Debates of June 2, 2004 (day 18)

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 200-15(3): Aboriginal Youth And Partners Society

Mr. Speaker, in relation to this particular instance, the primary, fundamental and initial concern is to make sure that once a decision is made about APYS, the transition to move clients into adequate facilities so they have the same kind of service level and resources they had previously is done. We’ve done that. I have indicated to this House, in the short term we are looking at the possibilities of some short-term repatriation of services we now have in the North. As well, we are going to look at the longer term, once again based on the individual client needs, to see what could be possible in the longer term, keeping in mind that these individuals are in support of home and living environments. They are not in institutions per se over at APYS. For the other ones we have down there, we have to review all the files on an individual basis and see what’s possible to do in the North, and that will be part of the business planning process that will come before committee in this House in the next number of months. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I stood up in the House before, questioning the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and also the Minister of Justice, on the Yellowknife Correctional Centre. The two issues that come to mind are staff morale at the centre and safety, Mr Speaker.

I am wondering if the Minister is aware that currently at the Yellowknife Correctional Centre, there are new employees working the floor of that facility with a four-day training course under their belts. Typically, Mr. Speaker, it’s a 10-day course. I wonder if this causes the Minister any concern and does he feel it compromises the safety of the staff and the inmates of that facility? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Minister of Justice, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 201-15(3): Training Of Corrections Workers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have every confidence that the training and supervision is adequate at the centre. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 201-15(3): Training Of Corrections Workers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I feel, and I have mentioned this before in the House, that I believe it’s only a matter of time before a serious incident takes place at the Yellowknife Correctional Centre. Does the Minister know that due to a lack of staff at the facility, they are currently paying out exorbitant amounts of overtime? Some employees are even working double and triple shifts. This practice certainly has to compromise the safety of the building, the staff and the inmates who are currently there, and I am wondering what the Minister will do to address this issue. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 201-15(3): Training Of Corrections Workers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said, I am confident that the facility is safe, and what we are doing, as the Member will have probably noticed, is that there have been a number of positions advertised. So we are moving to fill some of the positions that have been filled on a casual basis, and we will have more permanent staff who will be able to take the training, and hopefully that will reduce the number of overtime shifts that are required. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 201-15(3): Training Of Corrections Workers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know a colleague of mine, Ms. Lee, had a written question to the Minister the other day. My final supplementary, Mr. Speaker, to the Minister is when can we expect an answer to that written question? My questions are along the same lines. How much has the department paid in overtime over the past six months as opposed to the six months previous, and what is the vacancy rate there today, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. There were probably three questions there. Mr. Dent, you can choose to answer one or all three.

Further Return To Question 201-15(3): Training Of Corrections Workers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the only one I can answer for sure is that I will endeavour to have the answer to Ms. Lee’s written question within a week, and I will copy all Members on it so that they have access to it. It will contain the sort of information the Member asked for specifically, subsequent to that, which I don’t have at my fingertips.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure which Minister to direct this question to because I am not sure what department the management assignment program falls under. But since all the applications do go to the corporate human resource services office, I guess that would be under the offices of the Executive. So let me ask the Premier what the new management assignment program that the government is currently undertaking, which comprises a two-phase assessment component to find some eligible participants that are willing to complete the program. I just want to ask the Premier who is on this assessment review committee, and when do they do their reviews? Thank you.

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

Return To Question 202-15(3): Management Assignment Program

Mr. Speaker, the program is managed by the director of corporate human resources. The intake for the program is once a year. The deadline for the new intake is June 15th. So they will be shortly doing the assessments for the new people. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 202-15(3): Management Assignment Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Premier for his answer and that information. Let me just ask the Premier is it only the director of the corporate human resources that is doing the assessment on all the applicants that he receives for the program, or is there an assessment review committee in place to review the applicants? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 202-15(3): Management Assignment Program

Mr. Speaker, there is a committee, and a fairly structured but fair process for doing assessments on any applicants or nominees who are being considered for the program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 202-15(3): Management Assignment Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know the program is basically designed to run for 24 to 48 months and not guaranteeing jobs at the senior level when they complete the program. I have received some information from what I would term eligible candidates for the program that in the second round of selections, many of these applicants that have submitted applications to the first round of participants in the program are basically taking the attitude now that they will not apply for the second round of program eligibility due to the fact that they, and I quote, a lot of them say “why bother because we will not even be chosen anyway,” and many of these applicants are of aboriginal decent. So I just wanted to ask the Premier maybe what assurances can he give these aboriginal applicants to make them feel that they will be given an equal opportunity to participate in this management assignment program? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 202-15(3): Management Assignment Program

Mr. Speaker, of course our first objective is to have management assignment program clients, enrolees who have the aptitude and the skill to be able to take on senior management positions, but I have had the same concern as the Member is raising that when I look at the list of who is enrolled in the program there are not very many aboriginal people there. We need to do more to encourage aboriginal employees to apply for the program, and to give them the training and skill development that is necessary for it. So, Mr. Speaker, I have spoken with the deputy minister and the director of corporate human resources to see if there is a way of being able to improve the program so that we do have a more representative population. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Your final supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 202-15(3): Management Assignment Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am glad that the Premier also recognizes that it is an issue with him, and if it is an issue with him I think that is a big issue for this government, and I think that we should really pay more attention to the assessment process for eligible applicants. Let me just ask the Premier then just getting some feedback from some of the first round applicants that are involved in the program, when is this program going to start? I know a lot of these participants haven’t received any developmental assignments, any activities or any mentoring or coaching or training of any sort to date, and we are going into the second round of eligible applicants in the program. So I want to ask the Premier when does the ball start rolling in the program and people start getting some training? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 202-15(3): Management Assignment Program

Mr. Speaker, the program is ongoing. All but five of the current people in the program have been placed or are on assignment. So the program is functioning for them. The deadline for application for new people who want to take the program or be enrolled in the program is June 15th. So if there are individuals out there that any of the Members are aware of, and who are interested in being in the program, then I would certainly be interested in their names and ensure that they have the opportunity to go through the application process. But, as I said, all but five of the current people in the program are on assignment or have been placed. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I realize that there are many folks out there awaiting our presence in the Great Hall to deal with the Premier’s Awards for Excellence, and that is actually the program I want to speak to before we go out there. First of all I want to confess I did not submit any nominations for this awards program, but, Mr. Speaker, I am concerned with the Minister’s statement the Premier made today when he outlined who the recipients for this were. I don’t want to rain on anybody’s parade here, but, Mr. Speaker, if we are going to have awards and programs like this I think then it behooves us to show a little bit of sensitivity to who we represent as a government. I don’t know who does the screening for these applications, whether it is like the program that Mr. Villeneuve just mentioned, where the Premier has the same concerns as the Member, well then I have to ask who’s in charge and whose program is it then, and who is responsible for the Department of the Executive? I don’t know how these nominations are screened but, Mr. Speaker, I find it interesting that the four recipients, the four main recipients of the Premier’s awards today all are men, none are aboriginal, three out of four live in Yellowknife, and one has only lived in the Territories for 18 months. I am sorry, but I find that an insult to the people who have served many, many years in this government. So I would like to ask the Premier, what guidelines are used in handing out these awards? If they are prestigious and if they have meaning, then surely we should be a little more sensitive. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 203-15(3): Premier’s Awards For Excellence Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The nomination process, or the application process for people interested in nominating people for the awards is fairly open. It is well advertised to all the communities, it is advertised in all the regions, it is advertised at headquarters. People cannot make application, they have to have someone nominate them if they wish to be there, Mr. Speaker, so it is open to everyone. We receive the applications then, second, there is a committee of deputy ministers because this is a peer assessment process. A group of deputies then assess the applications and will make their recommendations based on that. There is no limit on how long an individual may have worked for the government. Some may have worked for a fairly short period of time, but have done a stellar job in their responsibilities. So, Mr. Speaker, there is no effort at this time to try and have a gender balance. It is based on applications. Basically the intention here, Mr. Speaker, is to have individuals who can be nominated by their peers, and leave it open to whoever may want to nominate, whether it is a small community, large community, male, female, and we don’t put a lot of criteria on that. That would be narrowing opportunity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 203-15(3): Premier’s Awards For Excellence Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Premier then that these are called Premier’s awards, but it sounds like he doesn’t have any input into who gets chosen, he doesn’t finely screen the recipients in the end. Wouldn’t the Premier agree that these awards would have more meaning and would be regarded more highly if he personally would become involved in it, and if there was some sensitivity to some balance of who works in the public service in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Hear! Hear!

---Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 203-15(3): Premier’s Awards For Excellence Program

Mr. Speaker, I agree with the Member that anything I put my hands on is probably going to improve substantially.

---Laughter

I will certainly take her advice on that and, yes, I would like to review this one because we did not get as many applications as I would like to have seen. So, Mr. Speaker, I think this is again another one that we will want to look at and ask if the process we are using is an appropriate one. The deputies, the team who are putting it together, tried to be as open as possible, advertise as broadly as possible, and open it up. But with advice from the Members, I’d certainly, for the next time around, look and see if there is a better way of doing this. I am always open to improving any of the programs we have. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 203-15(3): Premier’s Awards For Excellence Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very pleased to hear that the Premier will take this under his authority, and see that this program is intended for what it is meant to be. I will take that commitment, and that is satisfactory to me. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, thank you for allowing me one final question probably before the House adjourns for the summer. My question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services, with regard to addressing our special needs and those with developmental disabilities that are currently taken care of down south. Can the Minister provide me with some assurances about what steps we as a government can take in the long-term to address developing our own capacities for taking care of our own? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 204-15(3): Repatriation Of Clients With Disabilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’ve indicated what the plan is going to be in terms of looking at the issue of repatriation as it applies across the board. As well, we have a number of other reviews underway; for example, the issue of trying to deal with the cognitively impaired, which is an area that is well requiring very special attention. So in the short term we are going to review what is possible as a result of the transition or move out of APYS. In the longer term we are going to do a client-by-client review, but also look at the level of service that is required and see what can be in fact done in the North, and what we are still going to require to contract out of territory. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The time for question period has expired, however, I will allow a supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 204-15(3): Repatriation Of Clients With Disabilities

Mr. Speaker, thank you very much. This will probably be my final question. It is just that I am glad the Minister is aware of our need to take care of our own. What direction is the Minister leaning towards of developing our own people? I am sure we have the facilities, but what can be done to develop our people in terms of how we can take care of our own, in terms of the special training, the special services that surround the provision of care by our people with development disabilities down south? Can we truly have those facilities and the people here to take care of our own in the future, Mr. Speaker?

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 204-15(3): Repatriation Of Clients With Disabilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have over the last few years put nursing programs in place, we have social work programs, we are now doing registered care aid programs, we are going to put back into effect the community health representative programs, we are supporting students in post-secondary situations in medical school. So we have initiatives on a whole number of fronts in terms of trying to develop a northern workforce in these very specialized areas. So we still struggle with some of the psychiatric specialties, and those types of very advanced services, but we are committed if you look across the North to the personal care units we’ve built, the tertiary level facilities, second layer level facilities we’ve built to deal with elders and those with other needs. So we are going to continue that commitment. We are going to review the current southern placement list, and we are going to see what is possible in terms of short-term repatriation, as well as look at the longer term, as I have indicated. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Members, at this time I would like to draw your attention to a former Member of this House in the gallery, Roy Erasmus, a Member of the 13th Legislative Assembly for Weledeh.

---Applause

I’d also like to draw your attention to Susan Legler, acting executive secretary to our Commissioner, the Honourable Glenna Hansen. Welcome to the gallery Ms. Legler.

---Applause

Also a frequent visitor Major Karen Hoeft, and everyone else in the gallery. Welcome.

---Applause

At this time we have quite a number of people waiting in the gallery for the Premier’s Awards of Excellence. So I think we will call a short break at this time, a 15-minute break to deal with the awards.

---SHORT RECESS