Debates of June 2, 2004 (day 18)

Good question!

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 194-15(3): Responding To Pipeline Development

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Obviously with the passage of this supp, we will have the first start of the Mackenzie Valley pipeline office and I am expecting a lot of strategic advice from the joint committee in this regard as to how this office can be most effective and what kinds of activities it should carry out. Some of these activities are not entirely pipeline related. They have implications for the pipeline and will be involved. For instance, the Department of Finance is looking for an extra position to help us get a handle on statistics and do some baseline studies as they relate to development. We aren’t just talking about the pipeline. We are talking about oil and gas development and mining, so it probably wouldn’t make sense to pull a position like that into the Mackenzie Valley office. That is not to say that they will not be working closely and collaborating very closely with this office. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 194-15(3): Responding To Pipeline Development

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I see it, there will still be departments off doing their own thing, unbeknownst to the Mackenzie Valley pipeline office. How is this coordination? Why can’t someone take charge of this vitally important initiative and direct PYs and resources to it in no uncertain terms? Why isn’t this happening and why can’t it happen this way as opposed to coming back to this House looking for $850,000? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 194-15(3): Responding To Pipeline Development

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This office will coordinate the activities of this government. The Member is suggesting that that is lacking. I would concur. I would agree that that is lacking and we don’t have the capacity currently to coordinate and manage all the activities related to oil and gas and pipeline development. We are hoping that this office can do that. It’s going to need direction from the joint committee and need direction from Cabinet and ordinary Members. We can’t simply set up this office and hope that it will find its way through the myriad of challenges that will be this pipeline development. The Member has a number of concerns and suggested yesterday that we find the money to fund an office like this from within. I would say, Mr. Speaker, given we are looking to find $20 million in lower priority items in savings as a government this year, then de facto that is what we're doing. We are talking about funding a higher priority item. I would suggest that this is of the highest priority, and we will find money for this office, in this department and in others, in looking at lower priority items. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services, the Honourable Michael Miltenberger. The situation that has arisen with the group home in Edmonton around some of the problems that they were having, has brought to light and brought to the forefront again the subject of northerners being cared for in Alberta institutions, and our government's seemingly lack of ability to repatriate these northerners. So I would like to ask the Minister how many northerners with disabilities are currently being cared for outside of the Northwest Territories, I'm sure mostly in Alberta? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 195-15(3): Caring For Persons With Developmental Disabilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member raises a good point, the issue of repatriation is one that is well on our agenda, and as we speak in relation to the case that has brought all this discussion to light. We are looking at the possibilities. As I indicated in this House over the last week, we believe there's an opportunity in the short term to repatriate these clients into existing services, and then we are going to actively look at a longer-range plan. So I concur with the issues and concerns raised in the House by the Members this morning as we talk about this issue, that we are mature enough now, I think, in many cases to look at that kind of repatriation, that we are capable of providing the services. I would suggest we're going to do the review that's necessary and we will be building that, as well, into our business plan. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 195-15(3): Caring For Persons With Developmental Disabilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, right now are there any facilities in the Northwest Territories similar to what is being offered right now where these clients are accommodated in Alberta? Are there facilities currently open with vacancies in the North at this time? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 195-15(3): Caring For Persons With Developmental Disabilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are a variety of resources, as the Member knows and has indicated, in her community. In Yellowknife there are a number of supported living situations, as well. There's capacity in Fort Smith, there's some capacity in Inuvik. It depends on the particular needs of the client involved, and it has to be done on a client-by-client basis, which is what we're doing. At this point we've had very senior staff in Edmonton for the last two to three weeks, working through this APYS situation. One of the issues that has come to light, as I indicated, is the potential in the short term to do some repatriation. As well, I will work with the department on the longer-term plan. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 195-15(3): Caring For Persons With Developmental Disabilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when I had asked the Minister in a previous question how many northerners -- I don't need to know exactly -- I don't believe he answered that question. Does he know how many northerners are in southern placements right now currently funded by his department? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 195-15(3): Caring For Persons With Developmental Disabilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are over one dozen. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Your final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Nice try.

Supplementary To Question 195-15(3): Caring For Persons With Developmental Disabilities

That's an interesting answer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

Perhaps with a little bit less vagueness the Minister could tell me approximately what kind of dollar value is associated right now with placements outside of the Northwest Territories of persons with disabilities. What kind of dollars are being expended by this government for those clients, those over one dozen? Thank you.

---Laughter

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 195-15(3): Caring For Persons With Developmental Disabilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, without being able to find that particular item in my briefing book, the figure that I would suggest is it’s a few million. Thank you.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education. Yesterday the Minister announced a new program to encourage aboriginal students to study law. If the Minister understands that direct support through bursaries and other means will promote the study of law and encourage long-term commitment to the North on the part of law students, does he not think the same kind of support specifically dedicated to the study of aboriginal languages for aboriginal language professionals will accomplish similar ends?

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent

Return To Question 196-15(3): Support For Aboriginal Language Development And Training

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm sure that the Member knows that I feel it's very important that we have aboriginal language instructors in our schools and that we support the development of them. In fact, the college has an aboriginal language and culture instructor program as part of its offerings. This government spends over $1.6 million a year on the teacher education program. The reason we do it in the Northwest Territories rather than seeing all our teachers go down south, is we want to encourage people who have language skills to learn in the North so that they can be in the schools. Part of the college program is a reinforcement of the aboriginal language and culture aspect of education. So, yes, this government does recognize how important that is, and we put an awful lot more money into training teachers than we do into training lawyers. So I would say that we've demonstrated that commitment, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 196-15(3): Support For Aboriginal Language Development And Training

Mr. Speaker, I did have an opportunity to look at our collective agreement with respect to further training by our teachers, and what's in there is that teachers do get application for education leave but they have to do it with reduced pay, at 60 percent of their salary level. I don't believe that that does enough to encourage our professionals to continue furthering their skills in language development. I would just like to ask the Minister how can we further encourage our aboriginal language professionals to look at further training? Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 196-15(3): Support For Aboriginal Language Development And Training

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess I would argue that that amount has been negotiated at the bargaining table by the NWTTA and, therefore, isn't something that we can arbitrarily change. I think that the amount of funding that is provided for education leave for teachers is considered quite attractive in comparison to what's available in other jurisdictions, so I think we've done quite well there.

The other thing that's important to remember is that the aboriginal language and culture instructor program by the college is offered in conjunction with the divisional education councils in the region. So for instance, the Dehcho Divisional Education Council has, in conjunction with the college, offered within the Deh Cho this program to help teachers get that training on a part-time basis. So they can do it without having to lose any employment income, they can do it while they are still working full time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 196-15(3): Support For Aboriginal Language Development And Training

Mr. Speaker, I was just wondering if the Minister will be able to give some level of support for aboriginal language professionals through a dedicated program of bursaries, similar to what has been offered for aboriginal law students. Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 196-15(3): Support For Aboriginal Language Development And Training

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this government has a wide range of bursaries available for students, and students in the TEP program who are studying aboriginal languages would qualify for those bursaries, as well. There are health bursaries, there are bursaries for law students, there are bursaries and grants that are based usually on academic performance. So there are opportunities for students already to take advantage of grants and bursaries. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Your final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 196-15(3): Support For Aboriginal Language Development And Training

Mr. Speaker, thank you very much. In our newly released strategic plan, the government says it will implement school programs to support culture and language. I'm just wondering how the Minister of Education plans to accomplish this goal. Specifically, who will teach these programs? Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 196-15(3): Support For Aboriginal Language Development And Training

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the most important ways we're going to do it, as I announced earlier this session, is we're going to be offering the full four-year bachelor of education program in the Northwest Territories. We're going to make sure that northerners have an opportunity to complete their training right through to the bachelor's baccalaureate level, and make sure that we have more qualified northerners available to teach in the classrooms. That is the most important way we're going to support this at first.

Hear! Hear!

There are a number of other things that we do. We support aboriginal language and culture through the development of the curriculum Dene Kede, and making sure that teachers in the classroom have access to resources so that they can better offer the program. But another important way that we're going to make sure that language is supported is through programs like the language nest. We ensure that kids come to school knowing that they are able to speak their language and, with some assistance, making sure the communities know that really much of the language learning has to be happening at home. You can have the best qualified teacher in the world, but if people aren't speaking their language at home it's not going to make a significant difference. So it's important that we get leaders, communities and the public to understand that the most important thing we can do is to encourage all parents to use their language when they're speaking to their young children.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pursue a further question on the Member's statement that I made earlier today. As I stated, Members here often express our frustration of the fact that when we are presented with a budget so much of it is locked in. One of the things that are locked in is the care for these clients in southern facilities for various causes. It could be for a disability or for some other cause, and they're just locked in. We don't revisit it, we just pay whoever it is that we're paying, and for some of it a lot of money. This facility that we're talking about in Edmonton, we have 10 people in this facility and we're paying more than $1 million. I would submit to you, Mr. Speaker, that is a critical number of clients as well as a critical mass of dollars that would allow us to do our own thing in the North. Often the case is made that we have two clients here and two clients there and it's not enough for us to have to hire all of the resource people that are needed, but I don't think that argument can be made here. So I would like to know from the Minister how much thought he has given, or his department has given, to see how we could repatriate these clients to the North so that money can be spent here and the services can be given in the North by northerners. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 197-15(3): Repatriation Of Disabled Clients In Southern Institutions

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of repatriation and providing, as a government, services to the people we serve within the territory is not a new concept. If we look back to 1967 when the government came north and the services that were there then and the services that are here now clearly indicate that we have been evolving over the years and decades and that there are a tremendous amount of services we provide in house, be it in education where we now can do college or some university accreditation, or in health and social services where we have group homes, we have childcare facilities, we have facilities for seniors and the tertiary level care services we provide at Stanton. So it's not correct to say that repatriation is just an issue that just popped up today. In this particular case there's an issue with a group home in Alberta and we're dealing with that issue. Are we looking at repatriation? Yes, we are. Are we going to put it into our longer-term plans? It's there; we're trying to do as the Member, my colleague from RWED, indicated. We are currently under a number of fiscal restraints trying to look at realizing some savings, and within that context we are trying to operate and we are going to look at this particular issue. I've indicated in this House to the Member for Hay River South that we are going to look at some immediate possibilities, as well as the longer term. So, yes, it's on our radar and, yes, we're acting on it. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 197-15(3): Repatriation Of Disabled Clients In Southern Institutions

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I sense a little bit of contradiction in the answer that he gave, Mr. Speaker, as he is saying that this not a new issue, but he is also saying that he's going to look at the long-term plan, and I'm telling the Minister that's not good enough. Mr. Speaker, I understand the Minister has found the notes, and he's budgeting $3.1 million for 25 adults next year, and $4.1 million for 35 adults the year after. I'm telling you that is enough money for us to have our own facility in place whether we are using existing buildings, and the Member for Hay River South mentioned the adult group home in Hay River is totally underused. There are only three people who are staying there. I understand there is a facility in Simpson. I understand from the Member for Sahtu that there is a seniors' home sitting empty in Deline, and I have already given an example of a brand-new facility in Inuvik that is housing one person. So I'm not satisfied with a long-term plan. I want to know if the Minister has looked into this, and if he hasn't, would he do it today? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 197-15(3): Repatriation Of Disabled Clients In Southern Institutions

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is no contradiction, and I'll do my best to satisfy the Member, as difficult as that sometimes may be. The reality is, as I've indicated, Mr. Speaker -- and this is not just a case of putting a roof over somebody's head -- we're talking about clients, many of them with complex, multiple needs that are very specialized. So I think it's an overgeneralization to say let's just round them all up and stick them into every available space we may have up here willy-nilly, regardless of what their needs may be. So, yes, we're looking at this and we're going to do it in a careful, measured way. We're looking at some short-term possibilities; as well, we're going to look at the long term. Thank you.