Debates of May 17, 2007 (day 9)

Mr. Speaker, if we had a nice big fat bank account, we might consider that as being a good investment. Mr. Speaker, quite frankly, we don’t have the resources to be able to buy into this multi-billion dollar project. Mr. Speaker, our position has been to support the Aboriginal Pipeline Group and others in the North to get an ownership. I hope the federal government, if they are considering an equity position, that they consider doing that on behalf of people in the North. The Aboriginal Pipeline Group, to me, would be the logical choice at this point. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 109-15(6): Role Of GNWT In Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Projects

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have commended the good work of the Aboriginal Pipeline Group because they are trying to ensure that we get some benefit out of this pipeline that’s going right through our territory. I would like to ask the Premier, he said we don’t have the resources. We have the resources, the only thing is Ottawa has got them in their bank account and it’s our money. Would the Premier ask the Government of Canada for a 50 percent equity that they are trying to get into the pipeline with our money? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 109-15(6): Role Of GNWT In Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Projects

Mr. Speaker, that is exactly why we have to conclude a resource revenue sharing deal.

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Mr. Speaker, it is our money that is coming out of here. The federal government has it and now are looking at an equity position with our money. That’s why, Mr. Speaker, short of having a deal, we are sitting here being frustrated because other people are talking about how to spend our money.

Mr. Speaker, I would not want our government to be in a position where it’s competing with the Aboriginal Pipeline Group or aboriginal business or any business in the North. So our first priority, Mr. Speaker, would be to have northern businesses own the equity shares of these kind of projects rather than us as a government get into it. Who knows how the negotiations will go? It may come to that at some point where we own a share. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Human Resources and it gets back to my Member’s statement from earlier where I mentioned again the fact that since 1999, the size of the public service has gone from 3,700 to over 5,500 employees. That’s 1,800 positions in seven years, Mr. Speaker. Four years of this government and reactionary position growth, four years of having no human resource plan, strategy or vision. Four years of no consideration of the impact self-government will have on our human resource needs going into the future. I have some why questions, Mr. Speaker. The first one is why, after four years, this government has not got a comprehensive human resource strategy. Thank you.

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

Return To Question 110-15(6): Need For A Comprehensive GNWT Human Resource Strategy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would agree with the Member that the best practice would be for the government to have a corporate human resource plan. In fact, the department has prepared a broad, high level plan to take to deputies here within the next two months. So we are hoping to move forward with that.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 110-15(6): Need For A Comprehensive GNWT Human Resource Strategy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that. So I guess that’s an admission that for the past four years, we have just plodded along plugging positions in, reacting to certain things without a plan. That’s why we continue, like I said, through budget after budget, supp after supp, to approve new positions, because we do not have a plan and somebody on that side is responsible. Cabinet is responsible for the fact of the matter and that is we don’t have a plan. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for HR why there has been no work done specifically in the area of self-government and what that will mean for the future needs of our public service. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 110-15(6): Need For A Comprehensive GNWT Human Resource Strategy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member says that we haven’t had any plans. In fact, when departments come forward through the business plan process to say here is what we need in order to implement the projects and the goals that the Legislative Assembly has set, that is some part of the plan for human resources. So each department has, up until now, been working at developing their own HR plan. The departments of Health and Social Services and FMBS have done detailed ones in concert with Human Resources and HR has made the offer to other departments to do more detailed ones with them. This Assembly is the oversight for position growth and each position that we have in the budget is approved by the Members of this Assembly in order to get the job done that they want to see done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 110-15(6): Need For A Comprehensive GNWT Human Resource Strategy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister brings up a good point and that is the departments are responsible for forwarding business plans with positions attached to these business plans. Mr. Speaker, therein lies the problem. There is no coordination. This leads to duplication and a lack of coordination. That’s why we scramble on big files like the pipeline, we scramble on other files. I would like to ask the Minister when are we going to have a comprehensive human resource plan for the Government of the Northwest Territories? When will that happen? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 110-15(6): Need For A Comprehensive GNWT Human Resource Strategy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said, both Health and Social Services and FMBS have those comprehensive plans now. An overall broad government plan can’t be comprehensive. It’s going to have to be the broad brush strokes, the high level plan, because you can’t say that all departments are going to work exactly the same way. So we want to set up some general criteria and say to the deputies, can your department work within this and then have each department work on their own detailed plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 110-15(6): Need For A Comprehensive GNWT Human Resource Strategy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One last question and it gets back to the fact that aboriginal governments are settling land claims in the Northwest Territories. They are proceeding through implementation of these claims. Mr. Speaker, you would think that the size of the public service for the Government of the Northwest Territories would be going down, not going up. I would like to ask the Minister specifically, and this is a specific question specifically on aboriginal self-government, what has the government done in the past four years that would show that it’s concerned at all about the impact self-government will have on our future human resource needs and how we can devolve positions to the regions? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 110-15(6): Need For A Comprehensive GNWT Human Resource Strategy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There has been extensive work done by human resources and FMBS over the past four years to look at this issue. It’s a topic that’s come up to the Cabinet table many times and we are working with the self-government negotiating teams at the tables to try to help them understand some of the issues surrounding taking over the positions. If a self-government entity is going to take on the delivery of a function, they are likely going to be looking at taking on the personnel. So we have been working on that and we have worked with the people at the table, both the federal government and self-government entities, to make sure people are aware of the issues that will arise.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Human Resources and it’s with regard to the summer student employment. Mr. Speaker, since the Minister made a statement a few days ago about the status of the summer student situation and the questions I asked yesterday or the day before about the fact that there appears to be a lot less summer students being hired this year than in previous years, I have received more phone calls from parents who really feel that this government is reducing the number of student jobs available. The Minister is indicating that that is not the case. So I would have to surmise from that that there is a gap in communication going on. Would the Minister make a commitment to undertake with his Human Resources personnel again and put some emphasis and extra resources into it, and go through all the departments and see what jobs are available, go through the list of students who are still looking for jobs, because they are numerous, and make every effort possible to find a job for these students. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Honourable Minister of Human Resources, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 111-15(6): Summer Student Employment Opportunities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Subsequent to the Member’s first question on this issue, I met with the deputy and we have work started already to follow up with departments to find out what positions they are going to have and to find out whether or not there are going to be any fewer positions going to be offered this year compared to previous years.

As well, we have summer students who are employed in Human Resources actually phoning and contacting students this week, it started this week, to ensure that they are still looking for work and to find out if they have been contacted by departments. So we have started that work already, Mr. Speaker, and we will continue to do that.

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

Supplementary To Question 111-15(6): Summer Student Employment Opportunities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister indicated in previous questions that the job recruitment process is ongoing and the time and the nature of summer student jobs vary and so students could get hired throughout the summer, but I think May is an important month and most students would want to be hired by the end of May. So could I ask the Minister to make a commitment to get back to us by the end of the month and give us a results report in that regard?

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 111-15(6): Summer Student Employment Opportunities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be happy to update Members on a regular basis, not just one time at the end of the month. I will do it again in June and let Members know what has been happening with summer student employment. As the Member mentioned, one of the points I had made earlier is that there are varying lengths of jobs. A lot of departments look only for summer students to fill in for people who are on leave. So they look for summer students for an eight to 10-week period more than for the longer periods. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 111-15(6): Summer Student Employment Opportunities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think there is a need for the government to do more and do everything we can to create job opportunities for summer students while they are here. It enhances their work experience as well as giving them extra resources that they could use to go to school, which his very important. Could I ask the Minister to vamp it up a little bit and get more proactive and ask the departments to look for opportunities. If they have money in the budget to spend, if they could create jobs to make sure as many students are hired as possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 111-15(6): Summer Student Employment Opportunities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said, when I met with the deputy for Human Resources, I asked that she talk to the other deputies to encourage them to ensure that the departments were hiring summer students as much as possible. We will continue that work, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I spoke earlier in my Member’s statement about the region in terms of catching up to the 21st Century. This issue I want to talk about is one example of the government catching up to the Sahtu in terms of services. I want to talk about the medevac services. Mr. Speaker, I had a question for the Minister of Health and Social Services regarding a decision of this government not to split the medevac contracts between regions as they have done in previous contracts for this type of service for our region. The reason, we were told, was to save money. How much money was saved compared to the previous contract that was split when we had this service in our region? The history is there. It shows the value of having the service in our region. Why hasn’t it been done in the last contract? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 112-15(6): Regional Medevac Contract

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the area of the medevac contract is one that the government has looked at for quite some time. Not in the previous contracts, but a number of contracts ago, the government decided to pool the area of medevac contracts trying to limit the exposure as it was one of the areas that was growing substantially. So we’ve gone to this method of one contract for the medevac itself. That’s the flights and planes. Then another for medevac personnel. We found even our health centres and hospitals were unable to have staff taken out of their facilities. That would cause other shortages within the day-to-day operations. So we have structured in this way: one for cost-effectiveness and still trying to meet the timelines as we talked about with medevacs and getting people into our health facilities. It’s an area we focussed on. I don’t have the current dollar savings from year to year. It would be difficult because costs have grown over the years substantially, but I think we can show that doing it this way has been more efficient as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 112-15(6): Regional Medevac Contract

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I asked the Minister if he could make a commitment to convince me that this was the most cost-effective way. We are talking about people’s lives, Mr. Speaker. It takes two, three or four hours to get into our communities on a good day. On a bad day, it may be six or eight hours. We are talking about people’s lives. So I am asking the Minister, the Minister said there is no personnel in terms of the type of service we have in the Sahtu and that the cost is too much. How much is too much, Mr. Speaker, in terms of our people’s lives? There has never been a request of an RFP on this service that could not have been identified in terms of the cost of having the service in the Sahtu region. Would the Minister tell me the reasons why?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 112-15(6): Regional Medevac Contract

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the fact is the way we’ve changed the service and it’s provided for now has worked. We managed to get into the communities when called upon. Yes, there are a number of communities, not only in the Sahtu but other regions in the territory, where a flight has to go out of one of the two centres. The way the RFP has been structured, we would have one plane situated up in Inuvik that would be dedicated to the service, as well as out of Yellowknife that would reach the other communities. So a lot of communities would have to wait for a flight to be dispatched from one of those two centres. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 112-15(6): Regional Medevac Contract

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, I ask about the services in the Sahtu. Take a Twin Otter from Yellowknife, fly it up to Colville Lake, it’s a short runway. It takes a good four or five hours. There is no nurse in Colville Lake. Take a plane out of Inuvik and also fly into Colville Lake. You had services in Norman Wells. Fly over those mountains into Colville Lake, pick up the person, bring him into Norman Wells and fly him out to either Inuvik or Yellowknife. You are talking about lives here, Mr. Speaker. So my question is why are the bulk of medevac flights out of Yellowknife? This is backwards. Aircraft should be based where medevac is originating from. People from Yellowknife can just drive to the hospital. If aircraft were based in a regional centre such as Norman Wells, our response would be cut in half. If an RFP changes to reflect this theory, what would it cost in terms of having these major centres to have this type of service? I would ask the Minister, would he look at having this type of service in the Sahtu region as is in other regions? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 112-15(6): Regional Medevac Contract

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for the record, I should state the fact that the RFP has been out there, the time for the RFP has closed, at the end of April '07, and the evaluation is undergoing and will be awarded very soon. I am sure that the department has done the evaluation. I haven't got the latest news on that. So we are going with the RFP that has been established. It has worked for us and we're looking at continuing on with that practice. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 112-15(6): Regional Medevac Contract

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are many stories. I have a letter from the Yamoga Land Corporation president; I have a letter from the Deline Land Corporation; I have a signature from the chief of Deline in terms of asking the government to consider. I know what the Minister is saying in terms of an RFP going out. They're saying consider having this service in the Sahtu. Why can't we, if the successful bidder is from Yellowknife or Inuvik, have an aircraft based on the Sahtu region? Why do they have to be based in Inuvik or Yellowknife? Why not have it in our region? This is what my people are asking for this service here. Lives are at stake, Mr. Speaker. In this day and age, I think that should be more than the cost-effectiveness of how we run this government here. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 112-15(6): Regional Medevac Contract

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The cost effectiveness has to come into play at some point, because if it absolutely fails, it will fail everyone. So I mean that's something we have to keep in mind. The fact is, as I stated, this is not unique just to the Sahtu; it happens in other regions. We've had to try to make a balance of how we operate, how we can function and ensure patient safety. For example, as the Member has highlighted -- and it is a concern to a lot of the communities and regions -- but location of the base stations, as I've highlighted, does come into play when we review this. The ability to maintain and support medevac personnel, because that plays a role in how we function, and the ability to support the flight personnel is another factor that has to play into this. But, Mr. Speaker, there was no inability or the fact that there could have been a partnership formed or part of the RFP could have been a part there that highlighted this as a potential option and it would have been reviewed. I'm not sure if that was done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.