Debates of August 20, 2007 (day 13)

Mr. Speaker, yes, I will bring it up. I'll bring it up right to the last day that I'm in office here, Mr. Speaker. It's my responsibility to do that and I will do it. Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is essential and that's why our government has spent millions of dollars building over 20 some bridges, why we're committed to building a bridge across the Bear River to extend the winter road, and eventually we'll build that into highway. But again, without our fair share of resource revenues, we're very limited in how fast we can move ahead with this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 156-15(6): Mackenzie Valley Highway

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm very afraid that this Northwest Territories cash cow is not going to get the Mackenzie Highway built up into our regions here. Mr. Premier, I want to ask you one question. We went on a hike here a couple of times. Last month, in seven days we walked 90 miles and we just did it. We saw what it took from us to do, along with the young leaders and people that accompanied us, and we just did it. I'm asking this government here to look seriously at the Mackenzie Valley highway in the next couple of days you have, in terms of just doing it, put the numbers down, because we're sick and tired in the Sahtu for paying for two litres of milk $6.45 in Fort Good Hope while Yellowknife pays $2.27. Same milk, same cow.

---Laughter

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 156-15(6): Mackenzie Valley Highway

Mr. Speaker, I think the question was, will we continue to lobby hard for it. Absolutely, we will. I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, that not only have we lobbied, but there's a lot of the private sector and aboriginal corporations who are also lobbying and looking at how this could be done. In fact, they're looking at a P3 project. Is there a parallel to be followed similar to the Deh Cho Bridge that would be able to do it? So, Mr. Speaker, these are things that we can't just keep talking about forever. We need to get on with doing them and, Mr. Speaker, I'll do everything I can to make sure that we keep lobbying on this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I just want to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services questions related to my Member’s statement on the NWT Suicide Prevention Program. Just in the wake of the last recent announcement by the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment of the big increase in income support programs here in the NWT, which is good, Mr. Speaker, and I really commend the Minister for making that announcement, but I'm also disappointed that the NWT Suicide Prevention Program has not received any increase in any funding over the last few years, Mr. Speaker, and I think that the growing trend that I have heard from many of my constituents in my constituency in Lutselk'e and Fort Resolution in particular, that a lot of youth these days are walking around and talking about suicide and contemplating suicide, and that is really raising a lot of concerns and a lot of eyebrows of a lot of people in these communities, and they are asking me to address the territorial government in asking them why we don't have any more dollars allocated to families that are suffering from, or victims of, suicides. I just want to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services what this government is planning on doing to address this growing trend, which is not really easily measured in these small communities, therefore does not allow this government to provide more money or substantiate the reasons for providing more money in this area. Can this Minister provide me with any kind of indication that the department is seriously looking at this issue in the NWT and particularly in areas in my constituency I had a couple suicides in the last three months, Mr. Speaker? Is that concern raising red flags in the Department of Health and Social Services, the mental health division? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 157-15(6): Suicide Awareness And Prevention Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in fact the department can. I think we can say we are very involved in this situation through our Alcohol and Drug Addiction Program and community wellness initiative working with mental health workers as well. We have put more money on the table to hire new physicians for our communities so that people can get help directly in their own communities, and that's an initiative that's underway and continues to proceed. Mr. Speaker, it is sad in a sense that anybody would consider suicide as an alternative or a way out of a situation they may find themselves in. But in the Northwest Territories, over the last number of years, through our working with communities and mental health side of the equation, in fact we've seen a reduction in suicides in the Northwest Territories. It's something we need to see a day where there are no suicides in the Northwest Territories. But the fact is and for example, Mr. Speaker, in partnership with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, on October 5th to the 8th, 2007, there will be a Canadian Association Suicide Prevention Conference here in Yellowknife and bringing in some keynote speakers not only from the South, but here in the Northwest Territories. So we support those initiatives.

But directly in response to the funds; for example, in 2007-08, the department has provided almost $380,000 to help with aboriginal youth suicide prevention and working with the federal government strategy, and that's available on an RFP process from any community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 157-15(6): Suicide Awareness And Prevention Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to ask the Minister, during the October suicide prevention workshop, it's fine and dandy that we get a lot of keynote speakers there to make some presentations on suicide prevention especially amongst aboriginal youth, Mr. Speaker, but I want a commitment from this government that this government will support and provide these smaller communities not only with just community wellness dollars that will help these people find assistance directly in their own communities because a lot of youth don't want to deal with people in their own communities. A lot of these youth want to talk anonymously with a psychiatrist or a counsellor maybe from another community or from another region or just on a phone line. I want to ask the Minister if the department is looking at any kind of broadening of the program scope related to suicide prevention here in the NWT that would allow this non-amenity to be available to any youth that are contemplating suicide in any of our small centres, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 157-15(6): Suicide Awareness And Prevention Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have worked with communities, we've heard a message that a lot of communities need to take care of issues in their communities, so we've put a lot of our resources into community efforts and staff in communities to help that first line response. There's also a process established where people can call in and make a call if they feel that they don't want to approach somebody in their community directly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 157-15(6): Suicide Awareness And Prevention Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just with the Northwest Territories Suicide Prevention Program that is available to community members who are I guess in a position to take up this sort of training, I want to know if this government is going to be supporting more suicide prevention awareness workshops in the schools, in the youth centres and even providing more funding to these youth centres to provide suicide prevention/suicide awareness workshops within their own communities, and not just providing training on suicide prevention to the counsellors or community social workers. We need that kind of awareness and prevention awareness provided right at the grassroots, right at the youth in the schools, in the youth centres, at community functions. Will there be more funding in that area as opposed to just training, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 157-15(6): Suicide Awareness And Prevention Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the area that we have direct focus on, aboriginal youth prevention or suicide prevention, is the National Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy, and that has a number of focussed areas and projects that are aimed at certain areas. That's one, supporting youth and that's increasing resiliency as well as reducing the risk, and then supporting communities at risk, and that's prevention plans, skills training, leadership development, as well as crises response and knowledge development. So there's areas we're focussing on through that initiative right directly to communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 157-15(6): Suicide Awareness And Prevention Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that if we…I just want to talk about basically government dollars in general related to social issues such as unemployment, poverty, education levels and the lack of opportunities and cultural identity here in the NWT. All those factors have something to do with the rates of suicide that we have here in the NWT. I think the government has to take a holistic approach when addressing suicide prevention in the smaller communities, because it certainly doesn't work with just providing suicide awareness programs at the community level. This has got to be a broad government approach to providing opportunities, enlightenment, maybe some self-esteem to individuals, and it has to be a whole government approach to this thing. I want to know if the Minister will be providing some direction at the October workshop here in Yellowknife on suicide prevention on how this government as a whole is going to do its part in preventing a growing rate of youth suicides. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 157-15(6): Suicide Awareness And Prevention Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think the Government of the Northwest Territories overall can show across a whole number of departments we've become very involved, whether it's a youth initiative through Municipal and Community Affairs, through additional funding through Education, Culture and Employment, and some of our programs that we offer through the Department of Health and Social Services. There has been a lot of initiatives focussed on youth and trying to lift up their esteem so that they can be more involved in their community, as well as leadership programs, and we will continue down that course. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services and it's in regards to the human resource management review that's been going on for the last number of months. Mr. Speaker, as indicated in this House last week, we've had a chance to have some briefing on the update of the report and some of the findings, but most of the issues pertaining to the review are still in the works, and it's not finalized, and it's a work in progress, and it's going to be worked on while most of the Members here are occupied otherwise for the month of September. So I'm just wondering if the Minister could give us an update, for the benefit of the public, what the timeline and the work to be done is as we move forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Return To Question 158-15(6): Stanton Territorial Hospital Human Resources Review

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in our previous sitting, I committed to bring back the results of those reports to the Members as well as present the reports back to employees. The first stage of that, employees have received their package now and there will be a process working through the Stanton territorial health facility and the employees there of getting back some feedback on that. The second part of that was a more in-depth survey that was done by an outside source, and we're hoping to have that done by near the end of September. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 158-15(6): Stanton Territorial Hospital Human Resources Review

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to that, I understand there will be other processes involved in allowing the staff to have an input into the process in the findings as well as hopefully in the plan of action. Mr. Speaker, I believe very strongly that there will be some issues that need to be worked out, and the best way to do it is to have as much input as possible from the stakeholders, especially the staff. So I'd like to ask the Minister what is the plan for the Minister and the hospital to invite that input. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 158-15(6): Stanton Territorial Hospital Human Resources Review

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are a number of initiatives that would be undertaken. Number one is first the employees will have a chance to take in the survey and the results of that. There will be a number of formal discussions. One through unit staff meetings is an initial phase, up to a formal discussion, one through unit staff meetings is our initial phase up to a formal get-together of a large number of staff with both the Bureau of Statistics that did the initial survey and the other consultant that did the second survey to sit down and go over those results, and then, from there, report back through the management to the advisory council that is in place that oversees the operations of our territorial facility. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 158-15(6): Stanton Territorial Hospital Human Resources Review

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated earlier, there is still a sense out there that, from some staff members or people involved, they would like to see more transparent and a more inclusive process with this. I think if we are going to be successful in addressing some of the issues that may come about, that it is imperative that we make sure that everybody feels involved, that they had a real say and not only a real say on identifying issues but also on how to implement the changes. Could the Minister give me an assurance today that all of the staff who participated in this and anybody interested will be a part of that process right from now until implementation of any changes that will come about or recommended actions? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 158-15(6): Stanton Territorial Hospital Human Resources Review

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this process has been very involved. Out of the total number of staff working at that facility, 345 staff took the time to go into the initial survey portion. That is a significant number. Approximately 84 percent of our staff did take part in that initial survey. I think, number one, that shows a very good process where they became involved. The second set of processes will be direct involvement through unit staff meetings building up to the overall meeting with both groups. Again, as I stated, the Bureau of Statistics as well as our consultant working up through the recommendations out there. We have had representation from the nurses’ side, staff themselves in that facility, from the doctors’ side, from the union’s side. We will continue to have that involvement as we go through this process. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 158-15(6): Stanton Territorial Hospital Human Resources Review

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t disagree that there have been good responses and a number of people being involved. My specific point is that often, or sometimes, people that participate in this process are left out right at the end. People may tell the interviewer what they feel are problems at workplaces or what could be improved, whether it be communication or otherwise, but when the solutions come about, they don’t have as much say on what the solutions are and how they should be implemented. I am asking the Minister to give us an assurance that those 345 people and more will be involved right to the end. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 158-15(6): Stanton Territorial Hospital Human Resources Review

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, all of the employees will have an opportunity to respond to the survey that is out there. We will have an opportunity to look at and make suggestions as we move down this path and look forward to coming up with a happy conclusion to this process. But as we have seen in every other circle, whenever recommendations come out and changes are being made, whether they are good or seen as large or small, it is an impact to individuals. Of course, as I stated through this process, we are looking to improve services to residents of the Northwest Territories and employees who took part in the survey will have opportunity to make their comments known in the survey and make recommendations to the loops within the facility. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker…(Translation)…in my Member’s statement, I would like to ask those questions regarding the senior home. I would like to ask the Minister the question. He did state that after five years, this facility may be replaced. I would like to ask him the question. (Translation ends)

In my Member’s statement today, I spoke of the need for short-term repairs and alternate replacement of the Jimmy Erasmus Seniors’ Centre in Behchoko. The Minister has stated that an initial plan was to do the necessary repairs to have the present facility last for the five years it would take to build a new facility. I am also aware, Mr. Speaker, that a final report on the facility was due in June. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister please inform this Assembly of the recommendation of this report and the scope of work that will be undertaken on the Jimmy Erasmus Seniors’ Home in Behchoko? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 159-15(6): Jimmy Erasmus Seniors' Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The engineer’s report was received on August 1st. The recommendation from the engineer is that it would cost roughly 70 percent of a replacement building to completely renovate that one. He also commented that the site is not a good place for that building because of the elevation of that site. Mr. Speaker, the conclusion that he leads us to is that we should do immediate repairs and then plan for a new facility. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 159-15(6): Jimmy Erasmus Seniors' Centre

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell us whether the plan is still to replace the facility in five years? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 159-15(6): Jimmy Erasmus Seniors' Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Pending approval through the business planning process, then the plan is to do the intermediate repairs and then get on with consultation on a new facility, getting an architectural engineer to work on the construction and completion by 2011. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 159-15(6): Jimmy Erasmus Seniors' Centre

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, just leading on to the business planning process, can the Minister tell this Assembly whether the Housing Corporation will have funding for design and consultation for a new facility in the year 2008-2009 business plan? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 159-15(6): Jimmy Erasmus Seniors' Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It will certainly be the recommendation from the Housing Corporation to, number one, do those intermediate repairs that have to be done to keep the building serviceable for a five-year period, and second is to put forward, as part of the business plan, a request for the money to be able to get on with the planning of a new building. In fact, I expect the Housing Corporation will begin the consultation on the type of facility beginning as early as this year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 159-15(6): Jimmy Erasmus Seniors' Centre