Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.
It sounds like the Minister is aware of the practice that is currently at play at Human Resources and he condones that.
I’d like to ask the Minister if he could commit to an outside review — a staffing review — of HR so that we can get an outside expert in there to talk to the staff that are at HR, so that they could let us know in a more formalized manner exactly what is happening there.
The previous government spent a lot of money on a review, which is less than two years old. Right now we’re focusing on results, on making sure people are paid on time and reducing our backlog. Once we’ve done that, I’d be pleased to do a review.
I’d like to follow up on my Member’s statement and ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment a couple of questions relative to some of the problems that teachers experience on a daily basis. I would like to ask the Minister what the department does currently to provide housing for teachers in smaller communities.
Housing is a Northwest Territories issue. It’s a real challenge to deal with housing, especially in isolated communities. But we as a department are working with the LHOs in the communities, as well as the development corporations, to identify what is suitable in the communities. If there is any housing available, then we pass on the information to potential teachers that are coming in from outside and teachers from within the Northwest Territories.
I’m very glad to hear that the department is working on trying to find housing for teachers. There is a concern, as well, about the housing that exists in communities and that the housing that teachers are given…. There may be housing available, but it’s not very satisfactory housing. I’d like to know if the department is doing anything to try and upgrade those houses so that the living conditions for teachers are what they should be.
We as a government do not get involved with staff housing. We do what we can as a department to work with the development corporations at the community level and also the bands in the community — municipalities, if that’s the case — to have suitable housing or a unit in the community for professional staff that are coming in. That’s what we do as a department. We work with the Housing Corporation and other departments to identify those needs at the community level.
That’s not exactly the answer I was looking for, but I understand the situation. I would urge the department to work with their district education authorities to do more to bring housing in line with the conditions that most of us expect.
I’d like to ask whether or not the department has a zero-tolerance policy that addresses violence towards teachers in school.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. That’s sort of going to a different line of questioning, but I’ll allow the Minister to comment.
Yes, our department will continue to work closely with the communities. Specifically dealing with the housing issues, we have to continue hiring teachers in the communities, and we will continue working with the communities on that issue.
Based on the MLA strategic plan that we put together earlier in the year, the government’s response is to develop some committees and have those committees go out and work on some strategic initiatives. One of those committees is refocusing government, and the role, at least as far as I understand, is to identify avenues for improving the public service and deciding how we can do business more effectively. To me that means or suggests that they’re going to be responsible for putting in initiatives related to training and development.
What types of initiatives and/or programs is the Minister intending to put in place that would help bring, into government jobs, people in communities who may lack education but who have skills and qualifications that might be related to the positions they’re applying on?
The Government of the Northwest Territories currently has a number of programs that we’re using for bringing people into the public service. We have the Management Assignment Program, we have the summer student program, and we have an internship program. We’re relying on the N.W.T. Apprenticeship Program and the education system and adult education to bring more people into the workforce.
The Management Assignment Program is for employees who are already in the G.N.W.T. public service. The intern program, although it’s a very good program and does have a significant amount of value, does actually focus mostly on Yellowknife, as most of the people want to come back to Yellowknife. I’m more interested in a program such as the PSCTP, when it did exist prior to the cuts in ’96, that gave people from the smaller communities and the regional centres an opportunity to get into the public service — where they didn’t have the education necessarily to allow them to be screened into competitions, but they could demonstrate skills and abilities in other ways that, with minimal training, they would be able to take on more advanced roles such as officer-level jobs or management jobs.
To the Minister specifically: can I get the Minister to commit to reviewing a program like the Public Service Career Training Program with the intent of implementing something that would benefit those potential employees who are not already working for the G.N.W.T. public service — those individuals from the communities who will work up and stay in the communities once they complete their training?
I am familiar with the on-the-job training program that the Member is referring to. I’m also familiar with the on-the-job training program that the federal Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development had back in the ‘80s and early ‘90s. Both programs were very successful in getting people to work for the government at the community level. As the Member correctly stated, in most cases these types of training programs usually fall prey to budget cuts. But this would be something we’d be prepared to look at as part of our strategic planning.
Specifically related to the Public Service Career Training Program, it was never cut completely. In fact, after the budget cut there was still a significant amount of money left that was sent out to the regions specifically; it was going to be delivered at a regional level. Since then the program has just faded from the books.
I’m curious if the Minister could tell me where those dollars have gone. Can those dollars be re-profiled back into re-establishing the Public Service Career Training Program in the interest of residents of the Northwest Territories in smaller communities with the desire to get into the public service?
If I recall correctly where the money went, it eventually went into the regional departmental budgets, because the expectation was that training would be paid for as part of the normal course of doing business. So that’s where it went. I don’t think it’s an area where we can go back and track exactly where it went, to dig it back out and resurrect it. It would have to be looked at as part of the overall budget planning, strategic planning process.
My question is for the Minister of Education, Mr. Lafferty. It’s in regard to the area of staff housing. I know that Ms. Bisaro’s question is looking more in line with how we deliver the program. I’d just like to ask the Minister…. I know he mentioned last week that he is working on a pilot project in regard to providing staff housing. Mr. Speaker, we already have a policy in place developed by way of the previous government for market housing in communities. I’d just like to ask the Minister: why is he not using that initiative, instead of making decisions to go with a pilot project?
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Member’s asking that question. I did mention last week that our department is working with the Housing Corporation on a pilot project in one of the regions. If it’s successful, then we will continue working with other regions on the project itself. We are going with this as a third party, because we don’t get involved with staff housing. But we do what we can to work with the communities to find suitable, affordable housing in the communities.
Again, Mr. Speaker, I ask: what is the reason behind having to do a pilot project? A lot of the government staff housing was sold off to a lot of development corporations. They purchased these assets strictly for staff, by way of teachers and that, in our communities. But yet the possibility of doing that is already in place.
I’d just like to ask the Minister: why aren’t you following existing programs and services to do exactly what you’re saying you’re going to do, without having to do a pilot project?
Mr. Speaker, that is what we’re doing with the communities. We are having the Housing Corporation assist with the development corporations to build units in the communities. With us, there are no ties, as we are the third party. We are assisting the communities in pursuing the building of these units for professionals in the communities, specifically for teachers, social workers and nurses in the communities as well. That’s what we’re doing as a department — our department, working with another department — to identify a solution in a community.
Mr. Speaker, this issue is not just familiar to one particular region, one particular community; this is a problem right across the Northwest Territories. Communities are trying to address this problem. They have, in most cases, put their own money into putting this infrastructure on the ground. To be fair to all communities on this issue, I’m not waiting ‘til a pilot project is assessed or done or completed.
Could the Minister commit to working with other development corporations throughout the Northwest Territories to improve the existing staff housing stock, and also to deliver more housing stock on the ground? They are already in place; they are already looking at doing it. It just needs some assistance from this government to be able to deliver on market housing in our non-market communities, by way of staff housing.
Mr. Speaker, the question is more coming down to the Housing Corporation, but we as a department will continue working with that issue. Yes, certainly, I’d like to reiterate I’ll be working with my colleague in the Housing Corporation and other Members. We are open for business, as well.
What we’re doing as a pilot project…. There’s one pilot project that’s on the way, and if another region wants to continue with that pilot project, then certainly we can sit down and discuss that as well. We’re open to that concept, and I’d like to move forward on that. That’s what we’re pursuing right now. Mahsi.
Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.
Mr. Speaker, in regard to the quality and the condition of these units, as I say, most of them were purchased from the government when they sold off our staff housing. Again, a lot of these units are aging over time, and I think we do have to bring them up to a certain rating. I’d like to ask the Minister, working with his colleague at the Ministry of Housing, if they can look at implementing a program to assist those communities and developers to upgrade those facilities and also expand them, so we can allow for more teachers and more resource people to be able to take advantage of these market housing initiatives in our communities.
Mahsi. Mr. Speaker, we can certainly take that into consideration, working with the development corporation at the community level, along with the Housing Corporation and our department. Mahsi.
Mr. Speaker, as many people will know, the Regular Members of the Legislative Assembly have been meeting lately to talk about ideas for strategic reductions, since the government has advised us that we need to find $135 million over the next two years. It’s been a very interesting discussion, and at some point our report and recommendations will be made public.
For those who don’t know, there’s a very interesting document available in our library. It’s called “Contracts Over $5,000.” It’s a public description of all contracts over $5,000. To anybody who wants some interesting reading material, I highly recommend it.
Lately, since we’ve been looking at ways to save money, I had Research pull together a list of contracts related to consulting companies that do not reside in the Northwest Territories. It’s very easy to identify those from outside the Territories.
We procure things such as strategic advice, consulting services — this is the description from the contract book — communication services, a review, strategic planning, case studies, support services, speaking engagements, diamond advisory. These ones, just from outside of the Territories, come to over $4.4 million for one year, in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007.
I have a couple of questions for the Premier about the way these kinds of contracts are let. I would like to know, when Ministers decide they need some kind of support in the consulting area of a very generic type, as many of these are, what process do they have to go through to get that approved? Do you get to approve that, as the Premier?
Mr. Speaker, the Ministers would work through their department, if it is work on behalf of the department — and I’d have to get a specific example. But through a department, the department can initiate that activity from direction given by the Minister, so I don’t get to review all of those areas for consulting contracts.
Mr. Speaker, the Premier said he’d have to have a specific example. Let me give you an example. “John Todd Holdings Ltd., consulting services, $48,000.” What kind of process goes into approving such a contract?
Mr. Speaker, I’m very familiar with that one, so I can inform the Member and this House about that process.
In trying to establish a contract with a firm, looking at what kind of work you want done and what you’re hoping to get the message out and the delivery on, in those cases one would approach — in my case, anyway — the Premier of the day to ask for advice in this area regarding the work that’s going to be undertaken.
In some cases that type of investment produces a much bigger benefit. If we want to get into that, I can talk about the $50 million it’s saved us as the Government of the Northwest Territories for having that strategic advice put in place.
Mr. Speaker, so these contracts are normally sole-sourced contracts, and we do spend a fair amount of money. I haven’t even gone into the ones where we hire people who actually reside in the Northwest Territories or who have their shingles hung out in the Northwest Territories.
In view of some of the need for cutbacks, does the Premier see any opportunity for savings on this particular type of discretionary spending?
Mr. Speaker, yes, I do.
Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Premier, then, if he would also communicate to his Ministers and the departments that this may be an area where they might like to look for some savings that would contribute to that total amount that we need to save over the next two years, and if he would put some guidelines and some parameters in place to provide guidance and leadership for Ministers and other departments as well.
Mr. Speaker, as I’ve sat here and listened intently, I’m sure they wouldn’t want to be brought up to this floor with next year’s public accounts or contracts over $5,000 and be reminded of that.
It is something we are looking at, as well as departmental travel.
Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement, I spoke about the eyes of the world being on Vancouver during the 2010 Olympics. We did have a presence at the Canada Winter Games. I understood that had made some difference to the amount of tourism we had up here.
I’d like to direct my questions today to the Minister of ITI. I’d like to ask him if the department has a plan to have a presence in Vancouver during the 2010 Olympics.
Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct. We were very pleased with the outcome of our participation at the Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse; our partnerships with Nunavut and Yukon on the marketing campaign; our N.W.T. House; and the athletes and performers and youth ambassadors who were there.
It is our intention to do the same thing again in Vancouver. Our government has entered an MOU with the governments of Nunavut and Yukon again, as well as the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Committee, to participate in the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Mr. Speaker, I’d thank to thank the Minister for answering all four of my questions in one answer. I'm just trying to come up with something.
Laughter.
I’d like to ask the Minister if there’s a dollar figure attached to our participation in the MOU.
Mr. Speaker, we’ve had some discussions with Nunavut and Yukon governments. We have developed a proposal, and that will be subject to the outcome of our budgeting process.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the Minister for that.
I’d also like to ask the Minister: when we will know? Will committees be informed as to our plans and our actual participation in the Olympics and how everything is going to play out down there? When will we have an idea of when all this is going to play out?
Mr. Speaker, I expect that we’ll have that information as part of the business planning process in May–June. We have toured some sites in Vancouver in order to help us develop our business plan.
Final supplementary, Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In answering my question before, the Minister had mentioned a proposal. I’d like to ask him if there was a dollar amount attached to this proposal that was put forward.
Mr. Speaker, there is a proposal that was put forward. I think it would be premature for me to indicate what that figure is, but we are looking at some substantial dollars.
Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Minister Responsible for the N.W.T. Housing Corporation a few questions with respect to the Auditor General’s report.
I heard a Minister on the radio this morning speaking with, I believe, Mr. Henderson.
Many of the findings in the auditor’s report reiterate what I’ve been saying as a Member for the last two years: that we need a proper appeal system; we need a proper board in place that can assess clients. Many, many constituents have contacted me because they didn’t feel the assessments and applications were proper.
I know that the Housing Corporation had an opportunity to look at the report. Would the Minister care to comment specifically on the appeals system that may be addressed? Thank you.
