Debates of February 6, 2006 (day 23)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are also to Minister of ITI and it’s in regards to questions earlier raised about the diamond mines and its supply relationship with the secondary mining industry. Mr. Speaker, I think we, in this House, recognize the important and positive contribution that both the diamond producers and the secondary industry provide to the North, and I don’t think I’m going to use the overused phrase of choking any mule here. I think, though, there is a role for the Minister to play in this regard, and it seems to me there are some points of differences between the producer in question and the cutting and polisher, and differences in understanding. But it seems to me that the ball is with the plant to give some evidence as to what the price difference might be. I’m wondering what the time frame is that the Minister is working with to bring these two parties together and see if the government can play some positive and constructive role going back and forth between the two. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 344-15(4): Support For Northern Diamond Polishing Facilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m hoping that the issue and the concern can be resolved immediately. I’ve asked the cutting and polishing factory group of owners to provide the information that they have that they feel suggests they are being overcharged, provide the company in question with that information, copy me with the information so that I can see it as well, bring the two parties together and have this discussion. I think it’s important that this has been lingering for some time without anybody having a real concrete understanding, just a feeling that they were not being treated fairly. So I think we need to resolve it. I have asked the cutting and polishing company to document the information and we’ll move forward if we can get that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 344-15(4): Support For Northern Diamond Polishing Facilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can tell you that the plant operators have met with most of the Yellowknife MLAs, and certainly this is an issue that is important to us and that needs to be addressed. It seems to me that the core question is with respect to price for the core customers. So I think the diamond plant is not looking for a special privilege, but just to get a fair core customer price, and the question remains as to what that is and as to whether or not there is a premium being charged and, if so, how much. I guess what came out of my discussion of this that really surprised me is lack of written document in this regard. We know that there’s a third diamond mine coming up and we know there are discussions and I’d like to know what the Minister is doing to make sure that does not happen on the third time around. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 344-15(4): Support For Northern Diamond Polishing Facilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is right; the concern here is around pricing. The factory, of course, would like additional rough. Everybody would like additional rough, but I think they understand that the rough being provided is what was agreed to and it really does come down to the pricing. I think the issue of core customer pricing with core customer status has some requirements, as well. You don’t have the choice of turning back rough or rejecting it. You have to take all of the rough allocated to you. That is not the case with the factories here. They are able to go through the allocation and sort of pick and choose, if you will. So there are some benefits here that the factories get that you wouldn’t get in Antwerp, aside from the pricing debate or question. I think we’re getting better, to answer the second question, with these agreements as they move forward.

The second mine, there really aren’t any concerns from the producer or the factories in terms of the allocation provided by the second mine. They feel that they are being treated fairly. I can assure the Member that the deal with the third mine will be very crystal clear in terms of what the expectations are and what should be provided for the local industry. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 344-15(4): Support For Northern Diamond Polishing Facilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I hope I don’t have to quote that if he doesn’t get a crystal clear documentation of the third agreement, but I will give him the benefit of the doubt. Mr. Speaker, on the question of the first one, it’s the question of pricing as a core customer, but also the ability and flexibility to have some room to manoeuvre on to the quality of diamonds. I think there might be some room for discussion as to what things work for the cutting and polishing plant here. Because there’s a lack of a precise and clear agreement, and because of the role the GNWT has played in creating a second industry, that’s where the leadership of this government comes in. I’d like to hear the Minister say once again that he will lead this file to make sure that the two parties are brought together and that there will be an agreement in the interest of Yellowknife and both industries. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 344-15(4): Support For Northern Diamond Polishing Facilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the question from the Member. Of course, yes, I will take the leadership of bringing these two companies together. We’ll sit down with the top leadership in the mine to better understand their feelings of how this arrangement is working. I should mention that in Antwerp, of course, core customers get an allocation of rough. Again, they have no choice but to take all of it and have to pay cash right now. I think the mines have been very agreeable to the idea that this was an industry in its infancy. They have held parcels, sometimes for quite long periods of time, waiting for the cutting and polishing factories to get the money together to buy the parcels. I think, for the most part, the arrangement and the relationships have been very, very good between the mines and the cutting and polishing industry. We now have this one issue of dispute around pricing and look to resolve it as quickly as possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the NWT Housing Corporation is always changing directions and my question is for Premier Handley. I’m wondering if this government has ever considered following suit and creating a department of housing whose sole mandate would be to provide safe, adequate and affordable housing? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 345-15(4): Provision Of Safe And Affordable Housing By GNWT

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we have considered the possibilities, but following the changes we are making with regard to social housing, the first step, in our view, is to do a review of the mandate. What should the mandate of this government be through the Housing Corporation for the future of that organization? Once we determine a new mandate, then, Mr. Speaker, as a second step, we could look more specifically at the suggestion the Member has. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 345-15(4): Provision Of Safe And Affordable Housing By GNWT

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The new department, based on previous numbers, would have a budget of approximately $90 million. That would go a long way to providing safe, adequate, and affordable housing. The CMHC funding is going to sunset over the next 30 years, meaning that the reason for keeping the NWT structure may no longer be needed. Would the Premier commit to taking this into consideration in creating a new department of housing whose sole mandate would be to provide safe, adequate, and affordable housing? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 345-15(4): Provision Of Safe And Affordable Housing By GNWT

Mr. Speaker, we have agreed to a process for reviewing the mandate within a very specific time frame. The first task, in our view, is to go out, hear what people have to say, what MLAs have to say, what people who work in the housing authorities have to say with regard to the mandate. Following that, Mr. Speaker, then, yes, I'd be willing to take a look at what organization would be most suitable for our changing situation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question this afternoon is for Mr. Miltenberger as the Minister responsible for energy and renewable resources, and it regards the state of our caribou populations, Mr. Speaker. We've essentially seen, from many indicators, that as the herds have been declining, we've known that for some time, but the rate at which they're declining is speeded up, it is now something that is really causing a lot of concern. Mr. Speaker, what is the government doing to manage the alarming trend of declining caribou herds and avoid the terrible legacies of the past as it plundered the species of Canadian buffalo and codfish? Will we be able to avoid our caribou from joining that terrible legacy? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 346-15(4): Declining Caribou Populations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there's not enough time during this forum for me to outline all the things that we are doing, but I'd like to reassure the Member that we are doing we think all that is required. We're going to be coming forward here by the 15th with a whole slate of interim measures; we're looking at redoing the census numbers this coming year and the following year; we've been working very, very closely with all the renewable resource boards up and down the valley and, as well, our partner jurisdictions to look at making sure we have the accurate information, keeping in mind this is a very complex issue where there's not just one factor that's going to contribute to the current state of circumstances when it comes to the numbers of caribou. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 346-15(4): Declining Caribou Populations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Indeed the management of wildlife is something that is incredibly politicized and bureaucratized in the North. Let's take a look, just for instance, at the very, very unattainable NWT Wildlife Act that's been out for I think over a decade now in consultation and still has very little chance of seeing its way to the floor of this House. Mr. Speaker, to the caribou now, I wanted to ask the Minister, we're putting a lot of resources, we have a lot of very good expertise and we're putting a lot of money into finding out what's going on among the caribou. I wanted to ask specific to the Bathurst herd, this herd, the biggest one, that migrates into this part of the country; what do we know today about what is causing the decline of the Bathurst caribou herd, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 346-15(4): Declining Caribou Populations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'll just quickly outline some of the many factors that we think are affecting not only the Bathurst herd, but the herds in general. There's things called weather events where we experience a lot of freezing rain in the last number of years during the winter that has frozen the ground making it very, very difficult for the animals to feed. There's concern that the number of predators is very large and extreme. There are hunting issues. There's more roads now and access to hunting than there's ever been before. There are development issues. So those five alone are significant issues that we're trying to assess, keeping in mind that they all have an impact. The question is how much. As well, as the Member pointed out in his statement, we do have some information gaps they we are trying to fill so that we can make the most informed decisions possible. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 346-15(4): Declining Caribou Populations

Mr. Speaker, to the reference that the Minister made to the many different partners, stakeholders, that are coming into play here. Is there a collective will, Mr. Speaker, to recognize that we have an urgent situation on our hands, and a will to take action? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 346-15(4): Declining Caribou Populations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, very clearly we are of the strong opinion that the numbers indicate that we have a problem we have to address very, very quickly and carefully. All the boards up and down the valley have accepted that information. There is some question and some people that would like to have the numbers redone, and we'd like to confirm them, as well, just to make sure that our numbers are accurate. So there is a problem, and I can assure the Member that we are going to move on this. We've been working on it now for many months to come up with the interim measures plus a broader barren land caribou strategy that we're going to bring forward for discussion. But by the middle of this month, we will have on the table some of our immediate sets, as well; shortly following that, the long-term plans. So there will be actions taken, I can assure the Member.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question today is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment just to talk about the public housing rental subsidies that are going to be coming into effect April 1, 2006. I just wanted to ask the Minister, now that the clients have to apply on a month-by-month basis for this housing subsidy with their income support worker and bring it to the LHO, how is that going to change the income security officers' working relationship with the clients that are applying for housing subsidies. Is that going to affect any of that interpersonal relationship with the client? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 347-15(4): Housing Subsidy Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would expect that the relationship would be no different than in the office with the income support worker than it is in the housing office right now. Those people who are in stable situations wouldn't have to come in necessarily every month. It's not our intention that that sort of thing would change. Right now, typically somebody who is in a stable situation will have an arrangement with the housing authority where they may only go in once every six months, or once a year. The same sort of circumstance is going to apply for people in stable situations when the income support offices are responsible, as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 347-15(4): Housing Subsidy Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess I'm just trying to figure out, people that are in public housing are usually in unstable situations, Mr. Speaker, and I think anybody that's in public housing considered stable is somebody who's unemployed permanently and never wants to work and only wants to pay the $32 a month. That's my picture of somebody being stable in public housing. But I just want to ask the Minister if their housing subsidy application is not filed, what are their options? Say the income support worker couldn't make it into the communities. She fell ill or something and she missed the month. What are the other options for clients to get that subsidy? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 347-15(4): Housing Subsidy Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess the people I was talking about who are secure...There are more than 1,300 clients of the NWT Housing Corporation right now who are not on income support. So they're, obviously, in a fairly stable situation. They have salaries and in a situation where their subsidy doesn't change that much from month to month. In terms of back-up plans, just as we do now with people who need income support, we'll have to make sure that there are alternatives in communities to make sure that the service is delivered, just as we need to make sure that people have money to buy groceries. The same sort of responsibility will be required when people need a subsidy for housing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 347-15(4): Housing Subsidy Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just another scenario, I guess. If a person changes, if their household income is changed and then they reapply for the housing subsidy program but they miss the deadline, the rent goes to the maximum amount of rent, then it goes back to them. Is there an avenue for adjusting and how long does that go back? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 347-15(4): Housing Subsidy Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As with all programs of the government, there is an appeals process. If somebody finds that they haven't an opportunity to meet the program requirements adequately, they can appeal the decision and ask that it be reapplied. The same process will apply here.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.

What is the number of clients assisted through EDAP in the Beaufort-Delta region in the past two years?

What are the amounts received by each client, by community?

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Written questions. Honourable Member from the Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Written Question 23-15(4): Agency Nurses In The North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services.

Can the Minister provide a list of numbers of 2004-2005 agency nurses in the North and what is projected for 2006-2007?

Can the Minister provide a breakdown of agency nurses in the region in the year of 2004-2005?

Can the Minister provide the average stay in the role of nurses in the regions?

Can the Minister provide an outline of reducing the role of agency nurses in the regions?

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services.

What are the number of nurses and dollars spent on locum nurses in the NWT over the last 10 years?

Thank you.