Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of what NGOs pay their staff is one that is affecting many operations within government, including other operations in Yellowknife, especially those that are unionized who are increasing pressure for a wage parity and it’s an issue that we are struggling with. The reality is we have a program run by Bosco in Fort Smith that is staffed and fully functional. It’s our anticipation that we will be able to do this as well in Hay River with either the staff, a few that are going to transfer, or through the hiring process in Hay River. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.
Supplementary To Question 9-15(4): Operation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier the Minister answered that he will make an effort to meet with the affected employees and perhaps the administrator of the program to answer some questions or allay some of their anxieties. Will the Minister be willing to talk to them about possible severance packages, or give them more certainty about what’s happening with their jobs in light of the fact that all of this is happening in the media and causing them undue hardship that could have been avoided if it was handled better? Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Miltenberger.
Further Return To Question 9-15(4): Operation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I indicated that I would follow up on the Member’s assertions and that we would take every step possible to be sensitive and mindful of the situation that the affected employees are going through, and that’s what we intend to do. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a couple more questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. I know the price tag that’s been talked about, whether it’s at the current TTC location or the renovations to Dene K’onia, is in around $3 million. Can the Minister let us know how he intends to pay for whichever renovations that might happen? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.
Return To Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K’onia Facility
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there has been money in the capital budget to do this. We’ve carried it over for the last year or so and the money that is already there, instead of being used here, will be used for the renovations of Dene K’onia.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.
Supplementary To Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K’onia Facility
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t think it appears in last year’s capital budget, at least not the last time I looked. So maybe the Minister could check that and I can check my budget document, as well. I think it was in there before, but it was taken out last year, Mr. Speaker. I know the Minister stood up earlier today and said that he’s convinced that the move of the TTC would not impact the program or its clients. Can the Minister demonstrate to Members of this side of the House how that is going to happen and how it will play out that the clients in the programs are not impacted by the move? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Miltenberger.
Further Return To Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K’onia Facility
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there will be impacts as we move through the transition, but the quality of the program that Bosco delivers will not be impacted, in my opinion. They have a track record in Fort Smith where they have delivered a contractual program since the mid '90s, I believe, and they’ve invested a lot of time and effort. They have a lot of skilled people available and we’ll get through the transition, and, as we have in the past, we will be provided with quality child welfare programs in Hay River. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.
Supplementary To Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K’onia Facility
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister commit to us today to share whatever research that his department has done in terms of looking at moving this treatment centre to Hay River? I know it hasn’t come through and it goes back to the decision-making process, but nobody has been consulted on this and nobody has seen a business plan. I’d like the Minister to commit to us today that he will share whatever information he’s got so that we can say we’re not just making a move to make the move, but we’re doing so for the benefit of the clients. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Miltenberger.
Further Return To Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K’onia Facility
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, we’re going to be building a lot of the detail of this move into the business plan, but I would be happy to put together a package for the Social Programs committee and meet with them, along with the many other issues we have on the agenda to meet with them about in the next number of weeks.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Your final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.
Supplementary To Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K’onia Facility
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So if I’m not mistaken, what the Minister is saying is the decision to move this program was made before any type of business analysis or business plan was conducted. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is that true? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Miltenberger.
Further Return To Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K’onia Facility
No, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, my questions, too, are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. The information that he provided earlier today indicated that about half of the residents of the TTC right now are from Yellowknife and perhaps the North Slave region, and half are from elsewhere in the NWT. That would seem to indicate that with Yellowknife as approximately half the population of the NWT, there is a local and a resident need it will be here and may continue to grow. Could the Minister, Mr. Speaker, give some indication of whether or not there is justification for establishing not only a home in the facility in Hay River, but maintaining and continuing to provide a service for Yellowknife where half of the NWT’s population is located? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.
Return To Question 11-15(4): Location Of Treatment Centre Services
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the intention that I have indicated is to move TTC. At present, the numbers indicate that half of the residents are from Yellowknife. Those numbers change based on demand and need from wherever the need may arise. It’s the same circumstance just in Stanton, for example, where at least half the population has to travel into Yellowknife to get service, or if you want to go to the Territorial young offenders’ facility in Inuvik, you have to go there. So I appreciate the concern that there may be residents in Yellowknife who have to travel to access the service, but the reality is that’s what we all have to do at one time or another if we want services. We’ll be making every effort to make sure that residential care is the last step that we take before all of our other options are explored and exhausted, and the intent is to keep children in their community if at all possible. In certain circumstances, that isn’t the case and we have to make use of those facilities and, at present, the plan is to move that program to Hay River. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.
Supplementary To Question 11-15(4): Location Of Treatment Centre Services
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to continue to work on aspects of this that can help keep families and their children connected at least if not across the lake, here in our own community. If a family has a youngster in TTC right now in residential care, is this the best option for them? When TTC closes, are there any other options available in Yellowknife for continuing that kind of service for families who are based here? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Miltenberger.
Further Return To Question 11-15(4): Location Of Treatment Centre Services
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At present, they have one program in Yellowknife and that is the Territorial Treatment Centre. We are in the process of relocating that program and the service it provides. If children need that service, then they will have to go to Hay River to access it when that transition is made. There are other services available in Yellowknife, but at that level, should that residential program be required, it will be in Hay River. There is no plan at this point to move TTC and institute another institutional program in its place right now. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.
Supplementary To Question 11-15(4): Location Of Treatment Centre Services
Mr. Speaker, I can appreciate the Minister is looking at the resources available and having a split service might not right now look feasible, but I would like to challenge the Minister on this one. Initially, we took a look at the requirements to renovate an old building and the option to put it into another one seemed the best way to go. I would really like to revisit the potential of establishing two centres, one where half the population can be served here in Yellowknife in the North Slave region and another at the potential new operation in Hay River. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Miltenberger.
Further Return To Question 11-15(4): Location Of Treatment Centre Services
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is an interesting challenge that the Member presents. If we are going to take that as a basis for allocation of programs in all other areas or if this is going to be a precedent, it’s one that we would have to look at very carefully because of the potential implications. At present, it’s a territorial facility. Territorial facilities, by definition, serve the whole territory and are located in one community. In this case, it would be located in Hay River. It’s a service that will be easily accessible. It’s a 35-minute flight across the lake for those children in Yellowknife who need to access that program. So it’s as convenient as can be outside of Yellowknife. We will make every effort to be sensitive to all other impacts, but that is the reality at this point. Should there be added growth pressures in different areas, for example, as we look at repatriation of adults or some of our southern placements of children, then we will be looking at how we can provide those services in the North and where they would be provided. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table a copy of a letter I received from the chief of the Tulita Dene Band to the Tulita District Education Authority and copied to the Minister of Education. The letter and attached petition request that religion instruction be reintroduced at the Chief Albert Wright School next year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Friday, May 27, 2005, I will move that Bill 1, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 2005-2006, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, May 27, 2005, I will move that Bill 2, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 2004-2005, be read for the first time.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, May 27, 2005, I will move that Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, May 27, 2005, I will move that Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Education Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, May 27, 2005, I will move that Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Judicature Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, May 27, 2005, I will move that Bill 6, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2005, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, May 27, 2005, I will move that Bill 7, Personal Directives Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
