Debates of May 30, 2005 (day 4)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, sometimes it takes a little special consideration in the smaller communities, because the Minister has outlined several of the reasons in terms of the land development. Can the Minister advise the House in terms of what types of steps the Housing Corporation is doing in terms of seeking more land? I know there are special arrangements made with the land set aside for band residents under the Indian Act. Is there anything the Minister can do or is he looking in terms of assisting people in the small communities in terms of the land development and in terms of getting them some secure notion that they could continue and succeed in applying for funding? Otherwise they will give up and, out of frustration, leave the application alone. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 47-15(4): Administration Of The Homeownership Program (EDAP)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, we are working with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and also the different aboriginal tribal councils and Indian Affairs, because Indian Affairs does have responsibility for band lands. I think that is where the problem is. There are ongoing meetings with Indian Affairs to try and find a resolution to this problem and I think because of the capacity problems in a lot of our small communities, we’ve realized through Municipal and Community Affairs that we have to put more money into those small communities so they can develop those lands so that people who want to get into home ownership have the ability to access those lands. So we are working with other agencies to be able to resolve this problem. Again, it is a problem that we’re having with Indian Affairs with regard to the office here and we are having ongoing meetings with them. Hopefully through that we will be able to resolve this issue. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 47-15(4): Administration Of The Homeownership Program (EDAP)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, with the EDAP program the Minister has said there is, and I have noticed, some special consideration for the small communities versus the larger centres. Now in these small communities, can the Minister advise or inform this House in terms of the large amounts that are given to the individuals in the smaller communities in terms of this program here? Why are such large amounts given to our smaller communities than our larger centres under this program here? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 47-15(4): Administration Of The Homeownership Program (EDAP)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, we do have unique challenges in small communities and we also realize that the cost of living is a lot higher and that the clients in most cases have minimum wages in the $50,000 range. In regard to construction of a lot of these units where you have to bring them in through the winter road or by barge, there is a higher transportation cost associated with that. We take that into consideration.

Like I stated last week, this program was designed to get people out of public housing and into home ownership, and a lot of those people are in the bracket range of $45,000 to $50,000. In order to assist them with acquiring a $300,000 or $250,000 home, there will be a subsidy associated with it. The subsidy is not actually money that’s going into the individual’s pockets. It’s a subsidy that is based on depreciation over 15 years of a mortgage in which it declines every year. You have to live in that unit for 15 years, pay down the portion of whatever you borrowed from the bank, but also realize that the forgiveness is based on a 15-year period. If you sold your house before the 15 years or you gave up the mortgage, the second mortgage is still held by the Housing Corporation. We still have an interest in it. I think that’s an important component that hasn’t been explained here.

For communities, we realize there’s a high cost associated with getting people out of public housing and also the cost of financing it. We also have to realize that to keep people in public housing for a life period of…Say one of our housing units costs us about $1 million just to keep somebody in public housing. By making an investment of $50,000 or $60,000 to help these people get into home ownership is a benefit to ourselves as government to encourage people to get out of public housing and get into home ownership. Hopefully that explains the Member’s question. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I’m going to rise today, along with my other colleagues, in regard to the Territorial Treatment Centre that the government has proposed to transfer to Hay River. The concern I have, and I would like to clearly hear it from the Minister today, and I don’t want any long answers, I just want him to clearly say if there was a study and business plan done on this to move it to Hay River. If so, when was it written and discussed by Cabinet? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. That was two questions, but that is almost exactly, word for word, questions that have already been asked here in this House today. I would say those answers have already been provided to almost exactly those words. I’ll let the Minister of Health and Social Services respond to that. Thank you. Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 48-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, a decision paper was taken to Cabinet in March. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 48-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thank you for that latitude. Would the Minister be able to provide when the study was originated? Was it originated a year ago, six years ago? Was there a study originated or done on this and when was it written? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 48-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, there was, as I indicated, a decision paper done. We also looked at other options prior to going to Cabinet with a final decision paper. I’m not sure what the Member means by a study, but the department looked at options and came forward with a decision paper to Cabinet. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 48-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Is the Minister suggesting any type of study or detailed information wasn’t required at this particular time? Maybe he could elaborate what a decision paper means, for the benefit of those tuning in. The decision paper; was it made by one person? Can you elaborate what it is? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. I think the question is what is a decision paper. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 48-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, decisions are made in Cabinet, based on papers that are brought forward laying out background and recommendations on a particular issue. In this case, that’s the process that was carried out with this decision. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 48-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, what type of consultation did the Minister have that related to this decision paper? Did they go out to the community? Did they do any special surveys? What type of consultation information did they seek in order to bring forward this decision paper that was discussed and decided upon in March? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 48-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, part of the decision was to see whether there was a capacity in the community of Hay River to run this program, and there was; whether there was existing resources to do the capital renovations, which there was; and that it was a contract, which it is; and would it be an appropriate decision, and that was what was brought to Cabinet and that was a decision that was made to proceed with the relocation of Territorial Treatment Centre from Yellowknife to Hay River. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my question today is for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. Madam Speaker, in the recent cleanups of the communities, we witnessed a lot of plastic garbage bags in our communities by the Northern Stores. I want to ask the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources if there is any type of incentive or partnership with the Northern Stores to have some incentive that the plastic bags could be recycled or put somewhere? They’re destroying the land. I want to ask the Minister if he would look into something that would make a decision to not have these plastic bags all over the communities and on our land. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 49-15(4): Recycling Program For Communities In The North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Member raises a good point and I will look into it, as he has requested. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 49-15(4): Recycling Program For Communities In The North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Would the Minister also look at this in terms of working with the other departments in supporting this initiative, especially the school children? Would the Minister commit to a time frame where we could expect some good news from this initiative? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 49-15(4): Recycling Program For Communities In The North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, we have a recycling initiative that’s going to be taking effect November 1st. I share the Member’s concern that littering in our communities is probably one of the most unsightly and stoppable issues that are before us and it’s a personal choice and an education issue. It’s an issue that plagues every community I’ve been in, my own included, where no matter how often cleanup is done, the next day there are bottles and cans and plastic bags and wrappers. It’s something that communities have responsibility for and that every person has a responsibility for that uses those substances. So we’ll work with our colleague departments and the communities, but the big issue is going to be to get folks not to throw the garbage on the streets, in the ditches, in the lots. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 49-15(4): Recycling Program For Communities In The North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the issue again is will we be helping our people to help themselves in terms of keeping the land clean? Would the Minister look at considering bringing forth a policy that would support the communities, support keeping our land clean where they would also encourage business such as Northern Stores to have some form of incentive to bring back the plastic bags, the pop cans, the chip bags so they don’t get thrown all over the streets in the small communities? As much as you want to volunteer the people, there has to be some incentive. Would the Minister commit to some type of policy that would see this type of action get done in the communities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 49-15(4): Recycling Program For Communities In The North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the fundamental incentive is the love everybody has for the land and the need and desire to have a pristine environment in our communities and outside our communities. That goes, once again, to people making the individual choice to take their last drink of pop and throw their can in the ditch or throw their garbage bags or shopping bags outside or in the garbage. We have a program coming into effect November 1st, which will encourage and put funds to help communities set up recycling programs to start recycling bottles and cans and hopefully to broaden out over time to recycle other materials, as well. I appreciate the Member’s concern and I am committing to him that we will work to make sure that that program is fully implemented in all the communities over time. On the broader issue of having people respect the environment and not throw their garbage down, that’s an education issue that we will work with him and with Education and all the other departments that are involved at the community level. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 49-15(4): Recycling Program For Communities In The North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I appreciate the Minister’s commitment to get the recycling program done over time in all the communities. Would the Minister look at having this program be supported by the smaller communities where they can be part of the program even though they may not have a recycling program in the communities or have the machinery to support this? Is there anything they can do in terms of getting the program off the ground and start making communities aware of the situation and have a clean environment for all people?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 49-15(4): Recycling Program For Communities In The North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will go back and talk to the department to make sure they’ve taken every reasonable step, and then some, to talk to all the communities about putting in a proposal to access the resources to get a recycling plant going in the communities and look at what other options there are. If it’s not a full-blown recycling operation, maybe there is a first step required. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. This time I have questions for our Premier for the Legislative Assembly who is the lead on Cabinet. My questions are regarding the transfer of the TTC to Hay River. I have concerns that this decision has the appearance of being fast-tracked just to fill this building. That being said, is the process and the goal of moving the TTC to Hay River just to fill this building? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 50-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Madam Speaker, no.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 50-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to know what other options were looked at and why TTC was singled out. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Premier.

Further Return To Question 50-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Madam Speaker, I don’t understand the question of why TTC was singled out. I am not sure what the Member means. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. For more clarification, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 50-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Why did TTC reach the top of the list to be the one moved from Yellowknife to Hay River? Why was it singled out to be the only choice? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Premier.

Further Return To Question 50-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre