Debates of May 30, 2005 (day 4)

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Statements

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, dialysis is a requirement when you have been diagnosed with that need and it tends to be there for the rest of your life unless you get a kidney transplant. That’s somewhat different than the assessment and treatment services that TTC provides or Bosco provides through TTC, which are assessment and up to two years of possible treatment in a residential setting.

Madam Speaker, you can also look at the numbers in the North in a number of ways. Between 30 to 40 percent or 60 to 70 percent of those accessing the program were from communities outside of Yellowknife. What we have is an opportunity here to move a program to a community that has the capacity to do the job. I have indicated in this House the rationale why last week and that rationale still stands. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 41-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Madam Speaker, in relation to the comments about the ability of Hay River to provide the services, I am getting some very strong messages, very solid information, that indicates there would be a real ripple effect, not only for the Territorial Treatment Centre, but a number of other related services in my community in Yellowknife. So I want to ask the Minister again to justify why this decision has been made. According to media reports, the requests aren’t before this House yet, but some $3 million will be sought to pay for these changes. Why are we being asked to accept this proposal now, this plan, this decision? Why are we being asked to accept this decision now when there really isn’t a solid plan in place that would explain how we are going to deal with the consequences? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 41-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, as I indicated in this House, a decision has been made to relocate TTC to Hay River. It’s going to be a process that is going to take some time. There are some renovations to be done. We will come forward in the business planning process with the details of the move. I have also committed in the next day or two to provide this House, the chair of the Social Programs committee and her colleagues, with information that got us to this point. That is the process and this is going to take some time. The business plan is where we intend to come forward with the transitional steps we are working on at present. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 41-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Madam Speaker, one of the things I will be looking for to test the Minister’s rationale and his explanation can be found in a policy document, Health and Social Services establishment policy, which was last revised in May of 1999. This policy lists seven principles, Madam Speaker, the seventh of which says, “All activities of the health and social services system should support an approach that places the needs of people first.” Will the Minister be able to bring us a rationale that is going to support this principle, this people-first principle? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 41-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, we always put people first, and this program delivered by Bosco Homes is going to be relocated to Hay River to provide the same service. We will have the same expertise that we currently have with Bosco Homes, the folks they can tie into with their broad network outside of the Northwest Territories. So there is no diminishment, in my opinion, in the program quality. We would definitely not jeopardize any northerner, any child, in care for any reason. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 41-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Madam Speaker, the first principle, huge principle, of this Assembly, not just the Department of Health and Social Services or any department, all of our attention should be focussed on people first. In this particular situation, Madam Speaker, I am not convinced that we are going to be honouring this principle. Will the Minister rescind this decision until a business plan is placed before us and the people of this community to prove that indeed we are going to be making this move and still honour the principles and the mandate that we have to supply this service? Will the Minister back off on this plan? Thank you.

Back off!

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 41-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my ears are still filled with the echoes of the debate in the last session of this House on a similar circumstance that was put forward by the Member for Hay River South on a circumstance that is somewhat related to this in terms of their community and the impact on their community. Unfortunately, the reality is that in this case, not unfortunately, but the reality is in this case, Madam Speaker, we are tasked to carry out a certain project and a move and we are doing that, and we will come forward in the business plan to lay out the detail. We will be proceeding under that direction. Thank you.

Question 42-15(4): Chipseal Program In Fort Good Hope

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my questions today are to the Minister of MACA in regard to the chipseal program in the Sahtu. I understand they are doing a report and review. What can the Minister tell the people in the Sahtu, specifically the citizens of Fort Good Hope, in terms of what type of support they will achieve this year on their chipsealing program because of the enormous amount of dust that is flying through people's windows, and what type of program the people will see in terms of the chipsealing program? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 42-15(4): Chipseal Program In Fort Good Hope

Madam Speaker, the Member had asked about the chipsealing program I believe in the last day of session, and I had indicated that this year our focus is on Tuktoyaktuk and Fort McPherson. We’re also doing some of the early work or have done some already in the community of Fort Good Hope. We’re doing some of the drainage studies and some of the work to the base that’s required. I would point out though that the chipsealing program is only for the main street. It does not allow us to pave the whole community. The dust problem in the small communities was always historically dealt with through application of calcium. The dollars are still in the community governments’ budgets. It is up to the communities to do so. The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs has no intention of going into each community and doing dust suppressant. We have a main street chipsealing program that will be allocated through a number of years to the different communities as per our schedule. Good Hope is one of the communities, but it won’t be for a couple of years yet to when we get to the point of actually laying the chipseal. So until that happens, the community is expected to use the money that is allocated in their budget to do some type of dust suppressant in the community. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 42-15(4): Chipseal Program In Fort Good Hope

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thanks to the Minister for the update. In Fort Good Hope and the other communities of Deline and Colville Lake, a lot of people live along the main street and there are more vehicles than ever using the roads in the small communities. The chipsealing program is for the main street only, and that’s where my bone of contention is in terms of having this program in the small communities. The dust control suppression money doesn’t last very long because it deteriorates after several rainy days and it goes away and the dust comes back because the formula does not hold the dust down. So again, Madam Speaker, in terms of the chipsealing program, Fort Good Hope was slated and somehow it got moved back a couple of years. I know they were doing work there last year. People were looking forward to the chipsealing program. So what more can the department do to help the communities, especially the people who live close to the main roads, and curtail the dust in the communities this summer? It is going to be a hot and dry season. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. That was a very long preamble to a supplementary question. I would suggest that was actually a Member's statement, but, Minister McLeod.

Further Return To Question 42-15(4): Chipseal Program In Fort Good Hope

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the Member is correct; the main street chipsealing program was reduced this year as our program had to cut the funding. So we had to reduce some of our activities in the different communities. Fort Good Hope is deferred by one year because of our budget restrictions. We’ve planned to have the community targeted as soon as Tuktoyaktuk and Fort McPherson are done. Having said that, we are also completing a study that we had a contractor do for us to look at the different conditions in the communities to see if there are any other options or solutions out there. The study is now complete. We are in the process of reviewing it. It will come forward with some recommendations and we would be pleased to share that information with the members of the different committees. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 42-15(4): Chipseal Program In Fort Good Hope

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the four months, May up to August, is 120 days that the community of Fort Good Hope has to go through the dust season. Would the Minister commit to helping the community get more money or asking his Cabinet to get more money so that more effective use of dust control can be used in the community in the interim, because it has been deferred for the one year? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 42-15(4): Chipseal Program In Fort Good Hope

Madam Speaker, I’m not sure if the Member is asking me to commit additional dollars to his community of Good Hope. The program was reduced and Fort Good Hope has been deferred for one year. However, there is already an allocation and has been historically an allocation to the community government funding to deal with dust. The community also has the option to invest in dust control if that is a priority. We do not dictate where the communities should invest their money. If they spend it in other areas, that is the community’s decision. So we can certainly indicate to the Member that we have a study that is complete. We’ll share that information that will indicate what the best option is for the community of Fort Good Hope. If he’s asking me to put in more money, at this point I don’t think I can commit to that, but I certainly will commit to looking for some long-term solutions for dealing with some of the dust in the communities. That’s a real priority. We’ve heard it over and over in our visits to the community. So I will commit to that, but not to additional funding at this point.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 42-15(4): Chipseal Program In Fort Good Hope

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the chipsealing program would make a real difference in the small communities that don’t have a chipsealing program. The larger centres have paved roads; they don’t have to deal with the dust. In the smaller communities, the old people have to live day in and day out in houses where dust is a very big issue. It’s a crying shame that this government who wants to make a difference in the Northwest Territories, and we’ve got $40 million sitting by Cabinet. So would the Minister again look at the chipsealing programs in the communities and see if he can get anything done that will help the communities with their dust problems? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 42-15(4): Chipseal Program In Fort Good Hope

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, we have been looking at the dust problem for a couple of years now. As I indicated earlier, we have undertaken to hire a contractor to come up with some options for us. We will look at that, and if it requires additional investment from this government, we will bring that forward. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Question 43-15(4): Treatment Of Individual With A Disability

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I have questions to the Minister of Health and Social Services in regard to the treatment of an individual with disabilities that is so appalling, and I have been meaning to ask these questions. I think given this week is Disability Awareness Week it has even more significance, Madam Speaker. This individual is somebody that is well known to us, he’s from a community and he used to work in this building. He has been housed in a hospital since February; three months. His apartment had to be renovated, and it has taken this long, and I challenge anybody in this House to be housed in a hospital for three months and not develop any new health conditions. Madam Speaker, I think this is quite appalling and I think the government has an obligation to take care of this situation right away. So I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services why it is that it is taking this long to renovate this house so this person can be in his own home. Thank you.

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

Return To Question 43-15(4): Treatment Of Individual With A Disability

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, this is a very thinly veiled discussion of a very personal issue involving a specific individual that the Member has done everything but name, and it’s not appropriate for me to comment in this House. I would be more than happy to talk to her about what is transpiring in this particular situation, but it is not appropriate to discuss it in this House. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 43-15(4): Treatment Of Individual With A Disability

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I suppose that is his judgment call, but I can assure this House, Madam Speaker, that I have run into this individual in many places and he is begging all of us to do something. So I can tell you, Madam Speaker, that I am speaking with his total consent, and perhaps the Minister could be sympathetic enough to make a commitment in this House on his behalf that he will look into this situation and confirm to us that he will be back in his house by next week. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 43-15(4): Treatment Of Individual With A Disability

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I am aware of the circumstances of this particular case, and I am aware that it has taken some time to get all of the various parties together. I am also aware that in fact the accommodation will be ready for occupancy I believe this week. Thank you.

Question 44-15(4): Dementia Centre In Yellowknife

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have questions to the Minister of Health and Social Services in regard to the requests the Yellowknife Association of Concerned Citizens for Seniors has had out there for quite some time now. They have been asking for support from this government in regard to planning money so they can move forward on building a dementia centre here in Yellowknife. It’s my opinion that they are addressing a need that isn’t directly their responsibility, but that impacts them. It’s a responsibility, in my mind, that belongs directly in the hands of government, yet this community organization is stepping forward and addressing the need on their own through a partnership program. So when will this government, when will the Minister of Health and Social Services step forward and help this organization that is addressing this community need, and when will he address it by giving them some planning money? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Return To Question 44-15(4): Dementia Centre In Yellowknife

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, as far as I am aware, we have made a commitment to free up some funding to allow that planning to proceed. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 44-15(4): Dementia Centre In Yellowknife

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Do they have the money in their hands as of today? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 44-15(4): Dementia Centre In Yellowknife

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, there has been an agreement reached between the Department of Health and Social Services and the Yellowknife Association of Concerned Citizens for Seniors on this project, but it is a cash flow issue. As far as I am aware, there is an agreement signed and that the chair is aware of it and that the deputies work directly with these folks and these matters are in hand. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 44-15(4): Dementia Centre In Yellowknife

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It’s my understanding that this money is tied to other money. So is this agreement binding that the GNWT will eventually come forward with this money, because, as I understood this, clearly they needed this planning money in the fall, and this community organization is willing to take out a mortgage and they are willing to fundraise for this facility. They need some money to move forward. So is this agreement binding and is it tied to anything so they keep waiting for it? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 44-15(4): Dementia Centre In Yellowknife

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, this is planning money. We’ve been working with YACCS over the last couple of years to move this project along. It’s tied into a broader facilities plan to deal with the cognitively impaired and long-term care resources required across the North. At this point, we’ve committed to the planning dollars. There have been suggestions about how it could be financed, but there’s clearly more work that has to be done. It also has to be taken through due process once the design and everything is agreed to. There is a process that has to be followed with the committees and Cabinet to in fact be able to do that, but we’ve committed to the resources to help them continue the planning. We’re committed to seeing this process through, and it figures into our broader planning for long-term care. Thank you.