Debates of March 29, 2004 (day 10)

Thank you, Madam Chair. The departments themselves do not qualify for subsidies. For example, within the Housing Corporation, they do not qualify for the power subsidy that there is for residents. The same with all the other departments, they do not qualify for the subsidies that are available to residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. General comments. Next I have Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just general comments with respect to POL moving the management employee from Fort Simpson to Yellowknife. I'm just wondering how much of a function we have in Yellowknife POL, especially when we have a headquarters in Fort Simpson. For the Minister, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the function for POL in headquarters takes a number of avenues. One to start off with is working closely with the deputy minister in the area of planning, whether it's capital planning, technical resources, as well tying to the capital planning team when it comes to what should be done in the areas of where our tank farms are and tying with the expertise around the standards that do change from time to time. So a significant portion of that is working with the headquarters staff in preparing budgets and preparing time frames for replacement of our infrastructure that's out there right now. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Perhaps the Minister can just let me know how many active positions are in Yellowknife with regard to petroleum products.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. There are two active employees within headquarters. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I think under initial discussions we're talking that there won't be like a lost position, it will eventually get back to Fort Simpson. I just want the Minister to confirm that, if that was our previous discussion.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. As we stated to committee Members, the training that's happening now is just for that reason, working and getting a good understanding of the process. That position will be moved back to Fort Simpson when the training period is over. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, that's my immediate concern, is to keep as many PYs in our region as possible. I thank the Minister for his answers. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. General comments. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I wasn't quite sure if I heard the Minister correctly. Could I get him to repeat or state when he expects that PY to return to Fort Simpson? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The training period is going to take two years. So in two years' time that position will be back to Fort Simpson. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Mr. Minister. Just to readdress the issue, because I was reading during Mr. Menicoche's questions. Could he reconfirm on how many positions are outstanding to be returned to Fort Simpson, and if it's more than one is it a progressive transfer reinstating those positions in that community? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The training that's going on right now is with one position, and it's that one position that will be returned. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Minister, and thank you, Madam Chair. Just again to build on that, are we providing full services, even though at this time…Are there any services not being fulfilled with having this PY here in Yellowknife, when it should be located to the Fort Simpson area? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. With pulling the position in for training here in headquarters we have not let any duties go or delayed any other work that is occurring, so we're functioning at the level prior to that. That was one of the reasons of having to bring that position in to headquarters to receive some of the training to move up to the next level. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just before I leave this issue, if the Minister could explain to me why training couldn't have been provided in the Fort Simpson area to meet the needs of this position. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. For a number of reasons. Similar to what I responded to with the director position, there are more resources available within Yellowknife and trying to provide that level of training, along with trying to staff that position was difficult. So an agreement was reached to train the individual here in the capital and move that position back out. That was the arrangement that was made; being more effective and being able to provide the level of training needed, as well as the experience. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Again on this same issue with regard to that position, if I could just get some further clarification I probably would be very satisfied to move on to another issue. I'm just curious on the training of this position. Is it quite unique that this person requires very specialized training, that you can only receive this training in Yellowknife even though the function of this position is to be to fully operate in the Fort Simpson area? I'm a little confused on that one. As well as the fact that maybe for my clarity, as well as Mr. Menicoche's clarity, is it a unique position whereby we're bringing someone into the fold of opportunity that, for example, wouldn't normally be able to qualify for this type of job and we've giving them an opportunity take hold of a new career opportunity? Maybe if the Minister could explain that to me a little further, and maybe it will get to a saturation point of satisfaction, I'll choose a new question. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Again with that, the idea of the training to occur was we've taken an individual who was working within the system and through other efforts of trying to staff up the higher level position, we weren't successful, and we felt that with this individual we could take that person and have them come in for training, and have the position that they are being trained for work out of here in Yellowknife. But again working with the individual who has not relocated to Yellowknife, but is coming on a regular basis for that training, being trained by an individual here in headquarters for the two-year period. At that time, they will be able to take up the higher level position, and the actual position itself will be relocated to Fort Simpson. So the position itself has been moved to headquarters to facilitate for the training exercise. The person filling the position continues to travel between the communities to receive that training, and once the training is complete, that person will then take up the position and the position will be relocated to Fort Simpson. But the individual right now travels back and forth for the training, and after two years will assume the actual higher level position and then move back to Fort Simpson. That's the position. The person stays there now, travels back and forth, the position has been relocated for two years, moving back to Fort Simpson. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am now prepared to switch topics. I appreciate the suggestion that I think I understood, which is it's a little bit of a promotion within the department, which I think lends a lot of weight to future growth as well as the employees' satisfaction to see one of their own working through the system. That's the way I understood that, which we could probably talk for hours about but that's not why we're here, although I will lend credit to that plan. It's good to see.

The next question if the Minister could explain for me and on behalf of the rest of the Members, they may have questions in this regard, as well. I notice Public Works and Services retains a reassurance role in the quality of drinking water, and it is noted on page 4 of 5, if the Minister could explain what services the department provides, and why the department provides it versus, for example, RWED, or maybe even more so the Department of Health and Social Services. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Public Works and Services' role in the drinking water side of the equation is one for the facility itself, in the operation and maintenance of it and the training of individuals who would be in it. Over the years a lot of the maintenance functions have been transferred to communities. One of our roles along with the others is to ensure that the actual facility itself is up to standards, and that maintenance of those facilities are up to standards in that as we replace those types of facilities we are putting in the most current and up-to-date features and controls in place and provide training. We work with MACA on the side of operations, with community training, and Health and Social Services is more involved in ensuring that the actual quality of the product being delivered to residents meets the standards as set across our nation. Our end, Public Works and Services, is on the infrastructure and the sort of technical nature of the facilities themselves. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Mr. Minister, for clarifying that. I just wanted to make sure we were on the turning the wrench side, rather than the diagnostic side or the health side. On the last note -- and it could be my last question depending on the outcome -- presently does Public Works and Services run any water facilities, water treatment plants in the Northwest Territories, or at this time are they all in the hands of the communities? Could the Minister expand if that is not the case? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. There are four communities that we are directly involved with in the facilities maintenance end. We also do have some involvement in the other communities depending on the level of assistance required from communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Hawkins, do you have any further general comments?

No, thank you.

Next on my list for general comments I have Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Madam Chair. In regard to the Minister’s opening comments on page 2 of 5, he indicates that the department also works with communities to identify granular requirements. The question I have is at what point in time, Madam Chair, is the Minister working with communities of Paulatuk, Holman and Sachs for granular requirements? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The process that Public Works is involved in is when there are other departments that are going to be building facilities or expanding facilities in the communities, we would work with the departments to see what type of materials they would need in the granular area. Based on that, we would then look at getting some work done and having that supplied in the community. So we initially start off working with departments to see in fact how many pads they would need and those types of things, and based on that we would go through the other side and see if a tender needs to be let out for supply of that material, and then stockpile it until the actual work is done. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Hawkins.