Debates of May 16, 2007 (day 8)

Do you have a question, Mr. Lafferty?

Yes, Mr. Speaker. Question to the department and the Minister: What responsibilities does the department have in maintaining the residential access roads? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 90-15(6): Maintenance Of Highway No. 3 Access Roads

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With respect to this particular road access that the Member is bringing up, and many of them that are actually part of the Highway No. 3 system, the access roads were constructed. We dug up a lot of the existing highway system. But the ones where people were living, Mr. Speaker, they were reconstructed and maintained at that point for them to use. But any deterioration after that, it's still considered a private road and the individual is going to have to look at getting the access road up to accessibility for his access. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 90-15(6): Maintenance Of Highway No. 3 Access Roads

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. So what the department is saying, the Minister is saying, is no, we're not going to support our elders to continue their way of life. Mr. Speaker, we are talking about people who lived along the highway before the department changed its route, even before this department existed. Mr. Speaker, can we come to a consensus on which cabins and homes might be considered for nominal access roads in respect to their traditional usage, like a grandfather clause? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 90-15(6): Maintenance Of Highway No. 3 Access Roads

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The intent is not, of course, to restrict any access to elders or anybody else that's living off the highway system. But our policy is that we do not maintain any privately owned access roads off the highway system, and our primary responsibility is taking care of our highway system, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 90-15(6): Maintenance Of Highway No. 3 Access Roads

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, policy is policy; it can be amended any time. The Minister has the responsibility to make changes to respect the traditional way of life. So I'd like to ask my final question to the Minister. Would the Minister be willing to meet with the leadership in Behchoko to find a solution for this ongoing issue that has been on the books for a number of years? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 90-15(6): Maintenance Of Highway No. 3 Access Roads

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Some of the issue, too, is that we have private contractors that do maintain our roads and we do have some informal policies that can consider requests such as this, but in the past we've had objection by contractors, in particular in the Member's riding, saying the government is taking away private contracting work by opening access roads and plowing roads. So that's one of the issues. But just in general, Mr. Speaker, the access roads belong to the owner and the department is not responsible for maintaining and clearing of those roads. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Transportation as well to follow up with my Member’s statement. In a previous session, I raised the issue of the road through the Tlicho into the North to hook up with the mines. At that time, the Minister committed to meet with the grand chief to discuss this issue. I would like to ask the Minister if he could update this House on the outcome of those meetings with the grand chief. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Menicoche.

Return To Question 91-15(6): All-Weather Road System In The Tlicho Region

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, indeed, we did have time to meet the grand chief and the leadership of the Tlicho region last month. It is an initial meeting and we are in agreement that we will move forward with looking at the improved access for the Tlicho region and its communities. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 91-15(6): All-Weather Road System In The Tlicho Region

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister indicated that that is an initial meeting, so I can only assume that there are going to be subsequent meetings to that. I would like to ask the Minister when those meetings are planned and if he is going to talk about the road through the North Slave. Would he also be prepared to talk and meet with the leadership about the access roads referenced by my colleague from Behchoko?

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 91-15(6): All-Weather Road System In The Tlicho Region

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Absolutely, discussing the access roads and the maintenance of it is an issue that certainly can be discussed the next time that we do meet with the Tlicho grand chief and the leadership. As well, I think the expectation is to be sometime at the end of June or towards the end of June to meet with regard to the Tlicho road studies. It is still early. We haven’t even gotten out there to do some preliminary work just to discuss the particular overland routes to be chosen, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 91-15(6): All-Weather Road System In The Tlicho Region

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister, as well, whether there will be a reference to this particular option when we look at the all-weather access into the North Slave. Will that be built into the 2008-09 business plans that will be ready for the incoming 16th Assembly? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 91-15(6): All-Weather Road System In The Tlicho Region

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Having a submission prepared for 2008-09 business plans hinges on the study that we are about to conduct here. I am not too sure how much work has been done in 2008-09 or the timing that we want this road completed. As well, with the expectation of new roads, we expect federal contribution involvement, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Final supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 91-15(6): All-Weather Road System In The Tlicho Region

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, recognizing that these types of initiatives that are fairly complex and have a number of options to be investigated and developed, there are always timing, money and investigation money required. On that basis, will there be some dollars built in to further explore this issue? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 91-15(6): All-Weather Road System In The Tlicho Region

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Currently, with the federal contribution of $400,000 and a contribution from our government, we are approaching about $1 million for the study alone. It will examine all the areas that the Member was discussing this afternoon, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I had questions on a matter of $200,000. It is actually in the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. I was hoping to be able to ask this question to the Minister of Finance today. The item is described as establish a community, equipment and training fund for community organizations interested in providing ground ambulance and highway rescue services. I was wanting to get the detail of the communities, if that $200,000 has already been allocated and, if it has been, to which communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 92-15(6): Ground Ambulance Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the funding the Member has spoken about is part of our process of new initiatives and is in the system. Until we actually have final reading on our supp document, no money will flow. The understanding of that program is no communities have been selected as of yet, as I am aware of. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 92-15(6): Ground Ambulance Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Then Hay River wants some of that money. Can we have some of that money? Thank you.

---Laughter

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 92-15(6): Ground Ambulance Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the program, as it was set up and put through the process, is aimed at those communities that already, through the municipality, deliver services for ambulance. So that is where it is going to be focussed. The training aspect will be across the board for where we already have services. There are some communities, for example, that have services delivered through a health authority. Those will remain, as those are funded through authorities. This piece will go towards those communities that do deliver through the municipality and it is application based, as I understand. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 92-15(6): Ground Ambulance Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, Hay River does get a very small amount of contribution through the health authority. I hope that is not going to preclude them accessing this additional money because, in fact, really the fire and ambulance rescue service is part of a municipal service as well. So I hope that little bit of money we get, I think $24,000 a year, does not preclude. Could the Minister please confirm that would not preclude Hay River for more? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 92-15(6): Ground Ambulance Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would have to get more detail as to what communities are eligible, but I understand that, as we reviewed this work in this area through the reports that were made available, Hay River was one of those communities considered to be delivered by the municipality. I will get further information and provide that to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my Member’s statement, it has been over 20 years since the issue of dealing with legislation governing locksmithing was first brought to the attention of the then-Justice Minister. As I mentioned, it has perhaps been brought to every Justice Minister since then. I am wondering, the first question I would have for the present-day Justice Minister is, locksmithing regulations and legislation, where does it fit in the government’s agenda? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 93-15(6): Legislation For The Locksmithing Profession

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member has indicated, there is a long history here. I have had a chance to go through some of the briefing on this. There was legislation enacted, I believe, in 1991 with respect to locksmithing and the security profession. That was never brought into force, that piece of legislation, and some eight or so years later was repealed. There was an act at that time which repealed several pieces of legislation that were considered to be of lower priority, I suppose, but also the measure was intended to reduce costs. I think it was felt, at that time, that it would cost about $200,000 a year to properly regulate the industry, if I have some accurate numbers here. So it was repealed. There has been some discussion back and forth, some letters from the Association of Communities with respect to the security profession.

It is something that I think we need to consider going forward. There are a number of other professions, as well, that probably need to be regulated or there are groups making the case that need to be regulated. Massage therapy comes to mind. I know that has been raised on the floor of this House, but the long and the short of this, Mr. Speaker, is that we have a very full legislative agenda, only a few months left in the life of this government. There is no conceivable way for us to enact legislation to deal with this occupation before this government is done. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 93-15(6): Legislation For The Locksmithing Profession

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is unfortunate, I guess, in the way that it is going to fall to the next government. That is probably the fifth or sixth government now that has had to look at this issue. I am wondering how in trying to understand how it is as a government we can let an occupation happen with contravention of the Criminal Code taking place on a daily basis because we don’t legislate that profession. To me, there is something wrong with that. Why isn’t that going to the top or near the top of our agenda? It is something we should target and something we should address. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 93-15(6): Legislation For The Locksmithing Profession

Mr. Speaker, we would be prepared to sit down with committee and talk about legislative priorities. It is not something the committee has raised as one of the top priorities of the government from their perspective. So we have a number of legislative initiatives that need to be undertaken. There are a number of things that we need to do and know we can’t get done in this government. As I have indicated, there is some past history here. For cost-saving measures, we have moved away from this. Locksmithing is a trade. It is not a certified trade yet in the NWT. It was pulled together with the security profession to give it some sort of critical mass. I don’t know how many locksmiths there would be in the Northwest Territories, but only a few. That is why it was bundled with this other profession, Mr. Speaker. We would be prepared to sit down with the committee and talk about legislative priorities. If this is something we would like to pass on to the next government as a must do and urgent, then we can send that direction. But I would want to talk to committee about that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 93-15(6): Legislation For The Locksmithing Profession

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In today’s day and age where the onus is on security, I think it is important that the Minister of Justice and the government take security and locksmithing seriously and we move forward. If the Minister wants committee to come forward with a recommendation, then that is something we can do as well, but the government has known about it for 20-plus years, and I believe it is high time we move forward on this piece of legislation, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure if the Minister needs committee’s approval to include it in the transition document for the next government, but if he doesn’t, will he commit to at least getting it on the radar in the transition document for the next government? Mahsi.