make it to Lutselk’e as a Minister yet. I would be happy to do that as soon as we can make arrangements. I just want to say again that, in looking at what we can do, that would include looking at how we are spending the money we do now and see if we can do it better with the resources we have, because we do understand that we need to make best use of dollars that we are spending on these programs. Thank you.

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Question 215-16(3): Community-Based Wellness Program Alternatives

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee . Oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta , Mr. Krutko .

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Question 216-16(3): Capital Infrastructure Investments In Small Communities

Oral Questions

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are directed to the Premier . It is in regards to the government’s attempts to invest $700 million over the next five years in the Northwest Territories on infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, as all 19 Members of this House, we all want to do what is best for our ridings, but one of the main objectives that we try to meet is have sufficient community but also provide some sort of economic stimulus to those communities to have the residents have an opportunity to be employed, take an income and, more importantly, support their

families. What is this government doing to ensure that we do have capital expenditures in 33 communities and not just three or four in the Northwest Territories?

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Question 216-16(3): Capital Infrastructure Investments In Small Communities

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko . The honourable Premier , Mr. Roland .

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