Debates of May 25th, 2012

This is page numbers 577 - 608 of the Hansard for the 17th 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 communities .

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Minister’s Statement 2-17(3): New Public Housing Rent Scale

Minister’s Statement 3-17(3): Improving The NWT Parks Experience

Minister’s Statement 4-17(3): Aboriginal Policing Program Opportunities

Benefits Of Traditional Spring Hunt

Lowering Cost Of Living Through Hydro Development

ECE French Language Exam Challenge Policy

Town Of Hay River Appreciation Night

Construction Of Habitat For Humanity Homes In Weledeh

Congratulations To Aurora College Graduates

Impact Of Federal Policies On National Parks In The Nahendeh Riding

May 26 – National Residential School Healing And Reconciliation Day

Deh Cho Bridge Project

Budget Process

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Municipal Employee Training Programs

Mental Health Supports For Residential School Survivors

ECE French Language Exam Challenge Policy

Lowering Cost Of Living Through Hydro Development

Identifying Funding For Small Community Projects

Supporting The Growth Of Traditional Economies

Aboriginal Policing Program Opportunities

Anti-Poverty Strategy

Federal Budget Reductions For National Parks

Declining Natural Gas Reserves In Norman Wells

Tabled Document 4-17(3): Report Of The Northwest Territories Judicial Remuneration Commission, 2012

Setting Of Sitting Hours By Speaker

Bill 1:

An Act To Amend The Student Financial Assistance Act

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

The House met at 10:06 a.m.

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---Prayer

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Prayer

Prayer

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Good morning, colleagues. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Housing , Mr. McLeod.

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Minister’s Statement 2-17(3): New Public Housing Rent Scale

Ministers’ Statements

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The NWT Housing Corporation is committed to implementing a fair and sustainable public housing rent scale. It is one of the strategic actions outlined in Building for the Future: Northern Solutions for Northern Housing. It was also identified as a key component of the 17th Legislative

Assembly’s priority to address housing needs.

Last month I released the public housing rent scale that will be implemented on July 1st . This rent scale

addresses the many concerns we have heard from residents and Members of the Legislative Assembly over the past several years.

First, residents wanted the public housing rent scale to be simpler and more predictable. The previous approach was a complicated model with many adjustments in calculating rent. Tenants didn’t always know what their rent was going to be from month to month. As an example, last month there were 311 public housing tenants with incomes between $2,500 and $3,750. These tenants paid 167 different rents ranging from zero to $1,050. With the new rent scale, all household incomes in this range will pay between $325 and $365, depending on community. This will allow tenants to know their rent from month to month and plan their household budgets accordingly.

Residents also told us they wanted the public housing rent scale to address the disincentive to work. The new rent scale eliminates the bias against employment income, allows residents to earn extra income without rent changing, and provides for modest rent increases as income levels rise. The new minimum rent is set at between $70 and $80, depending on community, and

maximum rent at $1,445 to $1,625 with rent increasing as household income increases. This means that low-income tenants will pay about 4 percent of their income. Maximum rent will be 19.5 percent of income. The maximum rent under the old rent scale was up to 30 percent of income which translates into an overall 10.5 percent reduction in the maximum rents we can charge for higher income working Northerners in public housing. The overall changes to the rent scale will mean more money available to families to spend in the communities on their children and for the necessities of life.

The new maximum rents will be particularly beneficial for seasonal workers. During months that they are employed, seasonal workers often faced large rent increases, with rent as high as $4,600 per month in some communities. These workers often depend on this income for the entire year and the new maximum rent will ensure there is no disincentive to residents that depend on seasonal income.

Finally, residents also wanted the new public housing rent scale to be fair. The new scale means that rent for public housing tenants will be the same for tenants with similar incomes, regardless of the community they live in. This helps to address cost of living in our highest cost communities. For example, it costs about $42,000 per year to operate each public housing unit in Paulatuk. This is much higher than for lower cost communities like Hay River where costs are typically about $12,000 per unit per year. Keeping public housing rent similar, regardless of community, contributes to the sustainability of all NWT communities.

The changes we are making must be done in a manner that helps ensure the sustainability of the public housing program. One result of the introduction of the new minimum rent is that seniors will now pay rent in public housing. I understand this is a major change and that not everyone is going to be supportive. The reality is that the number of seniors residing in public housing is increasing as the population ages. At the same time, costs to operate public housing continue to increase and funding from the federal government to operate social housing is being eliminated.

Fairness is also a factor in this change. For example, last month using the old rent scale there

were two households that earned essentially the same monthly income of $3,690. The first household is a single mother with two children who was charged $985 in rent, or 27 percent of the household income. The second household is two seniors living alone who paid zero rent. With the new rent scales, the single mother will pay $325 in rent, about 9 percent of income, and the seniors would pay $160 in rent or 4 percent of income.

The lower rent for the seniors with the new rent scale in this example, is because there will be an income exemption of $1,000 for each senior in the household as part of the calculation of income. This lowers rent for seniors compared with other households.

Mr. Speaker, the new public housing rent scale is simpler, more predictable and fairer. It addresses the disincentive to work and it does these things while ensuring the program remains sustainable, given the declining federal funding. This change will go into effect on July 1st and I will continue to keep

the Assembly updated on this initiative. Thank you.

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Minister’s Statement 2-17(3): New Public Housing Rent Scale

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Minister’s Statement 3-17(3): Improving The NWT Parks Experience

Ministers’ Statements

Kam Lake

David Ramsay

Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Northwest Territories parks and campgrounds attract thousands of visitors to our territory every summer. They are a vital element of our tourism sector, and one we continue to invest in heavily by ensuring they are maintained, improved and made more accessible to visitors. These facilities are also enjoyed by our own residents and contribute enormously to the quality of life that we enjoy here in Canada’s North.

The 2012 parks season formally opened on May 15th and two new initiatives from the Department of

Industry, Tourism and Investment are making it easier than ever for visitors to access the territorial parks system.

We have developed a new NWT parks webpage to enable visitors to learn more about our extensive network of parks and recreation areas, book campsites and plan their visits to the NWT, all in an attractive, up-to-date and user-friendly format.

Our new webpage contains valuable information about all 34 parks in the Northwest Territories system. It includes interactive maps, events calendars and photo galleries, and promotes and increases tourism by highlighting nearby communities, cultural experiences and wilderness attractions.

Use of the on-line booking tool for NWT campgrounds has continued to rise, and campers can book sites at more parks on-line.

We have also introduced a multi-park seasonal day-use permit in the North Slave region, giving parks users in this region full summer access to day-use facilities at the Fred Henne, Prelude Lake and Reid Lake territorial parks for a single reduced fee.

We hope that this initiative will encourage and allow even more residents, especially families, to discover and experience the naturally spectacular parks facilities that we have right here in our backyard.

Mr. Speaker, continued investment in the NWT’s spectacular parks infrastructure is key to supporting and growing tourism in the NWT, and reflects this Assembly’s priority and commitment to strengthen and diversify the NWT’s economy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister’s Statement 3-17(3): Improving The NWT Parks Experience

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Minister’s Statement 4-17(3): Aboriginal Policing Program Opportunities

Ministers’ Statements

Great Slave

Glen Abernethy

Minister of Justice

Mr. Speaker, I wish to update the Assembly on programs that give our Aboriginal youth a stepping stone to serving their communities in the RCMP.

Our Assembly has identified a goal of diversifying our economy, ensuring that people in each community and region have choices. The Aboriginal Community Constable Program and the Aboriginal Pre-Cadet Training Program are innovative training programs that support this goal.

The Community Constable Program continues the original pilot program with a second intake of candidates. There are two positions available for Aboriginal people 19 years or older to attend a 20-week session at the RCMP Training Academy in Regina. Each cadet will learn the skills they need to become sworn peace officers and leaders in their communities.

Each cadet is paid for the time they spend training, including a week-long trip back to their home community. Once training is complete, the constables have an additional six-month field training posting in an NWT detachment to round out their experience.

With the deadline for applications coming up on June 1st , we will have a number of candidates vying

for the positions available. The training is rigorous, as the work community constables perform is

demanding. Cadets learn to assist regular police officers in investigations and to be secondary support response personnel. Most importantly, they are a vital link between the community and the RCMP.

The second program is for those aged 19 to 29 who want to see if the RCMP may be right for them and to gain valuable work experience. The RCMP Aboriginal Pre-Cadet Training Program is running from May to August. This 17-week training session will appeal to those who wish to learn about careers in policing or who want to challenge themselves mentally and physically. This program enhances self-esteem and encourages cadets to become role models. Graduates are ready to further their studies, work in justice-related fields or pursue career options with the RCMP.

Through these paid training programs, I want to highlight the rewarding career opportunities available to our residents. We are always exploring opportunities with the RCMP to encourage NWT residents to consider policing-related careers.

Although it is not an official program, I would also like to highlight today the good work recently done here in Yellowknife by bringing youth in the Canadian Rangers to Yellowknife to have them work with Corporal Tammy McKenzie of “G” Division. They received firsthand experience of what it is like to be an RCMP constable, including manning check-stops.

I ask Members today to let the youth in your ridings know about these programs, and I encourage anyone who is interested in a career in policing to talk to the RCMP officers in their communities or visit the RCMP website. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister’s Statement 4-17(3): Aboriginal Policing Program Opportunities

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy . Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe , Mr. Nadli .

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Benefits Of Traditional Spring Hunt

Members’ Statements

Michael Nadli

Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] This time of year in the springtime a lot of people like to be out on the land, and in the mornings the birds sing and it’s getting warm again. In the communities the freight comes in from down south also with the barges. Because of that, items are sometimes expensive. However, we do need things from down south in the communities. Things that come in from the South is either by barge or trucking, so sometimes when they do get the items from the South this is what urges the children in the communities with regard to freight and food, and things are kind of expensive.

Sometimes we don’t really know how to preserve the foods from other parts of the world. Sometimes people are in the

bush and thriving on wildlife food such as moose and migratory birds.

There’s a lot of people that still live out on the land and it does seem like that way of living is still thriving well. Sometimes yearly there are people who do subsist on the wildlife out in the bush, they do get some assistance annually. There are some young people that sometimes help the older people out on the land and sometimes when they do kill wildlife they share it among the communities. Also, the elders help them in treating the wildlife meat.

There are some items that we have talked about as a government, is the Community Harvesting Program and it will be good if it continues to be used by people who do wildlife living out in the communities. Mahsi. [Translation ends]

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Benefits Of Traditional Spring Hunt

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

The honourable Member for Range Lake , Mr. Dolynny .

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Lowering Cost Of Living Through Hydro Development

Members’ Statements

Daryl Dolynny

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In yesterday’s budget address the Minister of Finance made a very bold statement about the importance of lowering the cost of living to the access of lowering our power costs generated by hydro. He further referenced the need for an outside-the-box thinking to resolve this dilemma. You know, he’s very right; but does this government have the appetite to make the needed infrastructure investment to follow through with such a bold, motherly statement?

The NWT resident is facing unprecedented costs for living in the North, from high food prices to extreme travel costs to massive increases in their energy costs. I always wonder what truly keeps people wanting to live in the North with such a high living cost. That said, there is an outside-the-box project that could alleviate a large portion of this energy costing issue and immediately lower the cost of living. The answer is transmission lines.

The construction of a transmission line from the Taltson hydro plant via the South Slave through Hay River and connecting into the Alberta grid system would for the first time allow the full electrically capacity of the Taltson project. Think about it: Lower electricity prices for the South Slave, forfeiting the changeover of our government buildings to pellet boilers, and maybe the potential for export power to our southern neighbours. This would immediately affect all ratepayers, lower all the energy cost demands for the entire territory, wean us off our thirst for fossil fuels and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Now I know there are some naysayers out there that make reference that this cannot be done due to grading issues, NWT precipitation records,

technology challenges and cost investment. I say to these people: Offer me a large-scale alternative that will have the same economic and tangible return on our investment and I think the answer is very clear.

So I say to this government: If you truly mean what you say in wanting to lower our cost of living and energy costs, then I would expect us to stop putting these bold statements into print. Let’s make the business case, let’s do the proper investment, and let’s leverage our support unilaterally to something we know that will have a direct impact to the bottom line of all taxpayers. Let’s stop penalizing our residents with continued rate increases and energy costs and let’s start generating the millions of dollars transmission lines could offer.

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Lowering Cost Of Living Through Hydro Development

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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ECE French Language Exam Challenge Policy

Members’ Statements

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to bring some emphasis to a policy issue within the Education department, a policy which will affect the post-secondary aspirations of our high school students. I think Members know that the NWT high school curriculum follows that of Alberta and I ask why then do our policies not do the same.

Last September, Alberta Education, in a misguided move, determined that French second language exams could only be written by students taking those courses, that other students could not challenge the exam. Not surprisingly, NWT Education followed Alberta’s lead and we also removed the challenge provision for French second language courses from NWT students. But Alberta, once they fully realized the full implications of their new policy, rightfully reversed their policy decision one month later and they returned to their original situation.

NWT Education, however, did not. Our students are now at a disadvantage in comparison to their Alberta counterparts, and to what end? For what purpose? Any NWT student proficient in French is prohibited from gaining a potential extra credit, an extra credit that could make or break their acceptance to university or other post-secondary institutions.

Some schools require a high school language credit for entrance into a particular program and those same schools may not recognize an immersion language course, for instance, for that credit.

In addition, a student can be very proficient in French, a French-first language student, for instance, and they may not need to take a French second language course. They already have the

skills, yet they cannot now challenge the exam to get their needed credits for graduation.

It’s hard enough for NWT students to compete for spots in post-secondary schools. This just makes it harder, Mr. Speaker. At a time when we should be helping out students achieve the greatest success possible, when they are embarking on a significant new direction in their lives, we are throwing up roadblocks for them to try to get over.

I’ve tried many times to understand the department’s rationale. I’ve considered this issue in the last several weeks and I can see no valid reason for this policy change. Why are we doing this, Mr. Speaker?

I will have this and other questions for the Minister of Education at the appropriate time. Thank you.

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ECE French Language Exam Challenge Policy

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro . The honourable Member for Hay River North , Mr. Bouchard .

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Town Of Hay River Appreciation Night

Members’ Statements

Robert Bouchard

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My colleague and I will be returning to Hay River this evening for an appreciation night for the Town of Hay River staff. We will be honoured to host the Minister of MACA , the Honourable R.C. McLeod, in Hay River.

The appreciation of the staff in Hay River is greatly appreciated there. The local jobs affect the community greatly. The staff there have the opportunity to take on training, skills development in first aid, equipment training, water treatment and mechanics. We feel these are very important staff positions in the community. These people spend their money in the community and throughout the North, so we’re honoured tonight to attend that meeting. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

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Town Of Hay River Appreciation Night

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Construction Of Habitat For Humanity Homes In Weledeh

Members’ Statements

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to salute the good work going on in my Weledeh riding with the construction of two new homes with assistance from Habitat for Humanity.

Construction is expected to start in June on a new duplex in the Niven Lake subdivision, houses that will eventually be the homes of two four-person families. The new families will move from the rental market into home ownership, thanks to the socially progressive work of this organization and the affordable terms of construction and purchase.

Habitat for Humanity assumes a CMHC backed mortgage which families begin paying as soon as

the homes are completed. It’s a no-interest, no down payment, 25-year mortgage. Payments are set at 25 percent of household income. Homes are constructed with volunteer labour and it’s expected that there will be donations of building materials. The new owners participate in the construction, with the required commitment of 500 volunteer hours. These are the first Habitat for Humanity homes to be built in the Northwest Territories and 18 applications were received for the two units available.

Habitat for Humanity has applied the socially progressive approach to home ownership across Canada and around the world. Sixty-nine new homes are being built this year in Canada, putting the organization over the 2,000 mark in homes constructed. The organization has launched home repair and renovation programs and been honoured with a CHMC Aboriginal Housing Award among other plaudits.

Provision for adequate, accessible and affordable housing for the people of the NWT is one of this government’s most critical challenges. While it’s great to see concerned citizens organizing themselves to lend a hand, it gives us pause to consider how well we’re doing meeting our own needs. We have made progress in offering our own home ownership programs and adjusting our rent scales, but far too many of our citizens still lack decent housing, rented or owned.

When it comes time to spend our tight capital dollars, we have to put the critical basic needs of our citizens first. Housing is a key factor in healthy families, communities and the economy. Mahsi.

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Construction Of Habitat For Humanity Homes In Weledeh

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Congratulations To Aurora College Graduates

Members’ Statements

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before we got back in session, I had the honour to attend the Aurora College graduation in Inuvik where I was able to give a speech to the graduates. I was very honoured and grateful to participate and to see graduates of all ages right out of high school to even see seniors and older adults. For them to take the initiative and invest into their futures and accomplish what they had set out to accomplish, for that I respected each and every one of them for the hard work that they did to get where they were today.

Although I did speak only at the Inuvik event, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all graduates in the Northwest Territories through the Aurora College. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the instructors, the staff, the

mentors and the families that supported these graduates as they went through the course of their years to get the diplomas.

As we know, the cost of living in the Northwest Territories is very high, that student financial assistance only provides so much money and a lot of these families – sometimes single parents – go through a hard time to get through those trials and tribulations to overcome those obstacles to get where they are today. That takes a lot of courage and a lot of determination. For that we should respect our graduates of the Northwest Territories.

With that said, I would like to take the opportunity to address what I had mentioned in my speech to all of the graduates. I did mention that our greatest resource in the Northwest Territories is not our oil, gas or diamonds; it is our people. In the Northwest Territories it is very unique that we help our people. We share with our people. We take them under our wing and help them become better people. If they are struggling, we try to get them out of those situations.

We need to invest more in our education, our health and our wellness of our people so that they can become educated, they can become healthy, so that they are the ones who can go out and get the jobs in our education systems, our schools, even translators. We need to put that investment there.

Once all our resources are gone in the Northwest Territories, we are going to be left with the people who were here first. We are going to be left with the people that are struggling to get through these jobs, left with people who are starting to get sucked into the hardships of economy development with the alcohol, drugs and addictions.

As the economy slows, we have to look at investing into something else and that is people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Congratulations To Aurora College Graduates

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Impact Of Federal Policies On National Parks In The Nahendeh Riding

Members’ Statements

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to speak about the potential impacts of the federal government on our park system, most particularly the Nahanni National Park in my riding. The residents and the leadership of Fort Simpson are very concerned about these reductions to these programs and services in the parks budget.

A few weeks ago I issued a press release stating my concerns, and today I look to our government to take a position and advocate on behalf to the federal government about how these impacts may be negative to the region and the people.

Canada is saying minimal impacts but my biggest concern is that, as we agree to expand our park, they had promised increased expenditures, increased jobs to the Nahendeh region and to the communities. Our region is a have-not and does benefit from the increased activity as a result of the expansion of the Nahanni National Park Reserve. I don’t want to see those opportunities missed there.

Once again, I would like to call upon our government to take a position and speak with the federal counterparts, that future plan cutbacks or reductions should not happen and we will have the discussion with the appropriate Minister during question period. Thank you very much.

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Impact Of Federal Policies On National Parks In The Nahendeh Riding

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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May 26 – National Residential School Healing And Reconciliation Day

Members’ Statements

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Tomorrow, May 26th , is a very important day in the

Northwest Territories. The last government recognized May 26th as National Residential School

Reconciliation and Healing. The point that I want to raise this morning is that tomorrow is a day that this government is the only government in Canada that has recognized this day for residential school survivors.

In the Northwest Territories we affect over 10,000 students, and many communities in the Northwest Territories are feeling and healing on a recovery and healing through the residential schools. This is a

chapter in our life as Aboriginal people and people in the communities that was sadly enforced by policies of the past governments and the federal government, and for whatever reasons they were operated by the churches. It had a huge impact on our people and today we’re feeling the effects of it through the amount of alcoholism, the amount of addictions, the amount of issues dealing with families and even with our languages.

Tomorrow gives the acknowledgement to the students, to the families to say we no longer want to be the part of a victim; we want to be part of the people that stood for something that you were okay and that what was done to you may not be done anymore in the future.

This government needs to be applauded for taking a stand to acknowledge. I know June 11th , when I

was working, I never thought I would hear a Prime Minister stand up in the House of Parliament and say on behalf of his government that he was sorry to the Aboriginal people, to me when I was six years old living in residential school.

We have to look at this and I look forward to this government doing something to commemorate tomorrow and future years as to what we can do to

begin the reconciliation process and strengthen that process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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May 26 – National Residential School Healing And Reconciliation Day

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Deh Cho Bridge Project

Members’ Statements

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Some of us in this Chamber may have heard of a little project referred to as the Deh Cho Bridge. As a matter of fact, it’s the largest infrastructure project that our government has ever supported to date. With all projects, it certainly has had its challenges, its issues and certainly it’s had its concerns. But frankly, let’s put it on the record: what project hasn’t had problems, challenges, or issues or concerns?

We all know that the Deh Cho Bridge was a project born out of the vision and aspirations of the people and the community of Fort Providence. It’s a project that brought together an excellent partnership to the table, the Dene and the Metis of that region. In an area that often has been described to me as certainly an economically depressed region, this was a great opportunity for these people to be involved in a project.

It’s well known that I’ve been a stalwart supporter of this project, this partnership, and I’ve certainly stood behind them steadfastly, the people of Fort Providence, who want to be part of their own destiny on their traditional lands. On a number of occasions the Deh Cho Bridge project has been referred to “a gong show.” Clearly in Hansard it is, in my opinion. I’m not speaking for the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation or certainly the people of Fort Providence, but I’m not sure how anyone can see or hear those repeated comments referring to it as a gong show as constructive criticism in any way; a viewpoint that I think is insulting and even maybe personal at times.

In speaking to the former Member, who I got to know over eight years, the Member for Deh Cho that is, he often told me how language use like that in the House is very hurtful to the people of the community, the proponents of the project, the vision of the people. So I’m not here to split hairs today, Mr. Speaker, but the fact is although there were numerous examples, the challenge is out there to find one example that seemed to stand for picking on a project of that nature.

Mr. Speaker, implied or direct, I want to make clear in this House today that any attempt to paint a picture that I do not support First Nations’ projects and their aspirations is wrong. I will continue to question the realignment of Highway No. 4 on the process, not the project, and certainly not the successful proponents and any attempt to make it any other issue will certainly be met head on by me.

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Deh Cho Bridge Project

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Budget Process

Members’ Statements

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given that we just received the budget address yesterday, very well delivered by our Minister of Finance , I must say. Many minutes of speaking on many pages, I said he didn’t skip or miss a word the whole budget.

On the matter of how we get to the budget and the speech that Mr. Miltenberger delivered yesterday, the address that he delivered, I’d just like to talk about a few anomalies as I see them.

We as Regular Members sit on standing committees that consider the business plans. The departments come to our standing committees, they outline for us what the activity of their departments is going to be, and we have some input. Mind you, a lot of the time that we spend looking at this is us receiving information about what the department is doing. However, even after that it is still received at a very high level. Those of us on this side of the House do not really get a close-up, first-hand kind of look at what goes on in the departments.

The numbers that we get are large numbers, generally speaking, and they refer to activities which are also rather large. So if during this process we do come up with a creative idea for a change in focus or a new, modest initiative, we then feed that information back to the government. Alas, by the time it gets to them, it’s generally too late to include it in the budget.

These are anomalies that I see from my perspective and I’m sure the Cabinet could agree or disagree. It’s too late to work them in there, so now we are left with what other options do we have to bring that kind of input and suggestion and change to the process that we would want from this side of the House.

We’re often told that when there is such an initiative or change in policy, or focus, or priority, that the government has no money. So if you want that, Regular Members, then you need to look at the budget and find where you want to cut. I have a problem with that. We’re not in a position to look at that budget and see where we want to cut. Do you notice that when the government has an initiative? Often it will happen, interestingly, and they will say, oh, we have funded that from within. We do not have that opportunity on this side of the House to find out where there could be some money within a department to fund anything that we want as a priority or as an initiative.

I think that when we come up with these ideas, I don’t think the response should be from the

Cabinet, well, you decide where you want to delete something. Because that’s all we have the ability to do, is delete when it comes to the budget. I think we should turn that back to the Cabinet and we should say, this is our priority, you find the money, you tell us what you’re going to cut.

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Budget Process

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River North , Mr. Bouchard .

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Question 24-17(3): Municipal Employee Training Programs

Oral Questions

Robert Bouchard

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I was talking about the appreciation night for the Town of Hay River today, but my questions are for the Minister of MACA . I’d like to know what training MACA provides to municipalities for the help of the employees.

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Question 24-17(3): Municipal Employee Training Programs

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Question 24-17(3): Municipal Employee Training Programs

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Through the School of Community Government we have about 11 core courses that a lot of the municipalities take us up on. For example, in 2011-2012 we had 11 training events that were attended by 135 participants. We work very closely with the communities to offer them programs and training that will allow them to do their job a lot better and with a lot of support from MACA.

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Question 24-17(3): Municipal Employee Training Programs

Oral Questions

Robert Bouchard

Hay River North

My next question is: What funding does MACA provide to the municipalities to do its training in the community itself?

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Question 24-17(3): Municipal Employee Training Programs

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

The communities are given an O and M budget. When they feel that there’s training that is necessary in their community, then they will, for the most part, use their O and M money to offer training in their communities. However, as I said, again, we do have a lot of courses that are offered through the School of Community Government that a lot of municipalities take us up on, and they meet other people from across the Northwest Territories that are doing similar work and they can share experiences and best practices.

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Question 24-17(3): Municipal Employee Training Programs

Oral Questions

Robert Bouchard

Hay River North

As I indicated, the economic benefit that the municipalities provide to their local economy is very strong and I’d like to know from the Minister if MACA is considering increasing some of the funding they provide to the municipalities to do infrastructure development.

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Question 24-17(3): Municipal Employee Training Programs

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

The New Deal that was done about five years ago is up for an evaluation. It was supposed to be evaluated after five years to see how we can improve how we work with communities. I have to say that with all the infrastructure money that we’ve been giving to the communities, they have the responsibility for the projects that they want in their communities. It’s a program that’s worked very well. We’ve heard back from many of the municipalities that have done a lot of good work with the money that they’ve been given. However, we are looking at re-evaluating or evaluating the program and seeing how well it’s worked. In my opinion, it’s worked very well for the communities.

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Question 24-17(3): Municipal Employee Training Programs

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Question 24-17(3): Municipal Employee Training Programs

Oral Questions

Robert Bouchard

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister indicated that there will be a review completed. Can the Minister tell me the expected date on that review completion?

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Question 24-17(3): Municipal Employee Training Programs

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

We’re just starting the work now; however, I will keep the committee updated on the work as we go forward and hopefully have a finished product for them quite soon. I will keep committee updated on the work that we’re doing.

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Question 24-17(3): Municipal Employee Training Programs

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Question 25-17(3): Mental Health Supports For Residential School Survivors

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I spoke about the government’s declaration of May 26th tomorrow for the residential school healing and reconciliation process and I want to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services if his department has been looking at what type of programs within the field of mental health and wellness counselling and other sorts of areas that could support residential school survivors to take…

---Interjection

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Question 25-17(3): Mental Health Supports For Residential School Survivors

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Continue, Mr. Yakeleya . Sorry about that.

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Question 25-17(3): Mental Health Supports For Residential School Survivors

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the department look at what type of programs are there for residential school survivors and the ones who are also affected by it?

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Question 25-17(3): Mental Health Supports For Residential School Survivors

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services , Mr. Beaulieu .

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Question 25-17(3): Mental Health Supports For Residential School Survivors

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We recognize that a lot of the truth and reconciliation in residential schools have become a very high-profile issue in the government. The department is putting together the action plan that we’re going to be rolling out in the next two years. In addition to that, we have about $6 million, a little over $6 million in the Community Counselling Program. We have one residential treatment facility that’s still operating and we also have about a million dollars or a little over targeted into the communities for aftercare and also for on-the-land programs, if that’s something that the communities are interested in carrying out.

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Question 25-17(3): Mental Health Supports For Residential School Survivors

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

I do look forward to the Minister’s release of that document sometime in the near future and certainly give him support where it’s needed to be. I want to ask the Minister, we do have Nats’ejee K’eh Treatment Program at Hay River Dene Reserve. We have what Mrs. Groenewegen talked about, a facility also maybe being opened up in Hay River. We looked at Inuvik where they have possibly a facility, or even in Fort McPherson. So there are some facilities that are going to be available.

I want to ask the Minister if there’s anywhere in that action on addiction or treatment programs, anywhere in the plan of the department where we can possibly slate a residential school treatment program specifically for survivors of residential school.

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Question 25-17(3): Mental Health Supports For Residential School Survivors

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Within that action plan and also a commitment from the government that we would look at more treatment in existing infrastructure, we will be asking in the action plan that a Minister’s forum be struck on well-respected people within the addictions and mental health field to travel to the communities and see first-hand what is required. We are going to be supporting that forum with a request through a supplementary appropriation of about $300,000 so that they can gather and hear firsthand from the communities what is needed.

We believe, from our initial travels, that there is a requirement or a request for some sort of residential treatment in the Beaufort-Delta for residential school survivors.

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Question 25-17(3): Mental Health Supports For Residential School Survivors

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

When we look down the Mackenzie Valley and you look into the communities, we have small communities. In a lot of our small communities probably about 60 to 70 percent of the people who live in our communities have some direct impact of residential schools, so there’s a high need for this. I want to ask the Minister where in his department is there a policy that says that if you, Mr. Yakeleya , want to go to a program for your family and yourself – and I have a lot of brothers and sisters and they had big families

too – where in the policy that we can go to the department and say we want to go to this program. Is there a policy that will take a family of four or five and say you’re going, or are we going to have to wait to future time where we could look at this through the action plan that he’s indicated in the next couple of weeks?

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Question 25-17(3): Mental Health Supports For Residential School Survivors

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Right now the residential treatment that is being offered is individual treatment. They used to have couples treatment, but it was decided by the facility that they would be better off to have individual treatment, gender treatment, actually. Right now we don’t have residential family treatment available, with the exception of something that could occur on the land.

It appeared as though in the communities when we travelled and heard first hand that the communities felt that a solution could be to have families, several families, in fact, going out on the land and going to that type of on-the-land treatment with some counsellors on the land, but at this time we don’t have anything as far as family treatment goes unless they go out of the territory.

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Question 25-17(3): Mental Health Supports For Residential School Survivors

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu . Your final, short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya .

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Question 25-17(3): Mental Health Supports For Residential School Survivors

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, the policy of the genocide intentions by the federal government was to take the children away from the family and do that. We’re no different than doing this with this program here, taking people away and looking at treating them in this manner. I think what we’re looking for is a family treatment program. That’s the power and the strength of the people here. I ask the Minister, would he look at this as one possibility, one solution of family treatment programs on the land as a starting point where they start doing the true healing and reconciliation of the suffering that was done of the residential schools.

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Question 25-17(3): Mental Health Supports For Residential School Survivors

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Mr. Speaker, as part of the action plan and as part of the Ministers’ forum, we want to look at all aspects of treatment and if family treatment is something that’s proposed by many of the communities, then it’s something that we will try to work into our action plan. Thank you.

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Question 25-17(3): Mental Health Supports For Residential School Survivors

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Question 26-17(3): ECE French Language Exam Challenge Policy

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are addressed to the Minister for Education, Culture and Employment . I highlighted in my statement an unfair situation, I believe, which exists within the Department of Education relative to students being able to challenge a French second language exam.

I’d like to initially ask the Minister what the rationale is for this particular policy change. Our curriculum is allied with that of Alberta, and Alberta made the change and changed it back to the original. We’ve maintained this change in policy, and as I’ve said, I think it’s unfair, and I’d like to ask the Minister why we’re doing this. Thank you.

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Question 26-17(3): ECE French Language Exam Challenge Policy

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Question 26-17(3): ECE French Language Exam Challenge Policy

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. There has been no policy change in the senior secondary school administrative handbook on this particular subject. The core French 30 does not exist anymore in Alberta. French 30 did not have a former exam from Alberta, as well; Alberta education. In no other subject do we or Alberta permit the students to challenge a course in which outcomes have been covered in previous level courses.

This is a particular issue that was discussed with the French coordinators at the divisional education council and the district education authority in June 2011, and they also agree with the rationale. We’re following with what the discussion that was agreed upon. Mahsi.

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Question 26-17(3): ECE French Language Exam Challenge Policy

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

I appreciate the response from the Minister. I’m having great difficulty because I have looked at a policy for secondary high school education from Alberta and from NWT and they do seem to be definitely different in that Alberta both policies state that any student can challenge any course. I need to obviously have a better explanation from the Minister as to why what I’m reading doesn’t obviously jibe with what he’s reading.

I guess I need to ask the Minister again why, when I read the policy, I see that French immersion students may not challenge a French first language exam, and yet it appears to me that the Alberta high school policy does allow it.

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Question 26-17(3): ECE French Language Exam Challenge Policy

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

This is this information that we received from the Department of Education in Alberta. We follow their curriculum, as well, and the examinations. They’ve also provided some information and also within our department working with the French coordinators that there were some concerns raised where some groups, if the French immersion students increased their average with a course where the outcome is already credited, how fairly are they competing against other students that are applying for the same post-secondary institution. There could be an unfair practice as well. All those are taken into consideration.

We are following what the divisional education council has recommended and we continue to work with that.

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Question 26-17(3): ECE French Language Exam Challenge Policy

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

I have to disagree with the Minister. I mean, what I’m hearing the Minister say is that we have students with special skills and we have students who are very proficient in French, and we are penalizing them. We’re not allowing them to get an extra course. For some of these students it’s the one credit that they need to get them into the particular course that they need and we’re saying, no, I’m sorry, but you can’t do that. Go back and take the whole course and then maybe you’ll get the credit.

I really feel that the Minister is suggesting that students who already have these skills shouldn’t be able to challenge an exam and get an extra credit. It is unfair and I really have to wonder if the Minister considers, and I ask the Minister if he considers it’s an acceptable way to run a department, to penalize students with special skills over those that don’t have those special skills. Thank you.

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Question 26-17(3): ECE French Language Exam Challenge Policy

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

All I can say at this point is that I can bring this information back to the French coordinators at the divisional education council and work with our colleagues in Alberta, as well, on this particular subject, and I can get back to the Member on the outcome of that.

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Question 26-17(3): ECE French Language Exam Challenge Policy

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . Your final, short supplementary, Ms. Bisaro .

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Question 26-17(3): ECE French Language Exam Challenge Policy

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for his commitment. I guess I would like to ask the Minister, if he’s going to consult with French coordinators, I would ask him that he also consult with parents. There has been little, to my understanding, consultation with parents whose students are involved in this particular situation. It’s one thing for a French coordinator to say that this is the way it should be, but I would ask the Minister to consult with parents and to consult with students as well. Thank you.

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Question 26-17(3): ECE French Language Exam Challenge Policy

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, I agree that we need to reach out to the parents, as well, along with the French coordinators and the divisional education council. We will do that. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 26-17(3): ECE French Language Exam Challenge Policy

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Question 27-17(3): Lowering Cost Of Living Through Hydro Development

Oral Questions

Daryl Dolynny

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today will be for the Minister of Finance as well as the Minister of the Power Corporation . I think known here was in this agreement. We have seen some pretty good things in the budget address yesterday, especially in areas of community-based alternative energy programs out there. Again, my hat’s off to a lot of those great programs in solar, wind, biomass. I think these

projects are definitely needed to enhance our position statement on cost effectiveness for the residents of the Northwest Territories. In a lot of cases, these initiatives are really no more than throwing rice at a freight train for some of the urban centres. I think the fact that remains is that the hydro project which was mentioned in the delivery of the budget address was a motherly statement at that.

What are this government’s plans with the hydro project and, more importantly, with the Taltson project? Thank you.

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Question 27-17(3): Lowering Cost Of Living Through Hydro Development

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Question 27-17(3): Lowering Cost Of Living Through Hydro Development

Oral Questions

Thebacha

Michael Miltenberger

Minister of Finance

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Member’s interest and comments about alternative energy and his interest in hydro.

I would point out that we have done a significant amount of retrofits, for example, and we are saving many hundreds of thousands of dollars, which is a lot of rice. It should be appreciated for the value that it brings. I know that the Member supports that approach.

In terms of the hydro project and in Taltson, we spent over the last probably two Assemblies about $13 million doing technical assessments both on the project at the Taltson site and the other piece was the initial plan to put a transmission line up to East Arm straight to the diamond mines. That project did not go ahead. The technical work was all done, the geophysical work, the engineering work, all the environmental approvals were there to do the project.

Now we are revisiting the issues that the Member is wisely talking about, the benefit of linking the Taltson and the Snare grid, the ability to be able to power and provide energy to places like Avalon, Nechalacho, Thor Lake, the NICO mines. There are going to be some energy requirements at Giant. There is over $100 million heating market here in Yellowknife. There is also eventually a long-term benefit if we not only had those grid connections but a southern grid connection so that we could move power north and south. There is tremendous opportunity.

Minister Ramsay ’s economic plan and his Mining Strategy are going to be contingent upon us being able to deal with that energy issue, so this is a big issue for the government, for this Legislature collectively to be looking at in the coming months. Thank you.

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Question 27-17(3): Lowering Cost Of Living Through Hydro Development

Oral Questions

Daryl Dolynny

Range Lake

I do agree with the Minister that there is great economic opportunity and I’m not disagreeing with the fact that a lot of money has been spent on the project and enhancing it especially for our diamond or mineral sector. The problem we have here is that the residents

themselves are suffering greatly. We are seeing some increases in power consumption and rates that will probably push the cost of affordability in this territory to probably one of the highest in the country.

I am really concerned that we need a long-term strategy. We need a legacy project to push power and energy costs at the forefront so that we can put this to the people of the Northwest Territories to make it more affordable.

When can we see these economic opportunities in print? When can we see them on paper? When can they be debated in the House? When can we see a business case statement that we can actually debate here? Thank you.

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Question 27-17(3): Lowering Cost Of Living Through Hydro Development

Oral Questions

Thebacha

Michael Miltenberger

Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, there are three key components to a broad territorial-wide Energy Strategy that I believe in the coming life of this Assembly. One of them is the one the Member has talked about, which is the Hydro Strategy. We are visiting that. There are also significant opportunities, for example in places like Deline to put in power in a very environmentally sustainable, friendly way. The Solar Strategy will help us address the crushing diesel costs in the thermal communities. Then we have the broader issue and the pressing issue of sorting out the Inuvik long-term energy needs.

All of these pieces are being looked at. There’s work being done internally here as we talk about the way forward in these critical areas that have implicated that were coming forward with the Solar Strategy, for example, and I would suggest within the next five months or so we should have our thinking clear enough that we’d be able to put things on the table.

There’s been a tremendous amount of work done on the hydro piece and it’s a question of looking at some of the very specific issues like the Member has mentioned, which is going to focus on not the technical work on the actual dam expansion but the transmission lines and what route would we go and how would we pay for it. Thank you.

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Question 27-17(3): Lowering Cost Of Living Through Hydro Development

Oral Questions

Daryl Dolynny

Range Lake

Today, for the first time, we’re hearing a move forward from this government that sounds like it’s putting hydro in the front seat of their decision-making rather than the backseat. I think that’s a very clear message that I’m hoping we can earmark further.

The Minister indicated within the next five months, but yet we’ve already talked about the budget address here. Is there any possibility that the Minister can make a firm commitment that this policy, moving towards a stronger hydro commitment to the people of the Northwest Territories, will be done sooner than later? Five months is a long time from now. Thank you.

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Question 27-17(3): Lowering Cost Of Living Through Hydro Development

Oral Questions

Thebacha

Michael Miltenberger

Minister of Finance

I will commit to take the Member’s request under advisement. I’ll report back and we’ll have a discussion in the Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee to see how fast we can move on this.

There’s a lot of work that’s been done, but there’s more required, and as I indicated, there’s also some important related work like the Mineral Strategy and the Economic Development Strategy. So there are a lot of pieces at play here and that are linked. We want to move those along as quickly as we can, I agree with the Member. Thank you.

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Question 27-17(3): Lowering Cost Of Living Through Hydro Development

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Final, short supplementary, Mr. Dolynny . The Member for Hay River South , Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Question 28-17(3): Identifying Funding For Small Community Projects

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. May I dare say that occasionally Members on this side of the House have a really good idea, and there are many small things in our communities that this government could fund, which would make a huge difference, but we can’t be told no, we have no money, and if you do want that money, find out where you can cut something. We do not have the resources at our disposal to identify where those funds are.

Let me just give you a couple of examples. In Hay River, recently in just talking with people, the youth centre needs a piece of land, the youth treatment in a seed group that wants it going, we have people who just need shelter at nights in existing accommodation, we have a soup kitchen that needs a container to store the extra stuff donated to them. These are small things, but these harness the passion and volunteerism of people in the community that make a huge difference.

The Persons with Disabilities Council was just told in Hay River no, you can’t have an increase from your $33,000 a year because we don’t have any money. So you go out and fundraise harder. You know, this is a difficult message to deliver for us.

Could I ask the Premier is there any possibility that he could go to his deputies and go to his Ministers and go to his departments and say could they identify some place, some savings within the departments that are low impact, that are not going to upset the progress of government that could come up with some kind of fund that would allow us to take some wins back to our communities on behalf of our constituents for some low budget stuff? I’m talking about things under $50,000 that in smaller communities would have a huge impact, but we don’t have access to anything like that.

I’m not asking to sit around with a multi-million dollar capital budget and we’re going to divvy it up from this side of the House. I’m talking about some small

wins or some small things for some communities and regions outside of Yellowknife. Thank you.

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Question 28-17(3): Identifying Funding For Small Community Projects

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Question 28-17(3): Identifying Funding For Small Community Projects

Oral Questions

Yellowknife South

Bob McLeod

Premier

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We would welcome the opportunity to do so. We have a number of processes that we can use to do that and we also have the business planning processes and we always welcome all the good ideas from the other side of the House. We’re quite prepared to look for those pots of money, but we obviously would need the support from the other side of the House as well. Thank you.

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Question 28-17(3): Identifying Funding For Small Community Projects

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

I’d like to thank the Premier for that response. I’ve obviously been a part of some previous governments and I can remember sometimes when we were going through cost-saving exercises as a government and we went to the bureaucracy and said, you know, what could we cut to save some money and the list they sent back to us was so unpalatable. I mean, they would go, oh well, we would never do it. So maybe it’s not actual cutting, maybe it’s reductions in certain areas where we can find some money, as the government always says, from within to come up with a program.

I think it would send a very positive and clear message to the people out there that are trying to undertake good on behalf of our constituents if we could do something like that.

So is the Premier prepared to have a discussion, with our support, with the senior management at the deputy minister level in the departments to find some savings? Like I said, not to change the course of government but find some savings from within that could allow us to access some funds for some initiatives in our communities. Thank you.

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Question 28-17(3): Identifying Funding For Small Community Projects

Oral Questions

Yellowknife South

Bob McLeod

Premier

Over the years we have made a number of attempts of doing so. I think in the last government we looked to find ways to find funding that we could use to fund strategic initiatives and I think I understand what the Member is talking about, I think on a much smaller scale, to look at specific funds that we could use to meet some immediate needs and I think that we have a number of processes that would allow us to do so.

I think it’s just a matter of us getting together, talking about it so that we can give some specific direction to our senior management, so that we can find ways to identify funds, for example, for disabilities and other projects or programs that the Member has outlined. Thank you.

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Question 28-17(3): Identifying Funding For Small Community Projects

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Again, I think that the people of the Northwest Territories will take heart with that response that the Premier just provided. I don’t condone or support our government throwing money out there, either, kind of willy nilly and hope it hits the right place. So I think that we would need to have a process whereby we could make a case, we could get the support of our colleagues, we

could make a case, we could make the pitch and the onus would be on us to a large extent to show that there’s continuity and there should be accountability structures. So how soon do you think we could have this discussion? Thank you.

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Question 28-17(3): Identifying Funding For Small Community Projects

Oral Questions

Yellowknife South

Bob McLeod

Premier

I would think that we could come up with some sort of a framework that we could have a discussion with committee. For example, I think we have $350,000 in it and every time we call for applications it’s oversubscribed by $1 million or so. So I think that if we put our minds to it we could come out with a process and also look at how it would be tied into our existing planning processes, because we are talking about public funds. Thank you.

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Question 28-17(3): Identifying Funding For Small Community Projects

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final, short supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Question 28-17(3): Identifying Funding For Small Community Projects

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I think the Premier ’s suggestion of perhaps enhancing the NGO Stabilization Fund may be the perfect vehicle for which to do this, because these are small things I’m talking about, but they make a huge difference in supporting the efforts within our communities. So I would just like to close by thanking the Premier very much for his response to this request. Thank you.

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Question 28-17(3): Identifying Funding For Small Community Projects

Oral Questions

Yellowknife South

Bob McLeod

Premier

I welcome comments and they do give good ideas on the other side. Thank you.

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Question 28-17(3): Identifying Funding For Small Community Projects

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Question 29-17(3): Supporting The Growth Of Traditional Economies

Oral Questions

Michael Nadli

Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, plus the Minister of Finance . I know we’re kind of in budget mode right now and we live in a very unique part of Canada, of course, called the Northwest Territories, and on a scale of advancing the economies, perhaps communities that live in a have-not kind of a domain as part of the Northwest Territories are kind of described as traditional economies. At the very high end we have a booming industrial-based resource economy.

For the large part, these smaller communities and people are reliant on the traditional activities like fishing, hunting and trapping just to sustain and supplement their high cost of living. For that matter, in small communities as well there’s an absence of opportunities in terms of jobs, business advancement, growth. What I would like to ask the Minister of Finance is: What unique approaches would the Minister apply or employ in efforts to invigorate traditional economies in communities? Mahsi.

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Question 29-17(3): Supporting The Growth Of Traditional Economies

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Question 29-17(3): Supporting The Growth Of Traditional Economies

Oral Questions

Thebacha

Michael Miltenberger

Minister of Finance

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is a range of existing initiatives across government. The Minister of ITI is looking at an Economic Development Strategy. We’re talking about, as well, and I reference in my address, the fur and trapping programs that we’re trying to encourage people to put money into the hands of trappers to get kids, young people on the land. We have the seed funding that is available through ITI. There’s a range across government.

More importantly, I would ask the Member – even though it’s not my position to ask questions in this House – if the Member has specific suggestions that we could look at that would inform our decision-making. There’s a budget process underway, as he said, but if he has specific suggestions, then we – if I can speak on behalf of Cabinet – would be very happy to hear what those are to see how we, as we have just done with Mrs. Groenewegen , collectively accommodate good ideas.

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Question 29-17(3): Supporting The Growth Of Traditional Economies

Oral Questions

Michael Nadli

Deh Cho

I’d like to thank the Minister for his response. One of the suggestions that I’ve made is examining in terms of how unique communities are in their circumstances. I think I’ve floated the idea of perhaps a community economic model that could be perhaps profiled and maybe generically considered in terms of development strategies to try and help local economies be invigorated.

My follow-up question is: I know, I mean it’s a fact, that up here in the Northwest Territories we have a high cost of living. Fuel is expensive. Of course groceries are expensive, too, in small communities. Therefore, our people that try to survive in the have-not communities supplement their existence by going out on the land and harvesting food. My question to the Minister is: Is the department or this government considering perhaps an initiative to try and curb the cost of goods that are transported up here in terms of examining maybe the concept of a food subsidy program so that at least we improve to try and help the people that are living at ground level in the communities?

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Question 29-17(3): Supporting The Growth Of Traditional Economies

Oral Questions

Thebacha

Michael Miltenberger

Minister of Finance

There’s no food subsidy program being contemplated other than we are peripherally involved in the existing Food Mail Program that is run by the federal government.

I would point out, as a Legislature and government we want to proceed and continue on with the Rural and Remote Communities committee which will provide a table for the MLAs from the small communities, like the Member himself, to gather around a table to have discussions about this business planning process that’s starting up for 2013-2014 in June. The benefit of having the

committee gather and get mobilized would provide a venue to have that kind of a discussion in a more thorough way to provide advice and feedback into that process.

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Question 29-17(3): Supporting The Growth Of Traditional Economies

Oral Questions

Michael Nadli

Deh Cho

It seems that the Minister of Finance might be suggesting that at some point there could be some form of an economic conference to involve small communities to ensure that at least they have a hand and input in terms of how it is that we could all help each other and work in unity to ensure that the economy is sustainable here in the Northwest Territories.

My final question is: Has there been consideration across perhaps each sector of the economy in terms of whether it’s manufacturing or transportation or tourism, but for the most part to try and ensure that at the receiving end the consumers, the people that live in communities could be perhaps assisted in terms of trying to curb the high cost of living? Has the Department of Finance considered further subsidies? For example, subsidies to businesses to transport goods up here.

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Question 29-17(3): Supporting The Growth Of Traditional Economies

Oral Questions

Thebacha

Michael Miltenberger

Minister of Finance

As the Minister of ITI proceeds with the work on his Economic Development Strategy, there will be a consultation of the nature that the Member has raised.

I would also point out that I referenced the suite of programs and opportunities that are there related to traditional pursuits. There are programs that deal with the northern fishery, there are processing opportunities, we have a Manufacturing Policy, we have a Business Incentive Policy.

The work we’re doing long-term with all the energy initiatives are all geared towards trying to lower the cost of living in communities. One of the biggest costs, of course, is with energy. We’re going to continue that. There are no additional food subsidies or there are no food subsidies contemplated. We’re focusing more on trying to design the system to make it as efficient and effective as possible.

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Question 29-17(3): Supporting The Growth Of Traditional Economies

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Question 30-17(3): Aboriginal Policing Program Opportunities

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister of Justice with regard to his Minister’s statement today. He mentioned there are two programs; and just before I begin I want to recognize that it is a great program. We have a lot of outstanding RCMP officers in the Northwest Territories who’ve taken this program and who have succeeded and become

strong role models for other members and our youth.

The first question I wanted to ask him is: In selecting for the first program the two candidates that would go through this program, would he look at making it a priority if he can look at the smaller communities and take some of the youth through the small communities in terms of some of our small communities needing RCMP officers and also having a presence in the small communities? It would provide jobs, as well, outside of the regions and the capital, so it would be providing jobs and a presence in the smaller communities.

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Question 30-17(3): Aboriginal Policing Program Opportunities

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Moses . The honourable Minister responsible for Justice , Mr. Abernethy .

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Question 30-17(3): Aboriginal Policing Program Opportunities

Oral Questions

Great Slave

Glen Abernethy

Minister of Justice

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Aboriginal Community Constable Program is a fantastic program and it’s in its second year of piloting. I have had an opportunity to speak to the commanding officer of “G” Division and we all agree that we really would like to see somebody coming out of a small community going into this program. There are communities that would be able to facilitate an officer upon their return and this is the direction we would like to go.

Ultimately it would be up to the RCMP who the final candidates are, and I encourage you and all the Members to get out and talk to the residents of your community and encourage them to approach the RCMP well before June 1st and submit their application if they’re

interested.

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Question 30-17(3): Aboriginal Policing Program Opportunities

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

I know it takes the responsibility of our Members and especially the ones in the small communities to bring this up and will be looking at youth who might be interested, especially the ones that are going through the Cadets Program. However, since this is an initiative through the Department of Justice, what type of marketing and recruitment has the Minister done in the small communities on his own, working with the RCMP?

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Question 30-17(3): Aboriginal Policing Program Opportunities

Oral Questions

Great Slave

Glen Abernethy

Minister of Justice

Ultimately this is an RCMP pilot and it is the RCMP’s advertising. They are aggressively, actively advertising both the Pre-Cadet Program as well as the Aboriginal Constable Program. Recently I’ve had an opportunity to travel to some of the communities throughout the Northwest Territories, and every community I’ve went to I’ve mentioned that this program exists and I’ve encouraged people to apply. I’ve talked to the community justice committees in a number of communities, as well, and encouraged them to have people apply. The RCMP is actively marketing this program. It’s a good program and I hope to get individuals from the small communities. I hope they apply and I hope they get selected.

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Question 30-17(3): Aboriginal Policing Program Opportunities

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Would the Minister be willing to, once the youth go through this program, have this youth be working in a regional centre and taking

one of the regular members and putting him into a community where there is no RCMP officer presence right now? Would the Minister be willing to bring that suggestion forward to the “G” Division to see if that’s a possible plan so that these small communities do have a presence, qualified presence in the communities?

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Question 30-17(3): Aboriginal Policing Program Opportunities

Oral Questions

Great Slave

Glen Abernethy

Minister of Justice

Obviously it really, truly depends on who the candidates are and whether they’re successful through the program. We are willing to work with the RCMP and we are willing to try to find the appropriate location for the candidates when they do successfully complete. Whether that’s in a community with a large regional centre or whether it’s a smaller community with a detachment, that needs to be determined based on where the candidate comes from, what their interest is and what capacity they have. We will be working with “G” Division on this.

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Question 30-17(3): Aboriginal Policing Program Opportunities

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy . Final supplementary, Mr. Moses .

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Question 30-17(3): Aboriginal Policing Program Opportunities

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister mentioned that there is a second program here for those aged 19 to 29 to see if they would be willing to enter this program. Should he not get any response in that second program, would the Minister be willing to use that funding to offset any costs for further applications to the first program, and would he be willing to use the funding for that second program to make more people go through the first program if there is a waiting list and more applications were on there?

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Question 30-17(3): Aboriginal Policing Program Opportunities

Oral Questions

Great Slave

Glen Abernethy

Minister of Justice

These are two separate programs. They are facilitated through the RCMP. The first program, the Aboriginal Community Constable Program, is in its second year pilot. We don’t know if that program is going to continue to exist after this second delivery. We would like it to and we continue to work with the RCMP and encourage them to continue this program because we see it as valuable.

The second program, the Aboriginal Pre-Cadet Program, that’s an ongoing program and the intake is actually completed for this fiscal year, but it’s an ongoing program so there will be intake in future years. We already have candidates in it during this May to August session. In fact, there is one candidate in Inuvik. We have had uptake on this program on a fairly regular basis over time. We hope that it will again and I will continue to promote the program, I will continue to work with the RCMP to promote the program, and I would like it if Members could work with us to promote the program as well.

We want northern youth and we want Northerners to get involved in the RCMP. We see a significant opportunity here and we don’t want to miss it.

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Question 30-17(3): Aboriginal Policing Program Opportunities

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

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

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Question 31-17(3): Anti-Poverty Strategy

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the lead Minister on the Anti-Poverty Strategy, Mr. Abernethy , and I want to note that there are good things happening on the Anti-Poverty Strategy development. I’m told by my people, constituents and acquaintances, that good collaborative basis has been established in carrying the work forward. I’m also encouraged that there’s at least one roundtable, maybe a couple established to get together and discuss this as it develops.

The one thing that I am concerned about is that there is an inexplicable attachment to a December 2012 deadline. A pretty tight time frame, but seemingly to be achieved at almost any cost. Now, there’s plenty of time for Mr. Abernethy to consider business plans in September, so there’s lots of time for planning there. Given that perhaps another month or two would add to the value of it, can the Minister explain why there is such a tight adherence to this bizarre deadline for an integrative process that has been set and whether or not he will commit to ensuring the process is given the time needed, regardless of the end of the calendar year?

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Question 31-17(3): Anti-Poverty Strategy

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley . I just want to remind Ministers and Members that

preamble on your answers and your questions, shorten them up a little bit. I still have four more Members to go and we have 12 minutes. Fourteen minutes. Thank you. Lead Minister responsible for the Anti-Poverty Strategy, Mr. Abernethy .

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Question 31-17(3): Anti-Poverty Strategy

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is a lot of work being done on the Anti-Poverty Strategy. We are happy with the progress that has been done to date and we are looking forward to continue working with committee and the public on the completion of an Anti-Poverty Strategy.

Ultimately what we want is the right Anti-Poverty Strategy as opposed to right now. We think we can get it done by the end of the calendar year but we are open to input from those involved, including the committee and Members, and if it doesn’t look like we’re going to have the right policy at the end of the calendar year, we’re open to further discussion.

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Question 31-17(3): Anti-Poverty Strategy

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

I appreciate the Minister’s flexibility there. It sounds good. Even the best Anti-Poverty Strategy could fail to produce strong results without concrete action to carry it out.

Because the solutions to poverty lie at the community level, we will need to work out our partnerships, roles and programs to ensure success. As the lead Minister begins the work to create an Anti-Poverty Strategy, recognizing that he’s already drawing upon work done as he mentioned and so on, will he also commit to

creating an implementation and action plan as an integral part of that strategy?

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Question 31-17(3): Anti-Poverty Strategy

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

The first

part is obviously to get the framework done and the strategy done. We will be working with our partners. This has to be done with partners. For anti-poverty to be successful, we do need to work with organizations and agencies outside of government. Once we have the framework, then we will be able to have the discussions on next steps, which would include action plans. Those action plans will involve actions from individuals outside of government, so we will have to work with them to come up with that.

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Question 31-17(3): Anti-Poverty Strategy

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thanks for the Minister’s remarks there. Nunavut has obviously been very successful in developing an Anti-Poverty Strategy thanks to their approach of community participation. One big lesson was that community events such as the community-based review of a draft plan must be carried out with the support of locally hired conveners.

As plans are put in place to create the draft strategy and take it out for community review and NGO review, will the Minister assure us that wherever possible community members will be hired to help carry out the community participation?

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Question 31-17(3): Anti-Poverty Strategy

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Right from the beginning when the Premier announced this, he indicated that this would be a collaborative process and that’s the model that we’re following. We have engaged a large working group, which consists of a significant number of NGOs, Aboriginal governments and industry, and we will continue to engage that.

That group has identified a steering committee which is chaired by the Government of the Northwest Territories but includes Aboriginal representation, NGO representations, as well, and this is one that I’m really excited about, an individual who has actually lived in poverty and is contributing first-hand knowledge. That group will be steering everything.

There will be a meeting in Hay River in late June to bring the working group together to start looking at everything that’s been pulled together to date, look at other jurisdictions that have done things, like Nunavut, Manitoba and Newfoundland, where positive work has been done, and to engage any other stakeholders that might be interested. Then there will be a validation project after that.

As we move forward we are collaborating with people. We will be bringing people in from communities. It’s not just Yellowknife. It’s not just government. It’s the Northwest Territories.

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Question 31-17(3): Anti-Poverty Strategy

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy . Your final, short supplementary, Mr. Bromley .

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Question 31-17(3): Anti-Poverty Strategy

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks again to the Minister. I’m assuming that that will

include hiring local people to help with those local meetings.

The other aspect of this, of course, is that this is a very cross-departmental approach, and the Minister is leading this cross-departmental approach. Ultimately, the delivery of the program will depend on our public service across departments, again, delivering it. This is stepping out from the normal course of events. It will require an unusual degree of cooperation. What is the Minister doing to ensure that those mechanisms are in place and that our public service is able to work effectively across departments to deliver this?

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Question 31-17(3): Anti-Poverty Strategy

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

We recognize that although this needs to be beyond just government, there is going to be some government responsibility and action required at some point. We have pulled together a committee of the deputies of the social programs departments who will be working on this file on behalf of government. But also, I happen to be the chair of the Social Envelope Committee which consists of the responsible Ministers and we are talking about this, monitoring the progress and providing direction with support of committee and committee’s input as well. We are working across departments as well.

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Question 31-17(3): Anti-Poverty Strategy

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy . Mr. Menicoche .

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Question 32-17(3): Federal Budget Reductions For National Parks

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoch