Debates of June 8, 2006 (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 88-15(5): Minister’s Involvement In The Stanton Territorial Hospital Board

I’d like to thank the Member first about his kind words about how well Stanton is running under my Ministership. I can’t take full credit for that. Clearly, I have a strong Cabinet that supports me, the Members of the Legislature…

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…and lots of good staff that does all the work. We have a system that I believe is functioning effectively and has been the result of a lot of hard work and consensus building, and I intend to continue with that arrangement. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, the Honourable Charles Dent. Mr. Dent wrote a letter to Mr. Roland subsequent to our budget session. I had inquired about the status of the Diamond Jenness Secondary School in Hay River and had asked if the functional report technical review that was done in 2003 could be updated. So Mr. Dent wrote to Mr. Roland asking that this happen. I was just wondering what is the status of that technical and functional review of the Diamond Jenness Secondary School today? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Return To Question 89-15(5): Status Of Technical And Functional Review Of Diamond Jenness School In Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I haven’t received a reply yet from Public Works and Services advising us as to the condition of the school. I’m certain that they will be looking at it or have looked at it, but we haven’t received the report yet. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 89-15(5): Status Of Technical And Functional Review Of Diamond Jenness School In Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my information is that Public Works and Services in fact has not undertaken a review of the condition of the Diamond Jenness Secondary School, and given our very extensive debate in this House yesterday over leaving these things to the last minute and then being forced into stop-gap measures at a very high price, I would think that it would be prudent of the Minister to follow up with the Minister of PWS again and ensure that this review gets taken, gets undertaken forthwith. Will the Minister commit to that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 89-15(5): Status Of Technical And Functional Review Of Diamond Jenness School In Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The answer is yes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations:

The issue of trespassing in land claim areas is not new. It has been brought to the government’s attention many times over the last several years. Why hasn’t the GNWT brought forward legislation to prevent trespassing in settled land claim areas?

What is the Premier prepared to do to ensure that the rights of the Sahtu people are protected, that our land claim is respected, and the trespassers are kept out of the settlement area?

Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I am in receipt of Return to Written Question 1-15(5) asked of the Honourable J. Michael Miltenberger, Minister of Health and Social Services, by Mr. Yakeleya on May 31, 2006, regarding services in the Sahtu for persons with disabilities.

In response to the Member's first question of what is the number of people with disabilities in the Sahtu region, I have the following answer:

Since there are no mandatory reporting requirements for disabilities, the exact number of people with disabilities in the Sahtu region is unknown. However, the Needs Assessment of Persons with Disabilities, undertaken in the NWT in 2000, suggested that 13 percent of the overall population could have a disability. Applying this figure to the population of the Sahtu region, which was estimated to be 2,581 in 2005, suggests that up to 335 people in the Sahtu region could have a disability. It is important to note that the identification of people with disabilities depends on self-identification, in some instances, and the specific nature of identified disabilities can range from very mild to severe.

The Member next wanted to know what services are in place to serve those with disabilities. Rehabilitation services, including speech and language therapy, audiology, rehabilitation therapy and occupational therapy, form one of the six core services for which all health and social services authorities are funded. The Sahtu Health and Social Services Authority has the following clinical positions which could provide a range of rehabilitation services to people with disabilities: four nurse-in-charge positions, seven community health nurse positions, seven community social service worker positions, seven community wellness worker positions, four home support workers, and seven community health representatives.

In addition, Beaufort-Delta Health and Social Services Authority provides an outreach service which includes rehabilitation visits to each Sahtu community. Scheduled visits in 2006-07 include one visit to Colville Lake, two visits to both Deline and Tulita, and three visits to Fort Good Hope and Norman Wells. When required, specialist services may also be available from Stanton Territorial Hospital. Beginning in 2006-07, four new rehabilitation teams will be created to provide for the needs of people with disabilities throughout the NWT.

The Member's third question was how are people with disabilities in the Sahtu qualified to meet once a year, and who can provide them with funding to set up a Sahtu disabilities committee.

Beginning in 2006-07 and continuing for two more years, the Department of Health and Social Services has committed $100,000 a year to the NWT Council of Persons with Disabilities in support of the development of community outreach programs. The council's board of directors has indicated that communities that support and maintain local disability committees will be eligible for Community Outreach Program funding.

I understand the Member has already met with the executive director of the NWT Council of Persons with Disabilities and that arrangements are now underway to have some regional funds made available to the Sahtu.

In addition, the council has some discretionary funding for any person with a disability who requires services or resources, regardless of whether their community has a disability committee or not. Individuals can make applications for discretionary funding directly to the council's executive director, Ms. Cecily Hewitt. She can be contacted at 867-873-8230 or toll-free at 1-800-491-8885.

The Member asked what other departments support people with disabilities in the Sahtu. Depending on an individual's circumstances, such as their age and disability, the social program departments, which include Education, Culture and Employment, Justice and the NWT Housing Corporation, may be able to offer programs and services.

Finally, the Member wanted to know who is leading the final decision on the funding on the Community Outreach Program. Decisions on Community Outreach Program funding are the responsibility of the NWT council of Persons with Disabilities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Returns to written questions. Before we go on to the next item on the agenda, the Chair is going to call a short break.

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Back to orders of the day. Replies to opening address. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to go back to item 7 of the orders of the day.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. I want to ask the Minister of Justice, Mr. Bell, I was very interested in reading the report on government contracts over $5,000. I want to ask the Minister of Justice on one of the items here. It’s an RFP for the Roman Catholic Corporation. They won a contract for $72,000. I want to ask the Minister of Justice if he can explain to the House and the people, are the Roman Catholics in business because they have some pretty powerful people who are helping them out?

---Laughter

How is the Roman Catholic Church in this request for proposals that’s been given to them? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 90-15(5): Contract Award To Roman Catholic Church

Mr. Speaker, I have to admit that I am not sure what the contract award was for. I am not sure if it was a tender for space in one of our communities, but I will endeavour to find out and get the information to the Member before the day is out. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct a couple of questions to Mr. Roland, the Minister for Public Works and Services. This relates to the arrangement that our government has with the YWCA. This provides them with a very valuable multi-storey apartment building located in my riding and it’s part of their housing infrastructure and the services that they provide to the community.

Mr. Speaker, this apartment building, the Rockhill Apartments, is made available through a lease. It’s my information that this lease is expiring within the next year or perhaps two and that the building is going to be in need of some up-fits. I am wondering if the Minister can advise on what the capital plans may be to bring this building up to modern standards and continue the lease with the YWCA, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister of FMBS, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 91-15(5): YWCA Lease For Rockhill Apartments In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Rockhill Apartments is an issue we have worked on with the Department of Health and Social Services and we have done some work with the Housing Corporation. The initial lease was entered into on a 10-year agreement, then another 10-extension. There has been work done on it on an annual basis. Public Works and Services spends about $50,000 in trying to protect the asset. Further to that, as part of the 2006-07 as part of our main estimates, our infrastructure acquisition plan within the Department of Health and Social Services; identified in 2007-08 is some repair work for that apartment building continuing on to 2008-09. Again, the capital plan for future years always has to come back and get approval from this House for the year that we are in. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 91-15(5): YWCA Lease For Rockhill Apartments In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the investment that goes into the building on an ongoing basis I am sure is appreciated. Also of concern to the YWCA is the renewal of the lease. This is something that I understand we have been working on, but, of course, timing is always of some significance, Mr. Speaker. I am wondering if the Minister could advise how negotiations are going and when a conclusion might be expected, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 91-15(5): YWCA Lease For Rockhill Apartments In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the role of Public Works in this would be one from an asset base working with a client department, this being Health and Social Services. This is in the area of coming up with a plan of what is required. In discussions with staff between Public Works and Services and Health and Social Services, Health and Social Services has deemed this facility to have an important role within their social support system. Part of the exercise we are going through is in the area of the Homelessness Strategy. Once that unfolds a little more, we will have a better indication of what role this facility will play in that strategy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, the Honourable Charles Dent. I would just like to have the Minister clear the air on some outstanding issues for myself and some other residents here in the city of Yellowknife. It gets back to the Yellowknife Facilities Capital Planning Committee. On May 19th, there was a press release that was inadvertently issued and caused some concern in various camps about the status of the committee’s work. I would like the Minister, if he could, to clarify what his position is in terms of the facility’s plans for the future of education needs here in the city of Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Return To Question 92-15(5): Facility Needs Of Yellowknife Education Boards

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at the end of the first week in May, I did receive the Yellowknife facilities report from the committee. The next day I received a phone call from one of the boards asking if an offer I had made previously to facilitate a bilateral meeting between the two Yellowknife school boards was still open. I confirmed that I would be prepared to have such a meeting facilitated. That was set up. It took place. At that meeting, the Yellowknife District No. 1 agreed that they would take some time to review their position and put in writing in a letter to me what they might be prepared to offer. So at that point, that was where things were left.

The press release the Member refers to, leading up to the facilitated meeting there were a number of different drafts of press releases prepared to be ready should one result or another happen. That release was never approved by me for distribution or posting on the web and should not have been there. I understand that it has caused some concern, but, Mr. Speaker, at this point I am still ready to continue to try to work with the two boards to see where we can get in this process. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 92-15(5): Facility Needs Of Yellowknife Education Boards

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it’s obviously clear that both boards, the YCS board and YK No. 1, have to be treated fairly and the needs have to be addressed. I would like to ask the Minister what he intends to do from today to the start of the school year to try to address the needs of both YK No. 1 board and the YCS board. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 92-15(5): Facility Needs Of Yellowknife Education Boards

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am prepared to put efforts into working with the two boards, but I think to be fair it has to be recognized that there is not likely to be a resolution in terms of space by fall of 2006. All of the parties have agreed at this point that we are working towards the fall of 2007. I am prepared to continue efforts. I have recently received a letter from the Yellowknife Catholic Schools that calls into question their willingness or interest in continuing this process. I am going to have to check on that. If there is an interest, I would be quite prepared to put every effort into working personally to try to resolve this issue. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 92-15(5): Facility Needs Of Yellowknife Education Boards

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I guess the question I would have to ask the Minister is he says things are going to happen, things will be resolved. I would like to get a commitment from him that both YCS’s needs and YK No. 1’s needs will be resolved and I know the Minister just said it’s not going to happen by this fall, but when are the issues here surrounding space in Yellowknife schools going to be settled once and for all? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 92-15(5): Facility Needs Of Yellowknife Education Boards

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When I say that the issues might be resolved, I am afraid, Mr. Speaker, that I can’t say that everybody is going to be satisfied with the resolution. I do believe that we have been working towards a resolution. I don’t know if we are still in that position today. We may be in a situation where we haven’t got an agreement to work any longer. I am going to have to confirm whether or not that’s happening and then we’ll follow up on it. It’s my goal to try to have a decision made by the parties at one point or another. I think it’s important to point out we have two elected boards in town here. The one board has a surplus of space; one board is short of space. It’s in their interest and they have to find some way to work together to resolve that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 92-15(5): Facility Needs Of Yellowknife Education Boards

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, does the Minister believe it’s fair to allow the two elected boards, the YCS board and the YK No. 1 board, to be basically pitted against each other to figure this out? What is the Minister’s role exactly in trying to rectify the situation that we find ourselves in here in Yellowknife? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The first part of that question is asking the Minister for his opinion, but I will allow the Minister to answer on the second part. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 92-15(5): Facility Needs Of Yellowknife Education Boards

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said, both the elected boards have ultimate responsibility for dealing with their constituents. If they are not satisfied with how things are happening, then they have to sit down and try to resolve that in their areas of influence.

Mr. Speaker, I am in a situation where we have, as I said, we have a board that has a surplus of space and one board that is short of space. We need to make sure that we have partners who are willing to work together and I am hopeful that we will. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, I have some questions for the Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, Honourable Michael McLeod, with regard to the urgent situation in my Tlicho communities. The dumps are located too close to the communities and all kinds of stuff, predators, are being attracted to the dump and they are coming to the communities. My constituents are afraid to let their children or even grandchildren walk outside or even walk to school. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister responsible for MACA if he would relocate these dumps farther away from my communities than they are currently located. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 93-15(5): Risks Associated With Location Of Landfills Near Tlicho Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our staff have been working with the communities in the Tlicho area regarding their capital plan and the relocation of the solid waste facilities. In some cases, we have been trying to find a location for a couple of years now. We have been talking to the leadership from Behchoko regarding a suitable location. We have made some suggestions and some options, and the community has also come forward with some options and we have been exploring how suitable they are. We have ruled some of them out. Some are too close to Highway No. 3 and were visible from the highway. We continue to have that discussion. We have some money in the budget that was carried over from last year, as we weren’t able to agree to a site. Hopefully we will do that this year.

For the community of Wekweeti, there is a concern over the solid waste site attracting animals and the old site we had to put an electric fence up to control the problem with the bears. We do have money for relocating that facility in this year’s capital plan to do a portion of it and carry it out through the next fiscal year.

In the community of Gameti, it’s been several years now that this project has been on the books. It was initially slated for 2004-2005 and there had to be a wildlife risk analysis study done. So it was carried over to last year, and last year we had problems with finding suitable equipment in the community to do this project. We had anticipated to start on that project this year; however, the SAO recently resigned from the community. So we are anticipating that we will carry this out until there are people in place to work this project and, in this case, the community has requested that we work with their development corporation to try to bring this project forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 93-15(5): Risks Associated With Location Of Landfills Near Tlicho Communities