Debates of May 26, 2004 (day 13)

Mr. Speaker, our current driver's licence was developed 15 years ago. We are reviewing it now with our partners. Currently it is still acceptable as a driver's licence, and that’s what it was intended for. We do not have timelines at this point. We are reviewing it, and we also are doing a needs analysis of whether we should be changing it and that will come in due course. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 130-15(3): National Standards For Drivers’ Licences

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister. Can the Minister give us some examples of what kinds of new standards and requirements are likely to come forward as recommendations to be adopted for a new standard of driver’s licence? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 130-15(3): National Standards For Drivers' Licences

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t have that at this current moment. We have hired a contractor to provide a needs analysis to give us what we need in terms of a new driver’s licence and what it should entail. We are looking at a digital type of driver’s licence. However, our current driver’s licence is still acceptable in Canada and if there is any outside requirement for this document to be used as identification, then we have problems. However, then maybe we should be looking at a passport instead of trying to use our driver’s licence. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 130-15(3): National Standards For Drivers’ Licences

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Speaker, even as I look down at my own driver’s licence right in front of me, I can see imperfections that need addressing immediately. I see a photo that covers the word “driver” so it reads “river’s licence.” I see shades, contrasts and background symbols that make it very difficult to read my home address. Mr. Speaker, this picture ID doesn’t even have the word Canada on it. So for NWT residents travelling outside of Canada, they may be accused of having a fake ID. So maybe the Department of Transportation should be issuing maps because they are trying to explain where the Northwest Territories is to some Americans who don’t even know where Canada is.

Whoa!

Mr. Speaker, would the Minister be willing to consider making these adjustments I have noted to our territorial driver’s licence? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 130-15(3): National Standards For Drivers’ Licences

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t what we can do about his current photo.

---Laughter

However, I have indicated that we are reviewing it and it is something that is a concern. We take it seriously and we have a contractor who is looking at this whole issue and will report back to the House as soon as we have those documents. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister responsible for the Deh Cho Bridge project and that is Premier Handley. I would like to know what cost the GNWT has incurred to date for the Deh Cho Bridge project and why we haven’t seen a final design on the bridge project. Thank you.

Premier Handley.

Return To Question 131-15(3): Update On The Deh Cho Bridge Project

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, the GNWT has had minimal costs, in the neighbourhood of $200,000 or $300,000, that we have dedicated ourselves to the bridge project. We have, in addition to that, approved a loan guarantee for the Deh Cho Bridge project of up to $2.5 million over the last government and this current government.

Mr. Speaker, the Member asked two questions and I answered the first one. I will answer the second one, as well. The Deh Cho Bridge Corporation have, to my knowledge, basically finished the design for the bridge and we are waiting for cost estimates from them and expect to have those estimates, based on the design that they have, within two to three weeks. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 131-15(3): Update On The Deh Cho Bridge Project

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to know if the Premier is aware of the fact that the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation recently had their submission to the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board returned due to a lack of information. Does this cause him, as Minister responsible, any concern? Thank you.

Premier Handley.

Further Return To Question 131-15(3): Update On The Deh Cho Bridge Project

Mr. Speaker, it’s not unusual when proponents make submissions for the environmental review process to have it deemed to be incomplete. The information that was provided by the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation, to my knowledge, was incomplete. The environmental review board asked for more information that is being provided. The bridge corporation tells me that the environmental review process is still scheduled to be completed by September. So at this point, I don’t have any concerns that this is going to cause a delay. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 131-15(3): Update On The Deh Cho Bridge Project

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is the Premier aware that the proposed site of the bridge at the current ferry crossing is, in fact, at the foot of the Fort Providence Rapids where the current in the river is at its fastest? Does the Premier know to date there has been no geotechnical work or ice floe studies? What will this do to the cost of the project and does this cause the Premier any concern? Thank you.

Premier Handley.

Further Return To Question 131-15(3): Update On The Deh Cho Bridge Project

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, to my knowledge there has been a fair bit of geotechnical work on ice conditions as well as river floe done over the years. Looking at this site for a bridge is not something that’s new to this government or even the last government. In fact, there was a lot of work done in either the 12th or 13th government where a firm was contracted to do some of these studies. We do know that the water is swift at that site and the assessment that that is still the least expensive place for the location of the bridge. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 131-15(3): Update On The Deh Cho Bridge Project

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Premier to supply that geotechnical work that supposedly has been done because to my knowledge, it hasn’t been done, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to insist that as a Member of this assembly that I know a final design price, expected tolls, and that I am privy to the financing agreement before the GNWT is committed to the next 35 years. Will the Premier agree to this? Thank you.

Mr. Premier.

Further Return To Question 131-15(3): Update On The Deh Cho Bridge Project

Mr. Speaker, I will check to see what information is available, and whatever I have access to I will certainly be happy to share it with the Member. In terms of commitments on the bridge, we will certainly want to know what the price is before we make a final commitment. We won’t know what that price is until the contract is tendered and we have something firm from the successful bidder. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on the Chief Albert Wright School overcrowding. As I mentioned earlier in my Member’s statement, our children deserve a comfortable and safe learning environment in which they can grow and develop. The situation for teachers and students in Inuvik illustrates the challenge of the northern school facilities. The learning environment of Chief Albert Wright School is another example of the…(inaudible)…Unfortunately the construction of the Chief Albert Wright School won’t be completed until the spring of 2007. Mr. Speaker, in light of the recent collapse of Inuvik’s Samuel Hearne School roof and the added pressure that’s going to be placed on already strained infrastructure, can I have a commitment from the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment that the construction of a new school in Tulita will not be delayed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 132-15(3): Deteriorating Conditions In NWT Schools

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member knows, this assembly has to approve the funds for a capital plan, but it will certainly be my intention to move the funding forward for that school replacement as expected and shown in the infrastructure plan for the next few years.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 132-15(3): Deteriorating Conditions In NWT Schools

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister and Cabinet says we have to wait for a decision in terms of moving the project up for the Chief Albert Wright School, and the overcrowding in our schools makes it very challenging. Would the Minister provide the position of providing portable classrooms to alleviate the overcrowding in the interim for Chief Albert Wright School? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 132-15(3): Deteriorating Conditions In NWT Schools

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In a few weeks, I will be travelling to the Sahtu with the Member. I would welcome the opportunity to meet with the community and discuss what needs to happen in that project to replace the school. We can certainly have that discussion with the community when we get there.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my statement earlier, I would like to ask questions to the Minister responsible for Seniors, Minister Miltenberger. Obviously there are many issues pertaining to seniors that one can address in this House, but I would like to start with the housing needs. There is quite a bit of backup with respect to seniors’ housing. We have a lack of facilities for those who are suffering from dementia and they are currently being placed at the hospital, which costs a lot more on a day-to-day basis than if we were to have a separate facility to house the health and physical needs of persons who suffer from dementia. Then some of those seniors are in the hospital or in Aven Manor or Aven Seniors’ Centre, which was not designed for that purpose in the first place. I know that the Minister has been considering a proposal from YACCS, Yellowknife Association for Concerned Citizens for Seniors. I would like to know if the Minister could update this House on where he is with that proposal. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister responsible for Seniors, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 133-15(3): Seniors’ Housing Needs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is work still being done by the working group on the design. Money has been put in this over the last couple of years. Land has been acquired, but they are still working on a design. As well, we are still completing the review of facilities across the Northwest Territories and all the communities that have seniors’ facilities to see what requirements are there to upgrade these facilities to make them compatible for the use we find ourselves requiring these days when it comes to dealing with accountability and plans that are there. So that work, as well, is underway and will be completed in the next few months. Thank you.

Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 133-15(3): Seniors’ Housing Needs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My supplementary question is also to Minister Miltenberger in his responsibility for senior citizens, but I understand this has also to do with the Housing Minister. Mr. Speaker, we have needs for the seniors in terms of those who are suffering from dementia and who have special needs, but also seniors who can function quite independently but for financial or physical needs are not able to be in the marketplace. Does the Minister, as the Minister responsible for Seniors, have any idea to see what the needs are for seniors in terms of their differing housing needs? Thank you.

Minister Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 133-15(3): Seniors’ Housing Needs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Housing Corporation came up with a seniors’ housing strategy back in 2000 that goes from 2000 to 2005. There was a needs assessment done. Currently there are 10 units slated for Yellowknife and four or five to be built as part of that strategy. In addition, Mr. Speaker, there is an extensive number of programs for seniors. There is the senior citizen home repair program, the seniors’ disabled preventative maintenance initiative, home adaptations for seniors' independent program and emergency home repair and homeowner residential rehabilitation assistance program, all which seniors are eligible for. In addition to that, we have the fuel subsidy. We have the arrangements with municipalities where they can get taxes offset when they hit 60. So, Mr. Speaker, there is an extensive range available for seniors when it comes to housing; some of the best programs in the country. Thank you.

Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 133-15(3): Seniors’ Housing Needs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have things so well for the seniors, maybe we could just pack up and go home since everything has been dealt with. Surely we know that’s not the case. Mr. Speaker, I believe most of the programs that the Minister has indicated are in the amounts of hundreds of dollars here, hundreds of dollars there, fixing this and fixing that. I do believe that the Minister has to agree that there are no programs currently that would help seniors to get into a low-cost unit for those who have fixed pension income or some sort of income. It’s a nest egg, but it’s probably too large to qualify for any of these programs, but not enough to maintain a house or buy a house in this Yellowknife market. Has the Minister looked at the unique needs that seniors with fixed incomes are suffering with in Yellowknife because of its heated market? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 133-15(3): Seniors’ Housing Needs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, working with the Housing Corporation, needs assessments are done on an ongoing basis. We have a range of programs that are available. There are housing needs across the territory. We are looking at 10 new units here in Yellowknife in addition to the range of programs that seniors are eligible for, that I have already listed, Mr. Speaker. We recognize, as well, that as another program area, there are probably more problems and needs than there are resources. We believe we have a selection of services and resources available here that would help address those particular issues. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 133-15(3): Seniors’ Housing Needs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I could tell the Minister that the last time I checked, about a month ago, there were at least six seniors waiting for low cost, not social housing, but low rent housing in the Northern United Place. There are dozens of people waiting for housing in Aven Manor. That tells me there are over 20. Even if there are 10 new units being built in Yellowknife, that would only meet half of the need. I think there is a way to solve this without government actually building senior citizens’ housing. There is a partnership that can be done with the government and private developers. Would the Minister consider looking at what the needs of seniors are and come up with some sort of independent housing? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 133-15(3): Seniors’ Housing Needs