Debates of February 10, 2006 (day 27)

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Minister Bell.

Further Return To Question 376-15(4): Injuries From Snowmobile Accidents

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, there are already laws on the roads and there are laws in municipalities. Enforcement, obviously, is a problem, very difficult, and there are more and more snow machines out there. So it's something that we can have some discussion around. But the Member is right; it crosses a number of jurisdictions: ours and municipal. I think the most important thing is to get out there and make sure people recognize the dangers. I'm not sure especially young people have a good sense of exactly how powerful these machines are and how much at risk they can be when they're speeding, even on open lakes which seem fairly smooth. There have been lots of cases where there are heaves in the ice and people have serious, serious accidents. So we are doing something. Transportation and MACA are working on this education campaign. We can talk to the various law enforcement agencies, but I would acknowledge, right now, that enforcement is a problem and it is difficult. Obviously not as easy as it is on roads for vehicles.

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

Supplementary To Question 376-15(4): Injuries From Snowmobile Accidents

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, like I stated, I don't think education is enough. I don't think there's anybody who doesn't know that going on a snowmobile at 130 kilometres is not a good thing. It's not the right thing; it's not the legal thing. But I have watched enforcement officers coming and their equipment can't catch up with the speed of some of these distant snowmobilers. Mr. Speaker, I think that we need to have some legislative teeth, and I would asks the Minister to work with the municipal organizations and federal government, and take a lead on looking at what sort of areas we can make judicial action on. I think it takes legislative intervention, not just education. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 376-15(4): Injuries From Snowmobile Accidents

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do know that the Department of Transportation staff have met with the trail riders group from Great Slave Snowmobile Association. Those folks have endorsed this public education campaign, but they've also said that they'd be willing to be involved in an interagency working group that DOT plans to establish. In the longer term, there are a number of initiatives planned, but a discussion around legislation is certainly on the list and it is something that they are contemplating and want to discuss. So I do know that DOT plans to go out to the other snowmobile associations in the Northwest Territories, and I can assure the Member that legislation and legislative options are not something we're ignoring. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 376-15(4): Injuries From Snowmobile Accidents

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the legislative agenda of this Assembly is very, very thin, and I think I might have given the Minister of Justice something really chewy to work on for the remainder of this Assembly, Mr. Speaker. I agree; the snowmobile association is one of the stakeholders, but there's a lot more stakeholders that he should consult and that includes the federal Minister of Justice and the City of Yellowknife, from my point of view. So could he make the commitment to consult with them and come back with an action paper by the spring session? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 376-15(4): Injuries From Snowmobile Accidents

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I think even probably before we start talking about the federal government, I'd be interested in making sure hunters and trappers are involved in this discussion because this is part of their livelihood and I think very important for them. DOT does plan to sit down with MACA; I mentioned that. They are going to bring in the RCMP, municipal enforcement, coroner's office, the chief medical officer, other snowmobile associations. They think they can have this group up and running by the end of the month, or next month. If we need the federal government involved, we can certainly bring them in. But I think as a starting point, we obviously need to bring in the hunters and trappers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. As I talked about in my Member's statement, I've got a couple questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Just in respect to the last session when the Minister committed to completing a community health review by January of 2006, which is passed already. I'm just wondering, I want to ask the Minister, has this review been done yet? Thank you.

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

Return To Question 377-15(4): Review Of Local Health Organizations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this work has been done and they're in the final report writing stages. I've been informed, since I queried them on the status, that we should have the report by the end of this month, and we'll be able to see what the recommendations are and share those with the community and with the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 377-15(4): Review Of Local Health Organizations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I look forward to seeing the recommendations of that report. They probably deal with a lot of board representation and community health services, medical travel and stuff for the smaller communities. I just want to make a point to the Minister that I know the authority my communities deal with, the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority has a very big plate and a lot of the small community issues get lost amongst this big banquet of issues that they have to address on a daily and a monthly basis. I just want to ask the Minister if this report, when it does get tabled in this House, does it include any extra funding requirements for smaller communities, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 377-15(4): Review Of Local Health Organizations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have yet to see the report, so I have no idea what the specific recommendations are. But I can tell the Member that as we plan in our budget that's before this House, for example, to deal with all the program issues as they affect communities, we build in forced growth. If we have a new initiative, we try to account for all the needs and requirements of communities. But I have yet to see the consultant's report or the specific recommendations. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 377-15(4): Review Of Local Health Organizations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me just ask the Minister a question about the report itself. I didn't see the terms of reference for the report, but I want to ask the Minister, does the report, is it a territorial-wide community report, or is this more specific to my constituency which raises the issue of getting the report in the first place? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 377-15(4): Review Of Local Health Organizations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this report was done at the request of the community, but, as well, three years ago or four years ago now when there was a change in the governance arrangement and Fort Resolution started sitting at the Yellowknife health and social service table, one of the agreements was after three years, or two years, to take a look at how things have gone in relation to the MOU. So the memorandum of understanding between the community and the department was the basis of the review. It's very specific, focussed on the issues to the people of Fort Resolution, and the work's been done within the community to look at those services and the services provided as support out of Yellowknife. So it would be very specific to the community. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister responsible for Justice. I read in the news I think it was just before Christmas about a nice little program to service the needs of Gameti where they would put two police officers, I think, for a couple of months because of the winter road opening. I kind of prided the uniqueness of this, of having an alternate program to offer policing service to the smaller communities. I just want to know, if it has begun, is it a pilot, and can we look at branching it out to other communities, as well, Mr. Speaker? Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 378-15(4): Policing Services To Smaller Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can't tell the Member if in fact the RCMP officers have already taken up their posts in Gameti. I do understand they will be serviced and will be from the Yellowknife detachment, and it will be on a roving basis. So a number of different officers will be involved. Obviously the communities had some concerns about access to the community, increased alcohol in the community, and drugs, because of the winter road. This is something that the RCMP agreed that they would try this year and see how it goes. The idea was to really keep the presence in the community for the length of the winter road season. I could check, but I'm not sure if the winter road is, in fact, open yet. I could provide that information to the Member, though. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 378-15(4): Policing Services To Smaller Communities

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I'll be interested in monitoring the outcome of this particular program, because when I first read about it I said, well, that's a pretty unique way of doing things of increasing service in the small communities. In fact, Wrigley, one of my communities, have always been asking for an increased presence of, actually, medical service. But the barrier there was that there had to be like a police presence, as well. Then if you get one police presence, then you need, like, another officer because there's another rule or guideline saying that they're not going to put in one-police detachments anymore for safety reasons. So just the fact that we're looking at putting RCMP officers in for a couple of months, it might have implications for Wrigley that we can have an at least increased service with regard to providing health care services. So if the Minister will provide me updates as we go along. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 378-15(4): Policing Services To Smaller Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We can certainly provide updates. We do have a working group with the RCMP and Justice officials talking about the provision of service to small communities. There are, I think, 13 communities in the NWT without detachments. The Member is right; the days of single-officer detachments are gone, so we have to be more creative and look at ways that we can provide service to some of our smaller communities. Probably the smallest ones we will be hard pressed to ever see detachments, or for awhile anyway, because of cost pressures in the smallest detachments. But I still believe, and I've had this discussion with Member Pokiak about a detachment in Sachs Harbour. I think Wrigley is another obvious one where we could use a detachment. I think the pressures from development are going to increase. But is a matter, as Members know, of getting it into the federal government's capital plan. It is the federal government that pays for detachments; we share the O and M costs. So really it's about convincing the federal Minister. That is something I want to sit down and talk to the federal Minister about, and we'll do that. But I'll keep the Member updated on the progress that we see in Gameti. I do understand that the winter road is not open yet, but we will follow that for the couple-month period that it is. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 378-15(4): Policing Services To Smaller Communities

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I look forward to that, as well. The other component is, of course, to begin discussions with the Department of Health to see if there can be a concerted effort of providing the policing services as well as the health services. If we pilot in the Nahendeh region, as well, I would suggest the community of Wrigley to increase the health services. So while the Minister also begins discussions with Health and Social Services, just to pre-plan it so we can do something maybe next year, Mr. Speaker. Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 378-15(4): Policing Services To Smaller Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will take the concerns about the provision of health services back to my department for discussions with health officials. Obviously, the Minister of Health has heard the concerns, and that's something that I'm prepared to have a discussion with him about. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week I did a Member's statement in regard to the water treatment plant in Sachs Harbour. I understand that early last week they had major problems again with the treatment plant freezing up in Sachs. Mr. Speaker, the project started in the summer of 2004, and we're in 2006 now and they're still encountering the same problems of freezing up at the water plant and also the pipeline intake. My question is for the Minister of Public Works and Services. Can he give us an update from last week in regard to what the department has done to rectify the problem? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. The honourable Minister responsible for Public Works, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 379-15(4): Water Treatment Plant In Sachs Harbour

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the latest information I received, we had a contractor go up there again to thaw out the line and look at why it froze up again. As I stated last week, between the designer of the water treatment plant, Public Works and Services, and Municipal and Community Affairs, we're working on looking at what needs to be changed. The feeling is that the long piping going from the treatment plant into the water lake is probably the reason why the insulation on the piping has deteriorated, and we're putting a project together to look at replacing that whole length of line. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 379-15(4): Water Treatment Plant In Sachs Harbour

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister of Public Works and Services indicate exactly when that problem will be rectified? He mentioned that they're looking at maybe changing the pipeline. I'm just wondering, when can the people of Sachs Harbour have the water treatment plant running in correct order? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 379-15(4): Water Treatment Plant In Sachs Harbour

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Public Works and Services, along with Municipal and Community Affairs, are going to have to come up with what the actual project will be to get this system repaired and fully operational so that we don't have any more freeze-ups. We're going to have to work with the other department and come up with the budget line, and then put it into the process for review. So I don't have an actual time, but we're working with Municipal and Community Affairs. Obviously we're going to have to come forward with something in a supplementary appropriation at a future date because it's a continuing problem; we need to repair it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 379-15(4): Water Treatment Plant In Sachs Harbour

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm just wondering, I know last week I asked the Minister in regard to if the contract was given out. I'm just wondering, this is 2004, the summer of 2004. It's been very costly finding the contractor, the freezing up of the problem. When I made a visit to Sachs Harbour in early January, Mr. Speaker, you know, I talked with the Minister about this on my return visit back to Yellowknife and it appears that early January to now, and I don't know how much longer it's going to take to rectify the problem. I'm just wondering, what more can the department do? The people in Sachs are having a hard time trying to…They drill holes in the lake. Will the problem actually be done? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 379-15(4): Water Treatment Plant In Sachs Harbour

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the situation that we face right now in Sachs Harbour, along with our problems with the water line itself, as I understand, the water trucks in the community actually had problems as the garage up in Sachs Harbour, I understand the furnace ran out of fuel, froze up the unit. There was a team that went up there to do the repairs, I believe on the 6th or the 7th of this last week to make those types of repairs. So my understanding is that that is now either underway or been repaired, as well as looking at the water treatment plant itself. But as for coming up with a plan to date as to what's the actual fix, right now our discussions with the designer, Public Workers and Services, Municipal and Community Affairs is that it's to do with the length of the line, and we're going to have to look at replacing that length of line. We have to come up with a project itself, a new design and a costing of that. So I can't give the Member an actual date. We're working on it with Municipal and Community Affairs to come up with something as soon as we can, understanding that the community can't be left in a position of having to drill holes in the lake to get their water. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today will be for the Minister of Industry, Tourist and Investment. This morning I received an e-mail regarding the potential dropping of the BIP, Mr. Speaker, and it appears several small businesses are concerned, in the e-mail that I received. It looks like it may be replaced by a two percent reduction, from this e-mail that I have before me. So, Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister is, how is this idea being floated out to northern businesses about the potential dropping of the BIP and replacing it with a small two percent reduction in taxes? How is it being floated out there for their discussion? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 380-15(4): Status Of The Business Incentive Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is something we've been in discussion with committee about. Governance and Economic Development committee was floated the idea first, initially, and they were at least intrigued enough with the idea to suggest that we needed to get out and talk to businesses and get their sense. The premise, Mr. Speaker, really is that the BIP, which was created a number of years ago, we think is not as useful as it once was, not as effective as it once was. It really speaks only to GNWT procurement. I think the last numbers we had, on $200 million worth of procurement, there were premiums paid to BIP registered businesses somewhere in the neighbourhood of $200,000. If you remember back to the initial impetus for this, it was about levelling the playing field for northern business as compared to southern. What I think happens, for the most part now that our market is a little more mature, is that you have BIP businesses bidding against BIP businesses and it ends up being a wash. So we felt that the administrative burden on our department, but spread right across all departments and on small business and larger business to comply and register, to have us monitor the BIP, was onerous compared to the value. So we've started this discussion. I've met with the NWT Chamber. They are putting out a survey to their membership over the next month, and we will have ongoing discussions around this.

But I want to clarify that it's not a small decrease to the small business tax rates. It's, in fact, a 50 percent reduction in small business tax rates, from four percent to two percent, that we're proposing would fill the gap. So we would, instead of having the BIP program, we would take the money and use that to provide a 50 percent tax break for small business. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.