Debates of March 7, 2005 (day 50)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the week of March 6th to 12th is National Social Work Week in the NWT. This year’s theme is Social Work: Fairness and Wellness. I would like to take a moment to recognize the valuable work of approximately 80 social workers across the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, having worked in the social services field, I know how important these people are to the northern communities. Social workers help individuals, families, groups and communities find ways to make positive choices and changes in their lives.

Social workers are strong capable people who often work in crisis situations. Mr. Speaker, our social workers are part of our primary community care team who work together to ensure those who are most vulnerable members of society are helped and protected.

Social work does not provide a quick fix solution. Support is carried out over months and even years. Support is provided to seniors, people with disabilities, people who are hospitalized, people who have problems with addictions, mental health support, child protection, victims of violence and to the general community.

Mr. Speaker, I recently had an opportunity to meet with Esther Doucette, who is the president of the Association of Social Workers in northern Canada. They are also looking at safer working conditions and promoting the profession. I look forward to working with the association on these issues and others.

Social work is demanding yet also very rewarding. To see someone move from a crisis in their lives to making healthy and positive social choices for themselves and their family is wonderful. I would encourage young people to consider the social work courses available at Aurora College.

I would like to ask Members of this House to join me in applauding the efforts and work that NWT social workers do on a daily basis to improve the lives of children, families, adults and communities in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Joe Handley will be absent from the House today to speak at the Arctic Gas Symposium in Calgary. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, let me again, on behalf of my constituents, both inside and outside the system of the community of Hay River and the South Slave region, express concisely why I am asking the Department of Justice, corrections, to leave the operations of the South Mackenzie Correctional Centre as is with respect to staffing our remand unit.

This change in mandate for SMCC will not net the savings projected for the upcoming fiscal year. It will immediately affect nine casual corrections officer positions and ultimately affect 5.5 permanent positions. As for the Audit Bureau findings, “There was a lack of rigor and in-depth analysis to support the projected savings of $400,000" and furthermore with respect to travel and escorting services, the report says, "the estimated incremental cost of $18,000 was not supported by any historical data. Our review indicated that "there are too many variables and too little information to form a reasonable estimate. While there will likely be additional costs, they will have to be identified at a later point.”

Mr. Speaker, I would rather know these costs and projections sooner than later; before we make operational changes, not after. Mr. Speaker, I don’t think it’s any coincidence that an additional 5.5 PYs were recommended as the result of a human resources and operations review in 1997, after the tragedy of a suicide in SMCC cells. The report recommended that the six-bed remand unit be manned 24/7, 365 days a year, even though this unit will continue to accommodate inmates on administrative and disciplinary isolation and those waiting on medical clearance on intake. Even though it has been utilized at the rate of 100 percent over the past year for remand inmates and even though everyone, except the Department of Justice, is projecting an increase in crime related to resource development, the direction of this department is to reduce the current supervision in this area of the facility.

The department thinks that they can assess risk with a high level of accuracy. I don’t agree, especially since we are going to be seeing more transient people we’ll know less about in the future.

What I am requesting is fairly simple. I would like the government to respond favourably to the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Social Programs to reinstate the funding for SMCC for the remand unit. If you need more reasons than the recommendation itself, leave things status quo until the Department of Justice has had the opportunity to apply a more rigorous and in-depth analysis to the costs of the changes being proposed. The Premier has publicly stated that we are not broke, our fiscal picture has improved, so let’s keep justice services close to the people they serve…

Mrs. Groenewegen, your time for your Member’s statement has expired.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. As I said, the Premier has publicly stated that we are not broke and our fiscal situation has improved, so let’s keep the justice services close to the people they serve and let’s affirm our government’s support for the regions and say no to the centralization of programs and services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories established the affirmative action policy in 1989 to “achieve equality and employment and career development for qualified, suitable and eligible target group persons.” The principles of affirmative action have long been recognized, Mr. Speaker, as a legitimate, indeed, responsible thing as they balance their workforce among the people they serve or rely on for their business.

Here in the NWT, our policy is met with mixed results and many Members, over time, have addressed the policy shortfalls. The Minister responsible has pledged it is about to undergo a major review to modernize it and to bring in methods that will help us do a better job.

Today I bring to the Assembly an aspect of this policy that warrants a very high priority. I specifically refer to two categories requiring that people who have not lived half their lives in the NWT cannot have equal opportunity of employment in our government.

Let me set the context, Mr. Speaker. A constituent, now middle-aged, came to the NWT when she was in her early twenties. She found that she had to wait until she was twice that age, in her mid-forties, before our government would give her equal opportunity for a job. Mr. Speaker, each of us has only one lifetime. In Canada, we can choose to live where we want and where we think we can make a contribution. It does not seem right that our government should deny anyone the chance to work for us on the grounds of where they were born or how old they are.

Yet, our Human Rights Act, passed in this Assembly in the year 2002, protects this affirmative action policy, Mr. Speaker, because it was in place of the coming into force of the Human Rights Act. Mr. Speaker, in any such important policy, it’s crucial that we consider who we are protecting and why. This must form the foundation of any workable affirmative action policy and we must do so having in mind the fundamental rights that are also set out in our own Human Rights Act. Were it not for the grandfathering of the old affirmative action policy, Mr. Speaker, it would almost undoubtedly be in contravention of the Human Rights Act. Therefore, we must ensure that this policy is now consistent with the important values, spirit and intent of our Human Rights Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak today about an issue that I previously brought up in this House on numerous occasions. Mr. Speaker, the issue is the new Mackenzie Valley pipeline office, which is to be located in Hay River. Last May, a supplementary appropriation of $850,000 came forward for the start-up of this much needed office. Today is March 7th; nine months later and still no office. The government, in my mind, is lacking some foresight, leadership and seems to be letting bureaucracy get in the way of finally opening up this office.

As Regular Members, we have still not heard specifically which positions, government-wide, are dedicated to the pipeline project. To me, Mr. Speaker, it seems like they are asleep at the switch. This office should have been opened two years ago. Here we are, scrambling around, trying to piece together an effective office. This project, and its importance to the territory, cannot and should not be comprised by the slow pace of government. It is an $8 million project and I have to wonder if we are doing enough as a government to address this.

Getting back to the supplementary appropriation for $850,000 that was approved last May, Regular Members who approved that supplementary appropriation were under the impression that the office would be opened and the bulk of the $850,000 would go towards salaries. Here we are, again today, with no office and if the department did not have the positions, what was the $850,000 spent on?

I have some obvious concerns about how information is currently being shared amongst departments with regard to the pipeline development and its potential impact on communities throughout the Northwest Territories. Where is the government-wide coordination amongst departments to see this project along? Coordination was a catch phrase one year ago while Members were here and, as politicians, we addressed that concern immediately with the formation of a joint committee on the Mackenzie Valley pipeline. However, the coordination from a bureaucratic level is still light years behind where it needs to be. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to discuss the aboveground pool program in the Northwest Territories and make some comments about the swimming pool in Fort Simpson and the poor condition it is in. Mr. Speaker, a new recreational facility such as an aboveground swimming pool could contribute to the overall health of the community. Entire families could enjoy what a swimming pool has to offer, be it from swimming lessons, competitive sports or leisurely activities. Mr. Speaker, I couldn’t have said it any better myself. If these words sound familiar, it is because they should, especially to the Minister of MACA who, when he sat on this side of the fence in the 14th Assembly, said these words about the need for a new pool, except, of course, he was arguing the case for Fort Providence.

Hear! Hear!

The only difference now is he has a new pool and we don’t.

---Laughter

Hey!

Mr. Speaker, you can understand me when I say that I expect the Minister of MACA to have a lot of sympathy for me when I say Fort Simpson needs a new pool too. All kidding aside, Mr. Speaker, the pool in Fort Simpson is in about the same shape as the pool in Fort Providence was. It’s only three feet deep, has paint chips falling in it and all the wood is rotting. In my own words, Mr. Speaker, I realize that tax-based communities are supposed to pay for their own infrastructure, but let’s be honest here. How is a town of just over 1,000 supposed to pay for a new pool out of their property taxes when they already have such a huge infrastructure deficit? It’s just not going to happen.

Mr. Speaker, it is time this government recognized the fact that communities in Nahendeh are long overdue for some new recreational facilities. Mahsi cho.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my Member’s statement will be used to acknowledge the Children’s Wish Foundation and the great job they are doing to fulfil dreams of children throughout our North.

Mr. Speaker, this organization provides children with the chance to experience something special in their lives while they are bravely dealing with serious illnesses and life-threatening diseases. Mr. Speaker, this organization has been fulfilling dreams for young Canadians since 1983 and directly for young northerners since 1987.

The Alberta/NWT chapter of this organization has an office here in Yellowknife and it is administered by Teri Arychuk. This charity started as a personal quest with Mrs. Arychuk and her family’s struggle. Her son was diagnosed with AML Leukemia cancer. However, today, eight years later, he is cancer free and doing great.

Mr. Speaker, Flight of Dreams has more than just taken off. At this past year’s event, the charity raised nearly $80,000. The money raised will help approximately seven dreams to be fulfilled this year in the North. To date, nearly 30 dreams have been fulfilled in the NWT because of the strides and the dedication of our community.

The Flight of Dreams, as the organization is known here in the NWT, is committed to a vision of providing children with the opportunity to fulfil their wishes, from experiencing foreign locations, meeting celebrity role models or something as simple as visiting a distant family member. The Flight of Dreams is only able to fulfill its mission through the charity of local people and companies. This event wouldn’t be possible, Mr. Speaker, without the great support of Great Slave Helicopters and the donation of their hangar each year leading up to this charitable event. They remove every piece of their equipment and helicopters so the hangar can be cleaned up and dressed up for the charity ball.

The work of Flight for Dreams provides joy and happiness of a fulfilled wish of a child and also to a child’s family. Mr. Speaker, I don’t have to go on at length of the effects a child, the parents, the siblings, and all family members are forced to go through when affected by such terrible burdens. These dreams help lift the weight of this burden. These dreams help provide a happy and unique experience during a trying and painful time and allow the pain to go easier.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to congratulate the individual donors…

Your time for your Member’s statement has expired. Mr. Hawkins.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my 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. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I will read the last paragraph from the top.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to take this opportunity to individually congratulate the donors, corporations, as well as a personal thanks to Mrs. Arychuk and all the people involved in the Flight of Dreams and this organization that has helped every year to bring a little silver lining to so many young clouds out there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Today my statement is about the status of affirmative action with the GNWT. Mr. Speaker, you will recall last week, I raised concerns about the future of the affirmative action policy in this government, especially with the centralization of human resources.

Mr. Speaker, I think there is a reason for all of us to be concerned about the future of our affirmative action policy. Last week when I questioned Minister Roland about the affirmative action, he assured me that his department is doing all they can at all levels to ensure affirmative action is applied as it should be. Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the Minister is aware that there are things happening that might suggest otherwise. For instance, Mr. Speaker, I have a newspaper article here dated March 27, 2002. It quotes an official from his department stating, “I expect that the affirmative action policy will be here for another two years at least.” Mr. Speaker, I know that things can be taken out of context, and I am willing to allow for that. However, when I am advised that the affirmative action does not apply to one of our most important programs in the GNWT, which the GNWT has to advance its employees, I think there is reason for concern.

Mr. Speaker, the Management Assignment Program, which is believed by many to be an opportunity for northerners to advance in a management position in the GNWT, is also believed that the affirmative action policies apply to this program. Mr. Speaker, officials from the MAP program are quite open about how it does not apply to their program. Looking at those in the program and some of the candidates who have applied and were not accepted, it is obvious that the affirmative action policy does not apply to the Management Assignment Program. Mr. Speaker, how can this be justified? Last week when I questioned about the number of aboriginal people in management positions, the Minister said that people have to be willing to get an education. Mr. Speaker, many of the people who have been turned down for the MAP program have an education and are willing to learn, but, apparently, that is not enough. We have heard, Mr. Speaker, that affirmative action employees in the GNWT have been advised that employees in the MAP program have first choice for management positions. Is the department saying that affirmative action does not account for advancements into management? If a P1 employee is not able to apply for a management position because a MAP person gets first dibs at it, and if none of the MAP employees are affirmative action, how do we…

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

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. Villeneuve.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, if a P1 employee is not able to apply for a management position because a MAP person gets first dibs at it, and if none of the MAP employees are affirmative action, how will we ever change the face of the GNWT so that it is representative of the population that it serves in the NWT? Mr. Speaker, this practice is unacceptable and, in my mind, cannot and should not be defended by the Minister responsible for the program. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on March 1st, the muskrat trapping season opened in the Mackenzie Delta. For years, families from the Beaufort-Delta travelled to their camps and continued to harvest muskrats. Many of us who grew up in the Delta always looked forward to ratting season so we could spend time out on the land. Mr. Speaker, schools in the Delta have elders who take students to the camp and teach them the traditional ways. With all the resource development that is going on in the Northwest Territories, it is good to see so many people still engaged in the pursuit of traditional activities. We must remember that, unlike oil and gas, the fur trade is a renewable resource and that the fur trade is what the Northwest Territories was built on. I am pleased that the Government of the Northwest Territories has programs like the Fur Marketing Program that help those residents who choose to continue with the traditional activity of trapping. I know many people who take advantage of the incentives and still enjoy the way of life that being on the land can provide.

Mr. Speaker, I have always admired and envied those who still go out on the land and make a living. Whenever we can, we try to get out and do some hunting and trapping because being out on the land is a part of us, and we will continue to go out no matter what we do for a living. I encourage the government to continue programs to allow people to continue with the traditional activity of fur harvesting. It is an investment of a healthy lifestyle that results in healthy people. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to send condolences to families and friends in Tuktoyaktuk. Since December 2004, families and friends in Tuktoyaktuk have lost two elders.

I am sorry to report, Mr. Speaker, on Saturday night, I received word that another prominent elder, Mr. Edgar Kotokak passed away peacefully at the Inuvik General Hospital. Mr. Kotokak was surrounded by family and friends.

Mr. Speaker, last night around 11:00 p.m., I received another call about another prominent elder, Martha Kikoak, who passed away at the Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife. Mrs. Kikoak was the wife of my late uncle Roy Kikoak.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like, on behalf of my family and the residents of Tuktoyaktuk, to extend our deepest sympathy to families and friends of the late Edgar Kotokak and to the families of the late Martha Kikoak of Tuktoyaktuk. I cannot be there this week; however, my thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at 11:00 a.m. this morning, I had the honour of attending the launch of our very own fundraising initiative in the name of breast cancer, Run for Our Lives. Mr. Speaker, Run for Our Lives will replace the Run for the Cure in 2005 and will make it possible to use 100 percent of the funds raised by the people of the NWT in support of national research, programs, services, support and equipment purchases for NWT breast cancer patients and survivors. Mr. Speaker, I have been a supporter of this move, because I believe this is about taking an ownership of this beloved project to make it for the NWT people by the NWT people and of the NWT people.

Mr. Speaker, to symbolize the inclusiveness and the unique northern culture and heritage, the new ribbon designed for this event shows our very unique and very well-known Delta braid, which I see that all the Members are wearing. Mr. Speaker, I can also tell you that all things made and purchased for this event will be by the northerners and from the northern businesses and artists.

Mr. Speaker, when the Run for the Cure first came to Yellowknife in 1996, one of the main incentives for northerners to participate was to raise funds for a new mammography machine for the Stanton Territorial Hospital. At the time, the NWT run was considered a satellite of the national run and, therefore, 75 percent of the funds were eligible to come back to the NWT. Approximately $100,000 was granted to purchase a new mammography unit through this fundraising.

Since 1996, the NWT has raised almost $1.2 million for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation; more than any other region in the country on a per capita basis, but we have only been able to get about $265,000 back to the NWT. In 2002, new guidelines were developed by the national organization that really makes it impossible or very difficult for any of the projects for northern needs and northern research to be approved. Mr. Speaker, the people of the NWT are recognized as being among the most generous, and this new Run for Our Lives will give the owners and sponsors assurance that the money they donate will come back to the NWT. Any research being sponsored will be for the people of the NWT who have direct benefit.

Mr. Speaker, the new run will join forces with the Stanton Territorial Hospital Foundation…Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement?

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to just state that the new run will join force with the Stanton Territorial Hospital Foundation which will be able to provide the much needed and important administrative structure and support. I am also happy to see that one of the main corporate sponsors, CIBC, will stay with the run. I have no doubt that when the first Run for Our Lives is held on October 2nd of this year, the northern people will be out in full force as they always have done, especially now knowing that we are doing it all northern communities and literally all of the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise slowly. For the past 24 hours, I have played some dynamite hockey in the birthplace of Canada: in Deline.

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Mr. Speaker, today I want to acknowledge the hard work that people in Deline did. The volunteers organized a successful event. The hand games were enjoyed by many people. There were many people from the Sahtu communities, Yellowknife and Tli Cho communities. They were there participating. They had family events. It showed by the volunteers being there, their dedicated time and determination, made it a successful event. It was a huge success in Deline.

The hockey games were wonderful. Actually, we had the CBC crew up there filming. They are willing to do a story on the birthplace of hockey and see what can be done about it. I am looking forward to this government seeing if it can help in any way to recognize Deline as the birthplace of Canadian hockey where it should be, up here in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, a couple of the elders were talking about the people who were floating on the ice up in Deline in 1825. So there is history to it. I am waiting for the CBC report to come out. I am really looking forward to this government and to the Minister of MACA to see if he could provide any leadership in terms of putting some tourism attractions to the birthplace of hockey in the Northwest Territories. Truly, it will be hockey night in Canada up in Deline on Great Bear Lake.

Hockey night in Deline, Mr. Speaker. I look forward to that. I look forward to going back into Deline. I want to thank all the volunteers for their hard work. My heart goes out to them because I have seen the work they have done. I know there are volunteers in all the communities. They do hard work, and they do good work. It makes the event good. Those people work hard. My hat is off to all of the volunteers in the Northwest Territories for making communities successful in these kinds of events. Mahsi.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize one of my constituents from Rae-Edzo, Mr. Peter Husky who is in the gallery. Welcome to the House. Thank you.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Would he inform the House in terms of the University and College Entrance Program? This program provides funding for up to two semesters and prepares aboriginal people to upgrade their education skills to qualify for university or college programs. Mr. Speaker, this program is to assist aboriginal people; however, Métis people are not eligible to apply. Can the Minister update as to what the progress is in terms of having Métis people eligible for this program? Mahsi.

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

Return To Question 552-15(3): Federal University And College Entrance Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is right; the program is a program that is offered by the federal government. We administer it on their behalf to make it easier for Northwest Territories residents to access the program, but the rules of the program do not allow Métis people to access the program. It is not just the Métis people that have had problems with it. We have a waiting list. There are more than 20 status people who, this year, are not getting served by the program because the program ran out of money so early in the year.

Mr. Speaker, I have written to the federal Minister on numerous occasions requesting that they give us some consideration for a change in the program. But to date, the federal government has refused to do that.

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

Supplementary To Question 552-15(3): Federal University And College Entrance Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in light of the proposed pipeline and other resource development that is happening in the Northwest Territories, we are encouraging our students and young people in communities all over the Northwest Territories to get an education. What plans does he have in terms of getting some extra funding and making sure that all people are eligible to apply for these types of funds that are meant to be? Thank you.