Debates of August 21, 2007 (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Your final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 161-15(6): Regional Wellness Centre In The Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in light of that, getting the process in place with the department and the Sahtu regional health board, would the Minister look at committing to put together a feasibility study in terms of looking at a regional wellness centre and putting that on the agenda with the next government?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 161-15(6): Regional Wellness Centre In The Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can’t speak for the next government but on our process as we’re working, we are working, from a department level, with all of the authorities and we continue to review our development plans. We have a master development plan with every group that looks at community infrastructure and regional infrastructure. So first things first is we need to get agreement on a master development plan with the Sahtu Health and Social Services Authority which would take into consideration the population served and the facilities they have at their disposal for providing programs and services to residents. So that would be the first part. Once we have that, then we can, as I stated earlier, as a department if that priority comes through, is bring it forward in our departmental plans and then bring forward a plan that would require the approval of the Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I highlighted in my Member's statement today, there are a lot of concerns, as I see it and RVers see it coming to Yellowknife, with that Highway No. 3. Mr. Speaker, some sections are very good; I’ll say that for a fact. But some sections are very less good let me tell you, Mr. Speaker…

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, that highway cost us approximately $200 million and I’d say that’s probably $200 million well spent on a dust control program but not a highway, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, I’d like to know, has the Minister of Transportation done any work in finding out what it will cost to fix those dips in that highway? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Menicoche.

Return To Question 162-15(6): Condition Of Highway No. 3

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Transportation takes concerns raised by the travelling public very seriously.

Hear! Hear!

---Applause

The concerns raised on Highway No. 3 have been raised by the chief of Behchoko as well as the MLA…

Numerous times.

…numerous times and I just have to remind the Member, as well, that the Government of the Northwest Territories has invested millions of dollars over the past many years and the highway is now wider, straighter and safer overall. We continue to monitor any major concerns and we’ll address them as such, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 162-15(6): Condition Of Highway No. 3

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transportation reads that script very well. I almost believe him. But I didn’t. So, Mr. Speaker, the fact is the warranty of this project seems to have gone by the wayside. I’d like to know was there a warranty in place or did we get a second-rate job at a second-rate price? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 162-15(6): Condition Of Highway No. 3

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The department takes great pride in all its projects. We complete them to the best of our ability and we will continue to do so. We pride the contractors that work for our department as well. The Member did mention that climate change is affecting the highway and we do maintain that, as well, Mr. Speaker. There are many, many ice lenses that were discovered during construction and we continue to repair those and mitigate them as conditions dictate. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 162-15(6): Condition Of Highway No. 3

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister with his very thorough answer on the lenses and climate change problem, but it’s interesting because on one side of Behchoko, the side that Yellowknife is on, the highway goes up and down like a roller coaster and the other side between Behchoko and Fort Providence is relatively smooth; it’s a great quality highway. So, Mr. Speaker, maybe the Minister of Transportation can enlighten this House on why our side of Highway No. 3 is in such poor condition in reference to why the other side is in so much better condition. Can he help me with that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 162-15(6): Condition Of Highway No. 3

Mr. Speaker…

---Laughter

…the Member’s asking for enlightenment and I’ll try my best to do that.

---Laughter

He’s got to remember that the new Highway No. 3, there were some major realignments which means we had to cross some new sections; some of them had these ice lenses in them. So that’s what’s causing the slumping and erosion that’s going on to this date, Mr. Speaker. Also, because it’s a fairly new highway, it will take about seven to 10 years it’s estimated for it to settle and maintain that solid base. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 162-15(6): Condition Of Highway No. 3

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think all through this we’ve missed the answer of how we’re going to fix this and how we’re going to deal with it. We’re going to hear just sit and wait, but we just had a mission accomplished or a big celebration last year. Well, Mr. Speaker, yes, it was a great celebration that it sort of got done, but when are we going to actually go back and just finish the job? So how much is it going to cost to fix and when are we going to get started on that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 162-15(6): Condition Of Highway No. 3

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Our Chipseal Program is something that we monitor. There is a five-year cycle for it; it takes about five years for the chipseal…It does deteriorate. We do have an annual budget to address this on Highway No. 3. that’s about $650,000 to $700,000. The first sections that were done on Highway No. 3 were about five years ago and we’re addressing those right now, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to talk about the transfers of some positions to the Tlicho region. I’m not sure when this will happen. I’m talking about the staff housing. We’re still not sure about what’s happening with that so I’d like to ask the Premier a question. (Translation ends)

I raised an issue on the North Slave staff being transferred to Behchoko, the soon-to-be headquarters for the Tlicho region. Mr. Speaker, today I’d like to focus on a staff housing initiative that the Executive department is currently undertaking. The question is to the Premier. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Premier for the current status of the proposed staff housing in Behchoko for all of these new GNWT employees who are supposed to be transferred. Where are they at with their discussion and plan? Mahsi.

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

Return To Question 163-15(6): Status Of Staff Housing Initiative In Behchoko

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The regional director has been dealing with this issue; he has been looking at which staff positions can be transferred, the availability of staff housing and the availability of office space. Mr. Speaker, I don’t have an up-to-date report on exactly where that’s at. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 163-15(6): Status Of Staff Housing Initiative In Behchoko

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my next question was to get into detailed questions, but I can probably wait. The next question I have is the Tlicho Government continues in effect as in all two years ago. It is imperative that the GNWT respects the self-governance of the Tlicho people. How soon can we anticipate the building of this staff housing? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 163-15(6): Status Of Staff Housing Initiative In Behchoko

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are continuing to build houses in all of the regions through the affordable housing initiative. We don’t build housing specifically for staff but we’re building affordable housing that people can either rent…We also build public housing that people could continue to rent. Mr. Speaker, I can give the breakdown of where we are with the whole North Slave and possibly by community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 163-15(6): Status Of Staff Housing Initiative In Behchoko

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, would these staff houses I’m referring to, those GNWT North Slave regional office being transferred to our region, specifically under staff housing, has the Department of the Executive been working with the Tlicho Community Services Agency? Are they working with the Behchoko Development Corporation, the community government of Behchoko? Where are they with that? I understand the regional director is working on it but I’d just like to get a feeling of how far we’re at with that. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 163-15(6): Status Of Staff Housing Initiative In Behchoko

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am sure that the regional director is working with the Behchoko leadership on this one. I’m not sure exactly what the Member is asking. When it comes to housing, then, yes, we definitely are working through the local housing authority, community services agency and also with the Behchoko government on that. Mr. Speaker, there are a number of units going into each of the communities. In Behchoko there are 33 units that will be going in there over the next couple of years. On office space, I’m not sure of any specific discussions that are happening on that front. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 163-15(6): Status Of Staff Housing Initiative In Behchoko

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, on the office space and also the accommodation for the staff that would be transferred to the community, I’m sure they will be needing some accommodations instead of commuting back and forth. As my colleague highlighted, the road is in bad shape so I don’t think they will be commuting back and forth. Mr. Speaker, my final question to the Premier is, when could you provide that information to myself so I can sit down with my chiefs and move forward with this? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 163-15(6): Status Of Staff Housing Initiative In Behchoko

Mr. Speaker, I will undertake to have a report, an update to the Member, before the end of the month from the regional director on where we’re at with the discussions on the transfer of positions, the creation of more job opportunities in Behchoko. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a couple of carefully crafted questions for Mr. McLeod, the Minister for Environment and Natural Resources. It concerns the very high profile debates and work that has gone, so far, into the plight of our caribou herds and our role as stewards of the caribou to see what we can do to better manage them. Mr. Speaker, we got into a jurisdictional dispute between our government and the Wekeezhii Renewable Resources Board over who has jurisdiction for allocating tags and harvest levels in Tlicho land. My question is, will the GNWT recognize the Wekeezhii board’s claim to jurisdiction in allocating caribou harvest in the Tlicho region? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 164-15(6): Caribou Management Issues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for his carefully crafted question and I’ll craft my answers accordingly. Mr. Speaker, we work with all aboriginal groups, all aboriginal governments and we respect and abide by all the land claim settlements and all the agreements that are out there, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 164-15(6): Caribou Management Issues

Mr. Speaker, $800,000 was allocated by this Assembly for additional work to conduct surveys to confirm, determine, and keep a much closer eye on the trends and circumstances that are affecting the health of the herd so we can make better management decisions. I would like to ask the Minister if he can advise, have those surveys been undertaken yet and what indicators, if any so far, are the caribou counters bringing back to us in terms of the health and the status of the herds? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 164-15(6): Caribou Management Issues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we don’t have the results of the surveys that have been conducted. Some of them are still ongoing. The ones that have been done haven’t been compiled and been provided to me. So I don’t have that information and we don’t expect we’ll have all the information compiled until sometime later this fall. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 164-15(6): Caribou Management Issues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In Inuvik we participated in a number of workshops there over a couple of days. It was one of the more remarkable meetings that I’ve attended, Mr. Speaker, because of the unity and the consensus that was demonstrated there. Many, many different ideas and approaches were discussed about a very wide range of actions that could be undertaken by the GNWT, by aboriginal organizations, by hunters and trappers to help us do a better job of managing the resource. We talked about better education, better monitoring and reporting practices and, above all, collaborating. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Minister what other steps are we undertaking to do our part in better managing the caribou herds? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.