Debates of February 18, 2005 (day 39)

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 424-15(3): Multi-Year Funding For Municipalities

Maybe the Member can answer for me where the nine months comes from. An agreement is signed April to March, so the funding is known for that year but the planning cycles may be somewhat different. So if I could get some clarification there, please.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Hawkins, would you like to clarify your question?

Supplementary To Question 424-15(3): Multi-Year Funding For Municipalities

I will answer the question too, Mr. Speaker. If I have to work both sides of this House, I will for the citizens of Yellowknife. Sorry; I was on a soapbox there. Mr. Speaker, the issue is the budget for the City of Yellowknife passed on December 31st, but it only has three months left in that calendar year of that agreement. So essentially, the City of Yellowknife is passing their budget with only three months left of a funding agreement. They have to wait for the new year to be rolled out by MACA and the new year is signed in April. So would the Minister at least agree today that this is a serious concern with the City of Yellowknife? Would he at least agree today and open up a small discussion with the City of Yellowknife to hear their perspective and concerns on this issue? If he feels it’s appropriate, we can finish…

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. I heard the question there. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 424-15(3): Multi-Year Funding For Municipalities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am aware that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is doing a review of community funding and how that’s structured. Once that work is done, we will look at what we can do as a government. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 424-15(3): Multi-Year Funding For Municipalities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I acknowledge your last thought there. Mr. Speaker, this is a problem with the FAA. It’s not a problem with MACA. MACA is doing their job. The problem is the FAA restricts the ability for these multi-year rolling agreements with provisos. Would the Minister agree to at least hear the City of Yellowknife’s concern on this matter and if he feels it’s appropriate -- I underline that -- then we will take it to another stage once he’s consulted with the city. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 424-15(3): Multi-Year Funding For Municipalities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our process as the Government of the Northwest Territories is through the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. They work with our community governments throughout the Northwest Territories, so there is contact there. Once this review is done, we will look at it and see if we have to make changes overall as a government. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions this morning are for the Minister of Health and Social Services, related to the alarming reports about the incidence of sexually-transmitted infections in the Northwest Territories. The report filed indeed signals that we need to take some very strong action. The information presented in this document is not all that complete. I wanted to ask the Minister, at this stage, what has been done to put more detail on the plan and make a turnaround in this very sad situation possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Return To Question 425-15(3): Report On Sexually-Transmitted Infections

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To give two quick examples, the Department of Health and Social Services is working with Education, Culture and Employment to look at revising the current curriculum to make it more effective and have more of an impact on this area. As well, Mr. Speaker, we have a significant network of resources in all the communities with, on the clinical side, nurses, community health reps, social workers, and this document. On the practical side, trying to make sure we review the standards we have, the ability to track contacts and working with the people who come through the door to try to make sure we are emphasizing this issue more effectively. So we are looking at the systems we have, the resources we have, and trying to refocus more effectively in this area. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 425-15(3): Report On Sexually-Transmitted Infections

Mr. Speaker, I am not hearing the kinds of things I would like to hear when it comes to really building a strategy that people can get onboard and have some faith and some ownership in. The strategy needs, Mr. Speaker, to say who is responsible, what will the work be, what are the measurables going to be, where are some targets and some budgeting. The information presented is very general. Will there be more advanced work on setting out some actual work plans to help us achieve some turnaround in this situation? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 425-15(3): Report On Sexually-Transmitted Infections

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Corriveau has indicated that they will be reflecting this increase and renewed emphasis through the business planning process that we do at the departmental level. Plus, there will be ongoing work with the authorities and the other partners in the coalition on this issue. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 425-15(3): Report On Sexually-Transmitted Infections

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will look forward to that information. The Minister indicated part of the strategy -- which I think is one of the most relevant and necessary -- is bringing sex education into grades at a younger age. There is a move underway right now, I think, in one of the Maritime provinces, to do this. Has this initiative been taken to the district or community education level to get their initial input and buy-in into this idea? Have we gone there yet? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 425-15(3): Report On Sexually-Transmitted Infections

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, there is work going on with Education, Culture and Employment to look at revising curriculum and it is my understanding that the revised curriculum requires feedback and there is a process of input between the departments, the authorities, the DEAs and DECs where the service is going to be delivered and provided. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 425-15(3): Report On Sexually-Transmitted Infections

Mr. Speaker, the one target that is outlined in the document is that we can at least see the possibility of bringing our rates down below the national average before the end of this decade with the trends that are outlined in here, the incidence of sexually-transmitted infection. That is an enormous task. I wanted to ask, is this doable? Is this really achievable? Are we potentially setting up an unattainable expectation here? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 425-15(3): Report On Sexually-Transmitted Infections

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe the saying is, our reach has to exceed our grasp, for what is heaven for. We are faced with very many daunting challenges that seem irresolvable. We have set some very tough goals for ourselves as a territory, keeping in mind that this is 100 percent preventable. It is a personal choice issue. It is an education issue. It is a very simple one of not having unprotected sex and how do we deal with the individuals and the families in the communities to make the point that, like many of the other issues we talked about in this House, it is preventable. It is a personal choice, and we have to make the case on that basis. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs why the establishment of the Sport and Recreation Council has been delayed. The council was supposed to be established in February as he mentioned in his Ministerial statement in October. Now the nominations for this council won’t even close until March. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 426-15(3): Establishment Of Council Of Sport And Recreation Partners

Mr. Speaker, I apologize for that. Mr. Speaker, we have developed an implementation plan. We have had all the partners in the NWT Sports Council nominate a member to our interim implementation steering committee. They have had a number of meetings over the last while. Our targets are to set up a founding AGM for April of this year. We are now going through the council selections. We have made that information available to all of the Members and sports organizations in communities. We are looking for nominations to the Sports Council, and our founding AGM is scheduled for April of this year, 2005.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Supplementary To Question 426-15(3): Establishment Of Council Of Sport And Recreation Partners

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister how he foresees the council’s meeting their objectives with this late start. Will the council be able to meet their first meeting in April? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 426-15(3): Establishment Of Council Of Sport And Recreation Partners

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our implementation team has been meeting very regularly. They have done a lot of work. We are very confident that we are going to meet all of our target dates. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Supplementary To Question 426-15(3): Establishment Of Council Of Sport And Recreation Partners

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The council plans on creating a resource management plan which includes support through the lottery authority to maximize revenue flow. Could the Minister expand on what this means exactly? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 426-15(3): Establishment Of Council Of Sport And Recreation Partners

Mr. Speaker, the Member is asking some very specific questions on this initiative. I will have to provide that detail and take it as notice. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is to the Minister of MACA. Mr. Speaker, in the past 30 years, the concept of selling past dreams and lands in the Northwest Territories has been introduced by the federal government. Today, Mr. Speaker, we have made some progress. The Tlicho people have proven this over the last couple of weeks. My question to the Minister of MACA is what is his department doing in terms of protecting the aboriginal rights and claims within the areas that haven’t been settled yet? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 427-15(3): Protection Of Aboriginal Rights Within Municipal Boundaries

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, we are at the negotiating tables with a number of different aboriginal governments, but our role is to provide technical support and technical information to the Department of Aboriginal Affairs. Following the discussions with aboriginal groups -- the negotiations -- interim measures agreements have been signed in a number of areas where there are unsettled claims. We are bound in the area of land applications to follow this process. That is the extent of our role to provide mostly support and also to carry out the terms of the interim measures agreement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 427-15(3): Protection Of Aboriginal Rights Within Municipal Boundaries

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, land within the municipalities such as the….We settled in the Sahtu. There was a lot of land within the hamlet boundaries that had a lot of interest and was claimed by our own people. These lands were distributed among the GNWT, the federal government and the aboriginal people. I would like to ask the Minister if he states that this interim measures agreement will stay in place until the settlement within the areas that haven’t yet been settled by the aboriginal people. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 427-15(3): Protection Of Aboriginal Rights Within Municipal Boundaries

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that is correct; the interim measures agreements are in place until the land claims are settled or unless there is a requirement for an amendment. It would require agreement from all parties to make any changes, but where we are failing any requirements for change, the agreements are there until the negotiations are concluded. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 427-15(3): Protection Of Aboriginal Rights Within Municipal Boundaries

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to allude to the question on the access granted to the Yellowknives Dene in the municipality of the city of Yellowknife and that clarification. I would ask the Minister. This is only access to a certain parcel of land within the city. Is that correct? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 427-15(3): Protection Of Aboriginal Rights Within Municipal Boundaries

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct. This is a response to a request to do some geotechnical and survey work in the area, some soil sampling. This was not really an issue that arose from the negotiating table. It is not part of the negotiating process. It was something that came to me, as the Minister of MACA, as a result of this land being Commissioner’s land. It is in my authority to grant access. That request came forward. It was not a request for a lease or to purchase the property. So we thought it was in our best interest to work with the Yellowknives Dene, and we did provide them with permission to access. Thank you.