May Your spirit and guidance be in us as we work for the benefit of all our people for peace and justice in our land and for the constant recognition of the dignity and aspirations of those whom we serve. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Please be seated.
Please be seated.
Monsieur le président, messieurs et mesdames les députés, mesdames et messieurs, et amis. It is once again a pleasure and honour for me to welcome you to the second session of the 16th Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. I do hope it is not too late to wish you all a Happy New Year and the very best wishes for the month ahead.
In the past few months the North has seen the passing of several of its residents — far, far too many. We are saddened and offer the families and friends our deepest sympathies and sincere condolences. The deaths of our youths are always especially sad and leave a hole in our future. The deaths of our elders leave a hole in our past. Their lifetimes of value, wisdom and contributions have made us stronger and prosperous, and their legacies will not be forgotten.
I wish to mention just a few names of our elders who have passed: Agnes Williams, Cy Cummings, James Burke, Laurie Hobart, Irvin Norn, Mary Pope, James McPherson, Ernest Michel, Freda Denayah and Andrew Tetso. And lastly, although not from the Northwest Territories but from Nunavut, Willie Laserich, who was well loved and respected across the North, especially here in the west, for his medevacs, his air services and his many search and rescue missions.
But as people who have worked to shape our territories leave us, younger generations take their place. An important part of the growth and development of our youth is their participation in such events as the Arctic Winter Games. In just over a month the N.W.T. will be hosting the 20th Arctic Winter Games. I look forward to meeting and greeting not only the 2008 athletes and their coaches, but also the officials of the day who were responsible for the creation of the first Arctic Winter Games some 40 years ago.
Although the Games are taking place in Yellowknife, the Arctic Winter Games Host Society has worked tirelessly to involve all N.W.T. communities and people of all ages in the planning, promotion and hosting of the Games. From the youth of most N.W.T. communities acting as ambassadors to welcome and to assist our visitors, to the number of seniors who have modelled gamewear in a fashion show, there have been lots and lots of ways for people to be involved. I encourage you all to join in the spirit of the Arctic Winter Games 2008, enjoy the competition, enjoy the cultural performances and support everyone who has contributed to the Games’ success over the years.
Members, I look forward to visiting with you in your constituencies as the opportunities arise, as I have in the past. It is always an honour and a personal pleasure to meet our Northern peoples in their home communities and at special events.
And now, during this session, the Government of the Northwest Territories will be introducing the following bills for consideration by this House: Interim Appropriation Act, 2008–2009, and Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2007–2008. The government considers these bills essential to the good conduct of government business, and as such, I recommend their passage.
As Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, I now declare open the second session of the 16th Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories.
Good afternoon, colleagues.
I would like to extend my thanks on behalf of all Members to the Hon. Anthony W.J. Whitford, Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, for opening this second session of the 16th Legislative Assembly, and to Doris Rogers and the Most Reverend Murray Chatlain, Bishop of the Dioceses of Mackenzie-Fort Smith, for assisting us today. Our appreciation is also extended to our guests and visitors who have joined us here in the gallery today.
I would also like to take this opportunity, belatedly but most sincerely, to send my very best wishes to my colleagues in the House and to all the residents in the N.W.T. for a peaceful and healthy new year.
We are starting the year with much work to do and very busy schedules. I wish to commend all the Members, who I know have been working very hard to familiarize themselves with and prepare for the challenges that lie ahead.
I would like to take this opportunity to extend the condolences of the House to those who have lost loved ones in recent weeks. They will be missed, and our thoughts and prayers are with their friends, families and communities.
As we begin today, may I remind everyone that we are here to make decisions and discuss issues that affect all who live in the N.W.T. We do our best when we treat each other with respect and dignity. I will do my best to assist each of you to achieve this goal. The Rules of the House are your rules, and I will apply them fairly.
It is my honour today to begin this session of the 16th Legislative Assembly with a clear discussion about where our Territory is heading, the opportunities and challenges we will face and the actions we must take.
As Members of this Assembly we have identified six key goals that are crucial for the N.W.T.’s future:
A strong and independent North, where Northerners make their own decisions and chart their own course;
An environment that sustains Northerners today and in the future;
Healthy and well-educated people with bright futures and the skills they need to benefit from all the opportunities our Territory will provide;
A diversified economy providing jobs, business opportunities and prosperity for families and communities;
Sustainable, vibrant and safe communities where people can build their futures; and
An effective and efficient government that sets the right priorities and gets the job done.
Put those six goals together, and we are describing the N.W.T. as a place for all Northerners: a compassionate North, where people live with dignity and participate fully in their Territory and their communities; a North where all residents enjoy safety, security and an opportunity to realize their dreams; a place where Northerners can reach their full potential, not limited by social conditions or where they live but able to benefit fully from all the opportunities our Territory provides. able to find and keep a job, take advantage of education opportunities, stay healthy and afford to live in their communities.
We want to build a unified, strong and independent Territory — a Territory that is the master of its own destiny, a Territory recognized across Canada as a unique and contributing member of Canada’s federation.
Making Difficult Choices
The vision we have for the Northwest Territories is not just an elusive dream. It can become our reality and the reality for future generations of Northerners. The six goals we have set can be achieved, but it will take discipline and focus. It will take deliberate actions and tough choices to keep us on track.
Let me make one point abundantly clear. If we are to achieve what Members of the 16th Assembly have set as our vision, as a government, we cannot continue to do business in the same old way. Some people may be disappointed, but we cannot continue to spend our children’s future.
I have heard concerns about how we can be faced with a situation that requires refocusing our spending. It is true: surpluses were forecast for the last several years. But that has only been possible with extra one-time funds received from the federal government.
For the last several years our spending has increased twice as fast as our revenues. Our Formula Financing Agreement with Canada will not generate sudden pockets of tens of millions of dollars to keep us out of trouble. And trouble is what we would have later in this government — potentially over $500 million in debt if we did not act now. I will provide details of our current and future fiscal situation in a statement to this Assembly tomorrow.
This session we will present an interim budget that will allow us the time to deliberately and methodically set a clear course correction to our spending patterns. As we begin to shift our spending to areas that are most vital to the six goals we have set for our Territory, we will reduce our overall spending so we avoid the risk of crippling deficits in years to come.
We accept that responsibility because, Mr. Speaker, leadership is not about taking the easy course. Leadership is not just about saying yes to the countless good ideas that come our way. Leadership is about making the right choices to keep our eyes fixed on a prize. And that prize is a better future for our children, our communities and our Territory.
In many ways the work we are doing now is like our elders planning for a hunting trip. We have to pack wisely for the journey. We can load down our packs with everything we’d want to have with us, but the result would be a load that’s too heavy to haul, that weighs us down and slows our journey. Choosing what not to take is difficult and may involve some compromises and hardships. But in the end it allows us to make the journey and reach our destination.
We’re at that same point today. We have loaded too much into our government’s pack, more than we can afford to haul. Keeping this heavy load is simply not an option. Instead, we need to choose wisely, select the things we must really do that will produce the results and allow us to continue on this journey and achieve the vision we have set.
Setting Priorities
In the past few months members of cabinet have identified a set of five initiatives based on caucus priorities that will be the focus of our actions in the coming months.
The first is building our future. That starts with better programming for our children and youth. It means promoting healthy choices and tackling addictions that have stolen lives from far too many people in the North. It means taking action on family violence, supporting families and continuing to work on changing attitudes towards violence and the terrible toll it takes on them. It means looking after seniors and supporting those who volunteer their time and energy to help others. It means making sure our families and communities are safe by enhancing police services, especially in small communities.
Taken together, these actions will tackle the social problems that affect far too many people in communities across the Northwest Territories, make sure our children and youth get the strong beginning they need, and improve the overall health of our residents and keep our people safe.
The second initiative is to reduce the cost of living. The stark reality is that the cost of living in the Northwest Territories is too high. Most costs make it difficult for many families to pay their basic bills. They stand in the way of achieving a better quality of life. They stand in the way of people getting jobs and supporting their families. And those same high costs affect our ability to grow and diversify our economy and attract new businesses and investment.
Two important areas that can help reduce the cost of living are improved transportation infrastructure between communities and alternative energy solutions, like natural gas and hydroelectric power. We need to pursue the necessary partnerships and funding to finally make the dream of a Mackenzie Valley Highway and expanded hydroelectric power use a reality.
The third initiative includes managing this land. Northerners have a deep attachment to our land, and while leaders in countries around the world are just starting to wake up to the impact of climate change, we have a front-row seat to witness its dramatic impacts. Warmer winters significantly decrease the length of the ice-road season, making it more difficult and costly to resupply communities and industry. Ice roads are becoming more expensive to build and harder to maintain. Operating seasons are decreasing to the point that some roads may not be viable in the future. Melting permafrost is weakening and shifting the foundation of our roads and buildings. Hunters can no longer rely on weather conditions and an abundance of animals to feed their families and fill their traps.
It’s crucial that we consider a comprehensive approach to find the right balance between development and protection of our existing landscapes, forests and water resources, in order to deal with the cumulative effects of climate change on our air, land and water; to collect the necessary data to monitor impacts on our environment; and to adapt to the impacts of climate change. The key part of this initiative will involve steps to develop a framework around land use in the N.W.T. We will continue our work on land, resource and self-government agreements, including a devolution agreement with the federal government.
Fourth, Mr. Speaker, steps will be taken to maximize opportunities in the N.W.T. There are days when I think about the challenges our elders face — elders like Sam Raddi of Tuktoyaktuk, who had a vision of pulling the aboriginal people of the Beaufort together to form COPE, the Committee for Original Peoples’ Entitlement, which eventually led to the settling of land claims in that region; elders like Agnes Semmler of Inuvik, who spoke for and challenged her own people to be better examples; elders like former Grand Chief Joe Rabesca, who had the vision and foresight to conclude the first combined land claim and self-government agreement in our Territory.
Like them we have to see through the challenges before us and recognize the opportunities in these challenges — opportunities that are no longer vague promises of what the future could bring but real developments that are right on our doorstep.
It’s time to open the door to new developments that contribute to the North, to our communities and to the future of our children. It’s time to continue improving the quality of education and training so that the best jobs don’t go to people who fly in and fly out each week, but to our own people. It’s time to bring the entrepreneurial spirit of business people in smaller communities together with investors and developers who can provide the advice and support they need to get started. It’s time to promote the N.W.T. as a great place to live, work, invest in, and visit.
Mr. Speaker, we can do all of this with the Mackenzie Valley pipeline. While we spend over $1 billion a year as a government, it would be difficult to match the opportunities from the pipeline and all related activities it will bring.
It’s time to see the promise of the Mackenzie Valley pipeline become a reality. We can do this right. We can proceed in a way that protects our environment. We can proceed in a way that builds and sustains strong communities. We can proceed in a way that the people who benefit the most are right here in the Northwest Territories. But we must proceed. After years of discussions and delays, we must take the next step to help this become a reality.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, the actions of the 16th Assembly will fundamentally refocus all aspects of government, from how we set priorities to how we deliver services and how we make sure we’re getting the best value for every dollar we spend.
One of the priorities that emerged from our discussions with caucus was the need to achieve greater effectiveness and efficiencies, providing more focus on clients in the services we provide, and improving our efforts to plan, coordinate and communicate actions among government departments. We’ll follow through on that direction by reviewing the programs we currently deliver, our approach to infrastructure, our efforts to attract and retain the most capable people to our public service, and innovative ways of delivering essential services, especially in smaller communities.
Mr. Speaker, these five initiatives — building our future, reducing the cost of living, managing the land, maximizing opportunity and refocusing government — provide their own map for our journey to come. The journey will have its peaks and valleys, its good days and its difficult ones, but the destination will be worth it: a destination where our children, and their children to come, can look forward with hope and confidence to a better future.
As Members of this Assembly, we must not waver from this roadmap. We must not lose our way or get distracted by the issues of the day. The course is clear, and we must see it through to the end.
Looking South
Mr. Speaker, I have laid out the approach developed by our cabinet, with input from all members of caucus. More details of the initial actions to be taken will be outlined later this spring.
As Premier, my role is to make sure that we keep our focus, keep our eyes on the vision we want for our Territory, and work with all Members of this Assembly and all Northerners to make sure the work gets done. But as Premier, I also intend to play a strong role on the national stage, to set our own course and be masters of our own destiny. We must continue to push our federal partners and bring people across Canada onto our side of the issues that are vital to our future.
In recent months our hopes have been lifted by Prime Minister Harper’s focus on the North and his commitment to strengthen Canada’s Arctic sovereignty. We were inspired by the last throne speech, when the Governor General said: “Canadians see in our North an expression of our deepest aspirations, our sense of exploration, the beauty and bounty of our land, and our limitless potential.”
My job as Premier is to make sure those words are not forgotten in the midst of countless other pressures for action, to make sure that the promise of an integrated Northern strategy is realized, and to make sure that Northern strategy responds to the issues that are critical to our Territory’s future.
In order for me to do this, as Premier, my discussions with the Prime Minister and my colleagues across Canada will focus on four priorities:
Making real progress on the Mackenzie Valley pipeline;
Achieving the promise of a devolution agreement — but not just any agreement: an agreement that’s right for the Northwest Territories and lays the foundation for future self-sufficiency;
Getting the right partners on board so we can lay out a plan and move forward with infrastructure projects of national significance, like the Mackenzie Valley Highway and the further development of our world-class hydroelectric resources at the Taltson and Bear Rivers; and
Telling the story of our environment, so we can not only protect our own environment here in the N.W.T. but awaken the rest of Canada and the world to the fact that their actions affect us. They affect our communities, our families, our way of life and everything across our Territory.
Concluding Comments
Mr. Speaker, the vision is clear. The priorities have been set, and the difficult work has begun.
Like the elders who have walked this land before us, we believe our work puts us on the right path to success. We’ve worked together to identify issues and set priorities. We’ve shared our hopes and dreams for the N.W.T., and we have agreed that this is the course we must follow.
There comes a time in the history of our people, our government and our Territory when decisions must be made. Those decisions will make us better than we are today. Instead of maintaining the status quo, those decisions will build a stronger foundation for a healthier future — a more sustainable future — for our Territory, and for a day when our Territory will take its place as one of the undisputed leaders in Canada.
My cabinet colleagues and I are ready for the journey. We are ready to build a stronger foundation, and we are confident the result will be an even better future for our children and grandchildren.
Quanami, mahsi.
I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Minister’s Statement 1-16(2) be moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration.
Motion carried.
I wish to advise Members that the Hon. Michael Miltenberger will be absent from the House today to attend a provincial and territorial housing ministers’ meeting in Vancouver.
In regard to the challenges we face in the Northwest Territories, one of the most vibrant problems we see is sustainability of small communities, but more importantly, the high cost of the power rates in a lot of our communities. Electrical power is an essential service to all people of the Northwest Territories. It’s mostly felt by these communities where the high cost of living, the high cost of groceries and, more importantly, the high cost just to maintain a lifestyle is driving a lot of our residents to leave a lot of our small communities for the larger centres, at a cost to the sustainability of our communities. But that is one of the priorities of the 16th Assembly.
It’s fundamental that this government, this 16th Assembly, take this issue seriously and ensure that we take a close look at power rates across the Northwest Territories to get away from the community-by-community–based rates that we presently have in place. The high cost of subsidizing those rates is in the area of some $8 million, and we are looking at the possibility of spending $11 million just to sustain this program.
We have to do as other jurisdictions and territories have across Canada. Yukon and Nunavut have looked at this issue. It’s fundamental, as a Legislature, that we ensure the people of the Northwest Territories can sustain a vibrant lifestyle but, more importantly, make it affordable and achievable for all people in the Northwest Territories.
I know it’s important that we look at the budget issue we have in the Northwest Territories, but we also have to look at how we spend our subsidies for different things, such as power subsidies, housing subsidies, programs and services. This is an essential service. It’s crucial that we do take this issue on at the earliest date possible, so we can provide direction from this government to the PUB to ensure that they will act with the direction that's going to be needed.
This issue has been out there for some time. In my former leadership of the Ministry Responsible for Power Corp., this issue came up in every visit we made to the communities. One of the things that floored me, Mr. Speaker….
Mr. Krutko, your time for Members’ Statements has expired.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement.
Unanimous consent granted.
You may conclude your statement, Mr. Krutko.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The thing that really got me, looking at this issue, is I made a visit to Colville Lake, where I ran into an elder who was having problems paying her power bill. She had a bill for $1,600 for one month in Colville Lake, and yet she is a pensioner who has to depend on her pension. It was because programs and services weren’t being provided to her in Colville Lake. She had to heat her home with her electric range because she had no diesel fuel. This is the reality of what we are facing in a lot of our small communities.
I think we have to face the reality, which is to ensure subsidized programs and services. If it’s not working, I believe we have to take a closer look at it. So, Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be asking questions of the Premier on this matter.
Mr. Speaker, the high cost of living in the N.W.T. is a fact of life, and it is a fact that unfortunately we all accept, because we choose to live up here. If we have to pay the high prices of living in the North, then that’s what we continue to do. I, too, would like to speak on the power rate increase, along with my colleague for Mackenzie Delta.
The residents of Inuvik are getting increasingly frustrated with the rate increases that continue to happen. They are allowed to happen because the Public Utilities Board is just rubber-stamping everything that comes before them, and we can’t have that. Just listening to a statement from a guy I know, who said that we have to be able to afford to live in our community…. And this is a good example of being able to afford to live in our communities.
Are they trying to price us out of the N.W.T.? Because that is the route we are going. The residents of Inuvik and the Beaufort Delta continually face high increases in everything. Not only does it affect their cost of living, but it also affects the community businesses who have to raise their rates to make up for the difference. This is something that we as a government…. We have to protect the residents, because they are going to price us out of the N.W.T. I don’t know if that is their attitude or that is their plan. We may have people starting to do two weeks in and two weeks out, working in the N.W.T. for two weeks and going to live in Alberta for two weeks where the cost of living is cheaper.
That is the reality, Mr. Speaker — that we are constantly faced with increase after increase in everything. We have the fuel increases that are going on up in Inuvik, and that is a subject I will be speaking about tomorrow. There are a lot of things that we have absolutely no control over, yet we are the ones that continually have to pay. We have to pay for a $2 million shortfall. We have our bills on top of our bills. We get our shortfall rider and our fuel rider. If they believe so much that they need to make some savings, why don’t they cut into their bonuses? That will save a lot of money. They continually pass their expenses on to the consumer.
Mr. Speaker, this is getting frustrating. Enough is enough. It’s time that we started having a serious look at this and protecting the people that we say we are obligated to protect from situations like this.
Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about a number of things related to education in Hay River. During the last session I raised concerns about the situation of Diamond Jenness Secondary School and how the deficiencies were impacting on a quality environment for the delivery of education at the high school. I am very pleased to report that Minister McLeod, with Public Works and Services, and Minister Lafferty, with Education, Culture and Employment, came to Hay River last week with Mr. Speaker and myself, and their officials. We did tour the Diamond Jenness Secondary School, among other facilities. But that one in particular I want to talk about.
A revised, summarized and updated technical review has been completed, and it appears that work to address the condition of the high school has been put in motion. I thank the Ministers for their attention to this matter, and I look forward to the timely delivery of the work that needs to be undertaken.
In view of the recent indication that our government is looking to reduce expenditures, our local education authority, through participation in the district education council, has begun to position itself to respond to targets for reduction that may be forthcoming in the future. I do have a problem with that, Mr. Speaker. We do need program review in education, but it should be to the end of enhancing our investment in education, not reducing it.
We talk about early intervention and investment at the front end, which will save us money down the road. We are just starting to see some of the rewards of some of those investments right now. It’s not time to start randomly or recklessly introducing cutting initiatives to satisfy across-the-board–style reduction targets. I know that is not the intent of this government. It appears there may be a disconnect between what Members envision in supporting strategic reductions in areas of low impact in government waste, and the message that was received by departments, boards and agencies.
I won’t be supporting turning our backs on commitments to such things as reducing the pupil-teacher ratio and improving literacy, just to name a couple. We need, in fact, to look further for enhancements to our education system that would see adequate funding for special needs students in our schools and greater options for learning streams in our high schools. Again, that is just to name a couple.
In education the needs are great and the priority must stay high. Any reductions in funding to education at this time could prove to be detrimental to a system that’s already under considerable pressure.
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]
Today I would like to mention some of the people in the Tu Nedhe riding that have passed away since we last sat. There were people from Tu Nedhe and also people that currently were living in Tu Nedhe.
First, there is the late Judith Buggins, who was in her 90s, who passed away here in Yellowknife. Judith was a well-known elder from Fort Resolution who lived there for the majority of her life and spent about the last 20 to 25 to 30 years here in Yellowknife. She was the mother-in-law to former Premier Antoine and grandmother to my constituency assistant right now.
There is Alfred Hilaire, a former Rocher River resident who lived in Fort Resolution for the past 40 years, who passed away in the elders’ facility in Fort Resolution.
Here in Yellowknife, Celine Conrad, who is formerly from Lutselk’e. Her maiden name was Desjarlais. She was a well-known elder in the city of Yellowknife.
And also the untimely passing of the late Irvin Norn, who passed away in a terrible highway accident just outside of Fort Smith. Irvin Norn was a very well-known individual, one of the leaders of the community of Fort Resolution. Between Irvin’s father and his mother, who are both living in Fort Resolution, Irvin had 20 siblings. So you can imagine the impact that has had on the community of Fort Resolution. Many people from around the Territories came to pay their last respects to Mr. Norn.
With that, thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I’d like to take the opportunity today to highlight a pressing need in our health care system.
It’s well known that more and more of our residents are choosing to stay in the N.W.T. as they age instead of moving down south. It’s no surprise, then, that the elder segment of our population is increasing — actually, it’s three times the national rate.
Health issues associated with aging are surfacing and stressing our health care programs, our facilities and our residents. Unfortunately, our health care system more and more must manage geriatric illnesses. Perhaps the most challenging of these are dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Family members must watch helplessly as the parent or a sibling recedes from them and from reality. As the patient becomes lost to the real world, concerns for their safety and security move to the forefront. Patients wander away without knowledge of where they are or where they’re going, not knowing the time of day or night, with no awareness of weather conditions as they go out the door at minus 40. Without realizing it, they’re violent towards their caregivers.
There are no proper care facilities for dementia patients in the N.W.T. So it falls to the patients’ families to struggle with how to provide good and adequate care for them. The choices are few: care for the patient at home, which means constant care 24 hours a day, seven days a week — a daunting task for any family member, no matter how much they love the patient; second, admit the patient to a hospital to be cared for there, a facility neither designed for long-term care nor secure for these patients; or, last, send the loved one out to a dementia facility in the south, a heart-wrenching decision.
None of these choices is the right choice. This House has an opportunity to make inroads on the dilemma currently facing families and caregivers of dementia patients. Planning is underway for a badly needed Territorial dementia centre, the culmination of much dedication and hard work on the part of the Yellowknife Association of Concerned Citizens for Seniors in conjunction with the Government of the Northwest Territories and with assistance from a community-minded Yellowknife business.
A completed centre will meet the unique needs of dementia patients, afford them a good quality of life and give peace to their families. Our Northern elders deserve the best we can provide for them. This facility will do that. Over the next few weeks Members can ensure that the building of this centre becomes a reality. I urge all Members to think of our elders and support this project.
Mahsi. [English translation not provided.]
According to the information I have obtained from the Department of Health and Social Services, as of December 2007 there are 46,000 N.W.T. health care cards in circulation. This is interesting, in that N.W.T. Bureau of Statistics estimates that we only have 42,000 residents. That means 4,000 people who do not live in the N.W.T. may carry this valid form of government ID as well as the right to access our N.W.T. medical services at our expense.
We have all heard stories of how an N.W.T. health care card is a valuable resource in securing employment with the diamond mines. However, my concern today is related to the potential impact on the financial bottom line of our health care system.
The Department of Health and Social Services, to their credit, have acknowledged that there is indeed a problem and have indicated that they will be working with the Audit Bureau in the coming months to review and improve registration procedures. That is a good start, and I look forward to this House being kept informed of the department’s progress in refining the registration process.
The department’s response also indicated it would take significant effort and resources to validate residencies on an ongoing basis. I can accept that it may not be the best use of our resources to establish a dedicated unit to determine whether 4,000-or-so phantom residents are impacting our N.W.T. health care costs. However, there are steps the department can take to ensure our system is not being taken advantage of by non-residents. For example, persons accessing our generous supplementary health benefits and having the costs of prescriptions and chronic conditions covered should be required to provide proof of residency.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
Unanimous consent granted.
A person being referred south for non–life-threatening treatment could also be required to prove residency before being sent. These are just a couple of examples of small measures that could be taken to ensure our health care system is not being taken advantage of. We should not be carrying more patients than necessary.
Finally, I would hope the majority of the 4,000 extra health care cards we have belong to persons who have transferred to other jurisdictions, and there is nothing more sinister going on than poor paperwork. With that being said, I strongly believe we need to take steps to ensure costs are contained and non-resident abusers of our health care systems are identified and prosecuted.
During our last session in November I asked a number of questions pertaining to the Deh Cho Bridge project and how it was that the Government of the Northwest Territories signed off on a concession agreement three days prior to the last Territorial election.
Mr. Speaker, just today, Members received a letter from the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation in response to questions that have been asked about the project. I’d like to thank them very much for their letter and, once again, state for the record that I’m not opposed to a bridge being built across the Mackenzie River. I respect and admire the conviction and the courage shown by the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation and the people in Fort Providence to get the project to where it is today.
Mr. Speaker, my concern is about the process, the government’s involvement, and the lack of accountability and transparency in that process. During the life of the last government I sat through numerous briefings on the Deh Cho Bridge and was told many different things by the former government and Premier that today just are not factual. Someone has to be held accountable to the residents here in the Northwest Territories on the level of misinformation that was provided.
First off, the last government consistently told Members that the project was not proceeding without substantial federal dollars. The loan guarantee was increased many times while we waited for the feds to come up with the infrastructure dollars. And then came the day that the former Premier told Members that the project was proceeding, even though it was now $160 million and without any investment from Ottawa.
Mr. Speaker, we needed to come up with an additional $2 million per year for the project, indexed for the next 35 years. The 15th Assembly never approved the additional spending, nor were we given an opportunity to debate and vote on the money required for the project. That has always been my fundamental issue with the process.
In regard to the equity of the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation, I do remember the former government selling the Members of the former Assembly on the merit of the project, as it would put a guaranteed rate of return revenue back into the community of Fort Providence.
Today this is just not a reality. The Government of the Northwest Territories signed a concession agreement with a corporation it knew was not fulfilling one of its primary objectives. Again, a process issue for the G.N.W.T.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
Unanimous consent granted.
Mr. Speaker, that brings me to the question of where the information is on the project. The updated detailed cost-benefit analysis continues to be as hard to find as accountability and transparency in the process. Also, the concession agreement continues to be elusive. We need to ensure the public has confidence in us to make decisions in the best interests of the Territory.
No one Premier or cabinet should ever be able to commit the G.N.W.T. to this type of expenditure without the approval of the Members of this Legislative Assembly. Mahsi.
During my campaign and in follow-up discussions with Members of this 16th Legislative Assembly, it’s clear that residents of the Northwest Territories expect a transparent and accountable government — no, actually, they demand an open, transparent and accountable government.
During this Assembly’s strategic planning session, it was further reinforced by the Members that accountability and transparency should be a priority for all of us, as well as the public service as a whole.
Unfortunately, the government doesn’t seem to be doing a good job of living up to this expectation. The lack of information and continual surprises arising out of the construction of the Deh Cho Bridge is a primary example of how government is not living up to the ideals of an open, transparent and accountable government.
Members of this Assembly, as well as of the previous Assembly, have continually asked the government to come forward with information that will help Northerners understand the benefits of the bridge and the impact it will have on all residents. They have also asked for clarity and transparency on the process that has moved the development of this bridge forward. Yet answers are often vague, often muddy and sometimes of no real substance. Further new wrinkles and surprises seem to come up on a fairly regular basis, often at the last minute. This is unreasonable.
If we as MLAs can’t get the information, how can the government expect the people of the N.W.T. to have confidence in the G.N.W.T. and believe that we are open, accountable and transparent on any issue, including but not limited to things like the $135 million in budget reductions currently being faced by the G.N.W.T.
As a Member of this Assembly and a long-term resident of Yellowknife and the N.W.T., I look forward to the day I can actually drive my fuel-efficient automobile across the bridge. As an MLA I would like to be proud of the Deh Cho Bridge, one of the largest infrastructure projects we have ever had. But without transparency and a reasonable distribution of information and facts from the government, it’s going to be hard to be proud of it when I do drive across it.
Later this afternoon I will be asking the Premier some questions concerning the Deh Cho Bridge, and specifically about the lack of public information, transparency and accountability related to the project. The residents of N.W.T. deserve to know how we got here and what the true impact of the bridge will be. For better or for worse, honesty and transparency are important.
The community of Tuktoyaktuk has lost four members since January. Today I would like to give the following condolences:
To Angus and Evelyn Cockney, mother Stella, great-grandparents Adam and Annie Emock for the loss of their great-granddaughter Hailey Cockney.
To Ivy Mangelanu and grandparents Charine and Clarence for the loss of Carmela Jade Mangelanu.
To Willie and Dora, Cathy and family for the passing of Rodney Kangegana.
To Tuktoyaktuk’s Inavalik elder, Joseph Sumic Pokiak, who passed away this week at age 94 years old. Condolences to Marie, Johnny, Pearl and family.
Our thoughts and prayers are with them.
In closing, I would like to wish my wife’s grandmother, Dela Bourke, all the best. She is in hospital in Fort Smith. Our thoughts and our prayers are with her.
The 16th Assembly identifies a preventative approach and a focus on tackling fundamental causes of problems as an effective and efficient way to support our people. Based on some emerging statistics and understanding, we have a huge opportunity to improve both our economic and social health by simply improving basic skill levels in our population.
In fact, many of us recently met with a national specialist who estimated that a strategic investment of $9 million to $10 million towards improving literacy levels of groups in the N.W.T. could expect a return of the same amount within a year. That’s right: one year. Improved functional literacy skills create jobs, increase work time and wage levels, and yield improved health of families. In return, these new skills pay dividends to government through increased taxation revenues and through reduced unemployment costs, health costs and income support payments.
It has been shown that those people with good basic skills accumulate many advantages, while those without skills accumulate disadvantages — often a downward spiral from generation to generation. With the delivery of literacy education, this cycle of accumulating disadvantages can be interrupted, leading to improvements in people’s lives and the reversal of that downward spiral.
For every job today, workers need increasing skill levels to do their work, to solve problems and to be productive. This is due to trends in economic globalization, competition with developing countries, technology advances and other reasons. From trapping to operation of equipment and communication technologies, in our homes and in our communities, people need to have good literacy skills.
Our challenge — our opportunity — is clear. Focused and coordinated leadership to strategically invest in literacy can lead to improved lives for Northerners, greater economic development, increased revenues and reduced social and employment costs. With good leadership on our part, program delivery and costs can be shared with important partners like the Government of Canada and industry.
Let’s ensure this government provides that leadership and wise investment.
Mahsi. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, residents of Yellowknife have had a very concerning experience recently. With the air temperature below minus 40 Celsius, a total power outage happened. The city sat in total darkness for over an hour in many areas before it was restored. Yellowknife continues to get blackouts from time to time, and it’s a topic that has been raised in this House before. This case was extreme, because it was caused at a very serious time of our year, and it bothered many constituents in my riding. In these temperatures that are so cold, it doesn’t take long before the cold sweeps into your home and starts to cause problems with pipes that begin to freeze. I heard from some very concerned seniors that they didn’t know what to do, because if there were a problem, who would they call or where would they go?
That brings me to my point, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to touch on the topic of communications and the lack thereof on that issue. During prolonged power outages, information must be made available to the public. There are ways to ensure that the public is informed properly. A power outage hotline could be established and promoted. That way, our people would know that power is being turned on or being dealt with and that they don’t have long to wait. Or if there are problems, they can give them ideas and suggestions of where to go and what to do. This could provide some up-to-date information that’s very needed.
The facts are simple: power outages happen. But we do have distribution already in place. We have the NWT Power Corp and we have the Northland Utilities system here in Yellowknife. They could send out information pamphlets within their bills.
Mr. Speaker, the fact is a public campaign needs to be held, and we can do something very simple that means a lot to our residents. In times of crisis we don’t want to be hearing about the nasty stories; we want to be prepared in advance before they begin.
I will have questions for the Minister Responsible for the Power Corp to see if he will be willing to take on this initiative to make sure our constituents are informed properly if they need help.
Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.
I would like to recognize my Constituency Assistant, Billie Lennie. I would also like to recognize, from Inuvik Twin Lakes, Doris Rogers, who did a fine job singing the national anthem.
I would like to recognize my beautiful wife, the one that holds the family together in our household.
There are many people I would like to recognize today, starting with some elders: Ed Jeske from Yellowknife, and sitting beside him is Vivian Squires. Welcome to the gallery. And a couple of constituents: Loretta and Dick Abernethy. I think they are here; they were a minute ago. And the Alternatives North crew, the very active and amazing volunteer bunch. I see some members here: Suzette Montrieul, Ben McDonald and Steve Peterson. There are many others. Thank you very much.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a number of people — my constituents, staff and family: Dr. Ken Woodley, Ms. Roxanna Baisi, Chaka Rukobo, Sonja Boucher, Ken Howie from UNW; and also some of my staff and family members who make it possible for me to do the job here: Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Greg Cummings; my Executive Assistant, Suzanne Desfosses; my Executive Secretary, Gail McCurdy; my Constituency Assistant, Carla Hanvold-Walker; and the best mom in the world, Mrs. Taejeong Lee.
Mr. Speaker, there are a number of people I would like to recognize. First of all, I’d like to recognize Mr. Ed Jeske, a long-time Yellowknifer and hockey enthusiast; Mrs. Vivian Squires from Avens Centre; Mr. Todd Parsons, the president of the Union of Northern Workers; Lydia Bardak, a Yellowknife city councillor; Paul Reddy; and Dave Matheson.
