Debates of May 15, 2007 (day 7)

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I notice under the Health Services Program, Dialysis Program in the Stanton Territorial Hospital for $96,000. Are there any plans to bring the Dialysis Program up to the Beaufort-Delta? We don’t have it right now. My understanding is that we may need it soon. Are there any plans to start investing some money into the Dialysis Program for the Beaufort-Delta?

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, as we would work with the authorities, if they were requesting areas of forced growth, if they had patients that needed the service, they would begin through their budget planning exercise along with the Department of Health and Social Services. Right now, there is a program laid out. I don’t have that with me at this point, but we will provide that to Members as to where we have communities slated on the business plan as we proceed or the Department of Health and Social Services proceeds. I will have that information provided to the Members. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Once any information that the Minister can provide, does it have a timeline as to the earliest that they can expect to see a Dialysis Program up in the Beaufort-Delta? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We will get that information as well and that earlier commitment. We will combine them. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. We are on page 14, Health and Social Services, operations expenditures, Health Services Program, $10.071 million.

Agreed.

Thank you. Community health programs, not previously authorized, $2.740 million.

Agreed.

Total department, not previously authorized, $13.528 million.

Agreed.

Thank you. Moving on, then, to Justice, operations expenditures, services to government, not previously authorized, $107,000.

Agreed.

Law enforcement, not previously authorized, $420,000.

Agreed.

Legal aid services, not previously authorized, $21,000.

Agreed.

Courts, $216,000, not previously authorized.

Agreed.

Community justice and corrections, not previously authorized, $538,000.

Agreed.

Thank you. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have a question on page 16 about the increased funding for court services. It states there that it is for the increased cost due to higher utilization. I am wondering if the Minister could tell us as to why there is higher utilization of court services.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the increased utilization numbers have been looked at. There has been an increase in this area due to crime in the NWT unfortunately, but it is there. Fifty percent increase since 2000. The courts are feeling the pressure as a result of that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am wondering if this means that we may be going toward having to have another Territorial Court judge at the territorial level, not at the Supreme Court level. This is something that came up. For example, when we were dealing with public hearings on the Child and Family Services Act where there will be an apprehension time that might be brought forward more. We also recently passed legislation that would increase the access for legal aid lawyers and generally there is a slow process in the courts. The number of Territorial Court judges, I think there are four Territorial Court judges. That hasn’t gone up in a very long time. I am wondering if it is adequate to just increase these court officers dollars and not for the judge. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I am not aware if there is a request for additional judges. The department will have to put that in through the business plan process if it were to make that request. What we do have is, for example, late in 2006, there were a number of court scheduled matters and there was no sheriff officers available. That is where the pressure is being felt in trying to come up with the staff to ensure that court proceedings can proceed. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Can we have some order in the Chamber? Thank you. Justice, operations expenditures, courts, not previously authorized, $216,000.

Agreed.

Agreed. Community justice and corrections, not previously authorized, $538,000.

Agreed.

Total department, not previously authorized, $1.302 million.

Agreed.

Agreed. Thank you. Education, Culture and Employment, operations expenditures, directorate and administration, not previously authorized, $61,000.

Agreed.

Education and culture, not previously authorized, $4.082 million.

Agreed.

Agreed. Thank you. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Madam Chair. One question I have for the Minister is the language services of the Northwest Territories. In terms of the request, is this type of funding to…I am going to make the presumption to strengthen our aboriginal languages more than what we are receiving right now. What is this funding for in terms of having these services in the North here? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, this is a contribution agreement we received from the federal government, the NWT, a Cooperation Agreement for French and Aboriginal Languages in the NWT, and this is money used by the departments to provide services in those languages in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you. Madam Chair, the funding is used by the departments in the GNWT to provide aboriginal services in the various sectors. I imagine that is needed. For example, the courts, Health, Social Services, Education. Is that money being used right across the board here?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the Member is correct. The way it breaks down is the Department of Education, Culture and Employment has been entering into an agreement with Canadian Heritage since 1999-2000. The yearly funds have remained at $1.6 million for French and $1.9 for aboriginal language right up until 2006-08. So it’s been consistent throughout the time and used for the purposes as the Member has highlighted. Thank you.