Debates of June 2, 2005 (day 7)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I think the Minister of Finance may have his Regular Members mixed up in the quotes that occurred in the local press in regard to support of this initiative. I’ve said before and I’ll say it again, I am supportive of decentralization when it makes sense and when this government can show us an actual business case that does make sense. In this regard there was none, there was no consultation. If you want to call consultation us standing up on this side of the House questioning the Minister of Health and Social Services to try to get him to produce a document that we can digest and we can look at, what type of consultation is that, Madam Speaker?

Again, it goes back to process and it goes back to timing. The timing on this was just terrible. To me it is not any form of consultation and I’d like the Minister to maybe give us some kind of respect and show us a little bit of respect. We have a job to do too. We have constituents to look after as well, and it’s causing us a great deal of concern. Maybe the Minister can commit to having a look at this. Maybe we can learn something from this and we can move forward from here. I would like the Minister to say that he’ll maybe sit down with AOC and sit down with some of the Regular Members to try to sort out what happened here so we don’t see a repeat performance. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Minister Roland.

Further Return To Question 80-15(4): Commitment To Provide List Of Capital Projects That Lapsed Or Were Held Over To Subsequent Years

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, with the branch being extended about working together, I am always willing to work with the Members of this Assembly on the rules that we use. In fact, as a result of the questioning and some of the confusion about what applies in the guidelines that are used, I intend to and have talked with my Cabinet colleagues and intend to strengthen section 302 of the FAM document to make it formal, that the communication be done in writing instead of being in the area of consulting. Consulting is a number of things; where it’s a discussion in the hall, in a Minister’s office, or the formal process of making an actual presentation to committee. So I’ll agree and inform Members here now that what I intend to do is go back to my department and work on redoing that section of the FAM to make it very clear that the consultation shall be formal and it shall be in writing. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my questions will be for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, the Honourable David Krutko. Madam Speaker, I am still concerned that there is zero transparency on this program and I’m not even sure I can quote any numbers because we don’t even know if they’re all correct. I’ve never been replied to with a new profile, a signed letter to say that they’re all correct. So, Madam Speaker, the point of transparency still stands. Will this Minister hear me when I say confidentiality is not an issue to be hiding behind, because if he goes out and breaks these details, it will have no effect in identifying an individual person? So the question to the Minister of Housing is will he go back to his department and get the information and commit to coming forward with the details I’ve asked as to the scenarios on that list he provided to me? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Krutko.

Return To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On EDAP Program Details

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I’d just like to point out to the Member that he did request information through an oral question. I took it as notice. The information will be coming, but in the Member’s question I would just like to point out to the Member that the information that he is requesting is barred because it’s confidential information. We cannot start releasing information from somebody’s application and where someone has been approved for these programs and expect to have credibility in the process.

So I would just like to point out to the Member that a lot of the information that the Member is requesting is confidential information, which came through an application. A person got approved based on the information provided, they met the criteria of the program and they were able to get the program. So I would like to make it clear to the Member that the information that you are requesting is confidential information and we will not release confidential information. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On EDAP Program Details

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, asking for stats and information is not confidential when you don’t connect it to people’s names and when you have a pool of 14 people in a city as large as 20,000, it’s pretty tough to know who is who. On top of that, we don’t announce or publicize in any way the recipients of these grants. So we don’t say John Doe or Jane Doe received a grant. It’s very difficult to imagine how even to start to begin with how someone would connect a name with who potentially got this. So the bottom line is I think what’s being flaunted here is the word confidentiality and we’re going to hide behind it. Well I’m sorry, Madam Speaker, that is not good enough. We can provide that information. I sought legal advise in this question, which is we could provide it. So the question to the Minister is will he provide the information that I’ve asked for, which is people’s situation before they got this grant, such as were they in public housing or not, how big was the family; those types of scenarios. I have given him lots of questions. So to the point, will the Minister provide those types of answers that I’ve asked of him? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister Krutko.

Further Return To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On EDAP Program Details

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I will provide the Member the information that’s appropriate to the question, but I will not provide information that is confidential. So I’d like to make that clear to the Member. The information that he will get is based on information that we can release, because we do have responsibilities through ATIPP legislation, which protects individuals' rights so that they know that their information will be held confidential. So I just want to point that out to the Member. I will get him the information that’s appropriate to his question, but I will not give him all the information appropriate to a person’s application. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On EDAP Program Details

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will say thank you, Mr. Minister, for moving forward on that issue.

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Thank you, good Minister. Madam Speaker, would the Minister…I’m overwhelmed at this moment. He’s budged. Madam Speaker, the question I want to ask is would the Minister agree today to at his earliest convenience by next week, can he update this sort of Yellowknife information that I had requested in my written question of March 9th, which is asking the details on the Yellowknife recipients? So would he update the letter he had sent me under his signature that there was some typos in? Can he start with that? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister Krutko.

Further Return To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On EDAP Program Details

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I will get the Member the information he requested through the questions he has raised in this House and the ones that I have taken as notice. I will get him that information, but I will make it clear to the Member that I will ensure that we follow the ATIPP legislation and ensure that we protect the confidentiality of our applicants and that we do not release any information that could jeopardize their privacy. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Krutko. Final brief supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On EDAP Program Details

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I’m sorry for those that had to read the Hansard because I was sort of lost due to being overwhelmed on getting that last one. So, Madam Speaker, my only question now to the Minister, which should be quite easy for him, is when can I get these responses? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister Krutko.

Further Return To Question 81-15(4): Greater Transparency On EDAP Program Details

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will provide the Member the information when it comes available from my office to make sure that the list is accurate and we have the information. Timelines; we’re probably looking at next week or the week after. Thank you.

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Madam Speaker, my questions this afternoon are for the Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat related to the process of consultation and changes in business plans and projects. Madam Speaker, it’s bewildering that Members were put through a cycle in the last few days of hearing again and again and again from one Minister that a project was a done deal, the money was in place, it was gone, it was over, and then for the Minister of Finance or FMBS to come before this Assembly and ask permission for what the Minister said is already a done deal. This is the dilemma that we’re in.

Madam Speaker, a few minutes ago the Minister did say, in response to a question from my colleague, that they do want to go back and revisit this guideline, strengthen it up, firm it up and I welcome that very much, but what I didn’t hear -- we’re talking about consultation -- is that the Minister is going to ask for our input into how we believe that process would come about. Is this going to be another one-sided, arbitrary process, or is the Minister going to invite our input into what we believe to be a satisfactory level of consultation? Thanks, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for the FMBS, Mr. Roland.

Consultation And Business Planning Process Of GNWT

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I think over a number of years the department has made changes in its process of how it does things as a result of concerns being raised in the House. We have made a number of changes and as I’d committed to this process I’m hearing the concerns here and looking at the document and seeing already where we can strengthen that. Again, I’ll provide that to the Members and see what input they want on it. Some Members would probably like to sit beside me at the FMB table and say yes or no to certain projects. Unfortunately, we won’t get to that level, but I will forward the revised draft of that section to the committee and Members of this Assembly for their input to see if that in fact it doesn’t meet their satisfaction. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I have questions for the Minister of Justice and it’s in regard to the joint staff relationship between the YWCA and the TTC. Madam Speaker, I heard, with interest, the Minister’s statement earlier today about the new legislation, the Protection Against Family Violence Act, which is groundbreaking legislation that just got started in April. It’s going to take some time to get it working well and, as the Minister indicated in his statement, the YWCA is a key organization in implementing this legislation. It is a clearing centre in Yellowknife and across the Territories. If there are, in communities, not a women’s centre or a family violence centre that the women can call, or men in some cases, the 1-800 line goes directly to the YWCA. I don’t know if the Minister of Justice is aware that the three key employees at the YWCA also work at TTC. I’d like to know if the Minister responsible for family violence and related issues was able to bring this to the Cabinet table or whether he’s even aware of it. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 83-15(4): Delivery Of Programs Under Protection Of Family Violence Legislation

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The 1-800 number does go directly to Alison McAteer House. I am aware of that. Many of the NGOs are better able to lever their resources by working together. There is much interconnectivity among NGOs, not just in Yellowknife but across the territory. I think we would find that if we looked at any number of programs being offered and delivered because oftentimes they are forced to deliver very good service, but on a shoestring budget. That certainly has been the case with the Y over a number of years. So am I aware that the Alison McAteer number is staffing the 1-800 number and providing a very key, integral role in the delivery of our family violence protection legislation? Yes. We value their support. We value that service and we think they will be critical in the success of this new legislation. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Minister Bell. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 83-15(4): Delivery Of Programs Under Protection Of Family Violence Legislation

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The facts are that the three very specialized professionals such as a person involved in a project with child recovery or a person who works on teen dating, violence prevention and other specially trained people work in YWCA and they use the TTC as a place to practice their specialty. They also get up to one-third of their income working at TTC. Seeing as the Minister has already acknowledged the important role that the YWCA has to play in the implementation of this new act, what analysis, if any, has he done? If he has not done so already, would he commit to do that? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Minister Bell.

Further Return To Question 83-15(4): Delivery Of Programs Under Protection Of Family Violence Legislation

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I don’t believe we have any indication from Alison McAteer House that they will no longer be able to operate our 1-800 number line. I am certainly willing to sit down and discuss that with them. I think there are a number of months before any transition has been proposed. We do have some time to work out any of these operational challenges and we will certainly be able to be prepared to do that, but, as a first step, I will make sure we contact Alison McAteer House and discuss implementations for the provision of their service. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Minister Bell. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 83-15(4): Delivery Of Programs Under Protection Of Family Violence Legislation

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I appreciate the Minister’s willingness to do that but, for the record, I just want to state once again how disappointed I am that all the Cabinet Ministers responsible for their portfolio have been neglectful in looking at the things that are applicable to their portfolios in talking about the transfer of TTC. Now, when the Minister contacts the Alison McAteer House which is run out of YWCA, would he consider increasing the funding of this organization to compensate for the loss they will have, seeing that he is already well aware of the shoestring budget that they operate under? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Minister Bell.

Further Return To Question 83-15(4): Delivery Of Programs Under Protection Of Family Violence Legislation

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Many, probably all, of our NGOs are fiscally challenged and could use more funding. I think that’s certainly a good discussion for us to have as a government with committee. I would certainly be prepared to do that. We are going into the business planning process and I am sure many other Ministers, as well the Minister of Health, would be prepared to have those kinds of discussions. We do rely on our NGOs to provide very valuable service right across the Northwest Territories and it is important to ensure that they have adequate funding. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Minister Bell. Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 83-15(4): Delivery Of Programs Under Protection Of Family Violence Legislation

Thank you, Madam Speaker. May I ask the Minister to make a commitment to do a thorough analysis of the impact of the transfer of TTC on the operation of YWCA, including the Alison McAteer House, and report to either the Social Programs committee or to this House as soon as possible? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Minister Bell.

Further Return To Question 83-15(4): Delivery Of Programs Under Protection Of Family Violence Legislation

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am very confident that over the next 18 months we will have a number of discussions around the impacts and implications of this move of TTC. Certainly I am prepared to sit down with the Social Programs committee, of which the Member is the very able chair, have a discussion around the kinds of program impacts that might be seen and we can do a review, if that’s what the Member is interested in, and make sure that we have done everything we can to mitigate any loss for any program. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. This question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Given that people with disabilities need to support the GNWT and already experience considerable difficulties and financial strain, what criteria do we use to identify those who are disabled and want to access government programs? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Return To Question 84-15(4): Criteria For Identifying Disabled Persons In The NWT

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, there are a number of departments involved in this area that would depend on the disability in question and what the circumstances of the request were and what service they were trying to access. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 84-15(4): Criteria For Identifying Disabled Persons In The NWT

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have had a bunch of questions with regard to the definition of a disability. That’s the same problem that constituents are having in Wrigley, Fort Liard or Fort Simpson. They are saying that I believe I am disabled and the government doesn’t believe it, so how do I get them to believe that I am disabled. What is the definition of a disabled person? Could the Minister answer that for me?

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Minister Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 84-15(4): Criteria For Identifying Disabled Persons In The NWT

Thank you, Madam Speaker. There is no one definition in terms of a disability, or what constitutes a disability. If the Member has specific issues that his constituents are having trouble accessing programs for disabled, as the Minister responsible for the disabled, I would be happy to get that information from the Member. I will ensure that we get in touch with the proper agency and we take the steps necessary to be responsive to the request that’s being brought forward. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 84-15(4): Criteria For Identifying Disabled Persons In The NWT

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is how does this government recognize who is disabled? That is what the people are asking me. Could the Minister answer that, Madam Speaker?