Thank you. We all know that the newspapers are like gospel, I guess, to certain corners of our Territory, but at the same time we’ve also learned that the quotes that are taken at times can be stretched a little, and I can speak from my own experience as well.
This area has had much debate. In fact, when it was first brought to the 16th Legislative Assembly, it was publicly put out there as well and there was even support granted at that time. Since people have had a look at that more, there were issues raised, concerns raised, we pulled it back based on discussions with Members, had another go-around in redeveloping that and brought it back to committee, had more input. Now the policy convention that we have in place is being used. In fact, it has affected how that policy has been developed or redeveloped as we go forward. There was a recent meeting and some of the substantial issues were raised again and we’re looking to deal with a couple of those substantial issues in a time frame that would still allow us to implement the policy as has been decided.
So, yes, a decision has been made to move forward, but implementation in those areas need to be clarified and changed to fit what we feel can be acceptable for the majority of people in the Northwest Territories and the majority of Members. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. Your final supplementary, Mr. Abernethy.
I’d like to, once again, thank the Premier for that answer. I’m not 100 percent sure that we’re getting the answer to the question I’m asking. What I’m talking about is the process convention itself, it talks about the implementation tools and all those types of things. I hear the Premier saying that they have to consider some different aspects of it before they move forward, which seems to suggest to me that there’s no way they’re going to have a plan done in June. If they don’t have a plan done in June, how can they still implement in September? We need to have an opportunity to review, once again, anything that comes forward and have a public debate in this House on anything that comes forward in the future. So how can we do that if they don’t have a plan? If they’re going to make some changes, can they really get them done by June and can we really implement by September? I think the timeline is a little excessive and I think it will hurt the people of the Northwest Territories, not help the people of the Northwest Territories as the Premier wishes to do. Thank you.
Thank you. We believe that June, coming forward with the minor changes as a result of discussions with Members, that we’ll be able to come forward in June for implementation in September. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of our Power Corporation and the first one is very short. What has been the cost of our electricity rate review and NTPC review? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation, Mr. Roland.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The work on the Power Corp review was undertaken by the Executive. It wasn’t a direct initiative out of the Power Corporation. I’ll have to look in my notes, but I’ll get that information to him before the end of our session. Thank you.
Thank you. I appreciate the Premier’s commitment on that. Obviously the recommendations that our current report provides does very little to reduce the actual costs of power, which is what is ultimately required. You know, if we just keep putting the costs behind the scenes, what that does is remove the options we have for doing other things, providing services and other things of value to our people. So we can’t keep doing that. When will we actually see real reductions in the actual costs of electricity so that real savings can be provided? Thank you.
Thank you. Just further to the first question the Member had, the Power Corp review was in the neighbourhood of $200,000 to get that done. The initiatives we’ve undertaken under the electricity rate review does do substantial changes to the way we deliver power.
As the Member pointed out earlier, yes, the Member feels it’s a shuffling of the deck, but it is real change because if we did not do any changes, in fact, the Power Corporation would be coming forward today, in fact would have already been working at a general rate application that could go towards just what was raised by Member Bisaro as well when you talk about adjusting the prices and price shock.
This is not going to come as a result of the changes that we’re proposing. It is something that we’re faced with on a day-to-day basis within the existing system. That is why the government has decided, with support of our Members, to put $60 million into alternative energy development like run-of-the-river hydro, wind and biomass initiatives, and, yes, we’re disappointed as well that a number of these projects haven’t moved as fast as they have, and we’re putting the feet to the fire, in a sense, to move these along as much as we can with the time we have left. Thank you.
Thanks to the Minister for those remarks. I think we have some common ground there. I appreciate the $200K estimate for the Power Corporation review and I assume I’ll still be hearing about the electricity rate review costs.
As the Minister said, and I said in my question, we have not had real cost reductions yet and we all hope that there will be some eventually. What I want to know is, will we see any during the life of this Assembly, the four-year life of this Assembly. Thank you.
Thank you. That is our goal. In fact, every business plan since we identified that money for the Legislative Assembly, we push the departments to show progress, and not just internal progress but to get projects on the ground and put in place. So the wind turbine technology that’s been looked at has been delayed for a year. We were expecting it this year but it will go ahead in the next year, I believe. The area of biomass, we’re looking at, as we have already done, some exchanges for heat in a number of our facilities that will need replacement of boilers. As well, we’re still working with the Power Corporation for biomass for electricity generation. As well, as I’ve just been informed, the electricity rate review was in the neighbourhood of $550,000 to complete that work and that shows the cost of having to do that type of business in the Northwest Territories on large-scale consultation. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mr. Bromley.
Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just totalling these things up, that’s almost another million dollars. So we’re pretty close to an additional $10 million of subsidies this year and this is in addition to our apparently now routine at 10 to 12 million dollars per year and this is what I mean about we’re not really reducing costs and we’re removing options for services for our people. So I’d like to ask the Premier, during the life of this Assembly what community will actually have an electricity system with reduced costs. What community? Even one community.
I can name probably in the neighbourhood, let me see, how many thermal communities will go into that zone? About 22 communities. Now, I know the Member feels that’s just a shuffling of the deck, but that is real lower costs in our communities that will be spread out to the commercial base and to the customer base and the overall cost of living in our communities. Structurally as the Power Corporation and as the Government of the Northwest Territories, we know we need to increase our rate base in the sense of more people and more businesses in the Northwest Territories and to invest in these other alternatives requires cash that we have to, as the GNWT, invest in that system, because the Power Corporation, under the existing structure, is within a defined set of parameters that it can operate by. So we as the Government of the Northwest Territories have chosen to invest in alternative energies and we’re going to be doing that and putting some of these initiatives on the ground by the time this Assembly has concluded its business.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are addressed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Over the last, probably, year, I think, the department has been doing or has been starting and has been engaged in a facilities needs study for the city of Yellowknife. I know we referenced it, Members referenced it in our October 2009 discussions of the capital plan and we also talked about it in February when we discussed business plans for 2010-2011. There are renovations that are needed by several Yellowknife YK 1 schools and there also needs to be a permanent home for Aurora College; it’s badly needed.
In the deliberations, in October and February the Minister stated, I believe, that the report would be expected at the end of this fiscal year, which to me means the 31st of March 2010. We’re some six weeks beyond that. I’d like to ask the Minister if the study has been completed and when we can see the results.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The study has been completed. We are in consultation with the YK 1 school board and the college. We just need to consult with them on possibly proposed changes. We need to keep in mind that the college campus, the expiry date of 2012 at Northern United Place is a pressing issue that we need to deal with. Overall, the Yellowknife education facilities have been reviewed and there have been some proposed options that we have presented to the board and also to Yellowknife MLAs for their consideration. We’re still waiting for feedback by one of the school boards and then we can certainly share that information with the general public.
I would like to thank the Minister for his comments. The Minister mentions that there are a number of options. I do appreciate that there are options. He also mentions that they are in consultation with YK 1 and the college, then he stated they are waiting for one of the school boards. My understanding is that YK 1 has indicated their approval of one of the options, and if he is waiting for the Catholic system, then I guess I would ask them to hurry up.
I understand, as the Minister said, he’s confirmed to me my understanding is that the Aurora College lease expires in 2012. I’d like to ask the Minister if the option that is, or one of the options that is currently out there is not acceptable to somebody and these options are not approved, what plans does the Minister have for a permanent home for the YK Aurora College campus in the near future?
That is one of the options that we are discussing with YK 1 as well. Alternatives on the options. The decision that needs to come down and the recommendation to me as well, then make a final decision before the capital planning process begins. That’s why we’ve initiated this consultation and we are now on the verge of a final decision by the board to give us a green light to say we’re fine with the option that they are favouring. We’re just waiting for that response from the board.
I guess I’d like to thank the Minister again for his comments. Part of the facilities plan and the options that were presented, the work that was being done by the consultant to look into things was renovations, to complete the renovations, I should say, at Mildred Hall School and to do a very large and significant renovation of J.H. Sissons School. So I’d like to ask the Minister, are there plans being considered for those two renovation projects?
Throughout the consultation and also the Yellowknife educational facilities review, there has been undertaking of renovations. The renovations that have been highlighted has already been undertaken by our department and identified as a capital planning project on a long-term basis. Those facilities that need upgrade and major retrofit have been highlighted through our consultation with the school boards. Yes, the majority of the schools that require upgrade will definitely be part of the capital planning process.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. Final supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister again. I guess I’d just like to confirm or have the Minister confirm for me, he talks about these renovations being part of the capital plan process. I would like to ask the Minister, does he mean that Aurora College renovations, Sissons renovations and Mildred Hall School renovations will be part of the 2011-2012 Capital Plan?
The minor renovations and major renovations that have been highlighted by our department on the capital planning process will continue as we move along. The Member is referring to certain facilities such as the Aurora College campus. The decision has to be made on options first, before we can proceed with the capital planning process. That is in the works and they are at the final stages.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I spoke about the water tanks that need replacing in Wrigley. I believe it’s reaching a critical stage. About six weeks ago the community health representative tested about six houses and their water tanks and deemed two of them not potable, meaning that they cannot use it for household use. It’s really impacting the families there. I’m not too sure who to ask this question to. We’ve got several departments responsible for water in the community. Perhaps I can start with or ask the Minister of Health and Social Services.
What I’m looking for is that the NWT Housing Corporation had said no to replacing these water tanks, but these tanks need replacing. If they cannot access programming, then our government’s going to have to find a solution around addressing this very, very important health need. I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services if we have existing programs to help a situation like this.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In terms of a program available in Health and Social Services in this regard, we have produced promotional material and videos on the health promotion side to inform and educate people in our communities about how to keep their water tanks safe.
I’m aware of the rules for the House, so if it was up to me, I’d keep asking each Minister individually until I reach the right one. What I’m actually after is that federally, in the eastern provinces they recently announced a Water Tank Maintenance Program in fact to replace some water tanks on a reserve. It is really getting to a crisis stage in Wrigley. They’ve got many, many homes and their water tanks are in very poor condition. They’re in arrears with the Housing Corporation. They can’t get programming to replace the tanks, so we’re going to have to look at a unique and different program for this community, Mr. Speaker.
I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services, once again: given these circumstances, is there a way to assist the community of Wrigley in replacing these water tanks? Maybe she can confer with her colleagues, as well. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Because it does affect a number of departments, the Department of Health and Social Services does do the testing. The maintenance or repairs from that point on depends again on if it is public housing, then the Housing Corporation is directly involved. If it’s a private homeowner, the homeowner then would be required to do that maintenance. They can qualify for support through the Housing Corporation, but that, again, depends on the program criteria and if they’re eligible and if they’d had support previously on other initiatives. So depending on the scenario, a number of potential outcomes apply. Thank you.
I’m well aware of our policy and guidelines when it comes to arrears and what it means is that the government is saying no to replace these water tanks. But it is getting to the critical stage, Mr. Speaker. It is getting to a crisis situation. In fact, it can be deemed an emergency that these tanks need replacing in these communities and the residents need assistance with that. So I’m calling upon the government to come up with a strategy for the community of Wrigley and let’s address all these homes that are badly in need of replacing these water tanks. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, there are a number of avenues that can be undertaken by individuals and, again, it would be a case-by-case scenario. If there is, for example, private homes, the Housing Corporation could be of assistance, depending on the situation. As the Member pointed out, if there are arrears that come into play, then individuals can sign a prepayment plan that may be able to make them eligible for applying again, but I’d have to further confer with the Minister of the Housing Corporation on the specifics.
I would say that maybe here’s an opportunity that we can put the Member and the Minister together to see if there are specific initiatives that could be looked at that would apply to a number of areas. For example, Mr. Speaker, if the tanks are poly, there’s a cleaning procedure that is acceptable that would bring it back to the proper standards. So, again, we’d have to get more details and see what initiatives can be looked at. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. Your final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. That’s an avenue I wasn’t told about. When a couple families called me, their first line was, of course, to see the Housing Corporation and they were denied immediately. That’s exactly what it was there, Mr. Speaker, there was just an outright no. There were no alternative solutions provided to them. Hence, I’m raising it in the House and I’m glad that at least there’s one avenue that the Premier had indicated. I would like to ask the Premier if there are any other routes or avenues that we can address this critical situation of the water tanks in Wrigley. Thank you.
I probably should have referred it to the Minister of the Housing Corporation so he can give the actual program detail, but in this case I’ll confer with the Minister of the Housing Corporation to see what initiatives may be undertaken when it comes to dealing with folks on arrears, if it’s a pre-payment plan or does it have to be paid off in full. The issue, again, becomes more specific to the unit. If it is a matter of cleaning, then that falls under the homeowner’s responsibility, and, as Minister Lee pointed out, there is a process to make that water system safe again. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, given my Member’s statement today, given all across the Territory community government organizations are saying the same thing, that communities’ number one problem is not enough counselling support, will this government commit to a long-term, small, fully functional, around-the-clock, fully equipped addictions centre? We have the nurses but, Mr. Speaker, we don’t have the counsellors in every community. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We do have counsellors and wellness workers in most of our communities. Our budget is $6 million to provide for that. Mr. Speaker, it is true, we do not have a treatment centre in every community. If we were to do that, we need to do that as a Legislature and government and through the business plan process. Thank you.
The key word in that reply was “most,” Mr. Speaker. Will the government adapt a duel system that will provide an equal number of days for post-program assistance in their home communities once the person, for example, a participant spends 30 days in an addiction program, will the government give a minimum of 30 days’ professional support in their home communities? Thank you.
The Member inquired about that previously and I did respond to the Member on that. I don’t have it with me, but, Mr. Speaker, I do believe that is possible to have our residents who are coming out of treatment programs and facilities to have aftercare counselling within the community with the staff that we have. So, Mr. Speaker, it’s possible through our system. Thank you.
As mentioned in a previous Member’s statement, during my community visits in Nunakput I speak to the mayors and the community leaders, all identifying the lack of professional and social support as one of the most serious issues in our communities, Mr. Speaker. People are very passionate about these issues and they have lots to say. As a government, we must listen. We must act, Mr. Speaker. So I ask the government to review the current territorial strategy with addictions in the community counselling programs to conduct a comprehensive community-based discussion to develop and to go forward. Thank you.
The Member is correct that especially in his communities they are very passionate about this. The government has listened. The Department of Health and Social Services has invested, actually, the largest increase and largest sum to the community of Tuk that I have made available to help the community with their house that they want to open to work on the addictions issues.
The Member mentioned earlier that we should work with the federal government. I would like to advise the Member that the Department of Health and Social Services has finalized an application to the Mental Health Commission so that we can get some assistance from them to work on a program in his community. Thank you.
