Debates of March 2, 2005 (day 47)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to announce the release of the Government of the Northwest Territories declaration on volunteering and volunteer support initiative. Later today, I will be tabling copies for the Members’ information.

These documents signal a renewed commitment on the part of the Government of the Northwest Territories to volunteers and the important role they play in northern society.

The declaration on volunteering is a public statement of our government’s ongoing commitment to, and support for, the important role of volunteers in community life. This document will be widely released in poster format during National Volunteer Week in April.

The volunteer support initiative provides a policy framework to guide Government of the Northwest Territories activities. It is designed to outline how the government can take steps to increase volunteer participation rates and provide more effective support to individual volunteers and organizations. Specifically, it contains a number of measures designed to promote good citizenship through volunteerism, and to support non-government organizations with volunteer development.

Mr. Speaker, volunteers are a critical part of community life. They are the firefighters who protect us, the coaches who train and mentor our children, the organizers of community celebrations and the individuals who support us during difficult times.

Over the next few months, Government of the Northwest Territories departments will be working with Volunteer NWT and other organizations to develop a joint work plan to support the volunteer support initiative.

Over the long term, I am confident that we can continue to support the role of volunteers and volunteer organizations and improve the quality of life for all northerners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on February 15th I made a statement in this House about the need for a youth shelter, specifically for time after midnight when the youth centre we have now closes because I indicated in this House that the young people have literally no place to go, especially in winter months. What they do is go down the Gold Range street and see things that probably are a bad influence; we shouldn’t have a situation where we have 16 to 18-year-olds walking all night long.

The Minister indicated that his department and his officials were working with the group and looking at all the variables to see what they can do. That weekend, I found out, Mr. Speaker, that the centre opened for the weekend and overnight. I thought I made a difference. I felt so satisfied. I felt so powerful that we actually were able to do something. We make small differences.

Well, I found out yesterday that the funding was for five weeks. It started two weekends ago and it’s going to end at the end of March. Mr. Speaker, that’s a shame. I don’t know what the Minister has planned for those kids who are walking between midnight and 7:00 in the morning. They have no place to go and they are just ripe for the picking by people who are selling drugs and encouraging them to do all sorts of things.

I have to also point out, Mr. Speaker, that while this government is growing, RWED is creating 22 extra jobs, the Housing Corporation is spending $2 million more on a project that completely failed in its initial year, we are cutting program money, not only for the youth shelter but also for the Children and the Women’s Recovery Program. I just learned that the COPS program that was started by Yellowknife citizens is not going to get any funding from government at all. I think, Mr. Speaker, that our young constituents on our streets will tell you that we have our priorities all screwed up and I think it’s about time that we fix it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the past week, I was in Tulita for a funeral for an elder who happened to be my aunt. Mr. Speaker, in times like this, people in small communities take the time out to support one another in difficult times.

Mr. Speaker, we also had the opportunity of having the honourable Premier Joe Handley and Minister McLeod come to the community at that time. They drove up to the Sahtu region.

I want to say, Mr. Speaker, how much the people in Tulita and the Sahtu region appreciated having Mr. Handley and Mr. McLeod come to the community and give their condolences to our people there. Mr. Speaker, sometimes we get caught up in House business and we forget about the people in the small communities, especially times when there is a death and everyone is affected.

Mr. Speaker, the people in Tulita were ever so grateful for having Mr. Handley and Mr. McLeod come by and shake hands with the family. When I left the community, my uncle said he was so appreciative. For me, Mr. Speaker, that shows heart in this government. It shows a government that has heart and compassion for the people. At times it’s really hard for us. For the Premier and the Minister to come by and visit the people for a while, it shows leadership and Mr. Handley’s ability to bring the government to the people in times of need. We may not always get what we need, but as long as you are there for the people and listen to them, it goes a long way in people’s minds and hearts. For that, we are appreciative.

Mr. Speaker, I want to say thank you to Mr. Handley and Mr. McLeod for taking the time out and coming to our people when they were in need. It shows that this government does have heart and has some good leadership abilities. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to speak today about drugs and the impact they are having on our communities, families, residents and children. I had the opportunity on Monday to attend the session with representatives of Crack Busters, a group trying to help crack addicts through the process of quitting crack cocaine.

I listened to how the group works and learned from local addictions experts, including Dr. Ross Wheeler, how addictive and devastating crack is. Unless you are personally affected by crack, most people have no idea how dangerous this drug is. It destroys families, and addicts will do whatever they can to get their next hit or fix. Many families in the Northwest Territories have been financially ruined by the ravages of crack, and children as young as 13 and 14 are doing this drug in our communities and parents are left helpless. I wanted to mention today an article that appeared in the Edmonton Journal last Sunday, February 27th, which I will table later today. The title of the article is Big City Drugs Plague Northern Capital. It would appear that we were getting attention in southern press for diamonds, aurora, oil and gas, but now it is drugs. I find this to be very disturbing. I have said previously in this House that we do not have enough resources to combat the scourge that drugs are bringing. I will say again today, emphatically, that, as a government, we are not doing enough to tackle the drug problem.

The city of Yellowknife has three full-time members on the drug squad. We need more officers, more drug dogs, and it is obvious that other communities in the Northwest Territories, like Hay River and Inuvik, do not have the resources to meet the need. I believe it is incumbent on us, as legislators, to act on this situation to try to get the money and the resources to fight back and give our children, our family and our youth a fighting chance. The problem is only getting worse. How many more families will be destroyed? How many more children are going to fall prey to this insidious drug? We have to have a strategy and a plan to get the drugs off of our streets. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today, I want to talk about the not-so-visible consequences of decisions government makes without thinking beyond the economics. Mr. Dent stated in the House recently that the Justice cuts in Hay River are only about economics. It is pretty amazing that a government that prides itself on being fair to the regions and respectful of its workers can take actions that can literally destroy people’s lives. For the people in the upper echelons of government, we are told that we have limited options as to how we can deal with them when the stakes are laid and bad judgment is exercised. They can be reassigned, put on indefinite types of leave on compassionate grounds.

This government makes mistakes that cost millions of dollars. Oh, well, let’s just sweep it under the carpet. Maybe Minister Dent would like to counter Mr. Ramsay’s assertion yesterday that the North Slave Correctional Centre debacle cost $1.5 million. But I haven’t heard any rebuttal, so let’s take it for a fact. I find it so offensive that there are no repercussions for wasting $1.5 million and yet the same department can turn around and wipe out long-standing services and long-serving, dedicated employees in our region to proudly state that they have reduced the government’s budget by $1.5 million.

Jobs and services from one community, in one department…Where is the accountability, Mr. Speaker? In Hay River, there are many stories that could be told about the impacts of these job cuts. Let me read into the record a letter that appeared in the House shortly after the closures were announced.

“Hi. I am 13 years old and both my parents are going to be losing their jobs as of March 31, 2005. The courthouse and Dene K'onia are shutting down. Also, SMCC is closing the remand unit. I am writing this letter to ask you to keep their jobs so we don’t have to move away from Hay River. All of my friends are here. I enjoy DJSS, bowling and swimming. My Dad loves his job at Dene K'onia. He had the opportunity to work somewhere else, but chose not to. He stayed at Dene K'onia. My Mom works really hard and enjoys working at the courthouse. They are both casual term employees and will not get paid out like others. Both of my parents will be out of work. Please vote so they can keep working in Hay River." Signed, Jessica.

Mr. Speaker, incidentally, both of Jessica’s parents are indigenous aboriginal northerners. Both will cease to be employed on March 31st. So I hope this government is proud of their savings in Justice and the loss of employment in Hay River, the loss of services to residents south of the lake, the loss of years of training and dedication. It is because of people like Jessica that I won’t quit asking questions and challenging Mr. Dent on the quality of his information, the quality of his decisions, and the accountability of this government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to reiterate some of the same concerns I have with respect to some government services and why the delivery of these services is not working as effectively as many government officials seem to tell the Ministers. Mr. Speaker, I am talking about the lack of confidence and trust many residents and businesses have in our government. Many people in the NWT have had past dealings with this government and many of its long-term officials in various departments cannot and will not seek assistance or services from that particular government department simply due to the fact that they cannot get straight answers or the fair treatment they are entitled to, whatever the case may be, from the officials who are in charge of delivering these programs.

Don’t get me wrong, Mr. Speaker. I commend anybody who is a long-term dedicated government employee. I am sure many others can attest to their good work. But in many instances, those persons or companies who are getting the lucrative contracts out of that department are the only ones that are cheering.

Mr. Speaker, from my 14 months of experience as a Member of this House, I have seen and, sadly, will likely continue to see, many situations or enquiries brought to this government’s attention being treated as just another complaint. Mr. Speaker, if this government does not want to be badgered with the same so-called complaints of the previous government, then my simple suggestion is this: Treat people fairly and with respect. I know that it is the Minister’s job to ensure that this simple rule is followed by all of his staff, especially the long-term employees whose motto still seems to be, “You take what I offer; not what the government has to offer.” Mahsi.

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Mr. Speaker, my Member’s statement today is about the need for this government to realign its priorities to deal with the infrastructure deficit of the NWT, specifically in the area of recreational facilities.

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I was pleased to note that the Minister of Finance’s budget address placed significant emphasis on the need for infrastructure in the NWT communities. It is a sad reality that the tight fiscal situation of recent years has meant the infrastructure needs of communities have taken a back seat to other priorities and, as a result, the NWT is in a substantial infrastructure deficit. I am pleased to see that the government has recognized this need. In the budget address, the Minister of Finance announced the government’s intention to establish a stable funding base of $25 million per year for infrastructure development in our communities, effective April 1, 2006.

When it comes to spending infrastructure dollars, Mr. Speaker, the priority of this government has not been in the area of recreational facilities. Needs have been identified, but base requirements for recreational facilities continually get bumped further and further back on the 20-year plan. For a long time, there was not much we could do. Fortunately, this is no longer the case. As the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs pointed out in Committee of the Whole yesterday, the department is in a far different financial position now than it has been in the last few years. It has seen an 87 percent increase in infrastructure funding, thanks to the new deal for the municipal governments, the municipal rural infrastructure fund, and the new money under the federal gas tax.

Once the terms of these agreements have been nailed down and everything has been signed off, the department will be ready to realign its priorities within the context of the fiscal flexibility these deals provide. I suggest, Mr. Speaker, that a strong argument can be made that it is time this government make its highest priority that baseline infrastructure needs for recreational facilities in communities be addressed. This means that, before other infrastructure projects get the go-ahead, all communities will have access to a gymnasium.

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This means that, before any community gets a new or second improved swimming pool, no matter how necessary that may seem, all communities of a certain size should have access to a swimming pool.

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Now that our capital infrastructure funding is looking rosier, we are in an excellent position to move ahead on priority areas that have taken a backseat for too long. It is time to ensure base recreational facilities…

Mr. Menicoche, your time for your Member’s statement has expired.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member’s statement.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and honourable colleagues. Now that our capital infrastructure funding is looking rosier, we are in an excellent position to move ahead on priority areas that have taken a backseat for too long. It is time to ensure base recreational facilities are available to all NWT residents, regardless of where they live. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to see the rollout of the "Get Active" NWT Community Challenge yesterday at lunch. The three departments, Municipal and Community Affairs, Health and Social Services, and Education, Culture and Employment, are to be commended for working together to implement and fund this exciting initiative.

The government needs to have more cooperation across departments on issues where the lines of responsibility are blurred. Imagine, Mr. Speaker, just for getting out and being active, you can contribute to the chance of your community getting some needed money to buy recreational equipment. It doesn’t cost you anything to participate, and the benefits of your own health are substantial. There are many studies that show that an inactive lifestyle is leading to an increased number of cases of Type 2 diabetes. This is really affecting people in our communities. If you don’t want to get Type 2 diabetes, you have to eat right, get up and get active. Go for a walk, cut some wood for elders, or even go out on the land or play with your children. These are all simple things you can do, Mr. Speaker. I strongly encourage recreation coordinators, physical education teachers, community health workers, schools and community governments to support this initiative because, even if you don’t manage to win the $5,000 available for recreational equipment, your community will win with healthier residents. Mahsi.

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Mr. Speaker, thank you very much. In 1999, Mr. Speaker, 2,911 workers filed claims with the Workers’ Compensation Board. In 2003, five years later, that number rose to 3,349; about a 10 percent increase in the total number of claims filed. An interesting statistic, Mr. Speaker, is that the number of claims rejected in 1999 was 186, and, in 2003, it was 435; an increase of about 240 percent. Mr. Speaker, I have been making statements for several days now on the state of affairs in our claims adjudication and implementation of services of the WCB. Statistics of this nature tell me that there is something that is not right in that organization, that there is something that needs to be investigated. We have to try to find a way to return to the expectation, the mandate and the belief that employers and employees have of the WCB; to serve the interests of injured workers.

This is just one statistic, Mr. Speaker, that proves that we do, indeed, need to have a serious operational review of at least this aspect of the Workers’ Compensation Board. I am going to continue to press for this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I am going to talk about the Quebec Parental Leave Program deal, Mr. Speaker, that has just been moving forward as of late. Mr. Speaker, I can truly tell you that I believe in my heart that there is no better job out there than being a parent. I think that there is no better federal policy out there than one that recognizes the importance of parents and, therefore, puts a priority on parents by giving them one year’s paid leave through their employment service to support that parental leave. Mr. Speaker, I have experience, and I know that nobody out there ever says on their death bed that they certainly wished they spent more time at work. It is about priorities with family they always talk about. We need more government action that leads in that direction to recognize those priorities.

Mr. Speaker, once again, Quebec is leading Canada with talking about priorities of families, childcare and, yet again, through child day care. Yet again, I have to say, they are leading with more time off and better time off. Mr. Speaker, if you are a privately employed person, you don’t qualify for this leave, but Quebec has said enough is enough, we have to support our families and our people.

Mr. Speaker, our job here is to respond to the needs of the people of the Northwest Territories to make sure we support the needs with good policies. I think that is critical for this government to move forward. We need to show our priorities by asking good questions and by asking the federal government, can we manage that program? Mr. Speaker, the federal government has encouraged other places and regions in Canada to open up the door on this type of discussion. So, Mr. Speaker, in closing, I will say I will have questions later today for the Premier of this government to see if he will look into this priority program and see if we can implement it in the Northwest Territories to help our parents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Mr. Arnold Gargan, a constituent from Jean Marie River. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly.

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Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to recognize a number of visitors in the gallery who have joined us as part of the volunteer support initiative launch. Mr. Bill Graham, the chairman of Volunteer NWT.

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Ms. Lani Cooke, board member for the Voluntary Sector Forum.

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Ms. Julie McNeice, board member for the SideDoor Youth Centre.

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Fern Denault, president of the Federation Franco-TeNOise.

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Brian Carter and Josie Gould, NWT Council of Persons with Disabilities.

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Lyda Fuller, executive director for YWCA.

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Mr. Leo-Paul Plovencher, executive director for Federation Franco-TeNOise.

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Ms. Aggie Brockman, executive director for Volunteer NWT.

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Sandra Taylor from Yellowknife Seniors.

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Arlene Yaceyko with the Canadian Cancer Society.

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Cate Sills from Volunteer NWT, a member.

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I also want to pay a special recognition to Ms. Roslyn Smith who retired last Friday, after 20 years of service with the Government of the Northwest Territories in her position as the volunteer development officer.

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I also want to thank her for the significant contribution she has made to the volunteers of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize my brother-in-law Barrett Lenoir, another brother-in-law Vince Halushka, and my sister Cindy Villeneuve.

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Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a very special person in the gallery today, Ms. Sandi Briscoe. She has represented our territory and the NWT government in Ottawa since 1982 and will retire this spring. In addition to managing the Ottawa office and providing direction to visiting NWT politicians and public servants not familiar with the city, Sandi was often the first contact for Ottawa bureaucrats who knew nothing about the North, numerous Ottawa Valley school kids doing special projects on our territory, and prospective northerners seeking information about the NWT; employment, housing, education, medical services and so on.

Sandi started with the Government of the Northwest Territories after the legendary Legislative Assembly lobby descended on Ottawa in November 1981, to encourage federal politicians to include aboriginal rights in the Canadian constitution.

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She was an important part of the follow-up to that historic event. However, the most distinguishing feature of her career with the GNWT is who she worked for. Sandi is one of the few remaining GNWT public servants who can claim to have worked for all nine Government Leaders and Premiers as well as numerous Commissioners, Cabinet secretaries and intergovernmental deputies during their term. Can you imagine the patience and fortitude that was required to serve such a diverse group?

Mr. Speaker, Sandi has witnessed what few of us have over the past two decades. She served her government and the people of the Northwest Territories with dedication and distinction, always with a smile and immense good humour. She has received recognition which most of us would never expect in our lifetime; an acknowledgement in one of Cece McCauley’s columns that she is doing a good job.

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Mr. Speaker, I am sure that I speak for all of us in this Chamber and for many officials in our public service when I express our sincere appreciation for her many years of service and wish her the best upon her retirement at the end of March. Thank you. Mahsi cho.

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Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this time, I, too, would like to recognize the Yellowknife seniors for being here. I appreciate their watchful eye on us and keeping us all honest. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize a former high school teacher, Ms. Roslyn Smith, in the gallery. Thank you.

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Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s nice to see so many very influential and important people in the gallery, but I would like to recognize three people who have not been recognized yet. The first one is Diana Beck, who is a youth leader I know of. She’s there with Sandi Briscoe.

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I would like to recognize a very keen observer of culture and politics, a media commentary extraordinaire, Marty Brown.

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I also see the unrelenting champion of four-legged animals and other animal friends of ours, the chairperson of the SPCA, Janet Pacey. Thank you.

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Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Mr. Speaker, I’m going to repeat the recognition for Sandi Briscoe and the service that she has provided many of us through her years in Ottawa. Good luck, Sandi. I would also like to recognize a constituent, Josie Gould, here in her capacity today representing the Council of Persons with Disabilities. As well, a former colleague of mine from my journalistic days and media personality, Marty Brown.

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Thank you, Mr. Braden. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Although they have already been recognized, there are three constituents who I recognize that I’d like to make note of in the gallery today. Lyda Fuller, the executive director of the YWCA is with us.

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Mr. Fern Denault, the president to Federation Franco TeNOise.

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And Mr. Bill Graham. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Dent. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we missed anyone in the gallery, welcome to this session today. It’s always nice to have an audience in the gallery observing our proceedings, so welcome to the Assembly.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is to the Minister of Health and Social Services and it’s further to my Member’s statement. Earlier, Mr. Speaker, I called for some government help to have a youth shelter opened in the city and there is a group called the SideDoor who has worked to make this happen. The Minister was quite generous in his answers to my questions a couple of weeks ago and he indicated that his officials were working with the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority to make this happen. I was happy to hear this had happened, but then I’m hearing that the funding is for a very short term. I’m wondering if this is because the funding can only happen until the end of the fiscal year, and if I could get a commitment from the Minister that the department will continue to work with this, I’d be happy with that. Could he make that commitment? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 517-15(3): Funding For A Yellowknife Youth Centre

Yes, Mr. Speaker, we will continue to work on this. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 517-15(3): Funding For A Yellowknife Youth Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Should I take that as the Minister saying that he will use his good office to let his department officials know that creating a shelter or making it possible…Not the government doing 100 percent, but making this happen is his priority. Could I take that as his answer? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 517-15(3): Funding For A Yellowknife Youth Centre