Debates of May 16, 2007 (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to speak today about how the Government of the Northwest Territories is dragging its heels on legislation that directly impacts the lives and the livelihood of northerners. Mr. Speaker, I would equate the government’s history on developing legislation is as slow as molasses going uphill. Examples are the Wildlife Act, the Species at Risk Act and the long-awaited Liquor Act. With large pieces of legislation taking as long as they do, I am left wondering where, oh where, on the government’s radar is legislation on locksmithing and massage therapy.

Most other jurisdictions in this country have legislation on locksmithing and massage therapy. With the recent passage of the Pharmacy Act, could we not look at using that as a guide or template to help other professions seeking legislation to govern their operations? Numerous meetings, letters, e-mails and conversations have taken place regarding new legislation for locksmithing, Mr. Speaker. It has been 20-plus years since this issue was first brought up to the then-Justice Minister and it’s been brought up with every Justice Minister since then, including the former Justice Minister, the current Justice Minister and here we are, Mr. Speaker, four months from the next government being formed, and still there is nothing; no movement towards legislation governing locksmithing. Mr. Speaker,

Mr. Speaker, section 353 of the Criminal Code requires all persons in possession of lock picking equipment to be licensed by the Solicitor General of the province in which they live. Currently, as I know it, there are not licensing requirements that have been set out in the Northwest Territories. That means, Mr. Speaker, that anyone can order and possess lock picking equipment in the Northwest Territories to do whatever they wish with it and it’s just not practical, Mr. Speaker. Is it just not good common sense that we should move forward and license and legislate the locksmithing profession?

The government needs to address these deficiencies in legislation and judging by the inability of many governments to act, the people out there in our communities, Mr. Speaker, are asking why. Why does it take so long for this government to move what would appear common sense, practical legislative solutions forward? Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Justice at the appropriate time. Mahsi.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Pokiak.

Member’s Statement On Driver’s Licensing Services In Small Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on the issuance of driver’s licences in smaller communities outside of larger regional centres. I raise this issue today because on a constituency tour on March 24, 2007, in Paulatuk, the hamlet foreman raised an issue with me regarding local residents having a difficult and hard time to take a written exam or take a road test or just upgrade their driver’s licences. This makes it difficult for the hamlet to hire local people to operate the hamlet and municipal services vehicles.

We know that to operate a water or sewage truck would require at least a class 1, or to drive a bus would require a class 4 licence.

Mr. Speaker, in the smaller communities, except in the larger regional centres such as Inuvik, there are no driver examiners available to take written or road tests in Paulatuk and in the Nunakput communities. As an example, Mr. Speaker, for someone in Paulatuk to travel to Inuvik is very costly, especially if they want to write and take the road test to get their driver's licence. The cost associated to travel to Inuvik includes airfare, accommodation and meals. The local airline only travels to Paulatuk on certain scheduled days, and this means staying for a minimum of three days. The costs add up for the individuals and this is out-of-pocket expenses if they want to get their driver's licence. Mr. Speaker, will these people be able to be reimbursed for their expenses for having to travel to Inuvik to take the driver's examination?

Mr. Speaker, the smaller communities will need some kind of assurance that the driver's examiner can travel to these small communities so they can take both the written and road test. In closing, I will have questions for the Minister responsible for Transportation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I will use my Member's statement to talk about the proposed hydro development expansion project at the existing Taltson hydro facility.

Mr. Speaker, many people, myself included, are fully supportive of this project moving ahead as planned, not only because of the economic benefits and the impact benefits that will be realized by the people in my region but, more importantly, because they are…

Excuse me, Mr. Villeneuve. There's a piece on the Order Paper concerning this item. We should not be talking about it in the House right now. I rule your Member's statement out of order.

---Ruled Out of Order

Members' statements. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

Member's Statement On Maintenance Of Highway No. 3 Access Roads

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, for many years, Tlicho families have lived, and hunted, and trapped along the shores of Great Slave Lake. Many of these traditional camps were built near Highway No. 3 because it allowed families to maintain their traditional lifestyle while living in the town of Behchoko for part of the year. Still others maintained their traditional culture year round. When the Department of Transportation changed the structure of Highway No. 3, many traditional camps and homes were affected, Mr. Speaker. In the past, last fall, I raised that issue with the DOT servicing Highway No. 3 traditional cabin owners' access roads. Specifically I spoke about Charlo’s camp, a camp that has been in a location for generations. Traditionally, families live at this site. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, this family is not able to access their camp because the road is deteriorating dramatically. The access road is literally collapsing, Mr. Speaker. In the past, the road was maintained by the DOT.

Mr. Speaker, the department has the responsibility to clear these highway access roads. These families were there long before the highway was even built, the new highway. By preventing them access to their traditional camps, Mr. Speaker, we are preventing them from maintaining their traditional way of life on the land.

I will have questions for the Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation at the appropriate time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

Member's Statement On Taltson River Water Levels

Mahsi again, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again I'll use my Member's statement to talk about the proposed hydro development expansion project at the existing Taltson hydro facility.

Mr. Speaker, many people, myself included, are fully supportive of this project moving ahead as planned, and just not only because of the economic benefits and the impact benefits that people will realize in the region but, more importantly, because of the environmental benefits with the large reduction in greenhouse gasses that are currently being spewed into our sensitive northern environment by the mining companies operating in the Akaitcho territory.

Mr. Speaker, the future of economic development in this region only seems to be growing, and the damage to the tundra and to the wildlife will also grow and we can minimize this damage through projects of this nature. But there are grave concerns about the damage that has already been done by the old Taltson dam when it was first constructed in 1963, and these are concerns that are still around today, 24 years later, Mr. Speaker. I cannot see the people of Lutselk'e or Deninu Kue or the Salt River First Nations being fully supportive of any new developments until these old lingering concerns are put to rest and the people can see that the NWT Power Corp is exercising their due diligence and showing more respect for the hunters and trappers by doing more regular community visits on the current operations of this dam.

Mr. Speaker, the operations of this dam are still affecting the people who use the land downriver as a primary source for their livelihood by hunting and trapping, and they're still being flooded out and I have pictures here to prove it, Mr. Speaker. This was given to me from a trapper from Deninu Kue and it shows his doghouses and his cabins. They're all flooded out in the middle of winter and this cannot continue. If the Power Corp and this government wants these people to approve and expand on the existing facility, I want the Minister of the Power Corp to assure the people of the NWT that the NWT Power Corp will fulfill its legal obligations under their water licence to inform all communities and members of any changes in water levels at any time, that they will be consulted when these changes will occur. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Members' statements. The honourable for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Member's Statement On All-Weather Road System In The Tlicho Region

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the mines doing business north of Yellowknife continue to have a very legitimate concern about the winter road season and the ability to get all the supplies they need up to their mines impacted by an ever-unpredictable winter road season. The issue is now, once again, in the paper. There's talk of the Bathurst Port and the road down, about $300 million worth; another option out of Gordon Lake. I'd also like to raise, once again, the issue, if we're looking at options for opening up the North Slave, that there should be a road that goes up through the Tlicho that will help hook into the communities that are there and across up to the mines. This would be an opportunity to do at least double or triple duty. It could truly be a P3 project where you have the Tlicho Government, the territorial government and industry working together to put in an all-weather road that would suit and meet all the needs of all the people in that region and allow us to open up a part of the territory where there's only going to be increased activity. Because of climate change and global warming, we know that the winter road season is only going to get shorter and more unpredictable, and more difficult for miners, the mines and other businesses to plan to get the ever-increasing amount of logistics that they have to get up that road through in such a short window of time.

So, Mr. Speaker, I'm going to be asking the Minister of Transportation later to see that they include this option in any business planning process and work that's underway for the '08-09 budget so that the incoming 16th Assembly will have that option to look at as well as others. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Member's Statement On Contract Negotiations For Aven Manor Employees

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to speak today about the ongoing contract negotiations between the YACCS board and the employees at Aven Manor. Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that we were not advised about the visits by the employees of YACCS and that they were here when the Members of this side had agreed to do a theme day on alcohol abuse, because I believe it deprived the chance for the employees to hear from all Yellowknife MLAs on this very important issue.

Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to let the employees know, and the clients of the Aven Manor know, that we, as Yellowknife MLAs, stand with them in asking for the government to step in and facilitate a fair and equitable wage and benefits settlement for the employees.

Mr. Speaker, it is not fair nor acceptable that these workers are being asked to accept anything less than their counterparts doing the same work in senior long-term care facilities in Fort Smith, Hay River, Fort Simpson, Inuvik and Behchoko.

Mr. Speaker, how could this be left to continue? They are not asking for more; they are just asking for equal treatment. Quite frankly, they are entitled to that, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know the Cabinet is trying to find comfort by saying that they are not government employees and, therefore, this government has no direct role to play. That position didn’t get them anywhere in the case of Nats’ejee Ke'h just this past spring or during the labour dispute with ferry workers in Simpson early last year. In the latter part, the employees of the ferry were in the private sector, but still because of the importance of ferry services, the government had to step in and take over that service. In the end, they got a better wage settlement.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to add very strongly that the services that these workers provide at the Aven seniors complex is an essential service. For years, they have been providing exemplary service with commitment and dedication because they are good at what they do and because they believe in what they do. It is time for the government to step up to the plate and do what is required to enable them a failsafe settlement. Mr. Speaker, I believe the outcome we demand is clear.

Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to finish? Thank you.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the outcome that we all expect is very clear. We would settle for nothing less than wage parity and fair and equitable benefits for these valuable employees. The only way to do this is for the government to put more funding to settle the package. Unless the government does this as soon as possible, we can expect a very long and hot summer. These employees can be expected to see all of us YK MLAs right by the workers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Member’s Statement On Contract For GNWT Employee Assistance Plan

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak on behalf of constituents who are connected with Northstar Counselling and Psychological Services, a local northern Yellowknife business, Mr. Speaker, which, until the first of April of this year, were the providers of the GNWT Employee and Family Assistance Program. They successfully provided this essential service to us for the past seven years with very high employee satisfaction. However, they were unsuccessful when the contract was re-bid earlier this year and lost out to a large multi-national southern contractor Shepell-fgi. I became aware of this weeks ago, Mr. Speaker, with calls from several constituents and friends in the city expressing concern about the impact of the loss of this business on local service, on the reduction of skills and talents available because of the relocation of this service to an outside company. I have even heard that one of these professionals was going to be leaving Yellowknife because it was no longer possible for her to continue living here.

Mr. Speaker, there were several irregularities on the way this RFP was administered, assessed and awarded. For example, the use of assessment formulas that put local higher cost bidders at a substantial disadvantage to bigger outside lower cost bidders. The use of criteria for the size and the scope of this contract, Mr. Speaker, was based on numbers that were developed seven years ago in 2000. The size of the public service, of course, has grown since then substantially. The volume request for this service has skyrocketed 42 percent just in the past year alone, yet the value of the contract was capped at its original seven-year level. Mr. Speaker, there was also the suspect inclusion of local health care professionals as associates on the winning contractor’s bid. How this was handled should be cause for concern, not only in this contract, Mr. Speaker, but from the perspective of overall government operations. We should not support a process which is prejudicial to northern business. Based on these allegations, Mr. Speaker…

I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Based on these circumstances, Northstar has requested in writing to the Minister responsible for Human Resources that the matter be independently reviewed and the RFP be reissued. I agree with the owners of Northstar, and my constituents who have been adversely impacted, that this RFP should be reopened and re-bid. The Minister needs to ensure the process is fair and transparent and that this highly valued and effective service will continue for our employees, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. McLeod.

Member’s Statement On Replacement Of Inuvik Softball Field

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in a little while, the construction of a new school is going to be starting up in Inuvik. On the proposed site where this new school is going to be built, there is a ball field, Mr. Speaker. That is what I would like to speak to today.

The Slow-pitch Association put a lot of money into this new ball field. My understanding is they raised close to $150,000 and put it into this field. That is not including the in-kind donations they had for equipment and manpower. They have been told that, when they start building the school, they will build them a new field. Their problem is, Mr. Speaker, that they don’t want to have another situation that happened over in Aklavik when they were building a health centre. They put it on the ball field and they said we will build you a new field. Well, when it came time to build a new field, Health didn’t come up with the money. That was strike one. ECE didn’t come up with the money. That was strike two. MACA finally stepped up to the plate and now I understand they have a base for a field. This has been six years in the making. Part of the problem was they didn’t have a signed agreement in place. So when it came time to dish out the money, the players may have changed in the meantime and nobody had a record of any agreement that might have been made. This is the concern that the Slow-pitch Association has. The Department of Public Works and Services is going to have to work with these stakeholders in regards to a new school and make sure that they are all taken care of, the town is consulted on anything that is going on with the new school.

Mr. Speaker, in the overall picture of a project of this size, a ball field may seem like small change, but important enough, Mr. Speaker, for the people that built this field to have me speak about it. If it is that important an issue to them, Mr. Speaker, I find it is important enough for me to stand up here and speak to the issue and try and have some kind of a signed agreement in place so we don’t have another situation that happened in Aklavik. That cost them six years of time on the field, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

---Applause