Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. A report on the review of the Human Rights Commission 2006–2007 report.

Introduction

The Standing Committee on Government Operations met on October 9, 2008, to review the 2006–2007 report of the Human Rights Commission. The committee would like to thank Ms. Mary Pat Short, Chair of the Human Rights Commission, and Ms. Thérèse Boullard, director of Human Rights, for appearing before us.

2006–2007 Annual Report

The 2006–2007 report does not include any recommendations; however, the committee would like to take the opportunity to comment on other issues that were...

Once again, I believe that the General Rate Application is based on erroneous information, and I’d like to see that it is at least withdrawn until it is re-evaluated one more time. That’s something that people have been telling us as their MLAs. The will of the people also becomes the will of this House. And that’s something I’d like to bring to the Minister. Will he look at pulling the General Rate Application, reassess the application package and put in some consistent and current information?

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to continue the questioning with regard to the NWT Power Corp Minister.

I just wanted to lay out the land a little bit. During my travels in my constituency people are concerned about the government’s plan to increase taxation in various different areas. They’re concerned about the high costs of heating fuel and gasoline fuel that continue to rise even though they’re falling worldwide. Another concern is that now our government, in its infinite wisdom, wants to raise the power rates, Mr. Speaker. That’s something to which I’m fundamentally...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We all know that the Northwest Territories has some of the highest costs in the country. These high costs have a big impact on our cost of living. For example, in Fort Simpson the average personal income is around $45,000. The monthly cost of electricity and heat averages around $600. This means that the cost to power and heat their homes is over 15 per cent of their income. People are struggling to make ends meet and falling further behind because of these escalating costs.

Mr. Speaker, during the last session I spoke about the high energy costs and the impact it is...

Probably I need some clarification. I thought the Dehcho Health and Social Services board was working in conjunction with the Department of Health and Social Services in terms of establishing the renovation project. It is my understanding that it was on the books for this fiscal year, and it is nowhere to be seen. That creates the illusion that it’s not going to be done. I just want to get assurances that these renovations will continue.

Mahsi cho. [English translation not provided.]

The Fort Simpson Health Centre provides a range of health services to residents of the Deh Cho region. Unfortunately, the existing facility requires renovation to adequately provide these services.

Mr. Speaker, renovations were slated to take place in this facility, but it appears that this project has been taken off the books and funding has been deferred. The facility is scheduled for a half life renovation in 2019. That’s ten years into the future. The health centre staff and the residents of the Deh Cho can’t wait that long. Adequate work space...

Thank you, Minister, for that clarification. Once again, I just want to get an assurance that just because it’s not on the books or in some plan somewhere, it doesn’t mean that it’s not going to happen; there is still a process. To whom would Dehcho Health and Social Services bring forward that plan, once again?

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services as well. In my Member’s statement I spoke about the renovations that were slated for the Fort Simpson Health Centre. They have been delayed. I’m just wondering if the Minister can tell me: when will the plans be restarted, and when can Fort Simpson look at getting the renovations done?

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I guess what we need, as well, from our Government of the Northwest Territories perspective is a good post-mortem to see why some agencies didn’t respond in time. I’d like to ask the Minister at this time: will he be conducting an assessment from the GNWT perspective as to how effective the response was to this incident?

I would like to commend our Department of Environment and Natural Resources for being there as quickly as they were. The federal department and the Coast Guard were very slow in getting there.

How do we do a balance of the fuel that was in the barge and the actual fuel that they did take out of that compartment? Once again, the constituents who were there on the site, as well, said that with the amount of sheen, the amount of spill seemed that it far, far exceeded the 20 litres that was reported. How can we get a good assessment of this, Mr. Speaker? Also, I don’t think it’s doing anybody any...