Debates of February 15, 2005 (day 36)

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 389-15(3): Government Position On The Use Of Official Languages

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can’t speak for the Premier personally, but I can speak for the government’s position, and, therefore, that of the Premier and of all the Members of this government, that people are and should be encouraged to use their first language whenever possible.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I will focus my question to the Premier, and he can forward it thereon in. Does the government have a policy to discourage people to use their first language?

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The Premier has already referred the questions to the Honourable Mr. Dent, so you will refrain from addressing the questions to the Premier. Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 389-15(3): Government Position On The Use Of Official Languages

If I can reword my question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment acknowledge if we have a policy that discourages people from using their language of choice, also noted as an official language of the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 389-15(3): Government Position On The Use Of Official Languages

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Minister responsible for official languages, I don’t think this government has any policy discouraging the use of any languages, whether they are official or not, in the Northwest Territories. I think I have already answered this question. I said that the government encourages the use of all languages.

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

Supplementary To Question 389-15(3): Government Position On The Use Of Official Languages

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for his answer. Mr. Speaker, before this story goes too much further, would the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment look into this situation before this so-called story of a person using their language is being discouraged? Before it goes through the meat grinder of arbitration and whatnot, would the Minister look into this before it goes too far? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 389-15(3): Government Position On The Use Of Official Languages

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the issue and have been aware of it for some time now. There is the process that has been launched. I am going to respect that process so far and watch how it turns out. When you have a grievance that is possibly laid, you have to respect that we have that process set out and have to follow it, so I will be watching how things unfold. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions again are for the Minister of Justice with response to the staff that I referred to in my Member’s statement about the many dedicated and long-serving, in some cases, staff who have worked with the Dene K’onia Young Offenders Facility in Hay River. I would like to talk to the Minister about the next steps. I think the Minister would concur with me that these folks are a very valuable resource and we certainly have a lot of need within the youth community in the Northwest Territories. I would like to know what the Minister plans to do to retain this staff. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 390-15(3): Retention Of Dene K'onia Staff

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would concur with the Member that we have an awful lot of experience at Dene K’onia and people with good experience and a lot of dedication to the job. It is one of the bright points that came out of the review of Justice that was done last year. We have an awful lot of dedicated employees who have stuck around for a long time. We would very much like to keep as many employees as possible and take advantage of their knowledge, skills and experience. The offer of transfer will be made to many or has been made to many. Unfortunately, a lot of people find that it is either not the right time of life or because they have a partner who can’t transfer, that that is not acceptable. We have worked as much as possible to find other openings for staff who are affected. Everyone now is on a government-wide priority list and will be considered with priority for any opening within the government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 390-15(3): Retention Of Dene K'onia Staff

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With respect to my comments about the needs of youth, we had a theme day here recently by the Regular Members of this House with respect to the many needs of youth in the Northwest Territories and the emerging needs. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister of Justice support a reprofiling of this piece of infrastructure that would enable us to engage the expertise and the skills of this staff in Hay River? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 390-15(3): Retention Of Dene K'onia Staff

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in early days when we knew that we were going to propose the closure of Dene K’onia, I did, in fact, approach other Ministers in the government to ask whether or not there was some way that that facility could be used. I would certainly welcome any opportunity to keep the staff employed as long as they are employed in a program that makes sense for this government to embark on.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 390-15(3): Retention Of Dene K'onia Staff

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, because of some of the uncertainty with respect to the future of Dene K’onia over the past few years, at least 10 of the staff who worked there were casual employees and at least half of those had been working as casuals for at least four years or longer. What does the government have in mind to do to assist the casual and term employees affected by this closure? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 390-15(3): Retention Of Dene K'onia Staff

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Government policy is that indeterminate employees are the only ones who gain the benefit of the staff retention policy. So we do not offer a program specifically for casual and term employees. However, I would expect that, if these people have worked for some time, they would have good references that would stand them in good stead with other jobs when they come open. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 390-15(3): Retention Of Dene K'onia Staff

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for his responses. Just for clarification, the Minister says that if the government found a use for the building and that could employ a staff there, that he, as a Minister in this government, would support such a proposal. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 390-15(3): Retention Of Dene K'onia Staff

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would hope that if there is another opportunity for the staff of that facility to get a job with the government, they could find it. That is one of the reasons that we have the staff retention policy; is to take advantage, or try and make sure that the government takes advantage, of the experience that we have within our staff. I would hope that we will find jobs for them in the not-too-distant future and not necessarily that we would have to wait some time.

In terms of the facility, if there is some department that comes forward with a proposal for reprofiling it, I would be happy to take a look at it. Of course, as with anything, we have to be able to justify the cost and the value for money spent for any program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question concerns the new Sahtu Health Authority. The Department of Health and Social Services was to implement the Sahtu Health Authority by April 1, 2004. As of yet, services are still being delivered out of the Beaufort-Delta region Inuvik office, and the North Slave region Yellowknife office. I am even more concerned when I look at the Health and Social Services web site that still lists the authority in the developmental stages. My question today is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Could the Minister provide an update as to the status of the Sahtu Health Authority?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 391-15(3): New Sahtu Health Authority

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services remains unwavering in its commitment to work with the people in the Sahtu to establish their authority. We filled eight of the 14 positions that were identified in the Sahtu for administration and running of the health authority. Unfortunately, there has been an underwhelming response in terms of the actual structure and setting up of the board itself. That is a challenge yet to be met and dealt with, but we are continuing to work with the region. In the meantime, there are still transitory arrangements made with Inuvik to assist in the administration and delivery of some of the services. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 391-15(3): New Sahtu Health Authority

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I understand that it is a challenge to move the Sahtu Health Authority into our region. I will ask the Minister in terms of a time frame if he can see actually the Sahtu Health Authority being settled right in the Sahtu region where we can start making our decisions for ourselves.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 391-15(3): New Sahtu Health Authority

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, God willing and the creeks don’t rise, this will be done in the foreseeable future. If we can staff the rest of the other critical positions and if there is a desire indicated by the leadership in the Sahtu in terms of their actual establishment of the health board, then that would help us to conclude this arrangement and transition from being part of the Inuvik region and health authority to a standalone authority in the Sahtu. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The time for oral questions has expired; however, I will allow Mr. Yakeleya to finish his supplementary questioning. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 391-15(3): New Sahtu Health Authority

Much appreciated, Mr. Speaker. Did I understand the Minister to say God willing and the creeks don’t rise? Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain to me and give me an answer for the people in the Sahtu? What are some of the barriers that are hindering the move to establish the Sahtu regional health board? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 391-15(3): New Sahtu Health Authority

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, clearly, in my mind, it is not because of lack of effort or lack of resources on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories. There has been a significant amount of resources identified for this, in spite of concern in some quarters that we are just setting up another level of government. We have positions identified. We have had trouble staffing them. There has been some difficulty in getting a clear indication or signals from the leadership in terms of establishing of the board itself. We continue to operate with the public administrator. Those are two of the key areas on the government side and the administration side that are there before us as challenges. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. A final, short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 391-15(3): New Sahtu Health Authority

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would ask the Minister, would he inform the House as to some of the barriers that we have looked at in the Sahtu? A Catch-22 for us is the availability of accommodations for the staff in Norman Wells who want to fill the positions. However, it is very difficult for our staff people to be accommodated in that area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 391-15(3): New Sahtu Health Authority

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is correct; housing for staff has been an issue, but the marking initiative, phase one, saw five units moved into Norman Wells. I understand that there are eight units this coming year to assist with the shortage. Hopefully that will help in the staffing of these remaining six positions. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The time for oral questions has expired. The Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to request unanimous consent to return to item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. At this time, I would like to recognize a constituent of mine, Vital Abel. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you. I would also like to recognize a good friend of mine. It is good to see a reporter, Mr. Paul Andrew.

---Applause