Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the opportunity to provide Members of this Assembly with an update on the work our government has been undertaking related to the devolution of public lands and resources from the Government of Canada to the Government of the Northwest Territories.
Following a delay caused by the federal election, the GNWT recommended main table negotiations with Canada and the Aboriginal governments that are signatories to the Devolution Agreement-in-Principle: the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the Northwest Territory Metis Nation.
Detailed work has also begun on many issues, including the categorization of waste sites; determining where the boundary between the NWT’s onshore jurisdiction and Canada’s offshore jurisdiction should be; and on cooperating and collaborating on transboundary oil and gas administration and regulation. There is also important work to do on information technology systems; assignment of contracts, licences and copyrights; and the transfer of assets and records.
Our Human Resources professionals are working with Canada on preparing for the eventual transfer of employees and positions to the GNWT. We are committed to ensuring federal and territorial employees stay informed of the progress being made. I am confident that federal employees that join us in the future will find an employer where their careers can grow and they can feel the satisfaction of making real, visible contributions to their communities and neighbours.
I want to stress, Mr. Speaker, that we will continue to be mindful of the interests of Aboriginal
governments and will update them on our progress as negotiations proceed, consult them as required, and encourage them to be as involved as they wish to be, all in keeping with the duty and honour of the Crown.
We would prefer all Aboriginal governments to be directly involved in devolution negotiations, and continue to encourage them to join us at the table. This is important work that all NWT residents have a stake in, and I have extended an invitation both in person and through correspondence to all regional Aboriginal governments that are not yet part of this process.
This past spring and summer I attended many regular meetings and assemblies, including the Dene National Assembly, the Akaitcho Assembly and the Gwich’in Assembly. I provided updates on the devolution process and repeated my invitation to all those who have not yet joined us.
I’m encouraged by some of what I hear, Mr. Speaker. I have heard from some people that there is an interest in coming back to negotiations. I know there are leaders who feel their governments should be at the table. They want to engage constructively in building the future of the public government that serves all Northerners. I am confident that we’ll see more participation in the devolution process, from more parties, as we continue to move forward.
We respect that not everyone will share the same views. There are some leaders who do not accept that responsibility for public lands should be transferred to the public government of the Northwest Territories. There are those who feel that they must finish their own processes first, before engaging in this important initiative with us.
The GNWT is the public government of our territory. It is our duty and responsibility to represent the collective interests of all northern residents, whose hard-earned and legitimate rights our government continues to respect and honour.
Mr. Speaker, devolution has been an objective of NWT public government for decades. The luxury of time is not something that we can afford. Every day we delay, we lose over $165,000 of resource revenues, based on this past year’s projections, to the federal government.
That is money we could put toward our hospitals or our children’s education, money that could directly benefit all people of the Northwest Territories. Every day we delay means more decisions being made in Ottawa, not in the North. That is not what we want and that is not what successive Legislative Assemblies of the Northwest Territories have wanted.
Mr. Speaker, this is the last devolution update that I will be providing to this Assembly. For years we’ve been talking about what great potential the North has. We can’t keep talking about that potential forever. The time has come for us to make decisions that will allow us to realize that potential. The future is in our hands but we need to get to the table and make decisions that will give the future a chance to become a reality. We could wait until all our historic grievances are addressed, but waiting only means that somebody else is making the decisions that affect us and our people. The people of the Northwest Territories are capable of making those decisions and taking control of our own destiny. As their elected representatives, responsive and accountable to all people of the NWT, it is the responsibility of this Assembly to make the choices that will create the greatest benefits for all our people and our territory.
I would like to close with some words of advice for the future decision-makers that will soon fill this Assembly. Leadership is about making decisions. It is about doing what is right for the population, not what is right for popularity. Consensus government doesn’t mean avoiding tough decisions, but it can mean that we have to work harder to find the common ground we need to move forward. I hope future leaders will choose wisely and will provide their support to their new leader to give him or her the strength to make the hard choices and the wise decisions that will guide our great territory towards a prosperous future for all of us, our children, and our grandchildren. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to inform Members that later today I will table a document titled GNWT Response to Standing Committee on Government Operations CR 1-16(6): Report on the Review of the Auditor General of the Northwest Territories Deh Cho Bridge Project – 2011.
The standing committee made seven recommendations in this review. I want to assure Members that the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is acting on all of them. This is detailed in our written response to the standing committee. In brief, the government has finalized a P3 Policy for alternatively financed projects. The Department of Transportation has addressed inspection and maintenance requirements for the bridge. We will ensure that a qualified authority certifies that the Deh Cho Bridge meets the Canadian Highway Bridge Code in all respects.
The GNWT and advisors on the Deh Cho Bridge have reviewed current best practices for the inspection of long-span truss bridges, as recommended by the standing committee. We have concluded that a catwalk is very expensive to construct with a price tag of $6 million. It requires its own maintenance and rehabilitation, and benefits only the one bridge.
The catwalk also raises security and vandalism concerns. The preferred option is an under bridge inspection truck, which is commonly used in British Columbia and Alberta for inspections and repairs. It is considerably less expensive and can be used on all bridges in the Northwest Territories. It will provide access to all parts of the bridge, including the bearings, lock-up devices, cables and expansion joints.
As I have previously stated, the GNWT has established a highly competent project management team including risk assessors. The team has developed a risk matrix that is updated regularly and reviewed as part of the monthly project meetings. We are satisfied with our efforts to manage risks as we complete this major piece of transportation infrastructure to connect communities.
Mr. Speaker, the GNWT will continue to keep Members and the public fully apprised of all aspects of the project. As requested by the standing committee, we will provide a revised construction schedule and the cost of construction when that information is formally available. We expect that the truss work, north and south A-pylons and cables will be installed by the end of the year. Work on the grouting, curbs, bridge rails, and paving on the bridge deck will be completed in the 2012 summer construction season. After the project is completed, the GNWT will do an analysis of the project, including total project costs and lessons learned. This will assist the GNWT with future large infrastructure projects.
Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General’s performance review has taken a considerable amount of time and effort to ensure her team had access to all relevant information. I am satisfied with the results. Our focus is now on completing the construction of a high quality, safe bridge that will serve the residents of the Northwest Territories for many decades to come. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister of Human Resources, Mr. Bob McLeod.
The 16th Legislative Assembly worked to refocus government to achieve greater effectiveness and efficiency in how the Government of the Northwest Territories operates and delivers programs and services. In order to provide a high level of service to the people of the Northwest Territories, we must continue to develop and maintain a professional and well-managed public service.
Later today I will be tabling the 2010 Public Service Annual Report. The Public Service Annual Report highlights the overall results of public service performance achieved in the context of 20/20: A Brilliant North, the NWT Public Service Strategic Plan. Together with its client departments and agencies, the Department of Human Resources has worked to improve effectiveness and efficiency in delivering programs and services. Highlights include:
establishing the Aboriginal Employees Advisory Committee to help increase representation of Aboriginal people within the public service;
establishing the Government of the Northwest Territories Advisory Committee on Employability to help increase representation of persons with disabilities within the public service;
reviewing and improving the business processes for pay and benefits services;
launching eRecruit to improve and streamline the staffing process; and
launching an Associate Director/Superintendent Program which focuses on increasing the number of Aboriginal people in senior management positions.
I appreciate the interest Members have shown in summer student employment. As of August 12, 2011, the Government of the Northwest Territories hired 286 students. This is approximately an 8.7 percent increase over the final hires in 2010; 58.4 percent are indigenous Aboriginal students, 40.2 percent are indigenous non-Aboriginal students, and 1.4 percent are non-indigenous students.
Mr. Speaker on behalf of the Legislative Assembly, I would like to thank our public service for all of its hard work in delivering quality programs and services on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories. I would also like to thank all the Members for their support, advice, and contributions to the NWT Public Service Strategic Plan during the 16th Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know some Members will be doing a reply to the opening address today and I have chosen today for my Member’s statement to say thank you to some of my colleagues on the other side of the House. I will be making another statement tomorrow, but today I want to focus on those who served on Cabinet in the 16th Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, starting with Premier Roland, who I have had the privilege of serving in this Legislature with for 16 years. There are only three of us who can say we’ve been here that long. I want to thank Premier Roland for the leadership that he’s provided to this Assembly and to this government. I always had confidence that when he was dealing with matters of the Northwest Territories, that he would present our case in a very articulate, intelligent, and passionate way and I do thank him for that.
To Minister Miltenberger, who is not... Oh, I shouldn’t say where he is, but anyway. To Minister Miltenberger, who I also had the privilege of serving with for 16 years, I’d like to thank him as well, and to tell the people of the Northwest Territories that this is a Minister who is well known for his very, very hard work ethic and has introduced and carried to fruition many meaningful things in this government. I know people who are interested in the environment know that’s a huge passion of Mr. Miltenberger, and some of the policies and programs that he’s put in place will serve this territory well for many, many years to come.
To Minister Michael McLeod, defending some issues in this government that put him under fire many times when he stood up but he never lost his cool, never lost his professional demeanour. Although riddled with many, many questions, I was always amazed at how he could continue to stand up to question after question and provide answers in a way that was professional and also doing a very good job of heading up the departments that he did.
To Minister Bob McLeod, I’d like to thank him as well. A former bureaucrat. I love the way you could see that translated into his communications skills. When you send an e-mail to Minister Bob McLeod, you know that you would get an answer right away because he was used to that modern communication, which I can’t say everybody was. He went out of his way, and to great effort, to keep Regular Members informed of what was going on. I always appreciated that. When I would see his name come up on my e-mail there, I’d know that he was updating us on something important that we needed to know.
To Minister Robert C. McLeod, I’d also like to thank him. A somewhat shoot-from-the-hip-but-tell-it-like-it-is kind of a person who does not mince words and maybe isn’t a true politician in that sense, but certainly we understand him. We know he speaks from the heart and we do appreciate that as well.
I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Lastly, I would like to thank Minister Jackson Lafferty who took on two very important departments in our government, two in our social envelope, two very challenging departments: Education and Justice. I know that he had a passion, as well, for these two departments. Like I said, very challenging departments but he took them on. He did well and he served all of us very, very well in these capacities.
On behalf of Hay River South, I would like to thank this Cabinet, these Ministers, for the way that they treated my constituents and the constituents of the North.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We should not be downloading an inadequate regulatory regime under the proposed Devolution Agreement-in-Principle. An April 13th Canadian Press Report indicates a loophole in environmental rules is allowing a growing number of unregulated waste incinerators to release extremely toxic chemicals into the land and water. Citing a federal report, CP says levels of highly carcinogenic dioxins and furans up to 10 times higher than those from an uncontaminated lake were detected near the Ekati mine. The reason? Air emissions from incinerators aren’t controlled due to inadequate law.
This is the regime we’ve proposed to take over under the AIP: inadequate regulation, funding, and staffing. If we pursue the AIP as written, the GNWT will be seeking internal resources to patch this and other holes in the laissez-faire federal law. How many gaps can we really expect the modest net fiscal gain to cover?
When we last looked at taking over the operations of DIAND’s Northern Affairs Program, there was an independent review of the funding being offered by the feds. That review indicated a major shortfall between the funding being offered and the operating costs of the program that would be assumed. We smartly turned that deal down as not good enough. So the money is lacking. We know the management regime isn’t up to snuff.
Our devolution process clearly leaves a lot to be desired. We have yet to ask our citizens exactly what kind of resource management regime we should put in place after devolution. Yet it’s obvious we need to do this before devolution, not after. When we take on new powers, we must be ready to move with new law, despite the pitiful AIP requirement for us to enact mirror legislation. Without fully defining our legislative goals, no costing will reflect the aspirations of our citizens and we can’t cost the future without asking our citizens what that future should be.
I remind the government that this deal has costly gaps that demand resolution. I’m hoping the next Assembly will take a much harder look at the numbers, take a much more collaborative and empowering approach with our partners, invite the many good ideas of all our citizens, and hold out for a deal with money to protect our birthright. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We assume in this country that universal health care, the timely access to affordable health services, improves the health of our socially disadvantaged groups. A while ago, research performed by a group at the Institute for Clinical Evaluation Services tested that assumption and found, as published in the journal “Health Affairs,” that the results of the study contradict our assumption.
The research team found that people with low income and/or low levels of education suffered from higher than normal incidences of cardiovascular disease, a not surprising and well-known situation among poor people. The researchers, through their project, tried to determine if universal access to health services would change that finding, but their research showed that the poor use more health services than the wealthy, but that does not mean that they get better health outcomes because of it. A quote from the Globe and Mail said the poor visit physicians in hospitals more often, not because it’s free but because they are sicker. All of us, whether rich or poor, use health care services when we have to, when we’re sick. Few of us use health care services in a preventive way.
The message in the research findings is this: universal health care does not get us healthy and keep us healthy. Medicare is not the silver bullet to ensure a healthy population. What we need are tools to get us healthy in the first place, to attack the causes of poor health, to be preventative instead of reactive.
In Canada, Mr. Speaker, we spend about 40 percent of our budgets on health care, about 25 percent on education, and only 15 percent on social welfare programs. By comparison, European countries spend twice as much as we do on social welfare programs, and the result of that spending is that Europeans spend less on health and have better health outcomes.
We need to put greater effort into tackling poverty, low education levels, and poor and inequitable housing. No surprise to us in this room. Improvements in these areas will create healthier environments and, by default, healthier citizens.
In light of these findings, Mr. Speaker, the development of an Anti-Poverty Strategy is even more necessary. Throwing more money at health is not the answer. Universal health care is not the answer. Until we improve living conditions for the socially disadvantaged of our territory, we cannot hope for universally healthy residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank the Minister of Health and Social Services for tabling, earlier this week, the Northwest Territories Health Status Report. There is obviously some very valuable information contained in that report. I’ve spoken many times about the government’s need to measure and evaluate the success and/or failure of our ability as a government to exert change in key social and health indicators. This report, Mr. Speaker, should be used as a baseline for the incoming government which will be elected this fall.
I’d like to point out a few statistics contained in the report that would indicate that we need to re-evaluate how we’re dealing with some key areas of concern.
Self-reported health relates to how healthy a person feels and is an important precursor to future health care use and mortality. On a national comparison, 61 percent of Canadians reported excellent or very good health, where in the NWT that number was 52 percent, which is well behind. In fact, from 2005, when we were at 63 percent, the number has dropped in the four reporting years to 52 percent in 2009.
Obesity is another area where the Northwest Territories is continuing to seem to be not able to swing those numbers in the right direction. Mr. Speaker, 63 percent of adults in the Northwest Territories are overweight or obese. The NWT rate is 10 percent higher than the national average of 51 percent. The link for these high obesity rates is the fact that since 2003, when 54 percent of our residents reported to be active or at least moderately active, that number has fallen drastically to 41 percent in 2009.
Even though we’ve had campaigns targeting sexually transmitted infections such as Chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhoea, the prevalence of these STIs in our territory, especially in the smaller communities, is simply shocking. The rate per 10,000 across this country is 24 per 10,000. In the Northwest Territories it’s 199.5 per 10,000 and, Mr. Speaker, 396 per 10,000 in our small communities; numbers that we certainly have to address, Mr. Speaker.
In the area of mental health hospitalizations, 58 percent of all hospital stays related to mental health were for substance-related disorders. This certainly comes with a cost to our health care system, Mr. Speaker, and could make a very good case, once again, for a treatment and rehabilitation centre here in Yellowknife.
I’ll have questions for the Minister of Health at the appropriate time. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.
The director of the Income Support Program in Education, Culture and Employment visited Tuktoyaktuk recently to announce that her department will start using a voucher system for their clients. She was apparently responding to the question of the local hamlet. Mr. Speaker, at the time I would support anything that the Hamlet of Tuk does, so I supported it as well.
Mr. Speaker, going over it, I want to air some questions to share with many community members about the program change. First of all, how are the people going to pay for babysitters, taxes, buy groceries and emergency telephone services.
Secondly, what consultation has been done with the community? At this time there was only the one meeting. We have to do proper consultation.
Thirdly, the voucher system hasn’t worked in any northern community. Can I have these questions answered simply? People won’t be able to pay babysitters, taxes or telephone services to get the vouchers, and no cash. There was no consultation with income support clients to tell them what was going to happen.
As for a voucher system, to my knowledge it has never worked for a long time in northern communities. Education, Culture and Employment has four main goals in their vision statement of income security: encourage self-reliance, treat individuals with respect and dignity, have clear policies and procedures, and target benefits to those most in need. Mr. Speaker I don’t see the goals of having a voucher system for income support. I see that takes away people’s ability to make choices in their own responsibility of money.
I have said to people in this House before, I have never been one to tell people how to spend their money. The benefits will go to businesses where they can be used, such as the Northern Store, Stanton, and the community or food mail.
Hardly a day goes by that I am told in this House that the policy is under review. These things take time. As a Member, be patient. But this time, income support in Tuktoyaktuk seems to be a new breed. Mr. Speaker, we have to deal with this.
I will ask questions to the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to talk about support for traditional healing practices.
Mr. Speaker, traditional healing practices have been part of the Dene culture practices going back decades. There was no such thing as doctors, nurses or western medical practices in the early 1900s when the Dene people lived nomadic lives.
Mr. Speaker, some of the Dene people have special gifts for working with and using traditional medicines to heal certain illnesses. They are called traditional healers, and Dene naidi k’orel?a in Chipewyan.
Mr. Speaker, I believe the GNWT should seriously explore how traditional healing practices could be supported. I have spoken to a constituent of mine who has been healed by a traditional healer in Saskatchewan. The same constituent tried western medicine practices by seeing doctors and specialists for many years, to no avail. After making a few visits to the traditional healer, my constituent believes that he is healed.
Although traditional healers do not set charges for their service, there are other expenses involved for a person wishing to make a visit to a traditional healer who may live in another province or another part of the Northwest Territories. The cost of expenses for travel and accommodation can add up for one trip alone, and normally a total of two trips are required before a person begins to feel the healing process work.
Mr. Speaker, although traditional healing is different from western medicine practices, it’s similar in terms of healing. I believe the GNWT should consider recognizing and supporting traditional healing as medical expenses and help support those who believe the only alternative to healing themselves is seeing a traditional healer.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Tomorrow is the last day that we’ll be together in this Chamber as the 16th Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. There will likely be a wide range of emotions. Some of the Members will be making their last statements and leaving the Assembly for the last time.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Premier Roland, David Krutko, and you, Speaker Delorey, all of whom have announced that they won’t be seeking another term, for all of your hard work and your dedication over the years. In your own way you have each made a difference to the people of the Northwest Territories. Your contributions will not be forgotten. Thank you.
For the rest of us who I believe are seeking re-election, it will be both a sad day and possibly the last day for some of us as well, but also an exciting day as we re-engage in the campaign process.
I’ve had a great four years. I’ve learned something from each and every one of my colleagues. I’ve had the opportunity to travel throughout the North and meet residents in almost every community from every walk of life and I’ve learned from each and every one of these people as well.
This is significant because to me people are the reason that we are all here. People create the business. People create the partnerships. People create the opportunities. People commit to their communities and people drive change. I believe the strength in the North comes from its people. As leaders, we must work with the people to create accessible programs and services to ensure that all Northerners have the opportunities and resources to live healthy and productive lives.
I want to take this opportunity to thank my constituents for all of their support and encouragement over the past four years. The Great Slave riding is my home and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed representing its residents. I’ve enjoyed being your representative in this Legislature and having the opportunity to bring your thoughts and concerns to the floor, committee rooms and offices of this Assembly.
I will be seeking re-election in the riding this fall and look forward to the opportunity to represent the Great Slave riding in the 17th Legislative Assembly. I also hope to see some of you back here in six weeks to carry on the important work of the Government of the Northwest Territories. It has been an honour and privilege to serve with each and every one of you.
I’d like to end with one of my favourite political quotes by Joseph Howe, which has been taped to my office window for all to see for the last four years. I look at it every day and it helps focus me on what I’m doing here in this Assembly. It says: “When I sit down in solitude to the labours of my profession, the only questions I ask myself are: What is right? What is just? What is for the public good?” These are important words for politicians to live by.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, after hearing the Minister’s statement on devolution, I have to sort of cringe, knowing that the Dene aren’t part of the process. They make up almost 45 percent of the NWT population consisting of five regions in the Northwest Territories. They’re the region most impacted by resource development in the Northwest Territories.
I believe the Dene/Metis claim clearly stipulated that they shall be involved in the process. They didn’t have to ask to be invited, as has been suggested in the Premier’s comments. They have the right to be at these tables. Yet I quote in regard to a Globe and Mail article which states that Mr. Roland now worries that he may have been heavy-handed in ramming it through. Well, you definitely were heavy-handed and it’s definitely something that shows here today, that the Dene people are again being trampled on by a government that has no say on Dene lands without their consent and involvement.
I know we heard from a lot of Dene leaders when the Devolution Agreement was being signed, directed at a lot of the Aboriginal MLAs to resign and step down. For myself as an MLA being here for 16 years, that is one of my reasons for leaving. I think it’s important to realize that this government’s approach to Aboriginal people, especially the Dene people up and down the Mackenzie Valley, is totally unacceptable on how we deal with our First Nations people in the Northwest Territories. More importantly, those people who have constitutional rights, whether it’s under Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution or treaties under Treaty 8 and Treaty 11 and modern-day treaties.
I, for one, take offence from the comments in the Minister’s statement that the members are being invited back to the table. To be invited to a party means you basically send out an invitation and say come to the party. The Dene do not have to be invited to the party. They have the right to be there.
I will question the Premier on this later.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When the federal government began to establish itself in our communities and to assume the responsibilities of our lives and to govern all aspects of our lifestyle by first signing the treaties and the Metis script, then to work with the missionaries to convert our people into civilized people, and furthermore, to support the trading companies to begin the first economic development programs with fur trading, slowly over the years more and more established structures began to be part of our present life today. One of the biggest single established infrastructures that was brought in was public housing.
Our elders, as a matter of fact, my grandfather once told his chief that we as people should not move into government housing. This would not be good for us, he said. It’s a trap. We’ll always be in debt to the government. We are independent people and we need to continue to be independent. However, with the promise of $2 per month rent, it’s too good of a deal to pass up.
In Colville Lake at the Sahtu Secretariat Annual General Assembly I heard stories again and again from the elders talking about the government officials telling people that if they move into the government houses, they would only have to pay $2 a month for staying there. These testimonies are very strong and true today as we rely on our elders to continue guiding us and providing direction to all our lives. More importantly, what was said during the treaties.
Today I see the true words of my grandfather and my elders. We are so dependent on the government for everything: to get us water, to turn on our lights, to heat our homes, to feed us, and even to police us. We were so independent at one time. Today I see, and I hear, and I know my people are now living in warehouses and tents and overcrowded houses. Today the Housing Corporation says we owe thousands, no, millions of dollars for rent. We see the Government of Canada is going to stop the funding by 2038. That’s 27 years from now. Meaning that my son, who is nine years old today, when he turns 36 there will be no more social public housing in Canada. Good.
Mr. Yakeleya, your time for your Member’s statement has expired.
I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
We are often asked to rise up and begin to take full responsibility for our lives today. We have created it and now we must take back what once was ours. My only hope is that we do we act when the time comes. Remember, we continue to be slaves to the NWT Housing Corporation’s policies and they determine our fate in life. I say this doesn’t need to be our destiny anymore.
Housing is essential. It’s our home, our identity, our place we call home. NWT Housing Corporation needs to be really shaken up to help our people to keep their homes and start keeping people in the houses they once built and were once promised to us.
I witnessed our Minister work with one of my leaders this morning with the housing issue. I want to say thank you to the Minister for his leadership, and I know that we can solve our problems when we get our thoughts and minds together.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]
The change in season reminds us how important it is to secure an adequate, affordable, suitable home. Hundreds of Northerners depend on our public housing system for this shelter. It is a constant source of challenge for our governments. These challenges are frequently debated in this House by MLAs.
I believe that the Northwest Territories would be better served if the Housing Corporation became a department of our territorial government. As a department, the Housing Corporation would prepare full government business plans and have the support of our intergovernmental resources. Core need in our communities is directly related to infrastructure planning. Preparing and being involved in our business planning process along with other infrastructure expenditures would help determine how to best spend our scarce infrastructure dollars. We would be more proactive in our approach to the decline in funding from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Core need is steadily on the rise and we need to reverse this trend as quickly as possible. The department also reports directly to the Assembly. Therefore, there would be greater accountability and oversight in how the Housing Corporation operates, resulting in greater transparency. There would also be an opportunity to address the old arrears and get them off our books once the NWT Housing Corporation is dissolved.
In certain ways the Housing Corporation is already similar to a department. Members review its annual business plans and reports, and have regular contact with senior officials through the Minister. Restructuring the corporation as a department would not come at a significant cost, I believe. It is an opportunity to streamline our system, leading to greater savings in the long run.
As a government we should constantly strive for ways to improve our services to Northerners. We need to look beyond our four-year term and make changes that will benefit people over a longer period. Restructuring the Housing Corporation into a department is a viable option and one that is worthy of the 17th Legislative Assembly’s consideration.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Some months ago the Minister of Health and Social Services announced the suspension of midwifery services in Yellowknife. This was not welcome news for many women and families who had benefited from the services and those who would like to plan for the future. A recent petition supporting the program had 304 signatures. To me that speaks out loud and clear about how important the services are.
When midwifery services were first offered in Yellowknife, it was part of a plan to expand the Midwifery Program that began in Fort Smith, to reach out to other centres across our territory. Then the plans changed. While the Health department figures out what they need to now do and how to focus on the territorial program, we seem to be going backwards, according to constituents, certainly not forward on this premier health care service that has been offered in the past.
Many months have now passed without people knowing where the program is going, and accordingly this is a concern to many constituents who are trying to plan ahead, because they believe strongly in the Midwifery Program and they want that to be part of their childbearing experience. They have heard, and I truly believe this, that the NWT has one of the best midwifery programs and certain reputations in Canada second to none. As many people know, the birth of this spectacular program came out of the well-known small community called Fort Smith, hand delivered to our Northerners by Leslie Paulette. To her I owe a great compliment.
I worry, as many others do, about what is the plan to re-establish this program here in Yellowknife. It’s a much needed service to help take off the pressure of our health care system while at the same time providing families with real options as they grow their families here in the North.
Later today I will have questions for the Minister of Health to find out how this program is evolving and when, hopefully, we’ll see the re-establishment of midwifery services here in Yellowknife that are in great need.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.
