Debates of May 26, 2004 (day 13)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks for the answer, Mr. Minister. Once again, it has been very clear from Paulatuk that the community freezers that they presently have are very important to them. When I was in Paulatuk we did discuss about the chest freezers, as you mentioned, but at the present time they find the community freezer a vital component of their daily lives. It is important for them to utilize a facility like that. Once again, could the Minister at least guarantee funds for this season for them to continue using that community freezer? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The honourable Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 137-15(3): Community Freezers In Paulatuk And Holman

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In many cases community freezers were not being well utilized anymore, and I know that the Member knows his riding well, and the Member’s insistence that Paulatuk residents do need this piece of infrastructure is one that I am listening to, but, Mr. Speaker, we think there are more cost effective options. We are truly concerned that because of the age of this piece of infrastructure that if it continues to operate in the manner it’s operating, there could be a situation where the power goes down, members of the community are not aware, food spoilage happens, and the community could get very, very sick. That is certainly not something we want to see. We would encourage the community to look at chest freezers. Maybe what I would propose, if it would be acceptable to the Member, is that I come to his riding and sit down with the leadership of the community, and we discuss the concerns that we have in terms of the health risks of operating this piece of infrastructure, and talk about the actual O and M cost going forward to keep this aging piece of infrastructure running. I think it is something like $17,000 a month in the summer to run the freezer. I think there are more cost-effective options. So I would make that offer to the Member. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 137-15(3): Community Freezers In Paulatuk And Holman

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are planning to make a trip to my riding of Paulatuk, Holman and Sachs next month. You are more than welcome to come along with us, your invitation is always open. So you will hear verbally, firsthand exactly what the people of Paulatuk want with regard to the community freezer. It is a situation right now where, like I said in my Member’s statement, the weather is getting very warm right now, the geese are flying, they just recently got caribou that came by, and they are concerned about the storage of their wild meat. So at this present time, Mr. Speaker, can the Minister guarantee the funds to be available to maintain at least for the 2004-2005 season? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of RWED, Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 137-15(3): Community Freezers In Paulatuk And Holman

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I recognize that it is soon getting warm. I think the community has been in discussions with our department for some time. This is not something that was sprung on the community, and I do believe that if the community made the decision to run the piece of infrastructure and operate the freezer as a stopgap measure they could do so, and we can sit down then when I go up there to discuss going forward, how we deal with it, and deal with this season as well. I would be prepared to do that when I visit the community. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to again ask the Minister responsible for the Deh Cho Bridge project, Mr. Handley, some questions. I draw his attention to two recent bridge projects in the territory that have been marred by cost overruns and a lack of pre-engineering. Willow Creek was supposed to cost $4.5 million, and ended up over $7 million. The river between Two Mountains Bridge was crushed by ice. No ice floe study was done prior to this bridge being put in. Is the Premier aware of these two bridge projects, and what will he do to ensure that these problems won’t happen with the Deh Cho Bridge project?

Mr. Premier, two questions.

Return To Question 138-15(3): Deh Cho Bridge Project Concerns

Mr. Speaker, I’m generally aware of those two projects, two different situations. The Willow Creek Bridge goes back a number of years. There were some design problems with it. I expect that the Department of Transportation has learned from that. In terms of the other bridge where ice removed, it was a much smaller bridge but, again, one that we have concerns about, the inconsistent flow of water and ice in those small streams in that area. Mr. Speaker, the Deh Cho Bridge is a totally different kind of structure. It is a much larger bridge. It is one that the design is a very serious issue, and one that I assure the Member that we’ll be as thorough as we possibly can in reviewing the design that is put forward by the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 138-15(3): Deh Cho Bridge Project Concerns

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I mentioned this earlier, there hasn’t been an ice floe study on the mass and the volume during spring break up, and the impact that might have on the piers that are going to connect the bridge from one side of the river to the other. I’d like to also ask the Premier and mention this to him that there needs to be an incentive for the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation to not incur cost overruns in this project. This has to be in the agreement. The GNWT should not assume all the risk, and currently, under the agreement that I have seen here, we are assuming all the risk, Mr. Speaker. Can we get this in the agreement that the GNWT does not assume all the risk in this project? Thank you.

Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 138-15(3): Deh Cho Bridge Project Concerns

Mr. Speaker, if you look at the agreement you will find that the GNWT’s contribution to the bridge when it is built is going to be the cost of operating the ferry, the cost of building and maintaining that ice bridge. Beyond that the costs for the bridge will be recouped through a toll. So whatever the price is, the GNWT is not assuming additional risk. The only risk we would assume would be if for some reason the bridge was never built. Then we have been guaranteeing loans to enable the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation to continue on with their planning and environmental assessment for the proposed bridge. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 138-15(3): Deh Cho Bridge Project Concerns

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think that the GNWT does assume the risk in this because if the bridge is put in at a cost of $80 million, $90 million or $100 million, how are we possibly going to recoup that through toll revenues? It is a risk that the GNWT is going to have, and that is why I feel strongly that the Premier has to get in this agreement a firm price, and the cost overruns cannot be allowed to happen. I’ve seen it firsthand when I was a city councillor, and I’ve also seen it during the life of this last government with the jail. We have to get a firm price, and we can’t allow it to snowball. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Premier.

Further Return To Question 138-15(3): Deh Cho Bridge Project Concerns

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We certainly won’t make the mistakes those city councillors made on that project.

Hear, hear!

---Laughter

But, Mr. Speaker, the Bridge Corporation are using the time that is available to them now to do more testing on the design of the bridge. They have made some changes to the design as a result of testing. They will be issuing a tender for the project, and we will take every step possible to ensure that there are no cost overruns. Mr. Speaker, on this size of project, that is a substantial challenge for the designers to be able to ever come up with a project that is going to be right on with no change orders. Mr. Speaker, the latest information that we have from the Bridge Corporation is that they are still looking at a $55 million to $60 million bridge. We are waiting, as I said earlier, Mr. Speaker, for an update on that cost estimate, and I would certainly be glad to share that with the Members as soon as we receive it in the next two or three weeks. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today, Mr. Speaker, is regarding the Department of Health and Social Services in the Sahtu. In light of the recent initiative to include community wellness and mental health workers into the government system, I had a call from a member from the Sahtu about the reclassification of the mental health worker in my community, and they wanted to know why, Mr. Minister, I heard she had to reapply for a position that she held for a long time.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 139-15(3): Reclassification Of Mental Health Workers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t have the full particulars of the individual case that the Member is mentioning, but I would be glad to commit to check into the questions that he does have so that we can make sure that it is addressed. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 139-15(3): Reclassification Of Mental Health Workers

Thank you, Mr. Minister. The other issue in my communities, maybe across the Northwest Territories also, is about mental health workers who are in a position for a long, long time, and then when they have a chance for this new program, the initiative by the department is that they have to reapply for their position again. Some of the communities feel safe and secure with the old mental health worker. Now they get reclassified, and the standards are quite high, and this discourages members from working in the communities. Could the Minister inform the House as to reasons for this type of initiative? Thank you.

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return to Question 139-15(3): Reclassification Of Mental Health Workers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the intent of the alcohol and drug mental health strategy was to specifically initially look at the alcohol and drug workers, and recognized that for years they have laboured in relative isolation and at a very, very low level of pay with no benefits. Tied in with that was the recognized need that mental health services, as well, can supplement the work done by alcohol and drug workers. The alcohol and drug workers are subsequently reclassified, and need title to community wellness workers, and we have added some mental health workers to the mix as well. They were all given pay increases, positions were classified, there were job descriptions done, and paid benefits were tied to those positions. Mr. Speaker, the intent in this was not to lay people off. The intent of this was to recognize the work that’s being done, to allow for the incumbents to be given prior learning assessments, and if necessary give the training to upgrade their skills. So I say again, Mr. Speaker, the intent is not to lay people off, and we do have, in my opinion, and if we don’t, we do now have provisions for grandfathered incumbents so that they can be given the training that they are capable of, and we recognize their years of service. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 139-15(3): Reclassification Of Mental Health Workers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Minister. I was one of those workers at one time. I was a drug and alcohol worker in Tulita, and I know the frustration that the mental health workers go through, drug and alcohol workers go through in terms of providing services to our people, and I encourage the department. I guess I am concerned about the people that do work in this field, the community wellness workers and mental health workers, that they continue on as some of the people feel comfortable with the workers in their field. I have a hard time seeing, Mr. Minister, reclassifying and having them reapply for a job that they have held for many years. Could the Minister commit to look at this issue with some of the people in our region? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 139-15(3): Reclassification Of Mental Health Workers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I will make that commitment. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, seeing how the Premier, and in conjunction with the Minister of Justice, the honourable Minister Dent, have taken away all my legal aid questions, I had to find a new stump to climb up on and yell about. My question to the Premier, Mr. Speaker, is I have noticed on the status of returns to written questions many of the items, if not all of the items, are overdue for answers, and my question to the Premier is is he in a position to remind all Members of Cabinet that regular Members are waiting for answers on these, and to encourage them to reply? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I will have to rule your question out of order because it is an item on the agenda, and we will be getting to that. So your question is out of order.

---Ruled Out of Order

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will continue on with my questioning for the Minister responsible for the Deh Cho Bridge project, and I will go back to a comment that he made. I don’t think you have to look any further than the YCC project for a poster for cost overruns, and the Minister is well aware of that. Can I get a commitment from the Minister when we might expect a design, something for instance -- you know, it has been two years -- something we can put on display in the Great Hall, something that would show that we actually do have a design and we actually do know what we are talking about? Thank you.

Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 141-15(3): Deh Cho Bridge Design

Mr. Speaker, I expect that we will have a final design for the bridge by this fall. It will not be finalized until the environmental review is completed. We expect that to be in September. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One short question. In light of the news report the last couple of days, my question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services regarding the TB situation in Colville Lake and medevacing the people out to Inuvik to do the tests there. It is the responsibility of the Minister’s department to act quickly on this issue because Colville Lake is small and isolated, and does not have a nurse to monitor the situation in instances like this. So I would like to ask the Minister could he inform the House and the people of the Northwest Territories what he is doing to ensure that the TB issue in Colville Lake is satisfactory to people in the Sahtu and to people in the Northwest Territories? Mahsi.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 142-15(3): Tuberculosis In Colville Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, just quickly to recap, on May 17th an individual was sent out for treatment for what was thought to be cancer, and it turned out to be a very contagious form of TB. It was judged at that time that this individual had been in the community for a while, and being as it was highly infectious there were steps taken to go to the community with health practitioners. About 15 individuals were subsequently flown to Inuvik where they were tested. The majority of them returned home. Some have been identified that they may require follow-up and treatment. They will be given that treatment and monitored. There will be regular visits into Colville Lake by the doctors and nurses to ensure that the protocols are complete, and they will be tracking this very, very closely. Thank you.

I would just like to recognize the clock. The time for oral questions has expired, but I will allow the Member for Sahtu to conclude your supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 142-15(3): Tuberculosis In Colville Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, in light of the Minister’s comments, do you feel with the regular visits of the doctors and nurses…I guess I am looking for some commitment from his department to have a nurse practitioner situated in Colville Lake to monitor on a day-to-day basis. I know the department is strapped for nurses in the Northwest Territories, but it is something that would assure the people of Colville Lake and the people in the North that this TB scare will be taken care of. Thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 142-15(3): Tuberculosis In Colville Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this particular situation is being monitored very closely. We’ve been working with the lay dispenser in Colville Lake. There has been close contact with Inuvik and there will continue to be, and they are mapping out the medical requirements to ensure that there is proper follow-up and that the required staff are in the community when they are needed for as long as they are needed. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 142-15(3): Tuberculosis In Colville Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister. The comments for assisting the…(inaudible)…I would like to ask the Minister with regard to situations like Colville Lake, how did this come about and what situations did we look at where TB has occurred in this day and age in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.