Debates of May 26, 2005 (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services and it goes back to the discussion we had yesterday in the House and some of my colleagues had brought up earlier. That is in relation to the proposal to relocate the Territorial Treatment Centre out of Yellowknife. I read through the Hansard yesterday, Mr. Speaker. I had trouble trying to ascertain how the decision was made. I am still of the opinion that a decision was made based solely on what it would cost to renovate a piece of infrastructure. That is all I have seen. I have to apologize to the Minister. Like I said, I am not on the Social Programs committee. I am not in the decision-making loop when it comes to decisions like this, so I am trying to understand how a decision of this magnitude is made. I know the Minister has mentioned that they have done some background work. They have done a little bit of research on the move and the implications on education of the kids, medical professional help they might need and things of that nature. I would like to know where it is. Somebody in his department has to have had a file on this. Why can’t we have a look at it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 21-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I indicated and committed in this House yesterday, when the Member asked the question, that I will pull together a file of information, and I will make sure it goes to the chair of Social Programs and to the Member, that lays out the trail that got us to this point. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 21-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the question I have for the Minister is when we might expect to see something like this, because it is certainly a big issue with many families here in Yellowknife, folks that work there, parents who have children there. I would like to ask the Minister when we might expect that report or that file. I still have trouble understanding why a department that would make a decision like this wouldn’t have a file readily available for Members. I wanted it yesterday. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 21-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will commit to having it for the Member before the end of this session. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 21-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am wondering if the Minister could let us know if that report or file is going to be comprehensive in its scope. Is it going to look at the educational needs of the clients, what the impacts of the program are going to be on moving it, the professional side of things, and the availability of services in Hay River? Is it going to be a comprehensive report, or are we going to be able to poke holes in this thing? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 21-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is a potential to poke holes in anything anyone does. I could tell you what the Member needs to know, is that the decision has been made to move TTC to Hay River to use the capital money that was in the budget to renovate Dene K’onia. That it is going to take about 18 months and we will be able to set up a program there that is going to meet all of the needs of the children that are going to be in that program. Hay River has the capacity with the services that exist there, the medical, the educational, the health, the social services are there or are readily and easily accessible by the children that will be taking that program in Hay River. Hay River has a history in the past of running child welfare programs that were, in fact, converted to young offenders, but they have a history and a capacity that has been demonstrated through history and the past to deliver that kind of program. That decision has been made. It is a contractual arrangement that is there. It is going to be moved. We are going to work with the contractor. That contract will be going out. Bosco Homes currently provides that and will be taking all the steps with the contractor to work with their employees to make sure that it is done in a sensitive timely way so that we minimize the dislocation and disruption that may be there for the folks that are here.

Mr. Speaker, this is a program. That is what the Member should know. The information there will show that that is a decision that has been made. Now should the Member choose to poke holes in that, that would be something that he is very capable at doing. He is very adept as he has demonstrated in this House. But, Mr. Speaker, that decision has been made and I will stand up and defend that decision. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 21-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Minister for his response. I do look forward to the report, the file coming forward, so that we can have a look at it and can better understand how the decision was arrived at.

One of the things that I would like to see included in that -- I know we have been going through and it is no slight against Hay River -- we have been having a tremendously difficult time staffing up a pipeline office in Hay River. These are specialized professional people that work at treatment centres like this. I am wondering can we get the employees to work at the treatment centre in Hay River. We have had a heck of a time filling positions at the pipeline office. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 21-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to point out and reiterate a point I made yesterday, in that the Government of the Northwest Territories has also made the signal very clearly that they are interested and willing to look at decentralizing programs when they make sense and when it is the appropriate thing to do. In this case, this is one of those cases. Will the people be there? Yes, they will be. We have done it in the past. We are running a program in Fort Smith as well, delivering a high quality of care for children. It may take some work, but Bosco Homes has indicated that they are confident and that they are prepared to work with the department and the people in Hay River and will go through a hiring process locally and outside of Hay River, if we have to, to staff that facility up and have it up and running. They will also have the full backup resources that Bosco Homes has at their disposal, which we don't have as a government. Plus, there is going to be continued access to the specialized services in Yellowknife with pediatricians and psychiatrists that are there right now. Thank you.