Debates of August 25, 2011 (day 18)

Question.

Question is being called.

---Carried

The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Report of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure on Transition Matters has been concluded. Therefore, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that Committee Report 8-16(6) be received and adopted.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. A motion is on the floor. The motion is in order.

Question.

Question is being called.

---Carried

The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That concludes the Report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Transition Matters. Therefore, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that Committee Report 9-16(6) be received and adopted.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. A motion is on the floor. The motion is in order.

Question.

Question has been called.

---Carried

The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last but not least, report on transition matters.

As the 16th Legislative Assembly draws to a close the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning continues to monitor several ongoing issues and initiatives with government-wide implications. The committee wishes to take the opportunity through this transition report to highlight areas that we believe will require the continued attention of our successor committee in the 17th Assembly.

The Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning includes all 11 Regular Members of the Legislative Assembly. The committee’s role is to:

review issues which have government-wide implications, including the overview of the budget and fiscal framework;

review government and Northwest Territories reports on financial and performance results, and program and policy evaluations to ensure anticipated outcomes are being achieved and accountability is maximized;

coordinate sessional business scheduling and planning in cooperation with appropriate Ministerial representatives;

coordinate committee public consultation efforts with respect to budget and fiscal matters;

coordinate committee strategic planning efforts;

monitor and evaluate Ministerial performance issues;

consider the budgets and financial management of any boards and agencies that are outside of the responsibility of any standing committee; and

consider any other matter referred by the House.

The sheer number of formal motions initiated by committee members recommending changes to the public housing programs speaks to the crises that is ongoing in many NWT communities and that we hear about daily from our constituents. It is well known that housing issues have far-reaching impacts across government in areas such as health, education, justice, and economic development and housing, therefore, needs to be a top priority for government.

In our efforts to find fair solutions to the difficulties our constituents face, committee members advanced several proposals including:

a number of possible changes to the rent scale;

an income exemption for newly employed public housing tenants for their first six months of employment, and immediate efforts to encourage pursuit of homeownership;

reduction of the maximum rental rate to 25 percent of assessed gross income;

changes to program guidelines to provide responsible and meaningful flexibility, and to allow for transition periods such as gradual rent increases;

regional analysis and policy changes to establish a significantly lower maximum rent schedule;

reintroduction of a home maintenance and repair program for seniors; and

the establishment of specific maximum rents for communities with no real private market as follows: $600 per month for a one-bedroom unit, $800 per month for a two-bedroom unit, $1,000 per month for a three-bedroom unit, and $1,200 per month for four- or five-bedroom units.

While the government did not implement any of these recommendations, it is indicated that rent scales will be considered within the Shelter Policy review scheduled for completion in 2012. We urge the incoming government to bring forward changes early in the life of the 17th Assembly.

The Devolution Agreement-in-Principle signed in January 2011 has created divisions among the people of the Northwest Territories that we hope can be repaired during the term of the next Assembly. We urge the incoming government to work quickly to establish a process for negotiating devolution that is fully inclusive of all Aboriginal groups.

While there have long been concerns about the centralization of public service positions in the capital, this issue is becoming more pressing with the signing of the Devolution Agreement-in-Principle and the possible transfer of hundreds more positions to the GNWT. The committee believes that the government should incorporate opportunities to decentralize its operations into its future human resource planning. Decentralization not only has the benefit of moving jobs and associated economic growth to communities which badly need them, but in some cases will also allow the government and its employees to benefit from lower office space and housing costs.

Most proposed bills undergo public review by standing committee, with the possibility of extensive hearings where public interest warrants. However, many important matters of concern to the public are addressed in regulations, which typically are approved by the Minister or the Cabinet without the involvement of Regular Members. The Act to Amend the Territorial Parks Act and the Northwest Territories Heritage Fund Act are examples of bills which leave substantial matters to regulations. The 17th Assembly may wish to consider instituting processes for standing committee review of such regulations.

In the early days of the 16th Assembly a program review office was established within the Department of Executive. This substantial investment has not lived up to the committee’s expectations, and we would encourage our successor committee to request an update on the office’s activities early in the life of the new Assembly.

In addition to the former motions making recommendations to government referenced above, committee members initiated several more, which the government has not acted upon to our satisfaction. Although some of these matters fall under the mandate of other standing committees, we list the recommendations here for convenience.

reinstatement of student financial assistance scholarships;

provide students doing upgrading with access to student financial assistance;

reinstate and fund a veterinary student placement at the University of Saskatchewan with a return of service agreement attached to the funding;

provide funding to small high schools for a minimum of three teachers;

develop a certification program for elders to teach in schools in time for the start of the 2011-2012 school year;

reinstate sunsetting funding for school healthy eating and nutrition programs;

increase student financial assistance living allowances by 20 percent, and link future increases to the consumer price index

eliminate handling fees for the collection of milk containers under the NWT Beverage Container Program;

implementation of a tiered vehicle registration system that bases fees on the fuel economy rating of vehicles;

consideration of a low carbon fuel standard that decreases or eliminates GNWT reliance on unconventional higher carbon oil by the end of the 16th Assembly, and establishment of guidelines for the use of lifecycle analysis that evaluates greenhouse gas emissions from productions of fuels imported by the GNWT;

immediate commencement of a public consultation process in partnership with the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning on the shape of a northern management regime for lands and resources, with proposed implementation of the regime to be included in the transition documents and planning for the 17th Assembly.

establishment of a milk subsidy program for all children aged one to 12 in any NWT community where milk costs are 10 percent or higher than those in Yellowknife;

establishment of a multidisciplinary team to provide assessment and diagnosis services for adults who may have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and enhancement of programs and supports for individuals and families living with FASD;

identification of various options for establishing a mobile alcohol and drug treatment program that can be delivered on the land, and a report back to the 17th Assembly on this initiative within the first six months of the term.

initiate a public process to discuss board reform;

development of a measuring tool to verify the percentage of the GNWT workforce with a disability, and ensure that percentage is maintained or increased to 5 percent within five years;

comprehensive review of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act with introduction of a bill within the first two years of the 17th Assembly term.

In addition to the above recommendations to the Government of the Northwest Territories, committee members initiated motions with recommendations directed at the federal government for the following matters, which have not yet been resolved: removal of the GST for certain goods and services north of 60; the reinstatement of federal funding for the Aboriginal Healing Foundation; and a successor strategy for the sunsetting Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership Program.

This concludes the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning Report on Transition Matters. We wish the Members and committees of the 17th Assembly the utmost success in their service to the people of the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That concludes the report of the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning Report on Transition Matters. Therefore, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Committee Report 11-16(6) be received and adopted.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order.

Question.

Question has been called.

---Carried

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize two Pages from Yellowknife South: Emily Thagard and Scott Stirling. Thank you for serving in the House, and also to all the Pages in the Legislative Assembly.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Doug Rentmeister, the executive director of Sport North. I would also like to recognize some family members: Anne and Trevor Roberts from Courtney, B.C., as well as my mother and father, Dick and Loretta Abernethy. I’d like to thank them for all their support over the years.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize some of our representatives that have been working on behalf of the Status of Women Council: Lorraine Phaneuf, Annemieke Mulders, and Samantha Dechief.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize the representatives from the Status of Women Council behind me. Lorraine Phaneuf is the executive director of the Status Council, Annemieke Mulders is the programs and research manager, and Samantha Dechief is the community development coordinator. I would also like to recognize a constituent of mine. I presume he’s still up there. Mr. Doug Rentmeister is the executive director of Sport North and a constituent of Frame Lake. Last but not least, I’d like to recognize Ms. Amber O’Reilly, who has been my constituency assistant filling in as a summer student. She’ll be heading off to school tomorrow. Best of luck, Amber, and thanks for your service.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize my parents, Maurice and Dora Marie Lafferty are here with us today. They’re big supporters of mine. And also my auntie Therese Jeremick’a that’s here with us, my uncle Freddie Lafferty, my uncle Jimmy Mantla, and also my sister-in-law Missy Mantla. I’d also like to recognize a Page as well: Shania Clark, aka Clarkie, and that she’s Lucy Rabesca’s daughter, originally from Behchoko. I’d just like to say mahsi for all the services that they provide. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to welcome my two daughters here, Kirstin and Mikayla, that are with me here in Yellowknife.

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize my wife and my best friend, Judy. Welcome to the gallery.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure today to recognize in the gallery, as I mentioned in my Member’s statement, my very long-serving constituency assistant Wendy Morgan, who is no longer a resident of Hay River South, I am sad to say. Hay River’s loss was Yellowknife’s gain, but she still is my assistant and I appreciate her very much. She is more than an assistant, she is my very good friend. I’d also like to recognize my husband, Rick, in the gallery tonight, who doesn’t often make it up here. We’ll be heading home tomorrow, honey. Get the campaign signs ready.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d also like to recognize residents of Weledeh, Loretta and Dick Abernethy. I’d also like to recognize Johanna Stewart, one of our Pages today, a resident of Weledeh, and really express my appreciation to all the Pages we’ve had throughout our four years.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize, once again, the two Pages from Yellowknife Centre. We have Emma Ouellette and Edward Esau. I certainly hope they’ve enjoyed their time here paging at the Assembly. I know many of us have appreciated their help and the services they provide. As well, we appreciate all the Pages and the work that they do, so I want to thank them personally.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. If we’ve missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to the Chamber. I hope you’re enjoying the proceedings. It’s always nice to have an audience in here.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are addressed to the Premier, the Minister responsible for the Executive. They are relative to the final report of the Coalition Against Family Violence, which was published on March 31st of this year. It was a result of about eight years of work.

The coalition was begun in 2003 and has been doing great work on behalf of our residents since then. They’re a group of 21 bodies, both NGOs and government.

There have been two action plans to date with regard to family violence, and the second phase will end in March of 2012. Phase three, a continuation of the Family Violence Acton Plan, is absolutely required. I’d like to ask the Premier, the Minister for the Executive, what action the Government of the Northwest Territories is taking to ensure that a phase three action plan will be planned for and funded following the end of the March 2012 period. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we will be reaching the date of dissolution of the 16th Assembly, our work is going to be part of the transition process so that the Members of the 17th Assembly can review the recommendations that have been put forward in the most recent report.

I didn’t hear the Minister say anything in the past tense. It sounded like it was all in the future. I’d like to ask the Minister, since that report was published on March 31, 2011, has there been any action on the part of the government to start dealing with the 19 recommendations which are included in that report. Thank you.