Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment would like to announce that starting on April 1, 2010, minimum wage in the Northwest Territories is going up.
This is the first increase to the minimum wage in the Northwest Territories since 2003. Despite the high cost of living, the Northwest Territories’ minimum wage rate fell behind the national average and has not kept up with increases in other costs like rent, groceries and fuel.
The Department of Education, Culture and Employment is phasing in the changes over the next two years. In 2010 the rate increases to $9 an hour and effective April 2, 2011, the rate goes up to $10 an hour.
During the development of the Employment Standards Act and Regulations in 2008, we had very few comments from workers and businesses in the Northwest Territories about minimum wage. But as the economy began to falter in late 2008 and 2009, we began to hear that it was time for an increase. It is important that people are able to earn sufficient wages to be independent, while contributing to the economic activity of the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, the department contacted more than 80 employers during the summer of 2009, to learn the potential impacts of an increased minimum wage.
Overall, most employers felt the existing rate of $8.25 an hour was not enough. In fact, most employers are already paying more than the minimum wage, to recruit and retain skilled workers.
There are some businesses that will have to adapt to the increases. The hospitality and service industry appear to be the area that may be most affected. The department is confident the two-phased approach will ease the financial burden on employers in these sectors.
Mr. Speaker, to inform employers and employees on the minimum wage increase, the department is launching a public awareness campaign across the Northwest Territories in the coming weeks.
Moving forward, the department is considering ways to implement future increases that will see regular and reasonable increases linked to other economic factors such as inflation and cost of living.
I trust that workers across the Northwest Territories welcome this change and will continue to contribute to a strong northern economy. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories government has been looking at the so-called ATCO proposal. Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions between the Premier, the Minister of Finance and Nancy Southern of ATCO.
Mr. Speaker, with regard to assets this government owns, in excess of almost $200 million, it’s one of the largest assets this government has been able to retain after division. Mr. Speaker, the asset is owned not only by the Government of the Northwest Territories but the people of the Northwest Territories, which was transferred back in 1988 from the federal government.
It is very important that anything that happens by way of selling government assets should be retained by Northerners in regard to share equity and also looking at the possibility of equity of large aboriginal corporations, development corporations, settlement corporations, yet nothing has been mentioned in discussions with First Nations governments or aboriginal corporations to see if they are interested in this project.
I know this is an issue that came up at the Beaufort Leaders’ Meeting. The Gwich’in Tribal Council were asking us why can’t the Gwich’in Development Corporation or the Gwich’in Tribal Council retain equity in the Taltson project or the selling off of any public assets whether it’s the Power Corporation in the Inuvik region or the potential of buying into high-scale hydro projects.
Mr. Speaker, this government has to be open to everyone and not just the first application that comes forward and gets dumped on Cabinet’s desk and then everyone else falls in line.
Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Premier questions on this matter on the consideration of aboriginal participation in any hydro projects and also allowing for equity participation, ensuring the assets we all own stay with the residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m returning to the topic of sole-source contracts to former Ministers in yet another attempt to wring some accountability and transparency from this government.
Mr. Speaker, in the last session, I filed a written question asking three very simple questions about sole-source contracts awarded to two firms. The firms -- John Todd Holdings and the Northern Strategy Group -- were hired at the same time to provide exactly the same services, each described as “uniquely” able to provide the service, for a total value of up to $228,000 at $1,500 a day.
My written question asked what federal, provincial or territorial meetings resulted from the contracts. The written answer gives no information on meetings and says only that the contractors, “...helped build relationships and offered advice.”
I asked what the subjects of discussions were. The written answer states no subjects, says only that, “...since the beginning of the 16th Assembly, the GNWT has advanced four key political priorities with the federal government,” and then gives a website quality list of topics.
Finally, I asked the Minister to provide documents demonstrating that the services were received, which is a mandatory verification before payment can be approved. I was told -- and this is the most disturbing answer of all, Mr. Speaker -- that, “...payment of invoices...indicates the acceptance of their work based on the terms of the contract.” In other words, the fact that they got a pay cheque is the proof that they did the work.
Mr. Speaker, this is outrageous. When Members are pushed to the extreme of prying information from the government with written questions, it is evasive, mischievous and disrespectful to the Assembly not to answer the question being asked. When this government signs contracts for almost a quarter of a million dollars of work, there had better be more evidence than a cheque stub to prove we got our money’s worth. When two firms are sole-source contracted to do the same thing at the same time, we had better be able to demonstrate we didn’t just pay twice for the same thing. That’s why I ask my questions and I want answers. I will file my question again today with the expectation that the services will finally be provided in detail.
I expect to receive a detailed description of these deliverables in a form that would actually pass muster with the Auditor General or public. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
Mr. Speaker, mahsi. [English translation not provided.]
Today I want to speak about a concern that one of my constituents has raised about the health of the people in Fort Liard. Ms. Sonia Timbre has become aware that another person in her hometown of Fort Liard has been diagnosed with stomach cancer. She advises this brings the total number of diagnosed cases of stomach cancer and the number of deaths from stomach cancer up to 15. According to the 2006 Census, the population of Fort Liard was only 583 people, and 15 appears to her to be an extraordinarily large number of people with the same medical condition. Ms. Timbre decided to look into the causes.
She found that no specific causes had been identified but there are, however, several factors that are thought to cause this type of cancer. Diet is one. Also environmental factors such as exposure to certain dusts, moulds, fumes and other environmental agents is linked to a higher than average risk of stomach cancer. An infection, in particular infection by H. Pylori, which is usually found where there is pollution and has been found in other NWT communities, is also thought to be a cause. Ms. Timbre suspects it might be an environmental issue in and around Fort Liard that has caused such a high rate of stomach cancer and would like the government to examine this concern.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my constituent for raising this issue. I think that Sonia Timbre has made a very good case for some research on this to be completed. Many of us have seen the suffering of friends and family who contract stomach cancer and it is a terrible disease and we need to try to find a way to prevent it.
I believe the Minister of Health and Social Services should investigate what is causing such a high rate of illness and death for Fort Liard residents. I support this and request an in-depth study into the serious condition and serious concern. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, excitement is growing everywhere about the 2010 Winter Olympics being held in Vancouver. Yesterday, in our home community of Hay River, hundreds of people gathered at the Don Stewart Recreation Centre at a pep rally to celebrate the volunteers, artists and Hay River’s Olympic athlete, Brendan Green, who will be going to the Olympics.
Bob White and his pep rally committee worked hard to put together an outstanding presentation in only a few days.
Hay River Mayor Kelly Schofield had on his Team Canada jersey and a maple leaf, full face paint. The stands were overflowing. There was a sensational sound system, fog machine, laser lights and RCMP in red serge. Kevin Wallington was MCing the event draped in a Canadian flag. School choirs sang O Canada in Slavey, French and English. Dene drummers performed along with other Hay River entertainers.
Wally Schumann had a brand new banner and a custom painted “Support Brendan Green” red and green smart car that was driven out on the ice surface at the arena.
Hay River Olympic torch bearer Joseph Lirette, along with Hay River biathetes and Arctic Winter Games skiers came in with the track torch lit and fired up our track cauldron. The crowds roared and chanted. Young figure skaters carrying the Canadian, NWT and Hay River flags and minor hockey players skated through the fog and spotlights to heart thumping music and everyone had a Canadian flag.
The Hay River Ski Club has dedicated a trail to Brendan named the Brendan Green Olympic Trail. Glenn Smith had early home movies of Brendan just learning to ride his bike, catching his first fish, driving his first golf ball, winning at track, from then to now in his world cup skiing. Craig Kovatch filmed it all and a video will be sent to Brendan and to the Legislative Assembly.
As I was unable to attend the pep rally, I would like to recognize the people from Hay River going to the Olympics and wish them good luck at the games: Hay River’s fiddler, Richard Lafferty; Cecile Deneyoua, a local artist and skilled moose hair tufter; Hay River’s Brendalynn Trennert, who does amazing caribou tufting and will have her work displayed at the Whistler Athlete Centre during the games; and, Andy McKay, a school counsellor at the Chief Sunrise School, who will be coaching the Dene games.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
----Unanimous consent grated.
We have three youth ambassadors from Hay River: Michelle Daigneault, Rena Squirrel and Colton Yee. Tracy Cross was chosen as a volunteer to meet and greet guests and the airport in Vancouver. Desiree Boulanger-Rowe will be representing the NWT’s Francophone youth at the French pavilion. Hay River’s Brendan Green will be participating on the Canadian Biathlon Team.
To the volunteers, artists, and to Brendan, all of us again, from home, wish you every success in the Olympics. Good luck to everyone. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.
Mahsi cho, Mr .Speaker. [English translation not provided.]
Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about two friends who recently passed away in Fort Resolution. Raymond Beck Jr. Passed away on Christmas Day 2009. He was 47 years old. He is survived by his mother, Doris; daughter, Chantel; brothers. Stanley, Roger, Arthur and Eric; and sisters, Barb, Verda, Della and Rebecca. He is predeceased by his father, Raymond Beck Sr.
Mr. Speaker, there was Delores Beaulieu, who was known as Dee Dee, who passed away just now, January 22nd. She was just 41 years old. She is survived by her parents, Leonard and Terri Beaulieu; daughter, Tahnee; two sons, Brendon and Trystan; and granddaughter, Emma. She also leaves behind her sisters Mary-Lynn Delorme and Dawna Beaulieu and her brother Leonard Beaulieu Jr. She was predeceased by one sister, Roseanne Beaulieu; granddaughter, Thyton Sayine-Beaulieu; grandparents, Pierre and MaryRose King and Johnny and Alice Beaulieu.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to pass my condolences on to the families of Dee Dee Beaulieu and Raymond Beck Jr. Mahsi cho.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to use my Member’s statement to sort of paint a picture about an experience that was brought to me by a constituent. Could you imagine your life if you were handicapped or a child of yours was handicapped? Moving around in this city is difficult enough with a child who is in a handicapped situation, but could you imagine how difficult it is from time to time finding parking spaces and you pull up to a parking lot to find that the vehicle occupying that space doesn’t have a handicap placard?
They came to me with this concern, and I’ve seen it many times myself, and realizing how challenging this must be. The discussion started by asking if people get extra demerit points for parking in handicap stalls when they’re not designated there. I approached the Department of Transportation and asked them, do we cause anything extra, above and beyond a fine of some sort, for people who park in handicap stalls? The response from the department is, of course, and probably rightly so, that this is a particular municipal issue and falls under their purview and authority. So no demerit points are issued because it’s not a moving violation.
I wonder if a $250 fine applied by municipal services is an accountability measure being met for people who park in these stalls. I certainly don’t think it is. I certainly can tell you that a constituent feels very strongly about this fact as well. They wonder why there are no demerits deducted from a particular person’s driver’s licence when they’re fined on these particular cases. Furthermore, they’ve said, why don’t they have court appearances where they have to account for their type of parking and behaviour?
It’s not asking a lot. A lot can be said about how a society treats their most disadvantaged and I wonder what message we’re sending here. Perhaps this is a chance to turn it around and send the right message that we stand with them through their difficult efforts and we certainly support them by sending the right message to people who cause this type of breach.
Later today I will ask questions of the Minister of Transportation to say if we can’t do this, what’s stopping us? If other jurisdictions don’t want to do this, why don’t we lead and show that we care about the most vulnerable? I will have questions later today for the Minister of Transportation.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my Member’s statement is on addiction to substance abuse programs. The substance abuse situation and the lack of real support services is in crisis in the Northwest Territories. It has one of the highest levels of addictions needs per capita in Canada with one of the lowest expenditures program assistance. This government continuously is criticized for the lack of real initiatives when it comes to the war against drugs and other forms of substance abuse, especially for the youth. The government is in an excellent position to take a lead role with all levels of government, including the federal government and organizations, to create meaningful programs and infrastructure. I cannot understand why this government continues to spend millions on out-of-province support and resources only to have participants return to their home communities with no aftercare. Not only is this uncompassionate, it makes no business sense. People need post-program care. It takes the same as sending a person to Edmonton with a serious back injury and not providing post-physiotherapy on their return to their home community.
I challenge this government to adopt a dual system to provide an equal number of days post-program assistance in their home community so if a participant spends 30 days in an addiction program, they’ll be given a minimum of 30 days professional support in their home communities.
All across the Territory community governments and organizations are saying the same thing. The community’s number one problem is not enough counselling support. The root of all problems comes from these issues: kids not doing well in school, people in endless cycles of social assistance, and dependencies on drugs and alcohol. The fact that the community’s real lack of support for people returning from substance abuse treatment is a shame.
I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services at the appropriate time.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, after considering the budget address for awhile, I note that the 2010-11 budget does not include a coordinated NWT energy plan, and I’m disappointed in that. I may begin to sound like a broken record, and I apologize if I’m boring you, but I figure it bears repeating and I will keep harping away in the hope of a positive response eventually.
I can’t deny that this government has plans to pour, quite literally, millions of dollars into energy initiatives and projects. We heard the Finance Minister say last week that over four years we will spend $60 million on the GNWT Energy Investment Plan. I support these investments, but I still believe that if we had a coordinated plan of action for energy, a secretariat perhaps, that oversees, monitors and implements all things energy, we would accomplish more and in a better way. The work of this secretariat must encompass all of the NWT, not just the government and its employees. Any plan must include specific actions from the little things such as encouraging people to turn off lights when leaving a room, to the mega energy projects like the Taltson expansion and everything in between. We need to ensure that our communities are part of this secretariat, because all NWT residents must be involved, and we all live in a community somewhere in our Territory.
Our energy secretariat would lead the way to establishing greenhouse gas targets for the GNWT and the whole Territory, would lead the way to put in place incentives, or maybe disincentives, to help residents, businesses and the government achieve the greenhouse gas targets. It could lead the way on making our infrastructure developments carbon neutral, for instance, could lead the way with an energy strategic planning process and subsequent action plan, and would lead the way on monitoring and reporting on that action plan.
I’ve said before and I will say again, we would do well to follow the example of the City of Yellowknife and their energy planning process. They did the planning, designed and adopted a plan, then put staff in place to make sure the plan was actioned, and they’ve been eminently successful in their endeavours. We can have that same success, but not by continuing to implement and plan in a piecemeal way as we do now. This government does lots in the area of energy already, but we could be so much more successful if we had one energy leader, one area of government that looks after it all, that would ensure the planning happens and the job gets done, that directs the energy traffic, so to speak, and instils a culture of…
Ms. Bisaro, your time for your Member’s statement has expired.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted.
I’m almost done. Mr. Speaker, we need that leader, that secretariat, so we have a common goal, so we can work cooperatively and in a coordinated manner to achieve that goal. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when I was in Fort Good Hope I sat down with an elder named Jim Pierrot. Jim Pierrot and I sat there and had some tea and Jim Pierrot said to me while talking with me over a cup of tea for about two and a half hours, and one statement he said to me, “Our land is holy.” I couldn’t get what he meant when he said “our land is holy.” I’ve been thinking about it for awhile, Mr. Speaker. Our elders tell us these certain phases for us to figure it out and to work on. One of the things that as young people when you go see the elders, as our parents tell us, is that when you go sit with the elder, they’ll give you words and you try to live and work with the elders’ words. Mr. Speaker, the elders have always talked about the animals on our land, and the elders from Colville Lake talk about living with the caribou. They have a special relationship with the caribou, and they talk very strongly on this issue. We need to go in to see these elders and bring them into this Assembly and have them talk about these important things that are affecting us today.
Mr. Speaker, the elders also talk about the water, the importance of water. The Minister of ENR has initiated a strategy in terms of dealing with water. As we speak today, they’re pouring poison in the Mackenzie River through the Slave River, through Great Slave Lake down to the Mackenzie River. There’s actually poison coming down our river here and we’re doing nothing about it. We have strategies, we are doing things that we want to look at, but my people down the Mackenzie Valley are very, very concerned about the water issue, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, we’re talking about our future today and it’s very important that we listen to our elders, bring them into the Assembly and talk about our future. We take care of the elders; the elders surely will take care of us and give us strong words to live by to do what is right in the future and to do what is right will make the people very happy, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I am talking about our survival as people in the Northwest Territories, aboriginals, Metis, Dene, Inuvialuit. Mr. Speaker, I am talking about our survival as a nation of people, that we have done for thousands and thousands of years. We have only done this by the advice and the guidance of our elders and to this government, we need to practice that today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to discuss an issue that touches each and every Member of this House and our constituents and that issue is the exorbitant cost of living in our communities, the single biggest issue facing this Territory. As Northerners, we pay more for everything. My perspective, Mr. Speaker, is obviously Yellowknife based. However, I have travelled to many of our smaller communities and have a solid understanding of the cost of living outside of Yellowknife and how these costs are affecting the livability and social fabric of our communities.
Mr. Speaker, it is little wonder why I am so concerned over the status of the Deh Cho Bridge and the potential to increase the cost of living here in the North Slave region and all the communities that are serviced by air out of Yellowknife. A constituent of mine has recently started a Facebook group rallying support against the high cost of living here in Yellowknife. If we wonder why people are leaving, we don’t have to search very far for answers. It is the high cost of living. Home heating fuel, gas, power, water, food, rent, home prices and taxes are all sky high.
Interestingly enough, Mr. Speaker, at the onset of this government, Cabinet decided that it would develop specialized Strategic Initiatives committees to deal with the variety of government priorities. One of these committees was the Strategic Initiatives committee to deal with none other than the high cost of living. We are 27 months into the life of this government and I can recall only one update coming from this committee in the time that we’ve been here. Given the importance of this issue, it is very hard to understand why the work being done by this committee is being kept under wraps. Regular Members are in the dark, the public is left wondering what this government is doing to alleviate the high cost of living. Is any work actually getting done, Mr. Speaker? Where is the lead Minister of this strategic committee in addressing the high cost of living, Ms. Lee? How is she showing both Members and the public that this committee is advancing any meaningful ideas? Quite frankly, Mr. Speaker, she is invisible on this very important watch and I will have questions for the lead Minister on the high cost of living at the appropriate time. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Colleagues, I would like to draw your attention to the gallery today to the presence of our Conflict of Interest Commissioner, Mr. Gerry Gerrand, who is with us today.
---Applause
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are on caribou today. I am wondering, first of all, for the Minister, in consultation leading up to the ban, how did the Minister take into consideration the fact that the Yellowknives Dene had not settled their land claims negotiations? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We recognize very clearly that this is a politically complex part of the country with Tlicho with settled claims, and the Yellowknives Tlicho with unsettled claims, along with the Northwest Territories Metis, the largest population centre, the most heavily drawn upon herd in the Northwest Territories. We recognize that this whole process we are engaged in the longer term process for our Caribou Management Plan is going to require whole involvement of all the aboriginal governments. We are committed to doing that. When we looked at the ban, we looked at the caribou numbers that were done, recognizing, as the Premier pointed out, that caribou don’t look at political jurisdiction, they just do what they do. The numbers are precipitously dropped over the last three years and we made the decision based on the conservation aspects. Thank you.
I appreciate those remarks. I recognize there is the conservation issue for the caribou. According to the Minister’s experts, mineral developments have removed about 4 percent of the Bathurst range from them, through disturbance and avoidance. The experts also say that the harvestable rate, the maintainable rate is about 4 percent. With the range diminished by that much, ongoing harvest would be focussed on either fewer caribou or on caribou with reduced vigour and unable to handle the same amount of harvest. This could contribute to the decline and it requires consideration and management action. Along with the ban on hunting, what restrictions is the Minister placing on mineral development activity to protect the caribou, and if it is beyond the range of this jurisdiction, what recommendations is he making to the federal government in that direction?
Each of the diamond mines was reviewed and I’ve given approval. The issue of cumulative impact is one that has come more and more into the forefront as we look at resource development. What we’re dealing with, with the band, is a short-term period of three to four months that will get us through the hunting season and allow the longer-term process for a harvest management plan to be put into effect. It’s during that longer-term process that the work done to look at what the effects are, what are the variables that are driving the caribou numbers down have to be taken into consideration so that we can make the best decisions possible. If out of that process comes the issue of requirement for review of the cumulative impact, then we’ll be responding to those recommendations as they come forward.
I’m looking forward to action on that front. Obviously they are having impact, as the Minister’s own staff are telling us. What monitoring is being one to at least measure the continuing harvest of Bathurst caribou from the range that’s under the restriction of the ban?
We’ve enhanced the coverage with the officers around Yellowknife. As well, they’re working in Behchoko with staff. We’ve also taken on some part-time seasonal staff to assist the officers that are currently on the job.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for those comments. We’ve become pretty good over the years at monitoring the caribou at their calving grounds. It’s been a long process, but I think the counts now are at least statistically sound and so on, and increasingly reliable. But to date we have not been able to measure or count dead caribou. That has greatly reduced our ability to manage the current situation and the past situation that’s allowed this to develop. What is the Minister doing to enable us to be able to count accurately dead caribou and thus actually manage the harvest in a sound and reasonable way before it gets to an emergency situation?
