Debates of March 31, 2004 (day 12)

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 127-15(3): Review Of The Rent Scale Program For Public Housing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the years we have looked at a number of different ways to assess rent for people in the most need, mostly in public housing. We have determined that our system has been the most responsive, as we do monthly assessments. There have been a number of initiatives raised now in this House to take a look at different ways we can improve, or look at changes. I am always willing to do that. I thank the Member for bringing some of those to my attention. I will also take in the request from the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes for the flat rent scales and come back with some of our comments on it and provide it to the Members. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, thank you very much. I will direct this question to the Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat. With reference to my Member’s statement and budgeting cycle, while the government might be a government function, can the Minister explain to me what role as a regular Member do I have in terms in influencing the budget for the benefits of my constituents and my riding in the near future?

Good question.

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Minister responsible for FMBS, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 128-15(3): Improving The Budget Approval Process

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our consensus style of government allows Members more than any other jurisdiction to be involved in the development of the budget. For example, we sat down as 19 Members and discussed what fiscal strategy we would use, and going forward on that, we started building the budget. We know that our timeline was very tight, but coming forward to the next system, Members will be directly involved in the business planning process from that three-year business plan process. We will then take the comments of Members and develop a draft main estimates. Then again Members will be able to review those draft main estimates and we will further take those comments and then develop them into the main estimates that are before the House, like at this time. So there are a number of opportunities where Members will be involved in the development of that process. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 128-15(3): Improving The Budget Approval Process

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Just a follow-up on the business plan cycle for the Minister responsible. I would also like to ask the Minister what commitments he will assure me that I can and will have active participation in the leading of the direction of our government in this business plan cycle, because I am given to understand that plans may already be under foot in terms of setting up the business plan for our July session. Thank you.

Minister responsible for FMBS, Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 128-15(3): Improving The Budget Approval Process

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again the actual work that would begin on the business plan process doesn’t begin until June. There are a number of broad strategies that Members are aware of when we talk about what we will do with the effectiveness and efficiency of our government overall, with the partnerships that we want to work on and develop in the Northwest Territories. So there is already input at that level. Mr. Speaker, for the Members, there will definitely be a process that they will be involved in, and as Minister responsible I will be seeking information from them as we go down and develop some of the scenarios even before we put them into the business plan. So I will commit to start seeking that information. Members might not all agree with what is on the table, so there will be some tough choices to make in the future, and I intend to involve all of the Members in that. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 128-15(3): Improving The Budget Approval Process

Mr. Speaker, throughout discussing the budget here for the past two weeks the biggest concern, of course, is how do we as regular Members help our government in the exercise of reducing $20 million in each of the next two years. My recent experience kind of concerns me as how much input will we really have. Can the Minister again explain to me how we can have input into reducing the size of our expenditures in order to match our revenue?

Minister responsible for FMBS, Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 128-15(3): Improving The Budget Approval Process

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when we went through this process and committee Members saw the draft mains, comments that were said about what we should look at for saving money and saving initiatives, cost-saving measures that were said through the committee process have been taken and will be looked at as we step forward. As now Members are aware of certain areas we should look at, Members suggested, for example, Mr. Speaker, a zero-based budgeting exercise. I think as a government we should seriously look at using that as an exercise as we develop the next budget process. So there are a number of ways. As comments are made in this forum here, as we went through the draft mains in Committee of the Whole, as committee Members went through them in committee themselves with each department, there will be that direct interaction that we will have from regular Members and Ministers. As well, if Members have ideas they want us to look at as we begin that development, please, as I stated, I am looking for any options that are available to us for coming up with the next $20 million in cost avoidance and savings. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 128-15(3): Improving The Budget Approval Process

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister for that response. I just want to get some assurances that before the July session that I don’t want to be in the position where I am given a binder, and that there is nothing I can do about it no matter how much I kick and scream. So I am just looking for direct input into that process, and I would just like to get the assurance of the Minister again that yes, indeed, I am a part of this government, and that I will and can have input into our budget as it concerns me for the remainder of my term. Thank you very much.

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Minister responsible for FMBS, Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 128-15(3): Improving The Budget Approval Process

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think we should also say that Members are involved in, for example, setting the priorities of this government, what are high priorities. So it is not all about cutting, we are still spending $1 billion in the Northwest Territories. So it is how we spend that billion dollars, what are the high priorities of this Assembly, and we will take those and look at areas of lower priority and do some shuffling of the deck. That will include involvement from Members, we need that input. We have heard comments already on some of the areas of importance here. A lot of the budget though will be based on existing programs, what we spend on schools and students in schools, what we spend on health care services. So although there is some flexibility, there are also some parameters that will set up the bulk of the business plan process. As I stated, I intend to include Members as we go through this process so that there is some involvement. At the end of the day, there are still going to be those who are not happy with what's on the deck, not with all of it. So we're going to work with the Members and try to build what we can best come up with as a balance for the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, several weeks ago, I asked the Minister of Health and Social Services to table some information on TB in the Northwest Territories, and this morning I received a report on the action plan for TB in the Northwest Territories. They had an expert do the work, and this report included 26 recommendations to improve the Northwest Territories TB program. It talks about early detection and decreasing the spread of this contagious disease. Mr. Speaker, in light of that, I would like to ask the Minister if he is willing to commit to work with the Minister of Education in terms of ventilation, to prevent the spread of TB in the Chief Albert Wright School where there are ventilation issues and overcrowding of the students. The health of our students is of concern to our community of Tulita. Thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 129-15(3): Implementing The Action Plan On Tuberculosis

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a government, as a department, we're committed to the recommendations made with regard to TB and responding to the need to better deal with that particular situation. My comments to situations that may involve the school is that yes, I will give the commitment that we will be working closely with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. We have meetings planned in the near future with the social envelope to talk about issues where we have common concerns and obligations. So that will be on the list.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 129-15(3): Implementing The Action Plan On Tuberculosis

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister. Also in the report to date, in 2004, there were five new cases of TB reported in the Northwest Territories. It's my understanding from looking at the report that TB is a quiet disease. Early detection and surveillance of TB in the North is required. I'm mostly talking about small communities like Colville Lake. I want to ask the Minister how does the department propose to educate and implement this action plan in small communities like Colville Lake where there are minimal health services by such large centres like Inuvik, Hay River and Yellowknife in terms of the TB strategy in the North. Thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 129-15(3): Implementing The Action Plan On Tuberculosis

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we will be working with the Sahtu health board that has been set up in the Sahtu. We will be working with, of course, Inuvik through the transition period. We have the staff out of headquarters, we have the staff at the regional level, as well as the staff in the nursing stations. We've made a special effort to ensure that our protocols are up to date, that we have the proper checks and balances in place to ensure that the issue of TB is front and centre, and we encourage people to get checked. So we are going to be working with all the communities in the Northwest Territories to make sure that we stay on top of the issue of TB.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 129-15(3): Implementing The Action Plan On Tuberculosis

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister about the training programs. I know you have been working with the Sahtu health board and the other communities. I want to ask abut the training programs in the regions. In the report you talk about the Inuvik regional health board, the Hay River regional health board and so forth in terms of the training programs for the smaller communities; especially in the Sahtu, I'm not too sure. Has the department given any indications in terms of providing some training in the Sahtu communities in terms of the TB? Thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 129-15(3): Implementing The Action Plan On Tuberculosis

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to assure the Member that we are fully committed to involving the Sahtu, and at the time that report was drafted and written it was done when the Sahtu was still part of the Inuvik region. In any future reports, they will recognize that there is a separate health board and authority in the Sahtu. But the point of the question being that every community in the Northwest Territories is going to be paid attention to when it comes to dealing with tuberculosis. Thank you.

Final supplementary. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Dent.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and honourable Members. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Mr. Jim Beaver who is with the aboriginal policing directorate. He's in the gallery today. He was attending the opening of the North Slave Correctional Centre earlier today. With him is MJ Patterson who is with the Department of Justice, the corrections policy officer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Rarely do I have the opportunity to recognize family members in the gallery, and today I have the pleasure of recognizing Mr. Brian Campbell, my brother-in-law; my nephew, Josh, and his companion, Rose. Welcome to the gallery.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to recognize a constituent: Major Karen Hoeft. Thank you.

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Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following Mr. Allen's comments, I would also like to recognize Brian Campbell, a one-time hockey player I think in Inuvik with the…(inaudible)…Flyers. He was a good hockey player too.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My written question is addressed to the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Would the Minister provide a detailed explanation specifically to the following he quoted in his Return to Oral Question 23-15(3)? “In addition, this proposal included another significant change in that senior’s households would now be assessed rent.”

Would the Minister also verify if this is a major policy shift from where seniors, who do not now pay any rents to where there is contemplation to reintroduce rents to seniors?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my written question is to the Honourable Joe Handley, Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation.

Can the Minister provide a current dollar estimate on a one-rate power structure that would provide an adequate rate of return to the NWT Power Corporation?

Can the Minister provide information on the project costs to maintain the NWT power subsidy program at current rates over the next five years?

Can the Minister provide the Assembly with information on the direction provided to the board of directors of the NWT Power Corporation in making the next general rate application?

Can the Minister provide information on costs incurred by the NWT Power Corporation in examining and pursuing the expansion of the hydro power system to date? This accounting should show the money provided to the Power Corporation by the GNWT, as well as the money the Power Corporation has expended from its retained earnings.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my written question is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on the harvesting assistance program.

Can the Minister confirm whether harvests' assistance payments are being clawed back from harvesters, including Sahtu, Gwich'in and/or Inuvialuit land claim beneficiaries under the income support program and, if so, can he provide the rationale for these clawbacks?

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a return to a written question asked by Ms. Lee on March 22, 2004, regarding the request for travel expenditures by department.

Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table a report summarizing GNWT travel expenditures by department for the fiscal periods 1999-00 to 2003-04.

This report provides a summary of departmental travel expenditures for these fiscal periods, adjusted for the non-discretionary travel previously identified to Members. The information was compiled from the financial information system and has not been audited. Thank you.