Debates of June 7, 2006 (day 7)

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 71-15(5): Seniors’ Housing Project In Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I find that completely outrageous. There’s been a number of concerns raised in the media and from constituents of mine about the fairness of this approach. Some seniors receive fully subsidized housing while others are struggling day in and day out to maintain independent homes with very little support, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister, what is the plan of the Housing Corporation to address a more fair and equitable distribution of housing support for seniors in the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 71-15(5): Seniors’ Housing Project In Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as all the Members know, we are moving towards centralizing our social funding to one institution, which is the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, where we’ve basically allocated $30 million from the housing program in regards to subsidies that we provide and through the arrangement of centralizing the funds that are provided to people in the Northwest Territories for programs and subsidy programs from home grants in regards to subsidies for our housing stock for social housing and also in regards to programs that we have from fuel subsidies and whatnot to find a fair process. I think in order to do that now, we have an avenue how we can revamp the program, make it more fair and also have the opportunity to revise it and ensure that we do have a program for people that are in homeownership, but also people in public housing. So there’s presently a process in place to look at that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 71-15(5): Seniors’ Housing Project In Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d suggest the Minister get on that as soon as possible. I mean this type of situation that was allowed to take place under his watch should not be allowed to happen under any circumstances, and he should go back with the Minister of ECE and develop a plan so that there’s a means test and people are treated fairly. I’d like to know from the Minister how many other similar housing units has the Housing Corporation made available to seniors at no cost, regardless of means, in other NWT communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 71-15(5): Seniors’ Housing Project In Hay River

Mr. Speaker, as I stated in my opening remarks, this program has been there for 10 years. The government-of-the-day made a political decision to allow seniors in social housing not to pay rent. The decision was made and with this government they have made a decision to look at a social income review of all social programs, centralized it in one area and look at exactly the fairness of our programs and services. Right now that review is taking place, they will be looking at these issues to ensure that we have a fair process for all people within our social housing stock to people within the private sector. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Your final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 71-15(5): Seniors’ Housing Project In Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This approach is obviously causing division amongst seniors in our communities and while no one could really begrudge a couple for taking advantage of such a generous program, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation can’t provide this level of support to all seniors. It’s impossible, Mr. Speaker, that they do that. I’d like to ask the Minister is this an approach to seniors’ housing that the Minister plans to expand on? He started on it, but I want to hear an answer from him today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 71-15(5): Seniors’ Housing Project In Hay River

Mr. Speaker, as I stated, we are reviewing it through the review of our income security programs. Right now, as a government, we have decided, as Members of this House and as this government, that we are centralizing the programs that we deliver to find a fair mechanism to all people regardless if they live in their own home or are in social housing. Because of the inequities of our programs and services, we want to ensure that everybody is treated fairly. So we are presently going through that process. Once basically there is a review done, the Minister of Education will be coming back to this House to ensure that the programs and services we do deliver are fair and equitable to all residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My questions are a follow-up as a result of my Member’s statement with regard to O and M and the Department of MACA. I’m sure that, well, perhaps the Minister can tell me, Mr. Speaker, if the department is aware of the gap that already exists in the new funding formula for transferring the responsibility of O and M to the communities. It really, really makes sense to everybody’s eyes, but using a three-year rolling average just doesn’t work, just because of the increase in energy costs. I’d just like to know if the Minister is aware of this, have the communities contacted him and what’s the initial plan to address this? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 72-15(5): Transfer Of GNWT Programs And Services To Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have been working on a number of funding allocations that we provide to the communities. We have had discussions with the NWT Association of Communities. We have had discussions with LGANT, Local Government Administrators in the Northwest Territories, and we’ve also had a discussion in the communities with the different municipalities about a number of areas where we provide funding. Of course, the New Deal is something that’s on the drawing board and we have rolled out the information and communications to the community. We’ve also been allocated some new dollars to put towards the capital infrastructure in the communities and this has increased from $17 million to what it is now at $28 million. We’ve provided that information and we continue to provide that information for the communities. As part of this process in reviewing community governance, we’re also reviewing the water and sewer subsidy and we are also having discussions regarding the O and M for the community for governance. We will continue to do so. We have another round of discussions happening this spring and we plan to bring some of that information forward when we complete all those discussions. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 72-15(5): Transfer Of GNWT Programs And Services To Communities

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Is the Minister’s approach to a discrepancy between how much a community spends and how much a community will receive through this complex funding formula, will that be addressed this year or is that something that the communities can discuss and raise with the Minister soon, because it will impact their current year’s budget, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 72-15(5): Transfer Of GNWT Programs And Services To Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, there is and some discussion has already taken place. There is discussions and concerns brought forward by the two associations that we work with and have working groups with. We have had discussions with the community. We’ve been alerted of areas of concern. For the most part, the communities have come back and informed us that the funding formula is okay but the funding amount may be not adequate. So they’re asking us not to change the formula, but maybe look at the amounts that are allocated through the formula and that maybe we need to do something in that area. We hope to have all this information in place and have some decisions so that we can bring some of this stuff forward during the business planning this fall. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 72-15(5): Transfer Of GNWT Programs And Services To Communities

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I have been in contact with the Minister’s office to advise him that this fiscal year…and he’s absolutely right; the communities are happy with the formula, it’s just that because of the rising energy costs in the last six months, like, this formula probably took some time to work on, the six months that they took to work on this formula is just when the gas and fuel prices were rising, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister address this year’s shortfall this year as opposed to waiting until next fiscal year? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 72-15(5): Transfer Of GNWT Programs And Services To Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We always take the position to deal with the communities that accumulate a deficit and I’d like to point out we only have, I think this year we have four communities that have accumulated deficits and we continue to work with a recovery plan, we work on doing analysis where they may have overspent or where there are issues about shortfall. So we’ll continue to do those things. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Your final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 72-15(5): Transfer Of GNWT Programs And Services To Communities

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. No, the issue is that there is already a shortfall because the funding that communities are getting is based on a three-year average, but the average did not include the skyrocketing increase in the O and M, which is basically fuel. So that’s the shortfall that the community has asked me to address. Will the Minister look at some type of funding options to provide, to prevent this hardship for this fiscal year? Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 72-15(5): Transfer Of GNWT Programs And Services To Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the budgets for this year have already been set. I would have to take that under consideration and review the situation with each community. Each community has unique needs and we have historically dealt with the communities and tried to address the issues that are causing them concern and will continue to do so, and if there’s a mechanism of working some kind of fiscal arrangement, then we’ll explore those options. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Minister Dent. I’d like to ask Minister Dent is he putting some plan together in terms of banning the junk food in all our schools in the Northwest Territories as outlined, put the junk in the trunk as my friends say and get some action in our schools here? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 73-15(5): Healthy Food In NWT Schools

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. More than a year ago I discussed with the chairs of the DECs the need for us to ensure that healthy snacks were available for children in all of our schools and all of the DECs have agreed that they’re moving towards this. I think most of them in the Territories have already moved to ensure that healthy snacks are in vending machines. I will follow up with the DECs and find out just what the state of compliance is with that direction.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 73-15(5): Healthy Food In NWT Schools

Thank you. I look forward to that report from the Minister in terms of which schools. Now, can the Minister, again, can he outline some form of action plan of some of the schools who decided not to follow this route? What type of leadership can he provide to his department to get healthy food, get them into vending machines and put the junk in the trunk? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 73-15(5): Healthy Food In NWT Schools

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know from my discussions with the chairs of the divisional education councils that there’s a broad acceptance that we need to be moving this way. So I’m certainly of the opinion that the leaders in the educational councils will set the standards in their regions and make sure that they are moving to have healthy foods in all of the vending machines across the North. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 73-15(5): Healthy Food In NWT Schools

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister look at providing some directive, some initiative to all the DEAs in the Territories to come up with some draft policies to have healthy foods, healthy snacks in their schools? Take out the junk food from the school and provide direction, let his department, this government, provide some leadership. They’ve provided strong leadership in the past on some other initiatives this government has done. I suggest continuing with that leadership. Would the Minister provide a time frame or something that the communities can report to saying by a certain date we’re going to have all healthy foods in this school? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 73-15(5): Healthy Food In NWT Schools

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I trust that I'm not going to have to provide a directive to enforce that happening. I believe that those who are elected to our divisional educational councils are themselves leaders and understand the importance of healthy food and do want to get junk in the trunk. I will work with the divisional education council leaders and if we don't see that movement happening, I may reconsider my position by next fall. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 73-15(5): Healthy Food In NWT Schools

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I look forward again to Minister Dent's position in the fall time in terms of the leadership. Can the Minister, then, look at different avenues in terms of encouraging, motivating these schools to provide healthy foods in the schools, working with the different northern food stores and different community organizations to get healthy foods and take the junk out, keep it in the trunk once and for all? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 73-15(5): Healthy Food In NWT Schools

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certainly, I'd be happy to make sure that we're discussing with our partners that initiative or those sorts of initiatives. I know from my discussions with them already that they are already well aware of the importance of following through on this. So I trust that they will all move to ensure that we're seeing healthy foods in schools and physically active kids. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I just want to ask the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources and Health and Social Services a question just referring back to October last year when the Minister has committed, as a department, to do a review of the health and social services arrangement that they have with the Yellowknife Health Authority as far as the relationship with people of Deninu Kue. I just want to know what the status of that review is and, if it's completed, is it available for public consultation? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the review was done. They are just finalizing the consultation with the communities. They've been in there with the various stakeholders and trying to set up meetings with the community leadership to go over the content of the review and the recommendations that were made, and I'd be more than happy to get a copy of that for the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess back in October during the session the Minister said that he would commit to the Member that this review would be done in the first week of January. I'm hoping that it probably was done in January sometime, and that was four months ago. The community consultation; is there any specific dates that the Minister can tell me and my constituents when they're going to be in the communities to do this consultation, because it's already four months past when the review was supposed to be completed. When do we start the consultation process, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.