Debates of May 15, 2007 (day 7)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I get the Minister to come forward with some indication to the proponents who, to my knowledge, have already approved the plan in principle of who we are waiting for to come forward to give their interest or state what their claim and interest in this management area? If they are totally legitimate, I don’t see why not, but if they’re really not that legitimate and we’ve been working on this thing for 13 years now, Mr. Speaker, so you know, why can’t we just approve, because this is just a plan in principle. So why can’t we just move forward with that and move along with some action on the management? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. McLeod.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the NWT Metis Nation is the primary government that has come forward lately. The other issue that has, I guess, caused us to take a second look at this is the process that we’re going to use. Is it a protected area strategy that we’re going to be pursuing? So we’re kind of taking a step back, but at the same time there is another government that has come forward and asked us to speak to us. So we’d like to do that prior to moving forward.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask a couple of questions of the Minister of Health and Social Services and it relates to the, as I said in my statement, the crushing burden of alcohol abuse in our society. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister just what emphasis does our current Addictions Strategy place on awareness and avoidance of alcohol abuse?

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

Return To Question 85-15(6): Awareness And Avoidance Of Alcohol Abuse

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, by far, in this point in time, we spend the majority of our resources dealing with the after effects of alcoholism and abuse in our communities in the Northwest Territories. The department has recently undergone a new direction of, as stated in this House by Mr. Miltenberger, a 1 percent target at this point targeted towards the prevention side, along with the awareness campaign that the department is undertaking. So we’re starting to look at further investments in the prevention side. By far, if we can get to our children at a young age, we can make a huge difference at that point. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 85-15(6): Awareness And Avoidance Of Alcohol Abuse

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, and I think all other Members are very supportive of the financial resources going into it. It’s the methodology, the programs, the approach that we’re taking that has really piqued my interest, Mr. Speaker. We know that, for instance, the National Association of Friendship Centres, of which there are several affiliates here in the NWT, is shifting its program direction toward awareness. There are many other organizations, the Salvation Army, the Centre for NWT Families, that are front-line organizations. Are we partnering with them? Are we looking to harness their resources along with ours as we take on this campaign, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 85-15(6): Awareness And Avoidance Of Alcohol Abuse

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, along with all the partners that help in the delivery of a number of programs, health authorities as well as NGOs, we continue to work in partnership where we can with program direction. We seek input on where we’re going. For example, I discussed the Territorial Advisory Group that met in March and that group is looking at the core service plan and looking at the direction over the next five years. We’ve worked with the health authorities, NGOs, aboriginal groups and stakeholders to look at that new direction where we can continue to try and improve. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 85-15(6): Awareness And Avoidance Of Alcohol Abuse

Mr. Speaker, have we developed, along with these partners or in any context, any kind of targets or objectives that we want to try to achieve over a given period of time that would show that we’re actually getting somewhere, that we’re actually making some results? What are the targets and the objectives, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 85-15(6): Awareness And Avoidance Of Alcohol Abuse

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this area would be a very difficult one to try to measure. We could have numerous programs. I’m aware of individuals that have gone into programs maybe seven times before they finally were able to get on with their lives and leave the alcohol behind. That’s something that’s hard to measure. Some would say after a number of entries in a program it should be done, get on with it. But when at the seventh time that individual turned their life around and was a positive role model then for their family, is that too late or is that adequate? That becomes very difficult to measure. As we proceed with these programs, one of the overall ones I guess we’d look at is the overall reduction of alcohol consumption in the Northwest Territories would be one of the measures, and try to measure where we’re going. So that would be difficult. We’re working again with groups across the North. One of the other ones that’s recently been undertaken, a discussion paper on territorial alcohol and drug programs, balancing community and residential services is one of the papers we’re working on within the department and our health authorities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask questions to the Minister of Human Resources and it’s in regards to the Minister’s statement he made yesterday about the summer student employment. Mr. Speaker, the Minister stated that in 2006 the GNWT provided employment to 343 summer students, and as of this week 195 students have been hired. I want to ask the Minister whether or not the number of student employment positions available has been reduced this year, because on the streets parents and university students are suggesting that government is not hiring as many summer students. A while back I think we all received an e-mail from HR -- I think it’s a public e-mail -- where there was a list of university students or students in post-secondary education who are still looking for jobs and it was quite numerous. It was either indicating we have a lot of students who are in school or there are lots of students who are not able to find jobs. So can I ask the Minister whether there has been a reduction in the number of positions available? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 86-15(6): GNWT Summer Student Employment Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As far as we’re aware at Human Resources, the numbers of jobs have not been reduced. Of course, we’re not always aware of what jobs or positions departments are looking to fill. The Progressive Experience Program and the Relevant Experience Program are both being funded to the same degree and the same level of support as in previous years. So we would think that departments would find a way to hire a similar number of students. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 86-15(6): GNWT Summer Student Employment Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Minister indicated as far as he was aware. Could I ask the Minister to confirm whether or not there have been a reduction of positions available for summer students? Because the Minister has indicated in his statement yesterday only 195 students have been hired so far. This is the end of May. Summer students are usually hired around this time and we’re not anywhere near meeting the numbers of last year at 343. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 86-15(6): GNWT Summer Student Employment Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are constantly in communication with departments to advise them that we have summer students available and looking for work and encouraging them to hire students where available. The government, through HR, provides support through some programs to help departments take on students. There are 90 students supported through the Progressive Experience Program, and for health students the Relevant Experience Program doesn’t have a set limit to it. It’s up to the students to apply who are interested in the health care field. But we’ll certainly canvas departments to see whether or not there is some issue around hiring. I don’t believe there is. The numbers that I’ve quoted in my statement were for the end of the summer that that number of students have been hired. Not all students get four months worth of employment and not all departments are looking for somebody for an entire 15 or 16 weeks. Some of the positions that are available may only be for nine or 10 or 11 weeks. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 86-15(6): GNWT Summer Student Employment Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the past, the government provided funding for private sectors to hire summer students. I’m just wondering if that's included in the progressive employment or the other category that the Minister mentioned that I can’t remember. Can the Minister indicate as to what assistance is available for the private sector to hire summer students? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 86-15(6): GNWT Summer Student Employment Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Progressive Experience Program and the Relevant Experience Program provide funding to departments and to boards and agencies that are involved in working with the government, health boards, etcetera. For instance, Yellowknife Health and Social Services does get funding in order to support students. But there is no program right now that subsidizes student summer employment for the private sector.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 86-15(6): GNWT Summer Student Employment Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I certainly was a beneficiary of really good paying government jobs that afforded me to go to school so I don’t want to deprive that to any other students, but there is a general sentiment that if we were to reduce the wages paid to summer students in government, it could help to hire more students and make it more competitive for the private sector to use some of these students. Maybe a way to make this possible is to make more funding available to the private sector to hire students; not at the same wage level, but a comparable level. Could I ask the Minister to undertake to see ways to increase the number of student jobs available in the public and private sector for the coming years? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 86-15(6): GNWT Summer Student Employment Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It isn’t possible for us to offer jobs at a lesser salary; we have the requirements for equal pay for work of equal value and we can’t try and get around that without it impacting on our public service. So we could always look at and examine different ways of doing it, but it would appear, from the raw numbers, that the private sector has become more attractive to the summer students. In 2003, 1,600 students registered for summer jobs. The government hired 343 that year, the same as it did last year when we had only 700 registered. This year, to date, we’ve only had 600 students register looking for jobs with the GNWT. So it appears, Mr. Speaker, that the private sector is taking up a good deal of the slack and employing more of our summer students.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the past week and a half we have heard from the Premier in terms of a position that was taken by this government for aboriginal groups, the land claim groups, and the Northwest Territories Metis group have come together and signed the AIP with our territorial government. Just about an hour ago, I read a press release from the grand chief of the Dehcho, Mr. Herb Norwegian, on his comments and his views as to this AIP on the resource revenue sharing and devolution. Does this position taken by the grand chief hurt the AIP and resource revenue sharing deal and devolution by this government? I want to ask the Premier that. Thank you.

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

Return To Question 87-15(6): Devolution And Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement-In-Principle

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The short answer is no, this does not affect it at all. The four aboriginal organizations, governments, and our government have signed the deal and I think it sends a strong signal to Ottawa that if we work in solidarity on our positions and we want a share of those resource revenues as soon as possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 87-15(6): Devolution And Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement-In-Principle

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I certainly applaud the leadership of the Sahtu, the Gwich’in, the Inuvialuit and the Metis for taking a stand on this important issue that we’ve been talking about for so many years. So, Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the Premier, does the Premier have anything to report on the negotiations with the Tlicho and the Akaitcho? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 87-15(6): Devolution And Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement-In-Principle

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m assuming the Member is referring to negotiations on an agreement-in-principle about the bigger issues or on land use and so on. But, Mr. Speaker, no, I don’t have anything specific to report. There was a briefing provided to the Akaitcho people last week, the Akaitcho leaders. The chiefs there, again, the same as with Dehcho, have taken a position that they would like to negotiate their own deal; they feel they can do better on their own. Certainly there is nothing that our government is doing to try to frustrate that. If they feel they can do better on their own, then I wish them well in doing that. At the same time, some of us have chosen the path of working as a team together. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 87-15(6): Devolution And Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement-In-Principle

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you know, as the Northwest Territories our regional government bodies have worked hard to support each other and to get the best deal they can for that time, of that time, within their region. I want to ask the Premier, did Chief Norwegian indicate any type of indication as to what type of terms that he would be willing to look at to make it acceptable for him to sign on to the resource revenue sharing and devolution agreement? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 87-15(6): Devolution And Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement-In-Principle

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For sure, I cannot speak for Grand Chief Herb Norwegian. I mean, I’m not 100 percent clear what the deal would be that he would find acceptable. Mr. Speaker, I can say that whenever we come to an agreement like this, there will always be people who feel that a better deal could have been gotten if we had done something differently. That’s always the case. My view is that this is a good deal. If it goes through from current agreement-in-principle status to final agreement, then I think this is a deal that gives us a lot more than what we’d get today, for sure. Is it the best deal that’s possible? Is it possible to get a better deal? Possibly. I don’t know. But all of us know that at some point we have to make a decision and move forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 87-15(6): Devolution And Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement-In-Principle

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Premier here in terms of the people in the Sahtu have signed on to this deal. I’ve spoken to the chairperson of the Sahtu Secretariat; they feel it’s a good deal. Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the Premier, what is he giving in terms of reassurance to our people who signed on to this deal that this is a good deal for us? Let’s not sit around and sit on our hands and criticize other leaders for going and signing on. This is a good deal for the people in the Sahtu and I stand strongly to this signature. What will the Premier do to help people in the Sahtu in terms of Inuvialuit, the Gwich’in and the Metis Nation to say we’re going ahead and it’s a good deal?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 87-15(6): Devolution And Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement-In-Principle

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I will never criticize those who choose to take a different path. That’s their choice and if they go along that path and find that they get a better deal, then, as I say, you know, good luck to them; I hope they can do it. Mr. Speaker, on the other hand, the arrangements, the agreement-in-principle we’ve signed with the three land claim groups and the Metis is one that is open and, at times, if people want to join on, they can join on and sign up too, if they choose to go that path.

Mr. Speaker, I’m going to continue working with those who have signed the deal on the basis of the deal, the agreement-in-principle we signed. I have already forwarded it to Minister Prentice. He wanted time to have a look at it and consider it. The next step, in my view, is to try to get a meeting between those leaders who have signed on and myself, a joint meeting with Minister Prentice and plan out the path to follow from here. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Prentice has indicated that he is sharing this with the federal negotiator, so I think it is moving a big step forward. Mr. Speaker, I got calls today, as well, from the leaders, expressing concern and saying, look, we’ve got to keep on moving here, we’re on this, it’s a good deal and let’s move forward, not stall.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Northstar is a local organization that, as of recently, used to offer assistance to our employees through the Employee Family Assistance Program. They lost the contract and, Mr. Speaker, sometimes it’s a reality that comes to the competitive bid process. However, they lost it to a southern firm, a national firm that, in my opinion, misrepresented themselves with key information that I believe underpins their bid. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Human Resources who is truly aware of this issue and the circumstances under what’s going on. Mr. Speaker, is it a practice of this government to honour contracts with organizations that underpin their information to win a bid with false information? Is it a practice that we honour that contract? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Human Resources, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 88-15(6): Contract For GNWT Employee Assistance Plan