Debates of May 14, 2007 (day 6)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I certainly will continue to pursue this. It’s not something that we have as a high priority right now. There is still a lot of communication equipment and communication issues in our communities that we could focus on. There’s the issue of self-service, and self-service along the highway would maybe make more sense right now than implementing a huge, costly 911 service that is only going to serve a small part of the whole Northwest Territories. It’s something we’d have to sit down and talk with the other departments and the other agencies, but we’ll certainly follow up as the Member has requested. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I talked about how and why sustainable and standard design for public infrastructure could help everyone by delivering better products at lower costs. Mr. Speaker, whether it’s the designers, the engineers, the community, even government officials and MLAs, I mean, everyone wants the design to the maximum dollars put into the budget and they seem to always want more. One more thing, Mr. Speaker, always wants overtake needs. Has the Minister of Public Works and Services ever considered adopting a template format for construction of public buildings with a modular format so that they can easily be expanded to accommodate future needs of public infrastructure and community? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Public Works and Services, Mr. Krutko.

Return To Question 71-15(6): Standard Designs For Government Building Infrastructure

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have been working with departments and also we are looking at the whole energy conservation design of public infrastructure in regards to making sure that we do bring down the cost, but more importantly that we do have something that’s affordable and meets our budget amounts. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 71-15(6): Standard Designs For Government Building Infrastructure

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister today commit in this House that he would go out to some type of public consultation to engage our engineers and architects on coming up with sustainable design principles for all our public government infrastructures so the percentage of cost overruns are minimized? For a note to that, Alaska has 15 percent as an acceptable overrun. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 71-15(6): Standard Designs For Government Building Infrastructure

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we do have an interdepartmental committee that’s looking at the whole area of infrastructure. Again, this could be one of the issues that they look at. Again, we are trying to ensure that we find ways not only to deliver our existing infrastructure, but more importantly the infrastructure going forward. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 71-15(6): Standard Designs For Government Building Infrastructure

Mr. Speaker, I think I heard the Minister say yes, but I’ll let him re-clarify. Mr. Speaker, specifically to schools, health clinics, and seniors’ facilities, has the department ever done a historical cost overrun overview by doing a 360 degree design evaluation to ensure that bad designs are re-evaluated and that they haven’t turned into maintenance nightmares? Further, are we building our buildings for the 1,500-year life expectancy, or are we just designing them to be maintained for the rest of their life? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 71-15(6): Standard Designs For Government Building Infrastructure

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we do design and build to ensure that the capital investment that we are making is there for the long term. Again, we are ensuring that the quality of that infrastructure is going to be able to maintain itself over 30 to 40 years. So again, it is a part of the design, construct, and more importantly ensuring the energy conservation and the style that we use is cost efficient. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Final Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 71-15(6): Standard Designs For Government Building Infrastructure

Mr. Speaker, does the Minister of Public Works and Services monitor the percentage difference between contract bids and contract payments and, if so, what is an acceptable percentage if things are over? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 71-15(6): Standard Designs For Government Building Infrastructure

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in regards to the cost of construction, in most cases we have a rough estimate of what we expect the price to come in on. Again, we do look at what else is happening in other areas, what’s in general contracting area, what’s happening in the industry, so again we do try to ensure that we do come up with a number that meets our requirements, but more importantly that we can afford to build at that cost and not to build something that’s extreme where we cannot afford it. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Housing Corporation regarding the seniors' home in Behchoko. This building has been there since 1986. It’s been there for many years now. When I went to visit there yesterday, the ceiling was dripping with water. You can see the water dripping onto the floors. I would like to know when they may replace the building. I asked this question before. I’m going to ask…(Translation ends)

In March, I spoke to the honourable Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation regarding this government’s commitment to repair or replace Jimmy Erasmus Seniors Home in Behchoko. Further to this, Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister what progress has been made since that session and the subsequent visits by the president of the Housing Corporation to the community of Behchoko. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 72-15(6): Jimmy Erasmus Senior Home In Behchoko

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Housing Corporation has been working on this issue for some time. We have a consultant who did a report. The Housing Corporation received a copy of that report on April 27th and are now taking a look at it. As I had said to the Member before, we plan to have the final report available by June. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 72-15(6): Jimmy Erasmus Senior Home In Behchoko

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in March, the Minister committed to working on seven major areas of deficiencies as a short-term solution that were found in the seniors’ home. Has the department or can the Minister provide an update on the report? I realize it’s coming in June, but what has the department done to accomplish the deficiencies? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 72-15(6): Jimmy Erasmus Senior Home In Behchoko

Mr. Speaker, the report deals primarily with those seven areas of deficiencies. The recommendation in the draft report is that the building be replaced, but that in the meantime we do some renovation to last us five years until we get a new building. There’s concerns with the building in the areas -- I won’t go through all those seven areas -- but there’s also concerns with the site that it allows for too much accumulation of water and is creating problems for us. So, Mr. Speaker, the draft recommendation right now is to do the repairs. We will do them by the Housing Corporation and then plan for a replacement facility. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 72-15(6): Jimmy Erasmus Senior Home In Behchoko

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that was a short-term solution that we’ve just highlighted. Just moving on to a long-term solution, also in March the Minister expressed his concerns over the condition of the facility, as he just touched on as well, and expressed the need for immediate action on the situation. The long-term solution is to be found in a report to be conducted in a few months. In the past few months. Sorry, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister please disclose the results and long-term solutions to be taken as a result of this report? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 72-15(6): Jimmy Erasmus Senior Home In Behchoko

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are going to go ahead with the short-term repairs to deal with the interim problems. Those are things ranging from water under the crawlspace, there was a sewage spill, there’s mould in some units, the roof leaking, the deterioration on some of the plumbing lines. Those are things that we’re going to repair in the short term. But right now, the consultant’s recommendation is to replace the facility, and our people in the Housing Corporation agree with that recommendation. So I fully expect that when the final report comes out, that will be the direction. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 72-15(6): Jimmy Erasmus Senior Home In Behchoko

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m glad the department’s really focussing on the seniors’ home that’s in poor condition right now and the plan to replace that building within five years. But at the same time, Mr. Speaker, the immediate plan is a short-term plan. When is the repair going to be initiated? Because we’re dealing with this issue now. I’m getting so many calls from the communities, especially the elders. When is it going to be happening? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 72-15(6): Jimmy Erasmus Senior Home In Behchoko

Mr. Speaker, I don’t have a fixed schedule for it, but I can assure the Member that this summer we will do the essential repairs. I don’t know the exact schedule of which will be done where, but some things like leaking roofs and standing water under the buildings, those are things we have to fix right away. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week there was a good debate on discussion regarding the Premier’s sessional statement. When he said the government plans to move forward with the Mackenzie bridge over the Deh Cho without the federal funding, I understand, Mr. Speaker, that there’s money identified under the federal government under P3, but that’s still not determined how that’s going to be spent.

Mr. Speaker, on page 175 of the unedited transcript on May 9th the Premier said, and I quote, “there is also extra capital money, $25 million a year, in there. We don’t intend to use big chunks of that money for this bridge.” I have a question for the Premier, Mr. Speaker, is that, can he explain what he means by not using big chunks of that money? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 73-15(6): Deh Cho Bridge Project

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The bridge, Deh Cho Bridge, is being built as a P3 project, private-public partnership. So in that arrangement, the Bridge Corporation made up of the combined community alliance will be the owner of the bridge initially. They are the ones who will borrow the money to build the bridge and it’ll be financed over 35 or so years. So the GNWT will not be using capital money for this project. The $25 million the Member refers to is money that is identified in the federal budget. It’s $25 million a year for seven years for trades-related infrastructure. We don’t have exact definitions from the federal government what that means. We have been told, though, that they’re still working on the guidelines. At this point, it is not our intention to use capital money for the Deh Cho Bridge at all. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 73-15(6): Deh Cho Bridge Project

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess my follow-up then is about, in the unedited transcripts, Mr. Speaker, he’s indicated that, again, I’ll say it one more time, "there is also extra capital money, $25 million a year in there. We don’t intend to use big chunks for that money." I think I’d like to ask him, like, in my interpretation of that, Mr. Speaker, is that the money there for infrastructure funding, that somehow that the government will use some of that money for part of this project? Can he explain that to me whether or not that’s what he intended to imply? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 73-15(6): Deh Cho Bridge Project

Mr. Speaker, as I said, we don’t have guidelines for that infrastructure money. We don’t know exactly what the federal government means by trades-related initiatives. At this point, as I say, we don’t intend to use capital money for the Deh Cho Bridge. The plan right now is one that the Department of Transportation and the Combined Community Alliance and the proposed contractor can do it as a P3 project without using capital money. So, Mr. Speaker, at this point I’d have to say that, without knowing the guidelines for the $25 million a year for seven years, that we don’t plan on using any of it because we don’t know what it’s going to be, exactly what it’s going to be defined for. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are to the Minister of Justice and it’s in follow up to the Member’s statement. Mr. Speaker, we’ve had many debates on this topic and the most recent being the time in the last budget session when the Minister and I had some exchanges about what we could do to maximize the RCMP resources so that as many of the boots as possible are on the street. So in that vein, I’d like to know if the Minister has done, or is willing to do, a comprehensive review of the work that the RCMP does and see what we can do to streamline, to lighten their burden of non sort of street work, because I believe if the Minister finds and looks hard enough, there’s work that the GNWT department can do, for example. I’m not saying the GNWT could do that without resources either, but it’s more doable for us to put more resources in GNWT to take some burden off the RCMP so that we have the RCMP officers on the ground, on the streets in Yellowknife and in communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 74-15(6): Policing Resources Available To Address Criminal Activity In Downtown Yellowknife

Mr. Speaker, I think there are things that we can do as a government to assist the RCMP and there are a number of things that we have been involved in doing. One that I would point to is the use of our officers at our corrections facilities to escort prisoners as compared to asking uniformed RCMP officers to do this. So we’ve come up with an arrangement that allows the RCMP officers to stay on the ground, as the Member has indicated, in the community and not have to do this escort of prisoners function.

The RCMP have civilian staff who handle most of the clerical work and they have RCMP uniformed staff who, for the most part, don’t do that type of work, although there is some paperwork involved. There’s a committee that’s been struck. Our government sits on that to look at how we can work on some efficiencies. I think we all share the Member’s point or goal that we want the RCMP as much as possible doing police work on the streets. Of course, we know that uniformed members will end up taking victim statements, witness statements, those kinds of things. Paperwork, Mr. Speaker. But as much as possible, it’s to all of our benefit that we minimize the amount of paperwork that they’re doing. We are participating in that committee and I hope that we’ll have some good results. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 74-15(6): Policing Resources Available To Address Criminal Activity In Downtown Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m not quite clear on what the mandate and the time frame of this committee is. I believe this issue requires a real focus and serious attention. One of the examples I’ve heard is that RCMP in uniform actually looks after the travelling schedule for witnesses. They organize the travelling schedules and they call court services and court services approves this. I think that is one example where we could use other resources than RCMP who are trained to be on the street, to be seen and do the work. So I’d like to ask the Minister more specific questions. What is exactly this committee work, how much mandate is that, who are the partners in that, and what are the terms of reference? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. About three or four questions there. Mr. Bell, I’ll allow you to answer one or all of them.

Further Return To Question 74-15(6): Policing Resources Available To Address Criminal Activity In Downtown Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will certainly inquire as to the suggestion that it’s uniformed, I believe that the suggestion is that it’s uniformed police officers who are handling travel arrangements for witnesses. I think it’s probably clerical staff at the RCMP, but I could be wrong and I’ll certainly check into that. If that is the case, that would be an example, I would agree. Certainly there’s got to be a better way for us to utilize our uniformed staff. So on this committee, we participate with the RCMP. One of the major initiatives, as I’ve indicated, was to find a way to handle prisoner transport more efficiently. I know the RCMP have been very supportive of that. This is an ongoing committee. We meet frequently, apparently, and sit down and discuss ways to rationalize and improve service, Mr. Speaker. So I can get some of the last couple of meetings, get some notes, and would certainly be willing to share those with the Member or with all Members so that Members can see the kinds of issues we’re talking about at that committee level. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 74-15(6): Policing Resources Available To Address Criminal Activity In Downtown Yellowknife