Debates of June 2, 2006 (day 4)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The process is well defined and well understood even with some of its problems, but I guess what I am looking for, Mr. Speaker, is a clear understanding and an acceptance of the fact that NGOs are really being squeezed by a tough job market. What is our readiness to step up to the plate and help them continue to survive, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 32-15(5): Funding For Non-Government Organizations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think all departments as we enter this next phase of business plan preparations come forward for a request for forced growth. There is going to be, I guess, quite a competition between departments as for their request and what gets approved, because ultimately the requests far outweigh the resources we have and we’ll have to make some decisions based on that. We had recognized that NGOs delivering programs on our behalf are impacted and that’s why in a number of organizations, for example, we laid out the third-party accountability framework, which will allow us to move into the multi-year funding stages that are being requested. Secondly, there needs to be recognition that as all departments review these, what areas are a primary delivery of what we call would normally fall under our responsibility and those areas we have recognized in a number of areas and allowed forced growth to come forward as in previous years they have not. In other organizations somewhat removed, it would become more difficult, but they work with each department and those departments would increase or include those in their forced growth submissions. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m committed to finding innovative enforcement tools to make our communities and our neighbourhoods safer. We all know that crack houses unfairly can take a community area hostage by putting good citizens in jeopardy in horrible ways that I’ve talked about in my Member’s statement. I brought forward a copy of the Safe Communities and Neighbourhood Act to the Justice Minister and I will be tabling a copy later today. So my question to the Minister of Justice is, has he had a chance to look at the act and open up some type of dialogue between his provincial counterparts on the usage of this type of act in the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 33-15(5): Consideration For Safe Communities Legislation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the information from the Member and his support and advocacy for having us look at new and innovative ways to ensure community safety. This is something that we’ve been pursuing for quite some time. We have looked at other jurisdictions, looked at similar models. There are about four Canadian provinces, three Canadian provinces and one territory right now, with similar legislation and we have been in discussion with these provinces and territories to understand how effective this legislation and the enforcement of it has been. So we are analyzing models. This is something I think I look forward to having further discussions with Members about, but certainly there is some validity to continuing to challenge ourselves to find new and effective ways to make our communities safe. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 33-15(5): Consideration For Safe Communities Legislation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Justice Minister, for that answer. Mr. Speaker, this is truly an important issue to me and it is an important issue to the citizens in Yellowknife Centre and, to no surprise, I’m sure the whole Northwest Territories. So I should put the Justice Minister on notice that I will truly be relentlessly pursuing this issue for the next several months to ensure that we will be bringing forward a safe neighbourhood enforcement tool to our enforcement people. So, therefore, would the Minister be willing to look at this act, look at a way of adopting this type of act and bringing it forward as a discussion paper sometime in the fall so Members can look at doing something in a timely way within our Territories so we can get the enforcement people the right enforcement tools to help our streets be safe? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 33-15(5): Consideration For Safe Communities Legislation

Mr. Speaker, I’ll certainly come forward in that time frame for a discussion with committee. I think we need to understand what the best options for us are. In other jurisdictions I think there are new offices that are created that are really outside the work that the RCMP are doing and we have to have a discussion around what the best model for the Northwest Territories would be. I think this community safety approach is something that I’m supportive of, but I want to understand the cost benefit. You have to ask yourself if we’d be better served to put the resources into the RCMP to help them do their job. I don’t know the answer to that question, Mr. Speaker, but it’s one that I want to pursue, discuss, analyze, and I’ll certainly be back to committee to look at this and other options. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, I should say that, as I stated yesterday, I believe this government is going down the right path in terms of providing affordable housing in our communities that are desperately needed under the Affordable Housing Initiative. Mr. Speaker, by spending $100 million over the next three years, we’re going to build 530 units. That’s a great use, and in the process we’re going to build infrastructure and capacity in communities and we need to continue that. What I would like to see, what I see is that this $200 million plus budgeted for ATCO Novel project should at least be given the consideration as to what else could we do with that $200 million. Could we continue to build 530 at $100 million by doing multi-plexes and such, which ATCO Novel project does not allow? So I’d like to know, does the Minister not think that he should at least look at all options? Does he not think that he should take off his ATCO Novel sunglasses and look at other options? You know, at the end of the day that might be the best project, but there’s no due diligence. So I would like to know, would Minister commit to looking at what possible options are there for $200 million? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Krutko.

Return To Question 34-15(5): Exploring Options To Meet Housing Needs Other Than Convertible Workforce Housing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there’s probably a million options out there for $200 million, but the option that Novel provides is one chance in a lifetime to take advantage of a major activity, which is happening in the Northwest Territories via construction of a pipeline, which will leave behind a legacy, which basically that often only comes by once in a lifetime. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 34-15(5): Exploring Options To Meet Housing Needs Other Than Convertible Workforce Housing

Mr. Speaker, I believe too that this could be one chance in a lifetime to get a major, major boondoggle. So, Mr. Speaker, I really think that seriously this government has to start comparing apples to apples. The biggest incentive for this ATCO Novel housing is that it is so much cheaper than building stick built, and I agree with that because it costs up to $190 per square foot to build stick built. But it’s about time for the government to compare these used trailers with brand new trailers. Would the Minister do an analysis of how much it would cost us to get 830 new mobile homes instead of going through all the liability and buying used workforce housing and converting them and transporting them and not knowing really what we are getting into? Would the Minister at least give that a consideration? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 34-15(5): Exploring Options To Meet Housing Needs Other Than Convertible Workforce Housing

Mr. Speaker, we’re already in the process of doing that. That information is being compiled. We are making sure that all logistic costs, the total cost of the project will be financially sound and that we are not going forward until we have that information in front of us. The information is being compiled today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Third supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 34-15(5): Exploring Options To Meet Housing Needs Other Than Convertible Workforce Housing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to accept that, but I have to be alarmed by that because we were told by the officials from the department saying that we’re getting calls from all over the place, but none of them work, none of them will work, we’re not going to look at it. That is a very irresponsible thing for the government to do for a $200 million project. I need an objective analysis to make sure that we’re spending $200 million well. So would the Minister tender this project? At least do a request for proposals. What does he have to lose? If this project could stand on its own, it will win. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 34-15(5): Exploring Options To Meet Housing Needs Other Than Convertible Workforce Housing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, like I said earlier in my comments, this is one chance that we’re looking at. It’s an ambition that’s looked on by CMHC, ourselves, the federal government are involved, we’re involved. Where we can see a 40 percent saving in regards to delivering housing in the Northwest Territories, we will definitely look at it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 34-15(5): Exploring Options To Meet Housing Needs Other Than Convertible Workforce Housing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That’s a 40 percent savings that’s going to be spent on doing project financing, on risk taking, on project management costs. There is so much more liability and cost to this project that we would not otherwise have if we were to buy new housing. New housing, you could buy it at $100 for a square foot as opposed to $120 for ATCO Novel. I want to be proven wrong. I want the Minister to look at it. Would he send out a request for proposals and have the industry answer to this $200 million mega housing project? That is the least that this government…(inaudible)…look for. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 34-15(5): Exploring Options To Meet Housing Needs Other Than Convertible Workforce Housing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe we did that already through the market housing initiative. Basically, it’s an initiative that’s been in place. We’ve put out calls for bids and proposals. We know what that cost is. So we’ve already done it and regardless of what we did with market housing, it still wasn’t good enough for the Member on the other side. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister responsible for the Department of Human Resources. The statement that I made today was very similar in nature to ones that I have made in this House many times before in the past year. Today we’ve spent $450,000 via a sole sourced contract to an American company to have a look at what’s wrong with our Human Resources department. I’d like to first of all start off by saying last year I was getting complaints from residents, from employees, the public, former employees about the effectiveness and the accountability and the level of service at our HR department. I'm just wondering, the first question, Mr. Speaker, for the Minister is, I'd like to know if the work has been concluded. This $450,000 contract; has the work been concluded and what has changed? To me, things haven't changed. But for the Minister's sake, what has changed at HR with this expenditure of $450,000? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. A couple of questions there. Honourable Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 35-15(5): Concerns with GNWT Human Resources Service Levels

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first I guess I should state for the record as well, as I've stated probably a number of times before as this issue's come up, when a decision was made just over a year ago to implement the HR amalgamation, we had to first go through and identify all the staff within the various departments and boards and agencies that deliver programs for our government, and pull that staff in and locate them into offices in communities and regions and headquarters here, and continue to try to do the work that was being done. When we identified the staff to bring them forward, coming with them were a lot of old files, that the Member's referenced, that we needed to clean up. So the focus has been on those old files, to clean them up. In fact, I think we've done a fairly good job since we've gone through the first phase of the Hackett Group review. The review is still ongoing. In fact, they're up here as we speak, looking to further the type of work that we do within HR and to see if in fact that work should be improved and where it can be improved. The initial work that was done a couple of months ago identified over 100 areas that we needed to improve on or change our processes, as well as work on our PeopleSoft program. That has been ongoing. In fact, we've had some good improvement in those areas, but there still remains a need for serious improvement in the pay and benefits section and that work is ongoing now as we move forward. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 35-15(5): Concerns with GNWT Human Resources Service Levels

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I guess if the focus has been on old files, it obviously hasn't been on customer service to both our employees, the public, people who are applying for jobs, because that lack of customer service is very, very evident to the people I've been speaking with, Mr. Speaker. Just in terms of records of employment, let's just look at that for a second here. I'm wondering if the Minister's aware that by legislation you're supposed to supply a record of employment to an employee within 10 days. I'm wondering if the government has some special deal concocted so that they can break the rules that they have in place on supplying records of employment, because, Mr. Speaker, it happens every day. People wait for records of employment for up to eight weeks, and I want the Minister to answer why. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 35-15(5): Concerns with GNWT Human Resources Service Levels

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I've tried on a number of occasions to answer why. The Member obviously doesn't like the response. Yes, I am aware that the record of employment sections that require us to have that available to the employee in a matter of days. So the fact is yes, we know we've failed in that area and that's why we're doing this work, is to change the way we do things, to make sure that a file when it starts gets processed through the departments and comes to HR with the accurate information so we can give that record of employment to the employees that are moving on. There's a lot of work that needs to be done; we recognize that. In fact, the old files, a number of those we've cleared up totally on some of the backlogs. There's other areas we need to further do improvement on, and that's what we're doing now. When we did the amalgamation, pulled the staff in, they were still doing systems and processes that are tied to a way that was not efficient and effective. We recognize that. That's why we've gone out and got the contract, and we're starting to implement some of those changes to get the people, our past employees, the information that they need to move on. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 35-15(5): Concerns with GNWT Human Resources Service Levels

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't know how much longer employees, former employees and the general public are going to have to wait. I've been waiting for a year to see some improvement at the HR department and I haven't seen it. I want to ask the Minister when the general public, employees and former employees are going to get the level of service that they deserve. When is this work going to be done? When is the Minister going to present any type of information to Regular Members in this House so that we can see where these 100 areas of improvement, as the Minister speaks of, where they are? When is this going to happen, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 35-15(5): Concerns with GNWT Human Resources Service Levels

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that we have a number of employees that end up for long periods of time not getting the proper information. But there's hundreds, if not thousands, of files that are handled in a satisfactory manner that deal with existing employees, whether it's medical travel, leave, lieu time, all of those things. So they're ongoing on a daily basis and getting done within the required amount of time. We do have a large backlog of files that we've worked on. When we pulled this unit together there was over 1,000 files backlogged, some of them for years. That's one of the reasons why we've gone down this path, is to improve the way we do business. In fact, as I had stated, we're starting to put some of the pieces together that we should be focussing on, not putting out fires but dealing more proactively, and that was an employment equity policy. But I will be updating this House as to some of the areas where we've seen some improvement. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 35-15(5): Concerns with GNWT Human Resources Service Levels

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I've told the Minister this before, but these problems that we're encountering today in HR came from the various departments when he amalgamated HR, and I think it's incumbent upon the Minister to show the leadership and go back to the departments where the problems came from, and they exist in a number of departments and he knows which ones they are. Go back and recoup some of the money, Mr. Speaker. The Minister didn't answer my question. When will service levels improve? That is the big question, Mr. Speaker, and I want the Minister to commit to when service levels will improve for employees, former employees and the public. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 35-15(5): Concerns with GNWT Human Resources Service Levels

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the service levels that we are performing to are improving daily. Yes, we have some outstanding files that we're working on and trying to improve. Yes, during the amalgamation process some of our existing employees, from September until now, have had to wait longer than is expected. We're tightening up those time frames and going to change our processes to make sure they get the information in an adequate amount of time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Premier and it's in regards to the ongoing labour dispute between the Ekati diamond mine and the UNW, Mr. Speaker. I made a statement at the beginning of this session about how difficult this situation is for both parties involved. I have written to the Premier on this issue, as well. I am sensitive to the complexities on this. It is an issue that involves two parties in the private sector and it does involve issues under the jurisdiction of the federal government which has the responsibility of labour and other areas. But having said all that, this is an industry that's important for the North. There are workers who are without an agreement, and I was hoping, and I've said in this House, and I think we were all hoping that there will be an agreement, but that is not happening. One of the suggestions that I made to the Premier was whether or not he'd be willing to appoint a Premier's envoy to see if he could meet with the two parties and see if there's anything the government can do to bring the two parties together or to accommodate, facilitate. I realize it's a sensitive matter, but I was reading a book yesterday and President Clinton, you know, jumped in on when the baseball game went on a strike. There's a role for the governors like us to look and see what we can do. So I'd like to know what the Premier is thinking on this issue. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 36-15(5): Ekati Mine Labour Dispute

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There's no doubt that the mining industry is important to our government and to the people in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, to my knowledge, there is a process that's ongoing, a negotiating process and it has to go through its various stages as both sides work diligently to come to an agreement. Mr. Speaker, as the Member has pointed out, this is really under the Canada Labour Code. While there may be a place for us someday in this, I believe that it's premature for us to begin to intervene in this process in any way at this point. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 36-15(5): Ekati Mine Labour Dispute

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand that this is within the jurisdiction of the federal Minister of Labour, but there are times when the federal Minister of Labour would intervene, appoint mediators or arbitrators, and the Premier is stating that this is premature. I don't know; I think that this has gone on for a very long time. I think we could even say that the two parties are very far apart. Could the Premier just say what is giving him an indication, what is the bar or the timeline or the landmark that he's looking to see when he thinks that it's time for him or this government to do what we can? Not to intervene, but what we could do to facilitate the process. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Premier.

Further Return To Question 36-15(5): Ekati Mine Labour Dispute