Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to provide Members with an update on the Deh Cho Bridge.
Mr. Speaker, in the past six months two major reports have been released: The Levelton Report and the Auditor General’s report. The Levelton Report was a review of the Deh Cho Bridge phase 1 substructure design and construction. The report confirms that once work to address some minor deficiencies is complete, the phase 1 works are structurally sound. The Department of Transportation has developed an action plan that is addressing all of the issues identified in the report.
The Auditor General’s report has made a number of recommendations, which we have accepted, and provided overall assurance and comfort that the bridge is safe and is being built to the required standards.
Currently, the contractor is working on the south side of the river. Steel truss sections continue to arrive on site and their assembly is ongoing. Once the river is free of ice, the contractor will reinstall the south side work-bridge and temporary bents or supports. The contractor will then launch the truss on the south side and install the towers and cables to support the centre span.
Mr. Speaker, as I reported in the last sitting of the Legislative Assembly, the contractor has expressed uncertainty about the completion date because critical bridge steel components arrived late. At the time, the impact on the construction schedule was unclear, but there was an expectation that the contractor could make up the lost time. It was also
indicated that the schedule is a contractor responsibility and that additional information would be available in the spring, once more information was known about the progress achieved during the winter. We continue to emphasize that safety and quality are of utmost importance as this work proceeds.
Mr. Speaker, the contractor has indicated that completion could be delayed. Information provided by the contractor indicates that the superstructure trusses, towers and cables were not completed during the past winter because of the late arrival of steel. As a result, certain weather-sensitive construction activities, such as paving, constructing concrete curbs and grouting of deck panels, are unlikely to begin before winter. Our environment is not one that is conducive to conducting these construction activities in the winter.
Mr. Speaker, we’re asking the contractor to provide us with a revised schedule that takes into account fully the events to date and to substantiate the reasons. We will examine this closely to determine what steps to take next. Our primary concern is that the bridge is built safely and to the highest standards so that it can perform as expected during its 75-year design life without unnecessary added maintenance.
Mr. Speaker, the precise impact of a possible delay on the total capital cost of the project cannot be determined at this time. The scope of work will not change significantly, however, so we are not anticipating there will be any additional capital costs to complete construction.
Mr. Speaker, the GNWT’s focus is on completing the Deh Cho Bridge without compromising either quality or safety. It is well-designed and will meet or exceed Canada’s National Bridge Code in all respects throughout the 75-year design life. It will be a vital link that will benefit NWT residents for many years to come.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Robert McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to speak about the value of strong community governments in the Northwest Territories.
Responsive community governments are critical to support healthy, safe, and vibrant communities. To assist the community governments in their efforts, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs works closely with the NWT Association of Communities and the Local Government Administrators of the NWT to provide training, resources, and opportunities for community governments to work with and learn from each other.
The NWT Association of Communities and the Local Government Administrators of the NWT are key stakeholders in the development of the current legislative and policy framework that has provided community governments the opportunity to expand and apply their full authority as municipal governments.
Most recently, these organizations partnered with and supported MACA with the implementation of new responsibilities for the development and implementation of capital projects. With this policy shift, community governments are able to make their own decisions and develop their own infrastructure to meet the needs of the residents. They have also been able to leverage other funds made available through federal infrastructure programs, such as the Building Canada Plan and Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, to pursue new infrastructure projects that would not have been viable without these funding opportunities.
Community governments are investing in core infrastructure that benefits the health and safety of their residents.
There are examples of this progress in every community. Residents benefit from new water and waste facilities, new office buildings, and new recreation infrastructure. Thanks to this new approach, community governments are planning and implementing infrastructure projects that best meet the needs and priorities of their residents.
Community governments, through such mechanisms as integrated community sustainability planning, are engaged in long-term planning so that they can minimize the impact of staff turnover and maximize opportunities to make strategic investments to sustain local operations over the long term. The NWT Association of Communities has been integral to these efforts by expanding their service to support strategic and energy planning, and by identifying and mitigating the impacts of climate change on community governments.
MACA’s partnership with the two organizations provides a commitment to, and focus on, continuing to build capacity in community governments. Through a variety of programming such as the Public Sector Capacity Building Initiative and partnering on the delivery of training opportunities to recruit and retain community government staff, communities will benefit over time as the stability and continuity of community government administrative staff increases. Venues such as the bi-annual governance conferences sponsored by MACA and the annual general meetings of the NWT Association of Communities and the Local Government Administrators of the NWT provide opportunities to learn from other community council and staff about what is working in communities and to share successes with their peers across the Territories.
I would like to commend the work done by all 33 community governments, our partners at the NWT Association of Communities and the Local Government Administrators of the NWT in working with us to advance the 16th Legislative Assembly’s goals of sustainable, vibrant, and safe communities in the NWT.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Every summer thousands of visitors come to Northwest Territories parks and campgrounds. The priority of the Government of the Northwest Territories is to keep our parks and visitor facilities in top condition to ensure these visitors have a memorable and enjoyable experience.
The Government of the Northwest Territories continues to make improvements and investments in parks and visitor facilities throughout the Northwest Territories. By making these improvements, we are encouraging visitors to stay longer and explore the tourist opportunities the Northwest Territories has to offer. This supports the 16th Legislative Assembly’s goal of a diversified economy that provides all communities and regions with opportunities and choices.
The Western Arctic Visitor Centre in Inuvik has recently undergone a refurbishment, and major renovations were completed at the Fort McPherson Visitors Centre.
We have completed major renovations and improvements to several parks throughout the Northwest Territories. These include new or improved hiking trails, better interpretive signage, improved RV services, including sewage drop-off and additional electrical service.
In the Deh Cho, visitors to Sambaa Deh Falls Territorial Park can now enjoy spectacular views from a new viewing platform. New kitchen shelters have been built so visitors have a place to prepare and enjoy their picnic or barbeque.
As part of our commitment to green technology, we are proud to have introduced solar electricity at the new Sixtieth Parallel Visitor Centre. Since last spring we have been using solar hot water in shower buildings in Fred Henne Territorial Park, as well.
One of the most visible improvements is the brand new visitor centre at the 60th Parallel. This new facility provides an excellent first impression for visitors entering the Northwest Territories on Highway No. 1. Through interactive digital displays, arts and crafts exhibits, and much more, the centre provides visitors with information about experiences and activities in all Northwest Territories communities. This information will encourage people to explore our smaller northern communities. The fair distribution of benefits as widely as possible amongst communities and regions is one of the fundamental principles of Tourism 2015, A New Direction for a Spectacular Future.
We will be celebrating the grand opening of the visitor centre on June 2nd, and I would like to invite all of you to attend the opening of the new facility, which will include the unveiling of our new 60th Parallel welcome sign.
We have invested in our parks staff and contractors. These professionals work tirelessly to keep park users safe and ensure everything is in good working order. The comfort and safety of our visitors is of utmost importance to our parks officers. This summer they will have new uniforms that will make them visible to visitors as parks employees.
Mr. Speaker, our parks staff are one of our greatest assets. That is why we have invested in enhanced training programs this year. We know this additional training will ensure the parks staff have the skills and ability to maintain a safe environment for everyone to enjoy our parks. These investments have been made under the Maximizing Opportunities Strategic Initiative. They will help to ensure the beauty of our parks and facilities for many years to come.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take this opportunity to mention that two of our parks and visitor attractions have been recognized in the 2011 Readers Choice Awards from RV West Magazine: Twin Falls received a Platinum award for Favourite Attraction; Silver went to Fred Henne Territorial Park for Favourite Overall RV Destination.
I hope you and your families have an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful parks and visitor facilities in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the government and the Committee on the Sustainability of Rural and Remote Communities for all their work in trying to bring some equalization to the small communities. One item I am particularly pleased with is the Small Community Employment Strategy.
Mr. Speaker, I’ve had an opportunity to review the documents on all three employment programs. Although I’m happy with the intent, I believe that some changes must be made to the program.
Firstly, Mr. Speaker, some small communities do not have career development officer-type positions but do have client service officers. In Tu Nedhe the client service officers work half time. I feel they should be filling the role of the career development officers during the 40-week period these programs will run. These half-time positions could be used on a full-time basis for those 40 weeks. Mr. Speaker, this could be a part of the overall Employment Strategy.
In addition, Mr. Speaker, the program should be delivered at the community level as much as possible. Also during the delivery, local governments, Aboriginal governments, local businesses, should all be fully engaged.
Mr. Speaker, I see these programs as a key to providing key positions such as pre-school teachers, daycare workers and environmental workers. Mr. Speaker, each of the community governments could utilize these positions and these positions would have far-reaching positive impacts.
Mr. Speaker, it is slowly becoming common knowledge that the success of students from K to 12 is increased by being enrolled in the preschool. Therefore, if this government is serious about increasing graduation numbers in small communities, this is an example of optimal spending for the programs.
Mr. Speaker, as I’ve stated many times in this House, employment rates are a huge issue in small communities, and this government is responding with these programs. Let’s engage the leaders to ensure it is done right from the outset. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are some very scary things happening on the streets of this city. That’s why it’s so important for our schools, Social Services and the police to do the right thing when they are faced with young people whose lives are seriously at risk. It can be the difference between saving a life and sending a youth down a long and dangerous slide, one that they may never get out of.
Only days ago we had a young man, only 16 years old, pass away in a downtown alley. We should take this to heart, Mr. Speaker, as this young man’s family and friends have. It’s any parent’s worst nightmare, and many parents out there are worried, and with good reason, Mr. Speaker.
I recently heard from a mother who is so afraid for her 16-year-old daughter, she doesn’t know what to do. She’s already turned to school officials, Social Services and the RCMP, with disturbing results.
Two years ago her daughter was a top notch student, and now this, and I’d like to quote her mother: “To date she has missed 270 days of school. She is drinking, doing drugs, smoking cigarettes, stealing, and doing much harder drugs than I thought, and at one point I lost my temper and hit her. I’m not proud that I did this. So we went to Social Services.”
She wanted to put her daughter in treatment. Instead, says her mother, “I was told that I had to let her make her own decisions. I then asked about my 12-year-old son whom she verbally and physically abuses. I was told that I needed to protect him and remove him from the home after school. Why would I punish my son for my daughter’s behaviour? I was told that if I hit my daughter again, they would charge me. I was unaware just how bad it was until Social Services began to investigate me.”
Mr. Speaker, Social Services actually interviewed the mother’s business contacts, her family, her fiancé and her son. Eventually they offered to pay for her daughter to stay in another home with responsible adults, if the mother could identify one. She did not think this was the right thing to do, and who can blame her? She wants help; she’s not trying to foist her daughter or her troubles on someone else, but she didn’t get help from Social Services when she asked for it as an honest, forthright mother with nowhere else to turn. Instead, they put her livelihood at risk and multiplied her stress level.
Mr. Speaker, this mother knows what she’s talking about. She’s a recovered addict herself, drug-free for 13 years.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Right now there’s no solution in sight. Her daughter is falling through the cracks in our support system and it could happen to anyone. Believe me, it is tearing families apart in this city. It is happening to many others.
As a government we must do a better job at filling in these gaps and services before any more youth are lost to the streets of this city. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As MLAs we are often called upon to advocate on behalf of constituents for a wide variety of issues with literally every department of this government; everything from contracting processes to delays in medical travel, approvals to student financial assistance issues. Very often extensive information is shared with MLAs by constituents who do not have ready access to the answers, solutions or remedies that they are seeking. I’ve been an MLA for 16 years and see this is a large part of the constituent work that it is my duty to perform.
In recent months, upon making inquiries regarding medical issues, education issues, financial support issues, MLAs have been told that the information that they seek on behalf of constituents is confidential and no information can be released to the MLA because of privacy concerns. There needs to be a balance in the requiring of consent forms. I don’t think that departments can just willy-nilly keep gobs of confidential information on the desks of MLAs just because they request it. However, many requests contain details of a situation that could only be known to the MLA if it had been shared with them by the constituent in the first place.
We have to be careful that the requirement of a consent form is not an excuse to delay, postpone, or defer responding to the constituent’s request. In the case of emergency situations such as medical travel, we could be in Yellowknife and the constituent may be in their community with no access to a fax or e-mail and have only conveyed the request or concern verbally to their MLA.
Section 48 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act lists the circumstances in which a public body can disclose personal information. One of those circumstances is to a Member of the Legislative Assembly who has been represented by an individual to whom the information relates in resolving a problem. There are other issues of constituents that by merely directing them to the proper channels, such as labour standards, human rights, patient care representatives, these issues can be taken care of. But there are also clearly cases where the constituent may not have the ability to advocate on their own behalf due to illness, language barriers, or a lack of understanding of how the process works.
MLAs reserve the prerogative of assisting their constituents in the most effective and efficient way possible. I’m not suggesting that every issue needs to end up on the Minister’s desk, but when all else and other avenues fail, we do what we have to do to get our answers and to get the job done.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to congratulate the 2011 Nahendeh graduates of Aurora College who travel to Fort Smith and Yellowknife. The people of Nahendeh and the Northwest Territories appreciate the valuable skills you will bring back to your communities and the contributions you will make to the workforce.
Graduation is a significant milestone. I want to recognize your hard work and dedication in achieving your goals. Your commitment shows leadership and sets a good example to students who will follow in your footsteps.
I also want to recognize the graduates’ families who offered support throughout this chapter in their lives. Education is a great investment in your future. I hope the training you have received will open doors to exciting careers and opportunities for lifelong learning. As MLA for Nahendeh, I wish you all the best in your future.
Of special note, seven of the eight graduates this year are women. The graduates are: with a Bachelor of Education Degree, Ms. Sharon Allen of Fort Simpson; with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Ms. Malerie Hardisty of Jean Marie River; with a Business Administration Diploma, Ms. Nicole Hardisty of Wrigley; with an Office Administration Certificate, Ms. Jocelyn Tsetso of Fort Simpson; with a Certificate in Adult Education, Mr. Dean Harvey of Fort Simpson; with a Social Work Diploma, Ms. Bianca Kotchea of Fort Liard; with a Bachelor of Science and Nursing, Ms. Leanne Niziol formerly of Wrigley.
I also wish to congratulate those who worked hard in universities and colleges, and those who work hard as well in their Aurora College programs in their home communities.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A number of years ago I approached ITI with the idea of a made-in-the-NWT branding program. This idea was to support our local manufacturing businesses across the North to assist them as they market their products. Voluntary, of course, but what this does is help the consumers understand the choices before them. For example, a consumer could buy windows made in the NWT, which of course incidentally are produced in Hay River, or they could buy those other brands that are not produced in the North. The importance of this program is, as when I suggested it was, the fact that we are ensuring that the consumer is educated about the exciting work being done here in the North.
A few years later, under the leadership and vision of our present ITI Minister Bob McLeod, I was very pleased that ITI ran with the idea, and since that time I’ve been hearing a lot of positive things about it. I’ve heard from many constituents about the great feedback that they’re getting when they’re trying to sell their products. Businesses are excited because their product is identified as a true northern product available for our consumers.
Yesterday I tabled some examples about how we could further the ideas to continue to capitalize on the success on this type of branding concept. I’d like to call it an in-the-NWT program. I am hopeful it will spark energy and creativity as we promote northern-grown businesses and opportunities before us.
The examples are both exciting and endless, and they can be tailored to wherever we need it. We’ve all heard about the potatoes from Norman Wells. What about grown in the NWT? Many of us know wonderful and creative filmmakers, so what about filmed in the NWT, or explored in the NWT, fished in the NWT, or, certainly, hunted in the NWT? That’s assuming, of course, there’s caribou left. The way we go. All right.
The possibilities are endless, of course. It’s really limited by the creativity we want to put into it ourselves. Northern creativity and entrepreneurial spirit is certainly out there, alive and well. This program, in-the-NWT branding, could be part of a seamless, long-term strategy to market all that our NWT has to offer. We could capitalize on the momentum already captured under this made-in-the-NWT program by finishing it off and calling it only-in-the-NWT.
I hope ITI will run with this idea and I certainly hope that they will continue the concept developed under made-in-the-NWT program and promote it under what I call the in-the-NWT. This is an opportunity for us all.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On March 22, 2011, the deputy ministers of both Justice and Health and Social Services penned a joint letter to His Worship Mayor Gord Van Tighem concerning GNWT involvement on the City of Yellowknife’s Social Issues Committee. I tabled a copy of the letter on Wednesday afternoon.
The City of Yellowknife does not have a mandate to deal with health and social services issues within the community; no community does. This is a mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories. Regardless, the City of Yellowknife recognizes that they have a role in advising the GNWT and the Government of Canada on social issues within the city of Yellowknife. They also recognize that in city planning they need to be aware of social issues affecting the residents and how these issues can affect city administration and potential programming. Things like, but not limited to, affordable housing, community enhancement, and recreational programming are all affected by social issues affecting residents of Yellowknife and all communities throughout the Northwest Territories.
To address this, the city developed the Yellowknife Social Issues Committee to assist the GNWT by considering issues, conveying areas of concern, and providing advice to the Government of the Northwest Territories. The city asked the GNWT, in particular the departments of Justice and Health and Social Services, to have representation on this committee. Until March 2011 both of these departments had representation on this committee. By way of a letter tabled on Wednesday, the deputy ministers informed the mayor that their respective departments and the GNWT as a whole would no longer be active members of this committee. In my opinion, the arguments for removing themselves as active members of the committee were sound. Given the committee’s mandate, emergent areas of interest, and expectations of the GNWT, it is reasonable to assume that the GNWT employees would be placed in potential areas of conflict of interest. In the responses, the deputy ministers did indicate that they would make staff available, at the request of the committee, to answer questions on specific programs provided by the GNWT which may be of interest to the committee.
This is certainly one option to consider. Unfortunately, I don’t feel that it will really meet the needs of the city and it certainly doesn’t provide the GNWT with an ongoing and timely community perspective. I feel that there is a better option than just making staff available upon demand. I suggest that to avoid a potential conflict of interest, that the GNWT commit to having representatives from both of these departments attend these committee meetings as non-voting advisors. In addition to being advisors, these individuals could be effective liaisons between the city and the Government of the Northwest Territories on social issues.
I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
This is a win-win for both sides. The city will have timely access to program information and the GNWT will always be up to date on issues concerning the residents of Yellowknife and, by default, they will be ready to respond to official requests in a proactive manner rather than reactive manner. This is a good thing. This model could be easily used in all communities throughout the NWT and would enhance relationships between the GNWT and all community and regional governments.
At the appropriate time I will be asking either the Minister of Justice or the Minister of Health and Social Services some questions on this topic.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When parents send their children to school hundreds of miles away, they’re expecting a certain amount of assistance and care from the government and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Not that the region has not had good government-assisted boarding homes, parents are literally left out to make do on their own and the kids to fend for themselves, once they have to return home. It’s unacceptable. The lack of support and attention to this matter from the district education office, the Department of ECE, this government, shows that they’re not in touch with the people in the small and remote communities. The only handful of communities that are small enough to have a high school. These communities are left on their own. This government is not for all the people of the Northwest Territories. I have received many parents’ concern for the lack of support and assistance they receive regarding the boarding home care of their children during high school in Inuvik.
This government and the district office must do more to assist families and find appropriate boarding homes and facilities so their children can go to school and learn in a healthy environment. Many students live in boarding homes where there’s drinking, and drugs, and partying. That’s no place for a student to study and learn. It’s unacceptable. Many reasons why students in Nunakput drop out of school, but that’s a major concern when they do, because we don’t support them. If we are asking our kids to stay in school, we need to set them up and meet them half way. We need to provide for them resources, moral support, a good school environment, and a safe, reliable place for them to live. So far we’re not providing many of these services and that’s a shame.
This government should look at the vision statement of the 16th Legislative Assembly and apply it to all of the Northwest Territories.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A critical missing connection must be made between the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative and the planned review and renewal of the Early Childhood Development Framework. The Education Minister informs me that a draft discussion paper on the ECD Framework is planned for June, with working group meetings in September. Stakeholder consultations will begin in January 2012, with the final product for the 17th Legislative Assembly. Meanwhile, the Minister’s Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative is well underway, with a product likely in this Assembly.
This puts the proverbial sled well ahead of the dog team. No discussion of Aboriginal student achievement can be complete until we have comprehensive plans for nurturing all students of tomorrow. In particular, our biggest opportunity by far is to support preschoolers, especially newborns to age three. As I’ve repeatedly stressed, learning potential is hugely influenced well before the beginning of formal schooling. For maximum success, an informed plan for improving Aboriginal student achievement must be based upon a strategic approach to maximizing the health and learning potential of preschoolers. Concentrating first and only on the schooling aspects of Aboriginal student achievement narrows our focus and puts us in jeopardy of treating early childhood education as an extension of the institutional schooling system. While the ASA declares early childhood as a priority, their defined meaning is restricted to schooling.
Early childhood development must incorporate home-based programs and toddler child care. That’s the best preparation for success in both life and education, including the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative. In revitalizing the Early Childhood Development Framework, we must consider all the options that support childhood development. That includes expansion and improvement of the Healthy Families, Moms and Tots, and visiting nurses programs, family literacy and parenting programs, and even toy lending libraries.
We must finally take action to create the family resource centres which were in the original ECD framework but, like the child and family services committees, never created. A comprehensive early childhood plan is the essential first step to improving Aboriginal student achievement.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
A comprehensive early childhood development plan is the essential first step to improve Aboriginal student achievement. Until we have early childhood plans in place, the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative will be lacking critical answers. Let’s not short change the vital early childhood issues by rushing to early decisions on formal schooling aspects of Aboriginal student achievement.
I will be asking the Minister of ECE questions on this. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As mentioned by our colleague Mr. Abernethy earlier, the mayor of the City of Yellowknife recently received a letter from two GNWT deputy ministers. The message in that letter was that our government, the departments of Health and Social Services and Justice, would no longer fully participate on the Yellowknife Social Issues Committee.
Like Mr. Abernethy, I am deeply disappointed by this decision, Mr. Speaker. I believe it is very much a move in the wrong direction. The Yellowknife bi-annual community survey has several times identified social problems in the city as the number one issue for Yellowknife residents. My community government, Yellowknife City Council, is being proactive, responding to the concerns of residents by establishing a Social Issues Committee. They want to make life in our city better, and they are working to improve the community for residents and visitors alike.
So where does the responsibility lie for ensuring the social well-being of residents? Not with the city. That financial and program responsibility belongs with the territorial government. With the action outlined in the letter, the GNWT is backing away from that responsibility. The government should welcome the positive and proactive approach of Yellowknife’s council and should recognize the value that an active, interested organization can bring to the table when trying to solve our social ills.
The provision of health services, social services and justice services by this government to NWT residents is handled through our departments of Health and Social Services and Justice. This government should be working through those departments, should be working with the City of Yellowknife to advance initiatives and create success in the area of social issues. We have seen a few of those successful collaborations. The day shelter is one of them. The Homelessness Coalition, which includes GNWT representation, has proven to be a very positive force and has accomplished a great deal. Why can’t that same thing happen with the Yellowknife Social Issues Committee?
I have to wonder, Mr. Speaker, where the priorities of the City of Yellowknife sit with this government. How committed is the GNWT to supporting our capital city both in funding and with human resources support?
This government needs to remember that the city of Yellowknife is 50 percent of the NWT population, that the city of Yellowknife is the engine, the main generator for the NWT economy, that the city of Yellowknife has services here which many NWT residents come here to use.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Whether you like it or not, Yellowknife is a magnet community and, as such, provides for many Northerners who’ve moved here from their home community to access better services. The financial strain that that puts on Yellowknife must be recognized by this government.
Mr. Speaker, a community striving to improve itself for the benefit of its residents should not be penalized for their actions.
I will have questions for the Deputy Premier at the appropriate time. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we all know, programs and services are essential to delivering services throughout the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, the reality is a lot of our communities are losing programs and services which are either being cut back or phased out altogether.
Mr. Speaker, I’m talking about the nursing position in Tsiigehtchic where we have a health centre which, again, is not functional because you don’t have a full-time nurse to maintain and operate and provide the essential service.
Again, Mr. Speaker, cutting back at the Joe Greenland Centre in regard to moving it from a level three facility to a level two. There again, we’re cutting back programs and services in our community which is essential for the care and the well-being of our residents.
Mr. Speaker, standing up here time and time again, regardless of making Member’s statements...(inaudible)...petitions, or in most cases, getting motions passed from my colleagues in this House to support these initiatives and to keep them in place so that we can have programs and services that other people take for granted.
I think, Mr. Speaker, it’s imperative that the Government of the Northwest Territories has a universal health system that works in all communities in the Northwest Territories, that basically encompasses the importance of not only our front-line nursing staff but the regional centres and also Yellowknife in regard to how health care is being provided. But, Mr. Speaker, once you start taking positions out of our communities, regardless if it’s a nursing position in Tsiigehtchic or closure of the long-term care facility of the Joe Greenland Centre, this has a detrimental effect on the whole delivery system in the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, time and time again petitions have been filed, as I did again this week, which was basically given to the Minister of Health January 11th in Aklavik, in which a public meeting at which over 100 people were in attendance, in which a lot of commitments were made and a lot of discussion took place. Again, this government made commitments publicly on exactly how they’re going to continue to deliver programs in regard to elderly programs in Aklavik through the Joe Greenland Centre. Again, that is the commitment we made.
I think, Mr. Speaker, it’s important that this government realizes that when you talk about independent living, day programs, and all of the essential programs, you need to run such a facility as the Joe Greenland Centre, commitment is not only a verbal commitment, it needs a financial commitment.
At the appropriate time, Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Minister of Health exactly where we are in our commitment to our communities.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For thousands of years the people of the Sahtu have relied on the land to sustain us and our elders to guide us. Mr. Speaker, with those resources, it’s hard to keep the good people down, even with the challenges the residents face today. Just look at the issue in Norman Wells.
However, today I am pleased to talk about the projects that the Sahtu residents are involved in to address the high cost of living and improve their way of life. The Sahtu has become the potato capital of the Northwest Territories. Last year more than 10,000 pounds of spuds were grown locally and sold throughout the region. But it’s just not potatoes, Mr. Speaker. Gerry and Monica Loomis are the proud owners of Produce North. The Norman Wells business grew over 24,000 plants and vegetables last summer. This year they’re doubling the size of their greenhouse operation, which will make them one of the largest retail businesses of plants and vegetables in the Northwest Territories.
I think as well as the potato capital, Norman Wells is also known as the tomato capital. I am pleased that all five of the Sahtu communities now have greenhouses. Residents are becoming more sustainable by growing their own foods which will help them bring down the cost of living. One example of a successful greenhouse operation is the greenhouse in Deline operated by Verna Firth. Last summer all kinds of vegetables and plants were grown in this greenhouse, and the local hotel benefited from the locally grown lettuce during the summer months.
Another feather into the cap of the Sahtu is the news that some of the Deline residents are planning to raise free-range chickens and turkeys. Deline will soon be famous for more than the birthplace of ice hockey in Canada as those free-range chickens can show up on our dinner plates around the Sahtu and maybe even on our plates here.
Mr. Speaker, the Sahtu region is not only known for producing delicious vegetables, tourism, fishing and big-game hunting attract people in our region every year. A local hunter recently became famous for bagging the largest muskox rack. Just last fall a visiting hunter took the largest ever Woodland caribou rack in the Mackenzie Mountains, and recently a world record trout was caught in Great Bear Lake.
Mr. Yakeleya, your time for your Member’s statement has expired.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, honourable colleagues. Outdoor adventure enthusiasts from all over come to the Sahtu, come to experience some of the finest whitewaters in North America. In addition to our rivers, Mr. Speaker, our trails have also become famous within the hiking circles. Last summer, through a partnership between ITI and the Tulita Land Corporation, a beautiful hiking trail from the Mackenzie River to the top of Yamoria on the top of Bear Rock was developed. The trail offers the finest view of the Mackenzie of all NWT traditional trails around Fort Good Hope that have been reopened, which allowed young Aboriginal youth the opportunity to enjoy the history and culture of the K’asho Got’ine. Colville Lake has the rights to boast Bern Will Brown paintings. Mr. Speaker, the Canol Trail is also known for its hiking extreme enthusiasts who hike this trail.
Mr. Speaker, this July myself and the Minister of ITI will be attending the opening of the Norman Wells Float Base and Aviation Museum. Mr. Speaker, the spirit of entrepreneurialship is alive and well in the Sahtu. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
