Debates of June 1, 2006 (day 3)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister spoke of needing a strategy, but I am sure they are developing a strategy like the Gameti example of this spring. Are there more plans to do that in some of the other smaller communities such as Holman, Wrigley, Nahanni Butte, for example, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 31-15(5): Need For Permanent Nursing And Policing Services In Small Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know the RCMP are evaluating the pilot in Gameti. We originally thought it would potentially take two officers. We had to bring in additional reinforcements. I think we are up to five or six officers at a time for periods in Gameti. It was, by all accounts, very, very successful. We will continue to evaluate. We will look at other communities where there are pressures. My focus in Wrigley is to try to get a permanent police presence, but if there are other things that we need to do in the interim in addition to our small community strategy, I am prepared to discuss those. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 31-15(5): Need For Permanent Nursing And Policing Services In Small Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can just assure the Minister that this side of the House will support any initiatives the Minister puts forward with regard to small communities. Is there a special action team that the Minister has with Health and Social Services to address health concerns and policing at the same time, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 31-15(5): Need For Permanent Nursing And Policing Services In Small Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have been discussing this with my colleague, the Minister of Health. We do have a Social Envelope Ministers Committee that discusses these issues frequently. I have talked about this and we have seen over the years here, especially recently, that it has been difficult in his community of Wrigley to get a permanent nurse in the community. One of the concerns was about the lack of a permanent policing presence. We are trying to work on that. We recognize there are linkages here. We can’t afford to be a stovepipe. So we are collaborating. I am trying to coordinate our efforts. It is important for us to get both police and nurses on the ground in the small communities and we recognize the concern, problem in Wrigley. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are to the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.

What is the total number of public housing units in Behchoko, and what is the number of each type of unit?

How many of those units are occupied by:

1-2 persons

3-4 persons

5-6 persons

7-8 persons

9 or more persons

What is the maximum number of persons occupying any one of those units?

How many of those units had a monthly rent, as of June 1, 2006, of:

Under $100

$101-$250

$251-$500

$501-$750

$751-$1,000

$1,001-$1,250

$1,251-$1,500

$1,501-$1,750

$1,751-$2,000

$2,001-$2,250

$2,251-$2,500

$2,501 or more

What is the highest rent being charged on any one of those units?

How many of those units have rent arrears owing by the current tenants of:

Under $100

$101-$1,000

$1,001-$5,000

$5,001-$10,000

$10,001-$15,000

$15,001-$20,000

$20,000-$30,000

$30,001-$40,000

$40,000-$50,000

Over $50,000

What is the maximum amount of arrears owed on any one of those units?

Of all the units on which arrears are owed, what are the average and median amounts of the arrears?

How many of those units have had major repairs within the past five years, and what was the nature of those repairs?

As of June 1, 2006, of the current public housing tenants, how many have had their most recent household income assessment within:

the last month

the last 1-2 months

the last 2-3 months

the last 3-6 months

the last 6-12 months

no income assessment within the last year

For each type of unit, what are the minimum, maximum and average buy-out costs?

As of June 1, 2006, how many of those public housing units had received at least one visit from a Tenant Relations Officer within the last year?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of specialists surgical services located in Inuvik Hospital. Mr. Speaker, this petition contains 794 signatures of Beaufort-Delta residents and, Mr. Speaker, the petitioners request that the Minister of Health and Social Services confirm through a ministerial directive stating that the Beaufort-Delta Health and Social Services Authority has the authority to staff specialists who are necessary for surgical service and salary and benefit level for a specialist, including general practitioners with special training, surgeons, obstetricians, anaesthesiologists, nurse practitioners and registered nurses. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I beg your pardon, Mr. Speaker. It’s the next item.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, June 5, 2006, I will move the following motion. Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that the Government of the Northwest Territories establish a policy requiring it to spend the equivalent of up to one percent of the budget of each new GNWT building or major building renovation on northern art creations displayed or integrated into the design of that building. And further, that the policy provides for the establishment of a selection process for deciding on acquisitions. And furthermore, that the policy be enforced by April 1, 2007.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, June 5, 2006, I will move that Bill 6, Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Monday, June 5, 2006, I will move that Bill 7, Pharmacy Act, be read for the first time.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, June 5, 2006, I will move that Bill 8, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2006, be read for the first time.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Monday, June 5, 2006, I will move that Bill 9, Write-off of Assets Act, 2006-2007, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Monday, June 5, 2006, I move that Bill 10, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2006-2007, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Territorial Parks Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Speaker, there will be a meeting of the Accountability and Oversight committee at adjournment of the House today. Orders of the day for Friday, June 2, 2006 at 10:00 a.m.:

Prayer

Ministers' Statements

Members' Statements

Returns to Oral Questions

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Oral Questions

Written Questions

Returns to Written Questions

Replies to Opening Address

Petitions

Reports of Standing and Special Committees

Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills

Tabling of Documents

Notices of Motion

Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

Motions

First Reading of Bills

- Bill 1, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4,

2005-2006

- Bill 2, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1,

2006-2007

Second Reading of Bills

- Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly

and Executive Council Act

- Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Supplementary Retiring

Allowances Act

- Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Territorial Parks Act

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

- Committee Report 1-15(5), Report on the Review of

the 2004-2005 Annual Report of the Human Rights

Commission

- Committee Report 2-15(5), Report on the Review of

the 2004-2005 Annual Report of the Information

and Privacy Commissioner

- Committee Report 3-15(5), Report on the Review of

the 2004-2005 Annual Report of the Official

Languages Commissioner

- Committee Report 4-15(5), Progress Report on

Priorities and Objectives (2006)

Report of Committee of the Whole

Third Reading of Bills

Orders of the Day

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Friday, June 2, 2006, at 10:00 a.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 16:08 p.m.