Debates of May 15, 2007 (day 7)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 81-15(6): Information Available On The GNWT PeopleSoft Human Resources System

So, Mr. Speaker, then the Minister is denying that it was not possible for a casual employee at the Department of Health and Social Services to have access to MLAs’ personal information at any time?

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 81-15(6): Information Available On The GNWT PeopleSoft Human Resources System

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the best of my knowledge, that has never happened. If it has happened, it hasn’t been formally transmitted to the department so that we are aware of it.

Had something like that come to our attention, it would have been an issue that would have been a very serious concern and followed up.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 81-15(6): Information Available On The GNWT PeopleSoft Human Resources System

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in this day and age of all the attention to identity theft, if there was a breech of security on the PeopleSoft system, which would contain personal information about MLAs and Government of the Northwest Territories employees, what would be the protocol of the Department of Human Resources to ensure those people were notified of that breech? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 81-15(6): Information Available On The GNWT PeopleSoft Human Resources System

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t know if we have run into a situation like that. I don’t know what the exact protocol would be, but you can be assured that we would consider it to be a serious event and one that we would follow up on. But at this point, we have never been advised. In the past, I have heard rumours like the one that the Member has talked about. Every time we tried to follow up on it, we have never been able to find that it actually happened.

At this point, we don’t actually believe that it has happened. If it is found to be otherwise, there will be a very serious review of the situation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are addressed to the Minister of Public Works and Services. It is in regards to an issue I raised in the last session about the concern brought to me about the negative impact on small businesses in the IT sector that had been impacted by the formation of the TSC. There was significant market disruption and things didn’t balance out the way they were supposed to of no impact. The Minister indicated that they would do a review and see what the impact was, if any, and share those results. The Minister did promise it by April that he would give us a status of that undertaking. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Krutko.

Return To Question 82-15(6): Impact Of IT Centralization On The Private Sector

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have been working along with the Department of FMBS in regards to having this review overtaken by the office of the chief information officer because there may be a perceived conflict by way of us doing an investigation on ourselves. So it is being undertaken by the Financial Management Board Secretariat.

Again, I know I did commit to the Member that I would try and get back to him by April. Again, the work is ongoing because it is a comprehensive review. Also, we are trying to compare the information with other industrial trends across the country to make sure that we are implementing similar arrangements to ensure that we are fair. We are also trying work along with the people within the different industries.

Again, it is ongoing. We are working with the Department of FMBS on this matter.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 82-15(6): Impact Of IT Centralization On The Private Sector

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister indicate to the House when he anticipates this ongoing work will be completed so that we can see the results hopefully before the end of the life of this Assembly? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 82-15(6): Impact Of IT Centralization On The Private Sector

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, the office of the chief information officer is undertaking this. They are doing a performance evaluation and ensuring that the plan and assessment of the program is completed. They are telling me that they should have something back by the end of July. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 82-15(6): Impact Of IT Centralization On The Private Sector

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister if he would commit to sharing that work or report with the Members so that we can see what the impact is and what the results of that long labour has been by these various officials. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 82-15(6): Impact Of IT Centralization On The Private Sector

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, the normal protocol allows me to ensure that Cabinet sees it first before we release it, but I do not believe that will be a problem. So once Cabinet has seen it and approved the release, we will get it to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask my questions to the Minister of Health and Social Services. I spoke a couple times talking about investing in people. Investing in people could also mean investing into a proper treatment centre with some good aftercare programs. I’d like to ask the Minister if he’s aware of any long-term plans to establish treatment centres in some of the regions. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 83-15(6): Regional Alcohol And Drug Treatment Centres

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department itself is not aware of formal proposals out there. I am aware that there is some work going on in the Beaufort-Delta region around the issue of trying to set up a wellness facility through the Gwich’in. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 83-15(6): Regional Alcohol And Drug Treatment Centres

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we listen to the people of the Northwest Territories and they tell us that they feel that there is a need for treatment centres in the region. Yet we get a $97,000 report called Stay the Course recommending no need for treatment centres. I’d like to ask this government and the Minister, who are we listening to? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 83-15(6): Regional Alcohol And Drug Treatment Centres

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we’re listening to a number of people. It’s always good to seek input from a broad spectrum of people, whether it’s NGOs, Health and Social Services authorities, as well as hiring specialists from time to time. The Member is right; in 2002 a contract was issued and the report received on the State of Emergency that was identified around this area and, further to that, further review was done and used the same business as the Member stated correctly; Stay the Course was the other report. We’ve been working with that and with NGOs throughout the territory to come up with a process of care of what we can do as a government to try to ensure we’re helping those that need the help and ask for it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 83-15(6): Regional Alcohol And Drug Treatment Centres

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again I’d like to say we have to listen to the people that live it front line and deal with it, and those are the people we should be listening to. The Gwich’in and the Nihtat Gwich’in have been putting together a camp to identify and deal with the problem. I’d like to ask the Minister, what would they have to do to secure some program dollars from the government? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 83-15(6): Regional Alcohol And Drug Treatment Centres

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I stated, the department has worked with NGOs, we’ve worked with aboriginal organizations and come up with a plan of trying to invest in communities and people that would help with the programming. There’s nothing stopping other groups or groups out there who want to become more involved. We think it’s a good thing that groups get involved directly with their people about how we can try and help provide a level of service that is, overall, a stronger one. So proposals can be worked with or brought into the health and social services authorities at the initial stage. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 83-15(6): Regional Alcohol And Drug Treatment Centres

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we all know that prevention is the best tool for dealing with alcohol abuse, but there’s always going to be alcohol abuse no matter what and a lot of these people continue to try to go for treatment. A lot of them have to leave home. They come back and I’d like to ask the Minister if he knows, or is aware, of a mechanism in place when they return to their home communities to monitor them after a 28-day treatment session? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 83-15(6): Regional Alcohol And Drug Treatment Centres

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there’s a number of activities, and again, with trying to work with community groups and how we can deal with that, I’d have to get the specifics of a well or Aftercare Program as has been looked at. The government has done aftercare programs. Usually that goes back out to another facility or working with a group. We’re trying to deal with the on-the-land process, as well. So we’re looking at a number of options or continuing to try to improve the way we work and deal with the alcohol addiction and Aftercare Program. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources with regards to an area just east of Lutselk’e that is a unique, sheltered oasis within the Arctic tundra region. It is rich in wildlife, contains the Beverly caribou calving grounds, it’s rich in fauna, and unfortunately it’s also rich in uranium. There’s also been a real long, 13-year, planning process that’s been in the works since October 1994 into a management plan. The area I’m talking about is the Thelon Game Sanctuary, Mr. Speaker. The Thelon Game Sanctuary Management Plan has been worked on for a number of years and has also been approved in principle by the Lutselk’e First Nations, the Akaitcho Government, the Government of Nunavut, Government of Canada, the KIA, the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, many stakeholders and interest groups that have been working diligently for years to get this plan, move this plan into action. I just want to know why this government has been the only interest group and stakeholder that hasn’t formally approved this management plan to date. Can the Minister give me a status on that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. The honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 84-15(6): Thelon Game Sanctuary Management Plan

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Thelon Management Plan is something that has been supported by this government. There’s been a lot of work that’s been done, as the Member has indicated. There’s been consultations with many parties, many governments that are impacted by this plan and that support it or, in some cases, there’s governments that are requesting to have a seat at the table for discussion. Some requests have come forward recently that we’re considering and we’re having those discussions and we’ll decide how to move forward following that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 84-15(6): Thelon Game Sanctuary Management Plan

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think, you know, like I stated earlier, the basic proponents and the people that are most affected by this management plan and should have the most input have approved this plan in principle. The longer we wait, the more people are going to come forward and say they should have a seat at this management committee for the Thelon Game Sanctuary when the Thelon Game Sanctuary doesn’t even cross their borders or go into their areas. I would encourage that this Minister maybe who arranged the meeting in Lutselk’e just this last February, Mr. Speaker, just to reaffirm that the parties are still in approval in principle of the plan. Apparently they are and they’re just kind of wondering who is going to give the approval. Is it the Minister’s office or do they need Cabinet approval? Whose approval do they need at the end of the day? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 84-15(6): Thelon Game Sanctuary Management Plan

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have to ensure that we have all the people that have an interest in this area and this sanctuary have a say in it. There has been a process out there. Some aboriginal governments have indicated to us that they have a desire to speak to the issue. We want to take the opportunity to hear them out and decide what our next steps are going to be, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 84-15(6): Thelon Game Sanctuary Management Plan

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess for the interest of the Akaitcho First Nations, the Lutselk’e First Nations and probably the Nunavut Government, could the Minister tell us who are these other interest groups and why do they want a seat on this management board all of a sudden? This has been in the works for 13 years and why are they only coming forward now when the plan is in next to the final stage of approval, Mr. Speaker? Why did we wait so long to hear from them and who are we waiting for? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 84-15(6): Thelon Game Sanctuary Management Plan

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There’s a number of representatives that come to the table to discuss this plan and that includes the governments that the Member has mentioned: the Lutselk’e council and the Akaitcho territory and Deninu Kue First Nations. There’s other jurisdictions in Saskatchewan and there’s also the NWT Metis that have indicated they want to speak to this issue. So there are a number of things that we’re looking at so that before we can vote on it, we need to make sure we have all the information. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 84-15(6): Thelon Game Sanctuary Management Plan