Floyd Roland

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think, as the Government of the Northwest Territories, we can show the commitment we’ve made to try to secure our nursing workforce and make sure the environment they work under is a productive one, a healthy one and is satisfactory. Of course, the demand for services by the people of the Northwest Territories also has to be met. That’s why we have looked at a number of different options. In looking at the file now and working with the department, I believe we are trying to take the necessary steps to ensure we have a competent nursing force in place and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Government of the Northwest Territories, what we have used for some time now as well as adapting those in southern Canada, the federal government, their legislation and through our own negotiation process in dealing with employees over the years, we do have a system in place that would allow for those who feel they are in unsafe conditions or rules aren’t being followed to address those. Of course, we have to use our existing system that is in place and the chain of command, as hard as that may sound, is something that is used. If there are...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the fact is, right now we do have a contract with the society who is the employer and that has to be taken into consideration as we proceed. That’s why, at this time, the encouragement is for the employer and employees to sit down and conclude a successful negotiation. Ultimately I think one has to look at the Government of the Northwest Territories which is no longer considered the choice employer of the Northwest Territories as we have, for quite some years, gotten away from some of the benefit levels that past employees were accustomed to. That should...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a contract is in place with the Deh Cho Health and Social Services Authority and the board that is the employer. That’s been in place and that has been honoured. They’ve waited for a conclusion to this. Of course, we are dealing with a separate employer dealing with their employees. From my standpoint, it’s to honour the initial contract with the society that’s delivering that service. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that Bill 20, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of any situation where we’ve had a group of employees working that are represented by a union that does not have an agreement in place. I don’t have any of that information available. As for the tabling of the contract, I would have to work with the department to see if we could do that. So I will have a look at it, but I can’t make that commitment at this point.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I guess, for clarity, it should be pointed out that as this originally came about with the existing action being taken, discussions were held and parties were encouraged. I believe there were even parties brought in to try to have both sides come to an agreement. Unfortunately, that couldn’t happen so they are back at the stage they are. For ourselves, we contracted the Deh Cho Health and Social Services Authority to provide that service. From my understanding, there is no contravention of that agreement in place for delivery of services. Ultimately...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health and Social Services' budget was prepared with the allocations available and the forced growth that was agreed to in a previous budget cycle for this fiscal year. For the upcoming fiscal year, I have not been provided any details if there are any changes to that. Of course, when you are speaking from one union to another, the comparability of benefits can be quite significantly different and that’s something that always has to be taken into consideration when we enter into these discussions. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, ultimately the Department of Health and Social Services has to take very highly into consideration the clients who are seeking the help, the situation that is over at Nats'ejee K'eh on the Hay River Reserve is not one that we like to see continue for very long. That is why I have written a letter to both parties to hopefully encourage them to get back to the negotiation process. Ultimately, this process falls outside of our own union process. It falls under the Canada Labour Code. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise the House that the Honourable Joe Handley will be absent from the House today to attend the Council of the Federation Energy Committee meeting in Montreal, Quebec. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.