Debates of June 2, 2005 (day 7)

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. Madam Speaker, we have a very close working relationship with the NWT Society for the Disabled. We work with them on a disability framework, which is a framework of strategy that was worked on collectively with many, many partners, including many of the government departments like Health and Social Services, Justice, Housing and Education. In there, we attempt to deal with the various service issues that relate to the disabled. Once again, it depends on what the disability is that the person is talking about and what service they are trying to access, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Above all, there was a disability framework being worked on and I don’t know how much of it was implemented by this government. Will the GNWT help reduce administrative barriers for assistance for disability and develop a standard criteria that is accessible and equitable for all, Madam Speaker? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Minister Miltenberger.

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

Madam Speaker, we are very interested in trying to remove administrative barriers to access to services, especially by people with disabilities. There has been discussion in this House about access or people who are going to be permanently disabled having to still apply on a monthly basis, for example, for income support. There are other issues that pertain to the federal government and the funding that they release. So yes, Madam Speaker, we are willing to work on that. That’s one of the goals of the disability framework, to try to collectively improve our services. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, so many questions, so little time. I have narrowed down my questions to the Minister of Transportation. In Hay River, we saw a huge number of people from the surrounding communities participate in track and field. If only we had an all-weather road in the Sahtu, we would have seen an increase of participants going into Hay River. So, Madam Speaker, could the Minister commit that the future proposal going to the federal government will look at the small scale community approach to start building an all-weather road in the Sahtu region?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 85-15(4): All-Weather Road To Link Mackenzie Delta Communities

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It wouldn’t be question period without a question on the Mackenzie Valley winter road. Madam Speaker, I certainly can commit that we are in the process of drafting a proposal to bring forward to the federal government. Historically, we have a highway strategy that we use. It was drafted in the year 2000 and is called Investing in Roads and includes the information and dollar amounts that we, at that time, recognized as the need for infrastructure and the road system and the highway transportation system in the Northwest Territories. I will certainly commit to the Member that we will share any information that comes forward.

As part of our new proposal, we would like to share that with the committee. We would also like to share that information with the other Members who have requested and identified new transportation systems and links in the Northwest Territories. We also will share with the Member some of the Canada-wide initiatives taken on by the Premier in his discussions with the western Premiers on a transportation strategy. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 85-15(4): All-Weather Road To Link Mackenzie Delta Communities

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister. In the original proposal under the Corridors for Canada, the funding was never identified for roads in that proposal. I am asking for future proposals, but I am not sure if it’s going to be in the future proposal. It’s hard to believe that the best bush road is the Ingraham Trail just out of Yellowknife. It’s paved. You have millions of dollars going in there, yet our region is left out of the all-weather road system. How can the Minister give satisfaction to the people in the Sahtu that an all-weather road that connects the communities in the Sahtu that would push south would be seen sometime in a future proposal? That’s what we want. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Minister McLeod.

Further Return To Question 85-15(4): All-Weather Road To Link Mackenzie Delta Communities

Madam Speaker, it is part of our vision to see an all-weather road. It is not within our authority to be able to commit the required resources needed to build this road. The road between Wrigley and up the Mackenzie Valley to connect to the Dempster is roughly $400 million. That is something that we need to be able to convince the federal government to do. The roads or new roads, all-weather road, is still something that falls under the jurisdiction of the federal government. We will do everything in our power. I want to give that comfort to the Member that we will make every effort to bring that focus to the federal government. We are drafting a new proposal to bring forward and it does focus on connecting communities and it does focus on looking at the cost of living in the Territories, especially in the smaller, isolated communities. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 85-15(4): All-Weather Road To Link Mackenzie Delta Communities

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, just in the last few weeks, the Sahtu has seen a high interest of winning bids by oil companies in the valley. We are talking about $50 million or $60 million of potential investments in the Sahtu region. An all-weather road would help the Sahtu in terms of a lot of issues. Number one, it would bring down the cost of living. Madam Speaker, would the Minister be able to meet with the Sahtu people in terms of a delegation going down to Ottawa if that is what it takes to put it on the federal government’s agenda, because that’s their expenditure, and the reasons why we need an all-weather road in the Sahtu? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 85-15(4): All-Weather Road To Link Mackenzie Delta Communities

Madam Speaker, we already did bring a delegation to Ottawa for a day dedicated to the Northwest Territories. Part of the delegation was the Member for Sahtu. I am not sure if that’s something we have committed to or made any decisions on. I will assure the Member that if it becomes obvious that we need people from the Sahtu to come and fight those battles with us, we will do that. However, we have had these discussions with the federal Ministers. We have had visits in the communities that the Member represents. The issue has come forward as a priority in every case. We hear the message loud and clear. It is part of our long-term vision. It is something we would like to see for the long term. The federal government has programs that are coming forward. We would like to put in our submission and get some additional funding.

Over the last while, we have invested a lot of money. The Sahtu has probably received more money for their highway transportation infrastructure than any other jurisdiction in the Northwest Territories. We will be completing 29 bridges over the next while. We have extended the season. We have made significant improvements to the road. We will continue to do so. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 85-15(4): All-Weather Road To Link Mackenzie Delta Communities

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the Minister should be aware that there is more than me in the Sahtu. We would take the Sahtu people like Cece McCauley-Hodgson, who has been a consistent advocator for the Mackenzie all-weather road, truly a woman warrior from the region. Madam Speaker, once again, can the Minister look at taking a small delegation from the Sahtu region who can help the Minister and also help the Premier in terms of seeking some additional dollars from the federal counterparts to build an all-weather road in the Sahtu?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 85-15(4): All-Weather Road To Link Mackenzie Delta Communities

Madam Speaker, of course we will consider taking a delegation from the Sahtu. Any time we can bring some allies or some of our partners forward to make the argument for us and we can demonstrate that there is a need for this, we will certainly consider that. We will have further discussion with the Member. We will have further discussions with the leadership in his communities and look at how we can move forward and set up a plan of action. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is for Mr. Dent as Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and it concerns this government’s support, hopefully continuing support, for a pretty important part of infrastructure in this community and that is the building leased to the YWCA, the Rockhill Apartments. Madam Speaker, this houses a number of families and some of them in crisis and on emergency basis and other programs the YWCA provides. The lease that this government has arranged with the Y is coming to an end about two years from now, but it is a very important facility of the Y and they have been seeking some certainty about the continuance of this lease. There has been some concern over getting a process going to help this through. I wonder if the Minister could advise on the status of arrangements to secure a continuing lease with the YWCA. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Return To Question 86-15(4): Support For YWCA Rockhill Apartment Lease

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The lease, in fact, doesn’t come up for another three years, May of 2008. So there is a considerable amount of time for us to work at determining whether or not to renew that lease. The more salient issue is the requirement for repairs to the building. That is something that is currently under discussion by Public Works, ECE, the Housing Corporation and the other players who were involved in setting up the lease in the first place. It’s an issue where we are going to have to examine what the best approach is and try to find the best solution. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Minister Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 86-15(4): Support For YWCA Rockhill Apartment Lease

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister. Indeed, even with the three-year period left in the existing lease, the Rockhill apartment building, while it’s in reasonable shape for a building its age, there may be some more renovations that are required of it. It takes, as we well know, Madam Speaker, a couple of years to scope these things out, budget for them and get them into our capital planning and budgeting process. So the picture that the YWCA is looking at is for some kind of firm process that they can count on to get this decision made. Will the Minister be working to achieve that with the other departments involved? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. We have to work in concert with the other departments. Health and Social Services is also involved in this process. We have to come to some agreement about the renovations, because Public Works and Services tell us that renovations are critical to the continued occupation of that building in the not-too-distant future. They don't have to happen this year or next year, but we shouldn't be signing a subsequent 10-year lease for the building if there aren't some important renovations done.

The issue of the renovations and whether or not we should do them or look for new space has to be settled first. That is the point that we are in in these discussions, whether or not this government is going to embark on a process of renovating that building or if we are going to perhaps look for different space. I can assure the Member that we are working to resolve the situation well in advance of the May 2008 deadline.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Just after we concluded the budget session in March, I was approached by an individual who was on income support for a couple of months and went back to work. He was employable, certainly before, and entered into the Income Support Program for two months while going through some difficult times in his life. He went back to work after two months and he was surprised, the mail box changed and four months go by and all of a sudden somebody gets in touch with him and says we have four months worth of income support mail for you. He went and picked it up. Not only did he have four months of income support payments that he should not have received, the government also paid his rent for four months.

The first question I would have for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment is what is this monthly report card that ECE sent around to income support clients last summer? Is it being used? If it is not being used, why? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Return To Question 87-15(4): Administration Of The GNWT Income Support Program

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thank the Member for bringing this issue to my attention earlier. I have had the department check into this situation and this is the only example of this type of circumstance happening that we can find. I can also assure the Member that we don't believe the rent was paid after the individual moved out. However, the individual never gave notice to the landlord that they were leaving and so the landlord claims that there is more rent owing than what the individual believes.

It is a situation too, where we offer a number of clients on income support the opportunity to be payrolled. This opportunity is offered often to people who are disabled, to seniors, to people whose circumstances aren't likely to change or that we expect will come in and inform the staff when they do change. People who receive income support are clearly told that they must tell income support whenever their circumstances change. In this instance, this individual never did advise the income support worker that their circumstances had changed.

Often people are put on a payroll system for up to 12 months. So in this circumstance, after six months the individual's circumstances changed, the office wasn't notified and, the Member is right, there were four months of cheques that were issued that should not have been. However, to his credit, the individual did not try to cash the cheques, but instead notified the department and all of the cheques had a stop payment put on them. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 87-15(4): Administration Of The GNWT Income Support Program

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister how an income support officer makes the determination whether somebody is going to be on a payroll basis or not. The individual I am talking about here walks into the office and has been employed for years and has a certain skill set. How can they pigeonhole people into being payrolled, is what I am trying to say, and who makes that determination? How is that determination made on whether an income support client is payrolled or if they have to submit these monthly report cards?

In this instance, Madam Speaker, if I could, the individual who was deemed to be a payroll income support client received letters saying you have to fill out the monthly report cards. If they weren't filled out and he was still paid, there is certainly a disconnect there. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Minister Dent.

Further Return To Question 87-15(4): Administration Of The GNWT Income Support Program

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The income support officer is given the authority to determine which of their clients should be payrolled. As I outlined, it is typically for those clients where the expectation is that the circumstances are not likely to change in the immediate future, but it is clearly expressed to the client that there is an obligation to the client to come back and report that change.

In terms of why the report cards weren't being followed up on, I'm afraid that I can't answer that question. It does indicate an issue that there is some concern about and we have certainly worked to strengthen our reporting requirements in the office in the last year. We have also looked at increasing the number of staff to deal with the volume of clients in that office. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 87-15(4): Administration Of The GNWT Income Support Program

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am having a little bit of difficulty understanding what the reporting cards are for. In the letter that I have, it says if the monthly report card is not returned, income assistance will not be provided. This will mean a delay in receiving your monies. Will the income support clients actually receive their monies, even if they don't submit the report card, or what exactly happened? If the report card is not submitted by a certain time, does the department still issue cheques? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Minister Dent.

Further Return To Question 87-15(4): Administration Of The GNWT Income Support Program

Madam Speaker, for those people who should fill in the report cards, no. If the report card is not returned, that should raise a flag in the system to stop the cheques from being distributed. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, thank you. My other question this afternoon is for Mr. Bell, the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. It regards kind of longstanding difficulty that we have had in working out an arrangement with the City of Yellowknife to assist in the provision of lifeguard services at the Long Lake beach. Madam Speaker, summer is nicely on its way, at least here in this part of the territory. I am wondering if the Minister could advise on whether our negotiations or discussions with the city have been successful and will we see lifeguards at the Long Lake beach this summer? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Minister Bell.

Return To Question 88-15(4): Provision Of Lifeguard Services At Long Lake Beach

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I don't believe the city intends to provide life guarding services this summer at the beach. It's been a couple of seasons now without lifeguards at the beach. I think the Member knows the history. We provided, in past, a contribution that the city turned around and used to provide life guarding services. Obviously we are not in that business and don't do that, but we had provided a contribution in the past. The city felt that it wasn’t significant enough. We entered into a negotiation which eventually failed. The city left that negotiation feeling that if we couldn’t pay for the entire cost of the provision of the service, that they weren’t going to provide it. I believe that’s where it stands.

I have moved and asked the department to enter into negotiations with the city and discussions around the entire park. I think the park might be better run by the city, who could then provide the level of service and the type of service that they want. Those negotiations really have not moved to the point that I would like to see them. I am anticipating meeting with the mayor and council here going forward to try to have some political discussion around whether or not that is a direction they would like to move in. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Bell. The time for question period has lapsed, however, I will allow Mr. Braden to ask a supplementary question. Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 88-15(4): Provision Of Lifeguard Services At Long Lake Beach

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Minister is right; we are going into potentially our third year where a major piece of the city’s summer recreational options, especially for families and kids, is not going to be safe. I think it’s truly a shame that between our two governments we can’t arrive at a way to do that. The eventual devolving the ownership and responsibility of the park to the city is a good one, but in the meantime why isn’t it that at least our government can’t take this really important service on? We already look after the rest of the park. Why can’t we roll this into the same service, make sure it’s provided, make sure it is safe, enjoyable and accessible this summer? This is the third year going on, why can’t we do this?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Minister Bell.

Further Return To Question 88-15(4): Provision Of Lifeguard Services At Long Lake Beach

Thank you, Madam Speaker. We are not insured to provide the service. The city already does provide it at the pool. I would also add that we don’t do it anywhere else in the territory. There are other beaches you can make exactly the same case for, I believe, such as the one in Hay River, which is inside municipal boundaries.

In terms of the safety issue, it’s a safety issue before the hours that a beach would be supervised, say at 10:00, and after the hours the beach would be supervised, say 6:00 p.m., if the city, for instance, chose to provide life guarding services from 10:00 until 6:00 everyday. So it is a very real safety issue. Prior and post those hours, parents have to be very careful and shouldn’t leave their children unattended at the beach. So there are a number of safety issues that can’t entirely be resolved by having lifeguards. We do, I believe, know that the city posts the beach as unsupervised and we advise parents to make sure they are watching their kids at all times when they are on the beach. Thank you, Madam Speaker.