Debates of June 1, 2006 (day 3)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the catchment area that’s there for Hay River would be the area of service. That includes people from Fort Resolution, Kakisa, Enterprise, possibly Providence, should the need arise. Yes, we have an idea of those individuals currently requiring dialysis, as well as trying to identify those who may become candidates down the road based on indicators we have at this time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 23-15(5): Availability Of Dialysis Services In The NWT

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, like so many other allied health professionals, I would like to ask the Minister if he anticipates there being a difficult or challenging finding, people who know how to operate this. Is it a challenge in finding people who know how to operate this? Is it something that when training is received, it could be done by an RN, or do you require dedicated staff for dialysis services? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 23-15(5): Availability Of Dialysis Services In The NWT

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have training arrangements both with the Stanton Hospital, as well as Capital Health and training can be provided to nurses quite readily and on a regular basis. As well, as we look a little ways down the road, we are also moving towards further enhancing the performance service mandate of LPNs, so they can take on those kind of duties as well. In Fort Smith, for example, we’ve trained nurses. They have that duty plus others and if they are fully booked up at the dialysis unit, that’s what they do. If there is other time available, then they perform other functions as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 23-15(5): Availability Of Dialysis Services In The NWT

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is June 1st, so the constituent from Hay River who requires travel to Yellowknife three times a week for dialysis, it would be fair to tell him that within five months he will no longer have to make that journey, that those services will be up and running and staffed in the Hay River Hospital. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 23-15(5): Availability Of Dialysis Services In The NWT

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in fact, I shared that information with the individual in question since I spend a lot time in the airport, as does he. We had a chance to talk about this, but yes I appreciate the Member’s concern and we are going to be making every effort as well to recognize the efforts of the Speaker on this because it's a very, very important issue for everybody. We are pushing very, very hard with Public Works and with our own training to make sure we are ready to go late October or early November. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources again with respect to the recycling program that I asked him about yesterday and I think we had some clarification on it today. I just want to let the public know that there isn’t just a trash for cash on a per container basis. This method only applies to the smaller depots, Mr. Speaker, and that the larger centres that the smaller depots bring all their recyclable materials to is based on a weight basis, Mr. Speaker. So just for the public record, I just want to ask the Minister what clarification is he going to put out there and how is he going to alleviate any discrepancies that might arise between the small depots and the larger depots where the small depots are paying on a per container basis and the large depots are paying them on a weight basis? There is always some discrepancy there. So can the Minister just let the public know what his department is going to do to alleviate any more discrepancies? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. The honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 24-15(5): Clarification On Recycle Return Compensation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when individuals come in with their recyclable beverage containers, they are compensated on an individual item basis, be it cans, bottles or other containers. The issue at hand is when you are dealing with the aluminum products, what has been done is we process these through the system. It has been estimated, for example, how much 500 aluminum cans would weigh crushed up and they pay on a weight basis. The concern, I understand from having talked further with the Member, is that there may be a discrepancy where the contractor may come in with what he says is 500 cans and the depot may say our weight may tell us there’s only 300, so we are only going to pay you for 300. So we are going to check back to make sure that that process is accurate, that the scales used are accurate, that the calculations that are done are accurate to ensure that everybody is fairly compensated for the work that’s being done and for this program. I committed to the Member that we would do that and not only for his community, but we’ll check to make sure across the system that everything is working as it’s supposed to. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 24-15(5): Clarification On Recycle Return Compensation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just on the inspections part on the weigh scales, I don’t know who is going to do that. I don’t know if the government is going to send out an inspector every month to inspect every weigh scale at every depot to ensure that the mathematical conversion that the scale comes out with is correct and accurate.

On another point, Mr. Speaker, when you are in a community, you collect 10,000 cans, with or without the tabs, and you bring them to the depot and the depot weighs them and the conversion they are doing is with or without the tabs. These tabs can add up. When you add one million tabs, it makes for a pretty big bag and that could equate to about 10,000 cans in weight. So, Mr. Speaker, the mathematical conversion, is that adjustable? Do we have to start marking cans with tabs or without tabs and separating them? Why don’t they just keep it on a per unit basis right across the board and that way there is no discrepancy? If there is one, you have to sit down and count every item. Why don’t they just leave it at that? That’s just simple as can be. Why confuse the system with a bunch of mathematical formulas and calculations in the smaller urban centres? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 24-15(5): Clarification On Recycle Return Compensation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can appreciate the Member’s concern that he wants to ensure the system is fair, especially for the small contractor. But it would be problematic where volumes are very high like Yellowknife where they are processing hundreds of thousands of beverage containers to have individuals sitting there counting one can, another can. I think they’ve come up with ways through the recycling processes across the land in terms of weight and what that’s equivalent to in terms of the number of cans and such. So we will make sure that the process is fair, that it’s efficient and we don’t tie people up and that we can demonstrate that we’ve allowed for all these particular specifics that the Member has referenced. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 24-15(5): Clarification On Recycle Return Compensation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What is going to stop people from filling their cans with gravel, dirt and everything just to add a little more weight on them when they bring them into the recycling centres? That is what it’s going to come to and then the larger centres will say you are 50 pounds overweight, according to 1,000 cans. Then there will be another discrepancy on the other side of the coin. So it’s just more confusion than is warranted. If you want to pay a summer student to count cans, then do that. I don’t think it’s too expensive and it alleviates a lot of questions that will arise in the future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 24-15(5): Clarification On Recycle Return Compensation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I gather it’s a lot like going to the butcher shop and you buy a steak. You buy some by the pound and you want to make sure the butcher doesn’t have his finger on the scale.

---Laughter

I appreciate the Member’s concern. This is a relatively straightforward process. There’s a certain amount of setting up the system that’s operating in good faith here where we want to work with the communities to deal with a very important environment issue. Once again, we’ll make sure that we go back and double check to make sure everything is working as it’s supposed to. As to people slipping boulders into their bags and filling things with water to add to the weight, it’s within the realm of possibility, Mr. Speaker, but at this point, in my own mind as Minister, I would say it’s something we’ll look for, but it’s somewhat hypothetical. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions this afternoon are for Mr. Bell, the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, about the future of our secondary diamond industry. Mr. Speaker, the decision by the department last fall to collapse the diamond project division sent a confusing and a disappointing signal to my constituents in this community that our government had abandoned its commitment to this emerging new industry and leaves us, Mr. Speaker, without a team whose job it was to lead our government’s initiatives, protect our investments, help these companies and grow this industry. I felt abandoned myself, Mr. Speaker, after so many efforts that I’ve made, along with my colleagues in this Assembly, to foster this initiative. Now, Mr. Speaker, the question that I want to ask is, in light of these decisions and all the work that has been done that had been undertaken in the past, does this government still believe there’s a future in the NWT for a secondary diamond industry? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 25-15(5): Future Of Secondary Diamond Industry

Absolutely, Mr. Speaker, and I’m proud of the work that this government has done in this area.

---Applause

I think it was the foresight of past government to establish this, recognize that this was a trade that was worthwhile and worth pursuing. We spent a lot of effort, a lot of time, a lot of money to set the up the programs at Aurora College and if you look at the factories today, whether its Polar Bear or Arslanian, you see the recent press announcements and we have the benefit of seeing some of the financials and know that they’re financially stronger than they have been in the past. The Tiffany factory is moving along, is moving quite well and doing quite well. We did have this issue with the Canada Dene factory that has really been struggling for quite some time. That’s not been any secret, Mr. Speaker. There are business model issues. It was our smallest factory. It was up against a number of very challenging hurdles. That is not the death knell for this industry and I think that the kinds of things that we’ve done with cutting and polishing should be replicated elsewhere. If we are to look at this sector, do a bit of a gap analysis, I think you’d recognize and quickly find that there are probably other areas we can focus on as well, continue to support this. Potentially small engine or diesel engine mechanics, could we put together more programs and more effort in those areas, and there are many, many others. I think we need to sit down and talk about some of these opportunities, but I think we’ve done well here and continue to support it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 25-15(5): Future Of Secondary Diamond Industry

Mr. Speaker, I’m wondering if what the Minister is telling us is that now the diamond unit has been collapsed and things are better without it, I really can’t have that kind of decision. So, you know, now that the expertise that had been assembled over some time has now been dissolved or dissipated, just what is the government doing to grow and enhance this industry, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 25-15(5): Future Of Secondary Diamond Industry

Well, Mr. Speaker, we’re working successfully with our industry partners. Our industry partners said to us, quite clearly, we’re not interested in you putting a lot of effort into the National Diamond Strategy. We recognize that and we’ve moved away from that. They asked us to look for a public relations firm that was professional and capable as compared to trying to do these things in house. That meant spending some money with an outside contractor, but we’re doing that. We’re working with industry, we’re recognizing what they need, we’re helping them build brands, we’re fully committed to this. I think our success is evident. I think we’re getting stronger by the day. Our Rare in Nature Campaign is evidence of that, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 25-15(5): Future Of Secondary Diamond Industry

Mr. Speaker, a key factor at start-up of the secondary diamond industry, and I believe in the sustainability of it, is the deals that are in place with the suppliers. We have three of the world’s greatest miners exploiting our resource here, doing the best we can to get some value out of it. Now the socio-economic agreements that we’ve signed have been singled out quite often, Mr. Speaker, for the weaknesses that they have in compelling the mines to do deals that are attractive to cutting and polishing, not just the ones that we have here now, Mr. Speaker, but we should really be looking at what can we do to grow this industry. Are we going to revisit these deals, Mr. Speaker, to help us move forward and grow and enhance this industry? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 25-15(5): Future Of Secondary Diamond Industry

Mr. Speaker, I think if there’s any threat to the secondary industry, any real, credible threat, it’s probably that we won’t find new mines in future. What do we do in 15 years when the pipes that we know about are gone? Really, that’s the threat to the secondary industry. I think we need to focus a lot of our efforts and departmental resources on finding new mines. We continue to support the secondary industry. That’s critical. These arrangements that we’re hearing today, we hear that Arslanian Cutting Works and the Polar Bear factory are very much happy with the new arrangement and new agreement that they have with the mines. They are moving forward, they’re in a stronger position than they’ve ever been in. I think you can say the same for Tiffany, and the Member is well aware of the De Beers arrangements and agreement we have under the socio-economic agreement. Obviously, De Beers is not in production yet, but we look forward to their support of value-added activities in the North. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 25-15(5): Future Of Secondary Diamond Industry

Mr. Speaker, I share the Minister’s hope that we will find new mines and continue on in the future, but what I don’t see, Mr. Speaker, are cutting and polishing factories banging on the door out there looking for authorization and ways to get involved. This industry is not one that has a very optimistic future and that’s why I’m asking these questions, Mr. Speaker. The Minister referenced the National Diamond Strategy, also something that we abandoned. Now Saskatchewan and Ontario are next to become Canadian producers. Their economies of scale are much bigger; their pockets are a lot deeper than ours. What are we going to do, Mr. Speaker, to protect the industry that we have here today as these other Canadian producers come on line without being involved in some kind of a National Diamond Strategy? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 25-15(5): Future Of Secondary Diamond Industry

Mr. Speaker, we consulted with the local industry about the National Diamond Strategy and about where we should focus our efforts. The local cutting and polishing industry said to us, you know, national efforts are fine and they may make sense in future; right now, work on supporting our efforts and our brands, this is fledgling locally, never mind about Ontario and Saskatchewan, the time will come. At the same time, they were confused that Members in the House would be concerned about the National Diamond Strategy abandonment, as the Member has said, when they were lobbying for that. Mr. Speaker, I think Members have an obligation to sit down and actually talk to the industry before standing up in the House and understand what their efforts are focused on, because that’s what we’re doing, Mr. Speaker, and that’s who we’ve been working with. So National Diamond Strategy in future, yes, probably. Right now, support for this local industry in building these brands. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I spoke about Sachs Harbour again because of RCMP. Another question I mentioned was discussions going on for some time now. So I would like to ask the Minister of Justice what has been happening since March session? Has he talked with the RCMP and have they come up with a plan to address RCMP presence in communities without police services? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. The honourable Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 26-15(5): Permanent Policing Services Needed For Sachs Harbour

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I have, and I appreciate the support of the Member. I think Members know that I have written to the Minister of Public Safety, Stockwell Day, asked and pleaded with his folks to help us put some new detachments into some of the communities that don’t have them; Sachs, obviously, Gameti, Wrigley, Mr. Speaker. I then also sat down and had the time to brief his chief-of-staff on another trip, sat down with Assistant Commissioner Bill Sweeney, Chief Superintendent Pat McCloskey and we are making progress, Mr. Speaker. We are looking and the RCMP has identified Sachs Harbour as a priority. They’ve been into the community on May 16th to assess the assets. Unfortunately we’ve determined that we need a new building there. We can’t renovate the existing one, it wouldn’t make code, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t do this. We think that by summer of 2008 we could have a new building on the ground. So now my challenge will be to work with this House and my colleagues to find the operational money to make that a reality. But I appreciate all of the efforts and I think we’re almost there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 26-15(5): Permanent Policing Services Needed For Sachs Harbour

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d just like to ask the Minister, 2008 is not very far away, but the people have been talking about that for two or three years now, even maybe further, Mr. Speaker. So I appreciate the 2008 possibility, but can the Minister provide me with a copy of the inspection report that may be conducted since March? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 26-15(5): Permanent Policing Services Needed For Sachs Harbour

Mr. Speaker, I’ll certainly endeavour to do that and I’ll see what the RCMP has. New assets on the ground by 2008, we are striving for that, Mr. Speaker, that doesn’t mean that we couldn’t have an RCMP presence, permanent presence in the community earlier than that, potentially next summer. We’ll have to see. Accommodations we think we can deal with. I appreciate the Member’s help in that regard. So it really is a matter of sitting down now through our business planning process, talking to committees, talking to my Cabinet colleagues, talking about what it would cost to have that presence on the ground there. But it’s an absolute top priority for my department and I appreciate the patience and the support of the people in Sachs Harbour. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement before, I spoke to the concerns of the women’s’ shelter in Inuvik and I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger, if he would commit to looking into the concerns and seeing if there’s anything he and his department can do to help finding a solution for the problems that are going on there. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 27-15(5): Funding For The Inuvik Women’s Shelter

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d be pleased to do that. I’ll make that commitment that we’ll sit down and I’ll talk further with the Member and we’ll work with the Inuvik Health and Social Services Authority to make sure that we can try to address the issues. I’d also like to point out that we did add out of some of the federal money we had another $100,000 a year to the shelters. The five shelters we fund and the shelter directors got together and, I believe, agreed that Inuvik was one of the shelter’s that should get that money as opposed to some of the other ones, but I will make that commitment. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 27-15(5): Funding For The Inuvik Women’s Shelter