Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the Chamber. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to raise a point of privilege.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last Friday your Committee of the Whole considered a motion to delete funding from the Department of Justice for planning towards the renovation of the Territorial Women’s Correctional Centre in Fort Smith. In a very unusual step a Minister other than the Minister responsible for the department whose estimates were before the committee spoke to the motion. Mr. Miltenberger is the Member for Thebacha, which includes the community of Fort Smith.
In speaking to the motion, the Member made the following remarks, and I quote from the unedited Hansard of May 30, 2008: “And as we keep open minds to look at all the options, one of the options that hadn’t been considered is we’re talking about repatriating a bunch of adults into a supportive living structure that has yet to be built. Has that been considered as a possibility for Arctic Tern? I don’t know. But clearly it’s a circumstance that strikes me as interesting and somewhat ironic.”
Mr. Speaker, under section 2 of our rules the privileges enjoyed by all Members and the House as a collective are defined. One of the fundamental privileges that each of us as Members enjoys is freedom from obstruction and intimidation in relation to our duties as elected representatives.
Mr. Speaker, the comments made by the Member for Thebacha last Friday are a great cause of concern for me and should be cause for concern for all Members. While it is very unusual for a Minister to speak in favour of a project in his or her riding, it is a mystery to me why the Minister would make reference to a completely unrelated project in this debate. The adult supportive living facility referenced by the Member is a project that has already been approved by this House and has no relation to the project in Fort Smith. I am concerned that residents of Hay River listening to the debate now may be wondering whether the supportive living facility is now in question because their MLA dared to speak against a project in a Minister’s riding based on the merits of that project at this particular time.
We cannot do business this way. As 19 Members in this consensus system of government we owe it to the people of the Northwest Territories to carry out our debates with integrity. We adopted a code of conduct at the outset of this Assembly. This included a vow to do our utmost to distribute resources fairly and justly. How are we to do this if we cannot question the allocation of those resources if some resources are off limits because they are in a Minister’s constituency?
We have an obligation as Regular Members to hold the government to account. We need to be able to weigh the proposed spending of public dollars and infrastructure projects on their merits. This involves asking questions and sometimes voting against the government proposals if they do not bear up against that scrutiny. This is our responsibility and our duty.
I believe the Member for Thebacha’s comments were made to intimidate me as I attempted to carry out my duty and my right as a Member to vote the way I wished on this potentially contentious motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Before I rule on your point of privilege, I’m going to allow some debate on the point of privilege. To the point of privilege, the honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, have reviewed Hansard. I’ve also reviewed Hansard from last February 18, when we were in Committee of the Whole. The Member for Hay River South called me on a point of order when I was speaking, stating — if I could quote from page 387 of Hansard: “I have a point of order. Is Mr. Miltenberger speaking to this as a Minister of the Cabinet, or he is speaking to this as the MLA for Thebacha?” The chair at the time, Mr. Krutko, said, “Mrs. Groenewegen, you do not have a point of order, since you didn’t specifically state your order. But to be fair to all Members, this motion is before the House, and every Member has the right to speak to the motion. To be fair to everyone, everyone has had the right to speak.”
When you look at the Hansard from Friday, clearly there’s a context here. The Social Programs Committee had come forward with a motion, in fact a number of motions. They had spoken about Arctic Tern. They spoke about the need to look at all options. They asked the Minister what plans were there for Arctic Tern. They made comments about thinking outside the box.
My one comment on that issue was that there’s an option that hasn’t been considered that I think is fully valid, and in fact, other Members, when it was discussed with them, agreed that it should be worth at least looking at.
In the course of the debate, which is the place to bring this issue to the floor, I raised that comment and I raised that option. It was done within the context of the broad debate. It was no threat. It was stated very calmly, quietly, briefly as something that should be considered.
The irony, if you look at the whole text of my comments, speaks not to that but to the other issue of the comments and concerns I had about this issue being brought forward by a Member for Yellowknife. So while I respect the Member’s right to stand up and raise those issues, very clearly I do not agree that there’s a point of privilege. It’s part of the debate, and I believe it was entirely within keeping within the context of that debate.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. To the point of privilege?
Members, the Speaker’s role when a point of privilege has been raised is to determine whether the matter was raised at its earliest convenience, earliest possible opportunity, and to decide whether a prima facie breach of privilege has occurred.
As the events that are brought out under the point of privilege happened during Committee of the Whole, I will take the point of privilege under advisement and come back to the Members at a later date with a ruling. Thank you, Members.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On May 28, 29 and 30 I attended the 2008 Western Premiers’ Conference in Prince Albert Saskatchewan. As I stated in my Budget Address, I intended to focus my attention on delivering the message of our territory and our people to those that need to hear it. The Northwest Territories had the full attention of western Premiers and succeeded in getting their support for issues important to us.
The Premiers from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nunavut and the NWT, along with the Deputy Premier from the Yukon, talked about the strength of the western economy, our collective accomplishments and our shared sense of optimism for the future. Over the last few years we have witnessed tremendous economic growth in the west, a region quickly becoming the economic engine of this country. The North is clearly part of the new west with little doubt that the economic development of the Northwest Territories is important to the west and ultimately to Canada’s future.
There is a genuine interest by all western Premiers to lend their support to do their part to make sure that the territories are part of the unprecedented growth of the western economy. My fellow Premiers joined me in my call to the federal government to provide strategic federal infrastructure investments for the North. I reminded Premiers that this country has a long history of making large investments in infrastructure in support of a broader national vision, and it is only fitting to articulate that support in the hometown of John Diefenbaker, who had plans to open up the North for development through the construction of basin opening infrastructure.
At the meeting all western Premiers also expressed strong support for Jordan’s Principle — the principle that jurisdictions should not get in the way of providing health or other services to aboriginal children in need, no matter where they live. Premiers are committed to do their part and look to the federal government to do theirs. In fact, the example of the NWT was cited, where the cumulative shortfall for health care funding provided for services to aboriginal people on behalf of the federal government is equivalent to one-third of our annual health budget. Premiers agreed that this is unacceptable and called on the federal government to meet these responsibilities for health care services. To show their continued commitment to advancing aboriginal interests, Premiers also joined leaders on the National Day of Action and participated in their efforts to raise awareness of the issues affecting aboriginal people across this country.
Mr. Speaker, during our discussions Premiers also discussed the need to consider alternative energy sources to reduce the dependency on diesel as a fuel source for communities in the North. Premiers were receptive to our message about the great work that is being done in our territory to develop our rich hydro potential and to be a leader in the area of wind technology. In considering clean alternative energy, there is widespread recognition that we are sitting on huge resource potential that will eventually be tapped through the development of the Mackenzie Gas pipeline.
Overall, Mr. Speaker, this was a very successful meeting in advancing the priorities of the GNWT with our western counterparts. Investment in infrastructure, seeking health funding from Ottawa and development of new energy resources are just a few of the important priorities that all Premiers supported at this year’s Western Premiers’ Conference. Building and maintaining strong partnerships with our provincial and territorial neighbours is a key component to achieving the goals of this Assembly.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. Ministers’ statements, the honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.
Mr. Speaker, today is the first day of Tourism Week in Canada. It is a chance for us to highlight the tremendous importance of this sector to our national and local economies and to our lives as Canadians.
In the Northwest Territories tourism is a $113 million a year industry. More importantly, it is an area of investment that offers many spin-off benefits and has the potential to establish and grow viable and sustainable ventures in almost every one of our region’s 33 communities.
As a government we are acutely aware of the importance and significance of our tourism industry and the economic opportunities that it offers, particularly at the local level. Our Tourism 2010 Plan and the $15 million it represents in direct and leveraged investment is designed to capitalize on this potential and is one of the most significant commitments that has ever been made for tourism in the Northwest Territories.
The new Tourism Product Diversification and Marketing Program is a good example of Tourism 2010 in action. It is providing our industry and its operators with the insight and means to reinvent or expand their products and operations to meet the trends and demands that we anticipate will provide growth for our tourism industry in the future.
Meanwhile, the LookUp North campaign, sponsored last year by the NWT, Yukon and Nunavut governments, heightened the profile of Canada’s North to a new level and resulted in a significant increase in visitor traffic to the NWT last summer.
These tourism-based initiatives and others are the tools with which we are working to balance and increase the diversity of the Northwest Territories’ economy, maximizing opportunities and contributing to an improvement in the quality of life for all NWT residents.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take the time today to recognize the board, staff and members of Northwest Territories Tourism, NWTT, who in their role as our destination marketing organization are an important and valued partner in our efforts on behalf of the tourism sector. In particular, I would like to offer best wishes on behalf of this Assembly to David Grindlay, whose guidance and vision have allowed the NWTT to significantly advance its role and resources in the last seven years and who will be leaving his position as executive director this summer.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize and salute the men and women who work in our valued tourism sector, individuals at every level whose service and reputation are building our industry and who are the face of our tourism industry to the world.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities, Ms. Lee.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Disability Awareness Week is from June 1 to 7, 2008. This year’s theme is Disability Is Not a Choice…Your Attitude Is.
One of the priorities for the 16th Legislative Assembly is to improve support for children and adults with special needs and disabilities. The week is an opportunity for us all to recognize the contributions that persons with disabilities make in our communities and to consider how persons with disabilities can contribute or participate in the social, recreational and educational lives of communities across the Northwest Territories.
The July 2000 report Living with Disability… Living with Dignity told us that approximately 13 per cent of the population of the NWT has a disability and that many of these individuals have multiple disabilities. For many years the Government of the Northwest Territories has worked closely with the NWT Council of Persons with Disabilities, the Yellowknife Association for Community Living and the YWCA through the Disability Steering Committee Partnership to consider how we can best meet the needs of persons with disabilities in the NWT. This collaborative work has led to the completion of many of the actions in the 2004 NWT Action Plan for Persons with Disabilities and has been invaluable.
One of the greatest needs for persons with disabilities is the need for supported living options. For many years the GNWT has had to send many persons with disabilities to live in the south due to the limited housing options in the North. The Hay River Territorial Supported Living Initiative as a part of the Strategic Initiative Committee on Building Our Futures will enable us to offer additional supported living services to residents of the NWT. The cost of the facility operation will be offset by repatriating clients currently in the south. This initiative fulfills one of the action items in the NWT Action Plan for Persons with Disabilities, in which the GNWT committed to develop additional supported living options for persons with disabilities.
Mr. Speaker, I’d like to highlight the work of the staff of the NWT Council of Persons with Disabilities and their local committees across the NWT. The council has been an active and consistent advocacy group working on behalf of persons with disabilities for many years.
With support from the Department of Health and Social Services the council has been able to initiate such programs as the Disability Information Line, the successful Parking Placard Program and community outreach programs. With the support of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority the council operates the successful Early Childhood Intervention Program.
The executive director for the council, Ms. Cecily Hewitt, will soon be leaving her position with the council. Ms. Hewitt has been very dedicated to the work of the council and of bettering the lives of those with disabilities. I would like to personally thank her and wish her luck with her future endeavours.
There are many other vital organizations dedicated to working on behalf of persons with disabilities in the NWT. I would like to acknowledge the work of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association, the Canadian Mental Health Association, the Yellowknife Association for Community Living, the YWCA, the Autism Society, People First, the NWT Literacy Council and the Learning Disabilities Association. These organizations make a difference in the everyday lives of persons with disabilities and have a long-term commitment to enhancing the future quality of life of all persons with disabilities.
I encourage everyone to watch for activities that highlight Disability Awareness Week in their communities. We honour and thank persons with disabilities throughout the NWT for their contributions and strength that they provide to our friends, families and communities.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Yakeleya.
Minister’s Statement 47-16(2)
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]
Mr. Speaker, I am encouraged by the interest in the Arctic gateway that I've recently heard about from various leaders and my counterparts in other jurisdictions.
I am pleased to report that on April 8, 2008, at the Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety meeting in Gatineau, Quebec, the federal Transportation Minister committed his department to undertake a feasibility study on the Arctic gateway and trade corridor. This study is expected to commence later this year.
I am also pleased with the support we received from the Arctic gateway at the recent Western Canada Transportation Ministers meeting in Victoria, B.C. The federal government recently released the National Policy Framework for Strategic Gateways and Corridors. This framework defines the elements of a national strategic gateway and guides federal investment. Factors such as economic efficiency and competitiveness, sovereignty and security and environmental sustainability are considered within this framework.
I would like to provide Members with an update on the proposed NWT Arctic gateway and trade corridor through the Mackenzie Valley. This NWT gateway has the potential to re-arrange logistics for major resource developments in western Canada and in the North. The centrepiece of this gateway is the Over the Top marine shipping route.
An Arctic gateway and trade corridor through the Mackenzie Valley will provide efficiencies and savings. The shortened distance from Asia and Europe would reduce current weight and dimension restrictions now experienced on delivery routes from either Atlantic or Pacific gateways. An Arctic gateway also provides the advantage of relieving congestion for the southern ports, highways and rail links.
The importance of developing an Arctic gateway will continue to expand due to the rise in the demand for imported goods and exports from Canadian commodities, climate change and technology advancement.
Over the past year the Department of Transportation completed an initial assessment study of the route, held meetings and information sessions on the route with proponents, oil sands stakeholders, various regulators, interested territorial, provincial and federal departments, including Transport Canada, and Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation. This work has helped generate national interest in the concept of an NWT Arctic gateway and trade corridor.
Industry has also been busy promoting the NWT Arctic gateway concept. Recently Arctic Module Inland Transportation Ltd., or AMIT, was established, a new joint venture between the Inuvialuit corporation, NTCL and Mammoet Canada, to focus on planning, testing and promoting the Over the Top marine shipping route. In March of this year AMIT started an engineering study for a major resource developer. This study will look into logistical aspects of this long-used historical route, as well as technology, vessel and regulatory requirements. AMIT will also be investigating an option that involves shipping modules up the Mackenzie River through the port of Hay River and via surface transportation to sites in Alberta and Saskatchewan. It should also be noted that NTCL completed a successful run of the Over the Top route in 2006 and is also proposing to test a barge delivery via Lake Athabasca to a site in Saskatchewan later this summer. These activities speak to the high level of interest and support for this transportation route.
The Department of Transportation view an Over the Top marine shipping route as an opportunity to promote additional economic opportunity in the Northwest Territories and to further assert Canada's sovereignty over the North. An Over the Top marine shipping route could improve the sustainability of our current marine transportation industry and further develop the communities of Tuktoyaktuk, Hay River and Fort Smith as significant marine service centres.
As the Over the Top route gains momentum, opportunities for development of the Mackenzie Valley all-weather highway also increases. Together, the Mackenzie Valley Highway and the Over the Top marine shipping route have the potential to become a major national strategic gateway.
In conclusion, I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues, AMIT and other proponents of an Arctic gateway and Over the Top marine shipping route. This work is a good example of how industry and government can partner to improve our transportation system.
Advancing the NWT Arctic gateway and trade corridor is both in the national and Northwest Territories' interest. An Arctic gateway and trade corridor should provide long-lasting benefits to the residents and businesses and communities of the Northwest Territories.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Before we go on, colleagues, I would like to draw your attention to the presence in the visitors’ gallery of His Excellency Jose Brilliante, Philippine Ambassador to Canada. Accompanying him are Joseph Angeles, Minister and Consul General, and Miss Rhenita Rodriguez, Consul. Welcome to Yellowknife. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly.
[English translation not provided.]
Mr. Speaker, I want to speak to you today about the serious delays in housing repairs and construction programs undertaken by the NWT Housing Corporation in the communities in my riding.
A number of houses are in serious need of repair, and there are many units that have not even been constructed yet. I have heard over and over again from my constituents that timelines to repairs and construction are not met. This can cause a great deal of disruption to clients.
When major repairs are needed, people are required to either move into a vacant house or move in with family and friends who often are already living in overcrowded conditions.
In one case an elderly couple in my riding has been waiting for over a year to move back into their house. This situation creates a vicious circle. The longer the delay, the less housing is available as people are moved into temporary units while they wait for these repairs or for new construction to be completed.
Timely repairs and construction schedules lead to fewer costs down the road. I call on the NWT Housing Corporation to work with the local housing organizations to review a commitment to tenants and clients, and to improve its repair and maintenance program.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to speak about programming at North Slave Correctional Centre. I believe that it is inconceivable that the Department of Justice would look to programming as a way and a means to appease the government’s reduction exercise.
The Northwest Territories has four times the national average in the areas of sexual assault and incidents of family violence. It is hard for me to comprehend why we would look to reduce program delivery officers at our largest correctional facility. It makes absolutely no sense. The government’s own strategic goals talk of safe communities and strengthening treatment of addictions and mental health. The actions proposed by the Department of Justice fly directly in the face of both of these goals.
I just do not feel comfortable without the adequate resources available at North Slave Correctional Centre to ensure that those inmates who require treatment and programming get that service in a timely, coordinated and professional manner. We can’t slough off the delivery of family violence and sex offender programs to other personnel. It took nearly three years to recruit a psychologist to the centre, and the caseworkers are busy with other duties. The affected positions are entitled “program delivery officers,” because that is their role and that is their function, not someone else’s.
The safety of our community is at stake, Mr. Speaker. I don’t want to see us shortchange our community’s safety by offering programming on a substandard basis. The department has also collapsed the deputy warden of programs position, which is also very, very unsettling. Those duties are now in the hands of a sentence administrator, who obviously would not be an expert on the programming that would be required at the centre. The department has chosen to take these measures, and I am left wondering what is next — the teachers at the centre or perhaps even the chaplain? Again, this is a classic case of reductions that are just not well thought out. Certainly the safety of our families and our communities should have gotten a higher billing from this government than it obviously has.
Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For too many years the people of the NWT have had little say into the decisions affecting our territory, decisions that were made on exploration rights, land issues, traditional territory issues, royalty sharing agreements — too many decisions that are made for us by Ottawa. Everybody seems to have an opinion as to what is in our best interests. We have seen too many examples of people outside the NWT telling us what is best for us.
The most recent example, Mr. Speaker, is the World Wildlife Fund call to postpone the sale of oil and gas exploration rights until an environmental plan is done for the region. Do they think that we have no idea what we are doing up here and need someone to tell us that we need a plan? This has been going on for too long. Do they actually believe that we would let exploration happen without concerns for the environment? We do appreciate people’s concerns, but we are not going to just stand by and watch our land being pillaged for the sake of a few barrels of oil.
I continue to be frustrated by groups outside of the NWT using our issues up here to advance their own agendas. I think this government, along with working with the aboriginal governments, knows and can decide what is best for us. For too long we have had decisions made for us that are supposed to be in our best interests, and I think we know what is in our best interest. There must come a time when we have to say that enough is enough and take the future of the NWT into our own hands. I believe we do have the capabilities of making our own decisions.
Mr. Speaker, Ottawa is always using our resources as a piggy bank, thinking we owe them something. The time has come. We have to put a stop to that. When the resources and the money they generate run out, then Ottawa will say, “Okay; decide for yourselves” and they will give us that power. We must not continue to watch our wealth leave the NWT. We can’t always allow outsiders to stick their nose into our business and decide what is best for us and the NWT. We are quite capable of sticking our own noses in there. We have to take a hard line and protect the NWT and our grandchildren’s future. I think we do have the capabilities up here. I think it’s time that this government, along with the aboriginal governments in the Northwest Territories, decides to unite and let Ottawa know that we’re not going to be putting up with this anymore.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. World Wildlife Fund of Canada, a long-term northern conservation partner, has been attacked by Inuvialuit leaders and, most disturbingly, by our own Premier. The attacks are based on false premises and completely ignore the point — a valid point, I might add. World Wildlife Fund of Canada has called for a postponement of the lease sale in the Beaufort until a comprehensive measurement plan is available for the region and the capability is in place to quickly clean up oil spills.
Mr. Speaker, planning is as yet unfinished in the conservation of the Beaufort. In fact, the World Wildlife Fund is a partner with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Inuvialuit Game commission. They’ve all agreed that it’s unfinished and need to take those things into consideration.
Secondly, an Arctic Council report has just been published that confirms that we do not yet have the capability to clean up oil spills, and I’d like to give you a quote from that: “Oil spills under ice or in ice-covered waters are the most challenging, simply because they cannot be contained or recovered effectively with current technology.” This is a report out last month from the Arctic Council, of which we are a member.
Federal Minister Lunn has also made a comment, saying, “We are a long way from resources development, but we need to make sure no project proceeds unless the proper protections are in place.” Clearly, there’s mutual agreement on that.
Finally, the Canadian public has said the same thing. Over 55 per cent have said that environmental concerns are the number one priority for Canadians, and in fact, only 7 per cent of Canadians say that economic development is a top priority in the Arctic.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to make clear to everyone that many, many people in the Northwest Territories, in the Beaufort-Delta as well as in the Deh Cho and the Tlicho and in Yellowknife — in fact, in all regions — support sustainable development. The World Wildlife Fund is talking about sustainable development.
Sustainable development means that any economic development must incorporate an effective response to environmental and social concerns — not a new statement for me here today. I’m frankly quite disappointed that our Premier is so quick to state his opposition to the perspective of the World Wildlife Fund.
I support the Inuvialuit and their strong interest in protecting their land. I support their land-use planning process. I support their social well-being initiatives. These are all components of sustainable development.
A fanatic focus on mega-development projects benefits some…
Mr. Bromley, your time for your Member’s statement has expired.
…but certainly not all. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to talk about a couple of transportation issues that have been on the horizon of that industry.
Across Canada there have been a number of concerns emerging that are under public discussion, which are all about cellphones and smoking while driving in vehicles with children present. The issue really is about the public debate and the fact that there needs to be a public debate on these types of issues for transportation here in the North.
I’ve had a number of constituents come forward through e-mail to talk to me about what our government is doing on these issues that have come on to the horizon of safety of our people, whether there’s the safety of children inside the car or, of course, there’s just the safety of other people driving along the road. Many supporters of cellphone usage, of course, say that drivers won’t be distracted. But other people say that there are a number of distractions on the road, so would that add to any better situation?
I’m not an expert in these areas, but I think it’s critical that we get out there and have these types of debates. Provinces like Nova Scotia moved forward and banned smoking with children present in vehicles. I think that’s an interesting and bold move, because they’re worried about the safety of those children. There are a number of provinces who talk about things like enforcement and the difficulty of that.
When we look at these emerging transportation issues, you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know that if you’re not distracted, you’ll probably be driving safer. And, of course, we all understand that smoking in cars is a concentrated focus, and affecting children is a very difficult thing that we don’t want to do.
The reason I raise this as a rising transportation issue is that the concern is out there, and at this moment I don’t see the Department of Transportation leading a discussion, and that’s really all I want.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to add the fact that it’s on principle that we get out there and find out what the citizens need to know. It’s critical we find out what they want to hear, and I want to hear from them as well.
The fact is that public discussion is the principle and the basis of why I raise this issue today. I’ll have questions for the Minister of Transportation, to make sure we get out there, find the facts of these issues and find out if these types of things really work in the Northwest Territories and if would it make our roads safer and better.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In February I asked the Minister of Human Resources some specific questions on bonuses for deputy heads, senior managers and excluded employees of the GNWT.
At that time I was informed that approximately $1.65 million is paid out annually to these employees. Further, approximately $550,000 is paid out annually to senior managers of the head staff of the NWT Power Corporation. This is around $2 million per year.
Given current fiscal realities, it’s definitely time to reconsider how this government awards bonuses to senior managers. Currently virtually every senior public official gets a bonus. It’s time for senior management to earn their fat bonuses. When bonuses are expected rather than earned, it breeds mediocrity. It even encourages senior managers to keep their mouths shut about problems, and it does not encourage thinking outside the box, which would have been really useful during the budget process that we’re currently going through.
We can’t afford to reward senior managers who happen to have technical skills, or are very gifted technically, but are lousy people-managers or run over their staff in order to get results.
Recently the federal government developed a more rigorous assessment process for their performance pay. With their new plan and process fewer than 20 per cent of their senior executives will receive bonuses. Under the federal program senior managers are assessed based on performance targets and a 360-degree review, which includes input from fellow senior managers, colleagues, ministers and others.
Implementing a process similar to the federal government’s will ensure that when bonuses are earned, they will be paid, and when they aren’t earned, they won’t be paid. This ensures that we can remain competitive with the private sector by providing our high-quality performers with financial incentives, which encourage their continued commitment to the GNWT, as opposed to jumping ship and seeking employment with the private sector.
It’s time to review how bonuses are paid. It’s time to ensure that staff are rewarded for outstanding performance — performance that is above and beyond expectations — for thinking outside the box, for streamlining government through increased efficiencies or better use of resources rather than cutting jobs, which is the easiest solution.
Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I’ll be asking the Premier some questions concerning bonuses in the GNWT.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
Mr. Speaker, I’d like to give voice today to some concerns about the proposed budget that have been heard from our communities.
NWT communities are generally pleased with the budget, except for the process followed. Budget development lacked any public consultation and effectively handcuffed the communities’ own budget processes.
As a result, at the NWT Association of Communities’ annual general meeting, held in Simpson last month, the membership passed the following motion:
“Whereas the Government of the Northwest Territories…announced in January that it will cut approximately $135 million in expenditures; and
“Whereas it is unknown what impacts the cuts will have on public services.…
“Whereas no consultation has been undertaken by the GNWT, and no rigorous fiscal analysis providing justification for the proposed cuts has been made available to the public or community leaders, and given the negative impacts the cuts would cause to families and communities in the NWT.
“Therefore be it resolved that the NWTAC immediately urge the territorial government to defer any decision on job cuts until the government’s analysis and rationale for the need for the cuts has been made available for public review and consultation.”
While the NWTAC is appreciative that core funding for communities will not be reduced — that it will remain at last year’s levels — they’re very concerned about core funding for future years. As the motion from the AGM states, NWT communities are concerned about the effect position cuts will have on our communities.
As well, communities have been adjusting to the GNWT’s New Deal for several years. Control of one’s own destiny and resources is great, but communities, especially small communities, lack the human resource capacity to take on these downloaded responsibilities.
To MACA’s credit they’ve been providing assistance to communities to help them over this hurdle as much as they can, but that assistance has been shrinking every year.
A particular concern of the NWTAC is the projected loss of the position of emergency planning coordinator. This position exists to assist communities in developing emergency plans and to work with communities after a disaster or an emergency has occurred.
The emergency planning coordinator is, at this time, still dealing with the aftermath of the Fort Good Hope flood in 2005 and the Aklavik flood in 2006, trying to get home repairs done for the impacted residents. Who will help our communities be adequately prepared for any and all emergencies when this position is gone?
Mr. Speaker, I request unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
Unanimous consent granted.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues.
Who will help our communities be adequately prepared for any and all emergencies when this position is gone? Who will help our residents, following a flood or a forest fire, to access the federal funding they are due when this position is gone?
In closing, our residents, our voters, through their elected local governments are telling us to delay this budget — that it lacks analysis, rationale and that the proper consultation was not done. Sounds kind of familiar, doesn’t it?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have heard a lot in regard to residential schools and the high number of children that were mentally and physically abused in residential schools.
The Auditor General of Canada reported on the high number of children on reserves that are in foster care and in permanent custody of the provincial government. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories is no different. In 2002 in my constituency, there were 58 children in care in the three communities I represent. Compared to other jurisdictions in Canada and other groups in Canada, aboriginal people have the highest number of children in care.
This government is budgeting almost $11 million to deal with this matter in the Northwest Territories, which is a million dollar increase from last year.
In Fort McPherson alone — I checked in regard to government expenditures — they spend some $30,000 a month to deal with children in foster care, which is a cost of $360,000 a year.
We must move away from putting people and children in care, regardless of whether it is an institution or a home. What we have to do is remedy the situation by avoiding the situation that happened in the first place and working with families, children and the communities to find solutions on how to keep families together in their home communities and to be able to give those communities the tools they need to confront these problems.
One of the biggest drivers for children to be apprehended is alcohol abuse in the family. The communities have been looking at ways to deal with substance abuse in their communities by way of prohibition orders. By giving the communities the legal tools to take on these challenges and keep families together, keep communities together and, more importantly, to reinvest….
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
Unanimous consent granted.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, the communities need to be able to reinvest the $360,000 that’s presently expended on children in foster care to those types of programs and services that reunite the communities, reunite our families and bring the communities together to work to find solutions to the problems of children being apprehended.
At the appropriate time I will be having questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Members’ statements, the honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
