Debates of May 15, 2007 (day 7)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m not certain that this could be characterized as a situation where information was false. There was an issue with one of the subcontractors being included in the initial response to the RFP who should not have been included. That was an issue, but it was explained as an inadvertent mistake and the company has apologized for that inclusion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. I’ll caution Members to not be bringing up outfits or individuals that aren’t here to defend themselves. I’ll allow the supplementary question, Mr. Hawkins.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I appreciate that. Mr. Speaker, I’m sure the firm that’s offering this program offers competent programs but, Mr. Speaker, the fact is that they misrepresented themselves and the Minister doesn’t seem to characterize false information or misrepresentation as a no-no. Mr. Speaker, what investigation has the Minister done to ensure that this was either the only issue or what other issues may have arisen? Because if you’re putting in a proposal that is not full and true, this government should not be honouring it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Dent.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve had the process reviewed by the BIP office at ITI. I’ve had the process reviewed by the Department of Justice and by Public Works. The advice that we have received is that we should continue with awarding the contract, or the contract should stand as awarded. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, Mr. Speaker, I’m sure the Minister is quite accurate on all that information, but I’ll tell you, the public opinion of what seems to be right and wrong sometimes dances a different line and to a different tune than maybe what legally may be correct. I’ll tell you, people out there would think that folks providing false information on a competitive tender is wrong. I do. So, Mr. Speaker, what is the Minister doing to address this ethical question that seems to be overlooked? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Dent.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I’ve said, the process was reviewed by three agencies of government and we have been advised that we really have no other recourse than to ensure that, while the contract is being delivered, we are vigilant in ensuring that the terms offered by the current contractor are lived up to. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, Mr. Speaker, let’s be honest; we’re not talking about a typo here; we’re talking about a company that misrepresents themselves with false information by saying we will offer a service by bringing forward this professional who’s competent. Mr. Speaker, I think we’re really down to an ethical question that the Minister should be asking himself. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister go back and review this and do the right decision by pulling back this contract and reissuing a fair tender; therefore, we have all the facts on the table and the most honest and fair process? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Dent.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The issue has been reviewed quite thoroughly. As I’ve said, we’ve had it looked at by the Department of Justice, by the Department of Public Works and by the BIP monitoring office at ITI and we are following their advice, which is to ensure that we monitor very closely the performance of the current contractor to ensure that they are living up to the terms of the contract. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll make it short. We’ve been talking about the theme of denormalizing the use of alcohol and in the past there are so many different aspects to this issue, but I’d like to ask the Minister of Health whether or not the government will undertake a concerted effort to come up with a campaign to denormalize abuse of alcohol in a way that the successful Don’t Be a Butthead campaign has been able to do? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Return To Question 89-15(6): Public Information Campaign To Denormalize Alcohol Abuse

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Member for that question and would say, yes, we would put an effort into coming up with a campaign that would draw attention to what the impacts of drug and alcohol abuse is in the Northwest Territories. As well, Mr. Speaker, if I can, earlier I talked about a discussion paper, the NWT Alcohol and Drug Program’s Balancing Community and Residential Services. Just for the record, that was initiated back a couple of years ago and that discussion paper was shared with the Health and Social Services Authority in 2006 and was used for them in looking at how we delivered the programs in communities. The feedback we had with authorities, we shared with Members. As well, there are quite a number of areas that we’re involved with in the drug and alcohol area, and one of them is developing an awareness campaign that we’re continuing to work on with our partners. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 89-15(6): Public Information Campaign To Denormalize Alcohol Abuse

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think the key to this is that it has to be focussed, easy to understand, concerted, and it has to be well-resourced; there has to be big money behind that. It has to be community-based; it has to be undertaken by people in communities and every community has to be able to make their own choice about how to deal with it and get totally involved. We also, I think, I believe in communities where there are no RCMP, I think having an alcohol and drug control officer who could enforce the laws that are already in the books about prohibition and control of alcohol and drug substances will go a long way. Could I ask the Minister to put some oomph behind this and then how he’s going to work on a slogan? I mean, like we…

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 89-15(6): Public Information Campaign To Denormalize Alcohol Abuse

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we’ll definitely try to put some oomph behind our…

---Laughter

…our message. I heard a number of things raised in this House that seem like the beginning of good slogans that we talked about, Don’t be a Boozehound, Don’t be Stuck in the Bottleneck, or something of that nature. But seriously there are quite a number of factors and one of the big areas that I touched was a territorial advisory group that met in March, and we’ll look and we’ll follow up with consultation with our authorities as well as NGOs, aboriginal groups and stakeholders. I spoke earlier about the Community Counselling Program, tied to that is our partnership with Keyano College on the community wellness worker training. One big piece, Mr. Speaker, and we talked about youth and children, is building resiliency in children and youth. That’s Friends for Life resiliency training that’s targeted at children and youth, as well as the Youth Net Program, and that’s a by-youth, for-youth mental health promotion area; as well as a number of areas and again developing an awareness campaign around addictions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 89-15(6): Public Information Campaign To Denormalize Alcohol Abuse

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister is doing something that this government gets criticized for, which is that people out there don’t see that this government is taking this issue seriously or that there is a clear, precise and simple, or easy to understand message about what we are doing that will tie together all of the enforcement activities…

Do you have a question, Ms. Lee?

…capacity. So would the Minister commit to coming up with a focussed strategy by August?

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 89-15(6): Public Information Campaign To Denormalize Alcohol Abuse

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this program, as I had stated earlier, we’re working through the Territorial Advisory Group, again, in consultation with all of those that I talked about that we will work with and we will develop a program. I’m expecting to see something by mid-summer in this area so, hopefully, enjoying our last sitting of this Assembly I’ll be able to share information on where that’s going. Thank you.

My question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services.

Please provide information on the numbers of clients from the Beaufort-Delta region who attended alcohol and drug treatment centres outside of the region.

Please provide information on the amount of money spent on these clients to travel outside of the region to receive alcohol and drug treatment.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Written questions. The honourable Member for the Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Written Question 9-15(6): Norman Wells Natural Gas Supply

My question is for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Can the Minister provide me with a list of meetings his department has had with the federal government, Imperial Oil and other GNWT departments regarding the imminent gas supply shortage in Norman Wells? Please include the dates of these meetings and a synopsis of the discussions.

Can the Minister outline avenues his department has identified on how the residents of Norman Wells can be compensated for the conversion of household appliances including the feasibility of wind and solar power conversions?

Can the Minister provide an analysis of the 19434 Norman Wells Proven Area Agreement for possible implications with regards to the pending termination of natural gas service in Norman Wells?

My question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Can the Minister provide a copy of the legal opinion on income benefit agreement payments that stipulates IBA payments should be considered as earned Income for income security clients?

Was this an independent legal opinion or an opinion provided by GNWT legal counsel?

How do IBA distribution payments differ from the Inuvialuit regional agreement distribution payments?

Why is the IBA distribution payment not considered an integral part of the land claims process by income security?

Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of the abuse of alcohol in the community of Tulita. Mr. Speaker, the petition contains 40 signatures of Tulita residents. Mr. Speaker, the petition requests that amendments be made to the territorial legislation to better control the availability of sale and distribution of alcohol.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled Territorial Granular Resource Forecast Report: The Territorial Granular Strategy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that, on Thursday, May 17, 2007, I will move the following motion: now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that this Legislative Assembly strongly recommends the government establish a strategy to denormalize alcohol abuse; and further that this Legislative Assembly strongly recommends the government ensure communities have adequate resources to enforce liquor laws including restrictions and prohibitions; and furthermore that this Legislative Assembly urges concerned community members, leaders and law enforcement authorities to work together to enforce restrictions and prohibition on alcohol and other liquor laws.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Notices of motion. Notices of motion for first reading of bills. Motions. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion that I have given notice of earlier today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS alcoholism and alcohol abuse are devastating individuals, families and communities across the Northwest Territories;

AND WHEREAS alcohol was a confirmed factor in over 42 percent of suicides and accidental deaths in the Northwest Territories between 2002 and 2005;

AND WHEREAS excessive alcohol consumption is associated with serious health consequences including high blood pressure and several cancers often contributing to premature death;

AND WHEREAS up to 30 percent of NWT women report drinking during pregnancy, putting their unborn children at risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder;

AND WHEREAS alcohol abuse is a factor in a large proportion of crimes, family violence incidents and child welfare cases;

AND WHEREAS alcohol abuse prevents many northerners from succeeding in education and employment and achieving financial self-reliance;

AND WHEREAS the effects of alcohol abuse are resulting in substantial and unsustainable costs to government health, justice and education programs;

AND WHEREAS the 2006 NWT Addictions Strategy reports that the number of current drinkers who typically consume more than five drinks per occasion is 36 per cent overall and 53 per cent for persons aged 15 to 24;

AND WHEREAS the Government of the Northwest Territories has successfully implemented a strategy to denormalize tobacco;

AND WHEREAS elders and community members who have overcome alcohol addiction can serve as role models for youth;

AND WHEREAS some NWT communities have put in place restrictions or prohibitions on alcohol;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that this Legislative Assembly strongly recommends the government establish a strategy to denormalize alcohol abuse;

AND FURTHER that this Legislative Assembly strongly recommends the government ensure communities have adequate resources to enforce liquor laws including restrictions and prohibitions;

AND FURTHERMORE that this Legislative Assembly urges concerned community members, leaders and law enforcement authorities to work together to enforce restrictions and prohibition on alcohol and other liquor laws.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the idea of drawing attention to the issue of alcohol abuse and bringing it up by way of a theme day in the Legislature today and then following that this motion is being brought forward by the Members was decided on, or the idea was contemplated, in the previous Assembly as Members of this House are keenly aware, and have talked many times amongst ourselves, about the devastating effects of alcohol abuse on our communities, families and many friends.

Mr. Speaker, the denormalization of alcohol, the reason why we put it in that context is because, personally, I am afraid that we have become too accustomed to the plight and the misery, in many cases, of people who have become involved with alcohol and then are addicted to it and, in fact, in many instances, it just takes over their life. It permeates every aspect of their life and has many consequences for themselves, their families and for the people around them.

The excessive use of alcohol impairs people’s judgement. They do things they wouldn’t normally do. I was talking to someone the other day. I said, what would ever possess people knowing the consequences of something like crack cocaine to ever take that first chance and take that first hit of crack cocaine? What would ever allow people who are in their right minds to do something like that? This person pointed out, well, they didn’t do it when they were cold sober, necessarily. They were probably in a bar and they probably had a few drinks and they probably weren’t thinking clearly. But that, unfortunately, is the case for so many risky and devastating activities that people become involved in. People’s judgement is impaired. They go out on the land. They go hunting. They go fishing. They get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. They get in accidents. All kinds of people who are of sound mind, who would never dream of taking risks, all of a sudden, under the influence of alcohol, will engage in activities that could result in very negative consequences for them and quite often death of young people in the Northwest Territories.

These same people under the influence of alcohol cannot think clearly about consequences such as practising unsafe sex, which leads to our astronomical reports of sexually transmitted diseases and potential spread of HIV/AIDS and all of these things which come to our attention through the statistics that are reported about the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, we recognize that there is a responsible consumption of alcohol, as well. This motion is not intended to condemn anyone. This is just to arrest ourselves and say look at what alcohol is doing to the North and look at what alcohol is doing to our people. Of course there are those who consume alcohol responsibly, but many times in order to take a stand or to be the example or to set an example for our children, sometimes we would have to say, well, you know, it might be a sacrifice, but that is a sacrifice we will be willing to make to send a strong message to set an example for a younger person or for someone that may be watching us as role models.

As a government, we want the best for our constituents. We want better education programs. We want the best health care. We want the best housing programs. We want the best of everything for our constituents. One of the things that is consuming a tremendous amount of our financial resources is the money we expend to address the aftermath of alcohol abuse. I can only imagine what we would be able to do with those financial resources if we did not have to expend so much of our time, energy and money trying to deal with these outcomes.

Mr. Speaker, I know the other Members are going to have a lot of very valuable things to add on this, so I don’t think I will go on about it any longer. I thank the Members for standing together today on this issue and telling the people in the North that we recognize there is a problem and together we need to find solutions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause