Debates of May 31, 2006 (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to recognize the people who are working to deliver local justice services and reduce crime in the communities.

Justice committees work with elders and community leaders to develop innovative solutions to their justice issues, such as the diversion program. Diversion is for people who accept responsibility for the minor crimes they commit. They meet with the committee to talk about what happened. Then the committee makes a decision about how the person can make things better. Last year, there were more than 200 diversions.

Community justice committees also develop crime prevention activities. They’re administering fine options programs, on-the-land activities and services for victims of crime. Several innovative projects have moved forward in the past year. The dog shelter in Nahanni Butte is teaching teenagers to care for animals. The cabin-building project in Whati brings youth together with elders, who are teaching them skills far beyond how to hammer a nail. A support group in Inuvik is helping girls find good role models and avoid violent situations.

We’re seeing real results. In Deline, there have not been any youth in court for the past four years. The Yellowknife victim services workers were recently selected as the Outstanding Group of the Year, for their dedication to service at any time of the day or night. The Gameti policing project has just wrapped up, and Behchoko and Fort Simpson are both planning to deliver their own victim services programs.

Funding is now available to every community to hire a part-time justice coordinator. Additional special project funding is available to deliver programs. This money helps communities develop a justice system that meets their unique needs and provides them with a safer environment.

The support for community justice is encouraging. Communities are excited to deliver their own projects and to help residents live in safer neighbourhoods. This Assembly passed a motion last year to support and improve our programming. In response, the Department of

Justice is developing a strategic plan with local stakeholders and partners, including the RCMP. We’ll help communities deliver better services, improve training programs, make good programs even better and communicate more effectively. This involves working with partners from the community level all the way to the federal government. I am looking forward to presenting more details about this plan to Members next month. Thank you.

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Mr. Speaker, I am proud to announce that through the Don’t be a Butthead campaign, many young people have made the commitment to be smoke free. I have personally written to over 3,000 children and youth from every community in the NWT, congratulating them on their pledge to remain smoke free. This campaign originated in 2004 as an initiative of the Department of Health and Social Services to educate youth across the North on the benefits of staying smoke free.

This year, youth and schools in the NWT got caught up in the smoke-free fervor by entering the Create the Smoke Free Future contest in either the junior or senior category. A total of 200 entries from 12 communities were received in four categories of words, music, video and visual arts.

As we celebrate World No Tobacco Day, I am proud to announce the winners of the Create the Smoke Free Future contest.

The winners in the junior class, grades 3 to 7, are: music category, Leah Bodnar McLeod, Tori Hendrick, Leon Simon and Melanie Rogers, Inuvik; written category, Tamara Grosco, Yellowknife; visual arts, Hannah MacLeod, Yellowknife; video, Carly Wilson, Yellowknife.

The winners in the senior class, grades 8 to 12, are: music category, Sonny Simpson, Wekweeti: written category, Heather Henderson-Powder, Tulita; visual arts, Russell Giroux, Detah; video, Max Rossouw, Brandon Bradbury, Griffin Wile and David Brinston, Yellowknife.

The junior winners will be receiving their choice of $250 or a digital camera while the senior winners will have their entries produced professionally. I invite Members to view the winners’ artwork in the Great Hall throughout the day. They are excellent creations and a testament of your youth’s commitment to stay smoke free.

I hope that you will show your continued support of the campaign by congratulating students in your riding who have made a commitment. You can also encourage and recognize the people and schools in your community for their continued efforts in protecting our youth against the harmful impacts of tobacco use.

In addition to the successful Don’t be a Butthead campaign, this Legislature recently passed and implemented legislation to create a smoke-free generation. The Tobacco Control Act represents an important part of this government’s strategy to encourage healthy lifestyles for all northerners.

Educating our youth about the harms of smoking is a giant step towards helping them choose a healthy lifestyle. Let us work together to end the smoking epidemic that harms so many northerners every year. Thank you.

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Mr. Speaker, energy costs are a concern to all of us. The Department of Public Works and Services has an opportunity to test a cheaper alternative energy source this coming year at the North Slave Correctional Centre.

Public Works and Services and the Department of Justice recently received a proposal from a Yellowknife-based company, Arctic Green Energy, to provide a wood pellet boiler system at the North Slave Correctional Centre.

Providing heat for buildings using wood pellet boilers has been common practice in Europe for decades, with systems reliably heating numerous facilities such as hotels, office buildings and recreational facilities. Money is saved by using less expensive wood by-products, specifically crushed sawdust pellets. They also significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The North Slave Correctional Centre needs a boiler to provide backup heat. Capital of $225,000 was approved for this boiler. Arctic Green Energy proposed to provide a wood pellet burning boiler system instead of installing a third oil-fired boiler. It would be the primary heating unit and would provide 50 percent of the heating requirements for the facility.

Arctic Green Energy will be responsible for the design, installation, operation and maintenance of the wood pellet system at no cost to the Government of the Northwest Territories, and for provision of the pellets. Arctic Green Energy would act as an energy service provider, billing the GNWT for heat supplied to the facility.

The system will include a storage unit to hold adequate wood pellets for one month's required output in winter conditions. This should enable the system to continue to operate during ferry and ice road closures.

We anticipate many benefits from the wood pellet system. For example:

Capital savings of $225,000 from the original third boiler project;

Estimated $50,000 annual savings in heating costs for the facility; and

Estimated reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 1,450 tonnes annually.

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The new wood pellet boiler system will be operational by November 1, 2006. After one year, the system's effectiveness will be evaluated. If it is efficient and reliable, we will consider this heating system for other major projects. If it is found not to meet our needs, the system will be removed and the deferred oil-fired boiler will be installed.

Public Works and Services, together with our GNWT client departments, is committed to reducing energy costs in buildings for the benefit of all northerners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the February session, I spoke of the ongoing difficulties of an injured worker, a 51-year-old man whose life has been shattered by a 19-year-long battle with the Workers’ Compensation Board. Mr. Ivan Valic is one of some 40 injured workers that I know of, Mr. Speaker, who have experienced a never-ending appeals treadmill with the Workers’ Compensation Board Appeals Tribunal system.

Mr. Valic is angry at the system. His oft repeated question is who is responsible? Who is accountable? Why doesn’t the Minister do something? Why doesn’t the Premier do something? Who is accountable? The accountability question is one that is not well answered or clearly defined. In an exhaustive ruling filed December 14th last year. Madam Justice Schuler of the NWT Supreme Court found that Mr. Valic was indeed discriminated against under section 15 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, because the board’s policy on chronic pain syndrome fails to treat those injured workers on an equal footing with other workers.

Further, Justice Schuler concluded that through the board and the tribunal’s dealings, there was denial of natural justice. Mr. Valic sought to have his case reheard by a fresh and independent appeals panel within 60 days. Justice Schuler granted Mr. Valic’s appeal to a freshly constituted tribunal and the Minister is now seeking appointees to this tribunal which, I understand, closes today.

Mr. Speaker, Justice Schuler did not order the 60-day hearing deadline, but her ruling was clear in its intent to see Mr. Valic’s rehearing completed in reasonable time. Mr. Speaker, it’s been more than 160 days since Justice Schuler’s decision; 100 days more than originally sought by Mr. Valic for the rehearing. The timing now clearly rests with the Minister to ensure that a freshly constituted appeals tribunal is in place. I will have questions for the Minister on this process at the appropriate time later today, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to discuss the issue of disability awareness. I listened quite closely to Minister Miltenberger’s statement yesterday on the occasion of Disability Awareness Week. The theme, Mr. Speaker, this year is Living, Working and Educating Together - Include People with Disabilities.

Mr. Speaker I want to start by acknowledging the good work of organizations like the NWT Council of Persons with Disabilities and EmployABILITY who provide such valuable services to many of our residents.

Noticeably absent from the Minister’s statement yesterday was how the Government of the Northwest Territories plugs in and participates in including persons with disabilities in our own public service. In his ad that appeared in the local press this week recognizing Disability Awareness Week, he states, “I encourage everyone to be inclusive of individuals with disabilities and recognize the contributions they provide within our communities throughout the territory.”

It would seem that Minister Miltenberger and his colleagues on Cabinet have much to learn about how inclusive and how accepting the Government of the Northwest Territories is when it comes to hiring persons with disabilities in our own public service. The old adage that one should lead by example certainly comes to mind and I am going to give Cabinet a clear and concise message today that when it comes to leadership in the inclusion of persons with disabilities, they have an incredibly abysmal record.

Disabled persons make up 13 percent of our population. Yet, as a group within the public service of the GNWT, they represent .4 percent. Yes, .4 percent. This from a government which continues to preach inclusion. The government should be ashamed of themselves. Let’s look at the lead departments, Mr. Speaker. FMBS has a grand total of zero employees with a disability. The newly minted Human Resources department responsible for the government policy in the area of human resources has, surprise, surprise, zero employees with a disability. In all of the GNWT reports in the public service from 1996 to 2004, there is not one single, solitary sentence about the Government of the Northwest Territories’ efforts to hire disabled persons. Perhaps the Minister responsible for the public service can flip through these reports and he can note that there is an absence of any text…

Mr. Ramsay, your time for your Member’s statement has expired.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In all GNWT reports on the public service from 1996 to 2004, there is not one single, solitary sentence about the governments’ efforts to hire disabled persons. Perhaps the Minister responsible for the public service can look through these reports and he’ll note that there is no text on efforts to hire disabled persons.

As the Human Resources department likes to display in any literature that I have read, they like to flaunt the affirmative action policy. Mr. Speaker, disabled individuals are second only to indigenous aboriginal persons in that policy. Mr. Speaker, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that .4 percent representation of arguably the most disadvantaged community, and that is in terms of employment, income and education in the territory, that remember comprises 13 percent of our population, is completely unacceptable. The Government of the Northwest Territories has made hundreds of direct appointments in the past 10 years to many priority one individuals, yet research I have would indicate that only one -- that is one -- direct appointment to an individual that had a disability.

Mr. Speaker, I intend to hear from the Minister responsible for the public service today why disabled individuals continue to face barriers when trying to gain employment with this government. Thank you.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the Members that Hay River is proud to be hosting the 22nd Annual NWT Track and Field Championships. The organizers are expecting approximately 1,250 participants coming into town from 31 communities in the Northwest Territories. A huge part of the track and field success must be credited to the staff of the Hay River schools: Diamond Jenness Secondary School, Princess Alexander School and the Harry Camsell School. I would also like to recognize at this time the many residents of Hay River, the parents and coaches. These people come out every year to volunteer their time and their expertise at the meet and in the school working on various track activities.

Several local businesses offer time off to their employees and some volunteers take part of their vacation time to be able to work at this exciting event. The track and field committee enlists the services of approximately 350 volunteers each year to complete the planning process, fill the required stats keeper positions, operate food services for students and spectators, as well as covering for many other jobs involved in running the track meet. I would like to commend all of the people whose personal efforts make the track and field meet a success every year.

As an added feature this year, the 2007 Canada Games torch, on its journey across Canada, will be brought to Hay River tonight for the opening ceremonies of the track and field meet. Included with the runners from Enterprise that will be bringing the torch in will be our own Commissioner, Tony Whitford. The Hay River Running Club and the Commissioner will arrive at the arena carrying the 2007 Canada Games Torch that will light the track and field flame to begin the games. This evening, when the House adjourns, a large delegation of Ministers and Members will be attending with yourself, Mr. Speaker, and I, the track and field opening ceremonies. This is the largest delegation so far and I’m looking forward to the excitement that is generated when the teams from schools large and small enter the arena. The pride and emotion that is felt by the participants and by spectators alike is something to behold.

Again, Mr. Speaker, congratulations to Hay River, the organizers, the volunteers and, of course, the spectators that go out, rain or shine, to cheer them on, and the best of luck to everyone who participates this year in the 22nd Annual Track and Field Championships in Hay River. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d just like to commend and publicly congratulate some successful individuals from my constituency of Tu Nedhe on their recent academic achievements. I attended the Aurora College convocation ceremonies in Fort Smith on April 29th, 2006, to congratulate two individuals who graduated from college diploma programs and two that graduated from college certificate programs.

I’d like to send my congratulations out to Melanie McCallum of Deninu Kue, who received a management studies diploma, and congratulations to Lisa Beaulieu, also of Deninu Kue, who received her social work diploma.

I’d also like to congratulate Agatha Laboucan of Lutselk’e for completing and receiving her management studies certificate, and Lorna Catholique, also of Lutselk’e, in receiving her certificate in office administration.

Mr. Speaker, these individuals are definitely an inspiration to other community members who are considering furthering their educational needs. But the real icing on the cake, Mr. Speaker, is on May 18th, 2006, I along with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, the Honourable Charles Dent; our Commissioner, Mr. Tony Whitford; and many community members of Deninu Kue gathered to celebrate the achievements of two more successful individuals of the Deninu Kue school’s six Grade 12 graduation class. Again, I would like to congratulate Jodie Miersch and Kirstin Fabien for their achievements, and offer my encouragement and full support to continue on with your educational needs and to fulfill your lifelong goals, aspirations and dreams.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I’d look forward to seeing more of my constituents realizing their potential in any academic arena and I can say with confidence that I will see more success stories when I look into the future of our constituency of Tu Nedhe. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Today’s statement will be on elders. We have elders who work in the school sometimes. We have difficulty paying them. (Translation ends)

…consider a leader in maintaining and enhancing aboriginal language, culture and traditions. This wouldn’t be possible without our elders; our Ph.D.’s when it comes to traditional knowledge and on-the-land programs, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, lately with the introduction of FMBS system to the Community Services Agency it has become more difficult to issue elder’s pay for their casual work; pay that they deserve for their valuable contribution to the society. The TCSA used to have a system prior to August 4th, the effective date of the Tlicho Agreement, which allowed elders’ pay to be issued within a day of their service, Mr. Speaker. Now elders have to wait up to six weeks to receive their paycheques and this is not acceptable, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to draw attention to this House to a clause within the Intergovernmental Services Agreement that addresses operating condition of the TCSA that was signed by Tlicho, GNWT and Government of Canada. The section 3.2(a) of the ISA states, territorial legislation shall settle the roles listed for the agency in appendices and any other powers, responsibilities and accountabilities of the agency, except, Mr. Speaker, those assigned or delegated to the agency by the Tlicho Government or the Government of Canada. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, this agreement makes it clear that the Tlicho Government wishes the TCSA to hire their own traditional elders for cultural enhancement and also development. The GNWT must respect the terms and conditions the Tlicho Government wishes to set.

The GNWT should not be imposing its own responsibilities and accountabilities on the TCSA for programs assigned by the Tlicho Government. In this case, the Tlicho Government wishes to hire their own elders, pay them immediately after the completion of services. The GNWT needs to work with the TCSA to make it possible for them to make immediate payments to elders. It is not acceptable to force elders to wait six weeks, Mr. Speaker, to receive their pay for well-respected services.

Mr. Speaker, we’re losing elders as we speak in the schools. So I will have questions for the FMBS Minister at the appropriate time. Mahsi.

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Mr. Speaker, mahsi cho. Mr. Speaker, there are only a few issues that most rural MLAs raise session after session and that is permanent nursing and policing in the communities. For some communities these issues can be approached individually or making it easier to pursue. For the community of Wrigley these services and commitments are very much connected. This government has indicated that until the police are stationed in Wrigley, Health and Social Services will not station a permanent nurse there. I find this response and approach to be unacceptable. Why is the community of Wrigley being treated different? The Deh Cho Health and Social Services Authority has already earmarked the necessary funding to station a nurse in Wrigley, so why delay, I ask.

There has been some speculation that a previous nurse felt intimidated and safety was an issue. If the Minister has made these very dramatic policy decisions based on this, why hasn’t the ministry conducted a thorough evaluation of those circumstances? This also raises another pressing issue in the Nahendeh and all over the North; funding for safety and protection services through local RCMP presence.

During the previous session in February, Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Justice responded to comments raised by my Nunakput colleague with a possible arrangement whereby a police officer could be stationed in a small community with another peace or enforcement officer. The communities have been requesting for years this type of innovation and flexibility with these interdepartmental services to maximize protective and medical services for small and remote communities. For Wrigley the list of excuses just gets longer, Mr. Speaker. No nurses unless we get policing; no policing unless we get funding for not two, but 2.5 positions. Huge strain on anybody’s resources, especially when all small communities simply ask for better health care and better policing from our government.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker and honourable colleagues. Will this government stop increasing our bureaucratic responses and start doing our best for our people? Will this government take their own ideas and follow through on them? Wrigley’s needs are everybody’s needs, Mr. Speaker: simple community-based health and policing services. Mahsi cho.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the riding of Nunakput is in dire need of granular material to address their infrastructure needs in my constituency. The access to gravel in most of my constituency can only be accessed during the winter. It may take at least six months to be able to access a quarry site because of different legislations. An example is Inuvialuit land administration.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Deputy Premier and the Minister of the NWT Housing Corporation announced that a total of $100 million will be spent to construct 530 adequate and affordable housing units over the next three years. These units may be built as multi-plex or homeownership. Members on this side of the House appreciate the announcement, but because it will address some and not all of the housing shortage across the Northwest Territories. In order to prepare for these units there are a number of obstacles that need to be addressed immediately. By obstacles I am referring to lot availability, access road for dry waste, and construction of power lines for these units.

Mr. Speaker, communities without access to year-round ground material will be a challenge to actually receive these units as identified through the capital plan of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. If a community can address their infrastructure requirements to have these available lots and driveways to build these units, what will happen to these units? Will they be carried over to the next fiscal year or allocated somewhere else in the Northwest Territories?

Mr. Speaker, these are just some of the obstacles that NWT Housing Corporation and MACA need to address prior to the construction of the 530 units. These two departments need to immediately construct a plan to address the need for gravel materials for those communities without a year-round access to granular material.

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated earlier, the Beaufort-Delta community needs ample time to plan for the infrastructure needs and require the necessary funds to address these needs. I encourage the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, MACA to immediately contact the appropriate municipal organizations in Nunakput to help them prepare for these infrastructure requirements. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as advertised, I held a meeting with my constituents at Range Lake North School last night and, although the turnout was not large, it was a valuable and substantial opportunity for me to get an input from my constituents on a number of issues that are before us here in the House and also to hear from them about what’s important to them.

Mr. Speaker, I can tell you that we spoke and listened about the new affordable housing initiative, the Yellowknife educational facilities plan, the Deh Cho Bridge project, and lots and lots about a whole issue surrounding WCB, a topic I will speak about later in the session, Mr. Speaker. But another permanent, prominent issue that was raised, which ties into many of the topics I’ve already mentioned, has to do with the cost of living and cost of doing business in the city.

Mr. Speaker, in terms of how important it is for the government to do all it can to help keep these costs and be mindful of that task in all decisions that it makes. Mr. Speaker, every bit of increase in fuel, power, labour costs, WCB rates and other forms of taxes, have a major impact on running of small businesses. Believe it or not, Mr. Speaker, even though Yellowknife is booming, a lot of national chains consider Yellowknife a very unstable market due to the high cost of doing business.

Mr. Speaker, I’m very proud to represent a riding that has so many businesses that enhance the quality of living for Yellowknifers and the NWT residents. Just this coming weekend I’ll have the honour of partaking in the ribbon cutting of another new business, M & M Meats.

But, Mr. Speaker, I have to tell you that the overriding concern constituents had was with keeping Yellowknife’s cost of doing business competitive to Alberta because that’s who we compete with. Edmonton is who we are competing with and if we’re going to continue to have the kind of businesses that we have, and if we’re going to continue to have people move here and stay here, and overall to benefit those who have always been here, it is very important for the government to always be mindful about the accumulative effects of all the little costs and the taxes and all the measures that it takes that impacts on doing business for the North. So, Mr. Speaker, I’m happy to share that today. Thank you.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my statement today has to deal with the announcement that Mr. Miltenberger announced yesterday in terms of Disability Awareness Week. I’d like to say that I fully support the initiative that the Minister has taken this government in terms of creating awareness for people in the Northwest Territories during this week to June the 3rd, the theme for living, working, and staying together, including people with disabilities.

Mr. Speaker, this issue here is very close to my heart as my grandfather was disabled in a wheelchair. I’d like to ask this government here, in terms of when will this government look at the Sahtu region and consider funding sources for disability to help set up our region for people with disabilities? He did mention several communities and I was quite upset yesterday in terms of the communities of my region I work with. I know they’ve been asking me for funding to work with the disabilities and help people in this special need in their life and that this government does fail to recognize that. Maybe because we don’t have a road or maybe because we don’t have the connection to the rest of the Northwest Territories, as the other residents, we’re left out of this here. So just shame on this government to recognize this and not include the people in the Sahtu. It’s almost like the Sahtu people who are in the special fields should boycott the disability week and not have anything to do with this special whole week for people with disabilities. We’re shut out the door on this and really that’s caused a disability for our people in the region. There are some good people here who have disabilities and do the job and make a contribution to the community and we’re not taking them into consideration. There are other communities who have it and there’s also other communities that would, with healthy people, and this funding is for three years. We’re shut out of this funding for three years by people. So why bother?

I certainly won’t share the much enthusiasm with the Minister during this week in terms of the awareness week, so I wanted to say that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my job to challenge the government in order to encourage them to provide the highest quality of life for our people that we represent. Today I wish to speak about the lack of innovation by this government and the lack of encouragement it is offering our local northern innovators. The Association for the Study of Peak Oil points out that we are on the verge of a massive global oil shortage which will result in the skyrocketing oil prices some day soon. But thankfully, Mr. Speaker, the sky isn’t falling today. Although imagine what that will do to a territory that is so dependent on fuels for heating and transportation. Mr. Speaker, our government should know that we are not prepared. We have not done enough to establish alternative energy sources to protect us. What are we doing about creating innovative energy programs? What are we doing to encourage innovation, period?

Mr. Speaker, innovation is a strong characteristic of northerners, and I think the ENR Minister would know that personally. Today I wish to mention about an innovative Yellowknifer who has gone above and beyond to take on new technology to establish smart and wise energy usage. This constituent is using geothermal technology to heat his house. He will be investing his own money in this project; he will be heating his home and his water using heat from the earth. So now he’ll be saying goodbye to 90 percent of his home heating oil bill, Mr. Speaker, and I’m sure he won’t miss it one ounce. This constituent, as I do, believes that this government should be interested and seriously looking into types of technology so we can take care of our future and become real partners in our future together. The Department of ENR has offered him advice, Mr. Speaker, but not capital. I said advice; and in this constituent's words, it could be better described as a pat on the back. Even local non-profit agencies such as the Arctic Energy Alliance have had the foresight to help invest money in this project by helping this constituent on this great adventure.

Geothermal technology is already being used across Canada. It’s not a new concept, so our government should be willing to get on board, even on a small scale. I’m very concerned about our future and most certainly where we’re being driven because whoever’s in the driver’s seat needs to take off those blinders to see the signs and where we’re going. This territory is an amazing place, Mr. Speaker, and it deserves…

Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement? Thank you.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. As I said just a moment ago, this territory is truly an amazing place and its residents deserve innovation from our government and definitely need a reward program that encourages innovation. Mr. Speaker, we need creative thinking and we need it now. I will continue to do my job by challenging the ENR Minister to look out for the best interests of our constituents and our people and to safeguard our future. So later today, Mr. Speaker, I will have thought-provoking questions, which I’m sure the Minister already knows we have a problem out there, and I’m hoping he’ll have the courage to help deal with them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, living in the Northwest Territories, we have always had to live with the high cost of living. That is just one of the prices we pay for being up here. Recently, Mr. Speaker, the Public Utilities Board approved a rider increase that has leadership and residents of the Beaufort-Delta very upset. That is putting it mildly. They didn’t even contact the Town of Inuvik to see how the rate would affect their community. Does the board not do their research to see if there are other ways to save money and not always have to let the consumer pay? Were they not set up to protect the consumers much as rubberstamp everything that is put in front of them?

Mr. Speaker, two of the five board members no longer live in the NWT, so how can we expect them to look after the best interests of the NWT from down south? I would suggest, Mr. Speaker, that if board members leave the NWT, then they give up their positions that can be filled by people still living here. I am not questioning anybody’s qualifications or abilities, Mr. Speaker. The point that I am trying to make is that board positions that were created to regulate the utility cost of the NWT should be filled by residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me pleasure to recognize in the gallery a group of provincial and territorial directors from the early childhood education and care from across Canada ranging from Newfoundland to British Columbia, to the Yukon and Nunavut. With them are some of their northern hosts from the Early Childhood Program in Education, Culture and Employment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Justice, the Honourable Brendan Bell. Mr. Bell gave a Minister’s statement today talking about community justice and some of the pilot projects and some of the innovative things that are being done on the community justice front in our communities. I have to agree that it would appear that we are gaining good results from some of these things. I would like to commend the Minister and his department for that. However, Mr. Speaker, recently, a situation has been drawn to my attention. I believe it has been drawn to the Minister’s attention as well, where our local courts are being called upon to sentence people who are known to be addicted to crack cocaine. Sometimes these individuals, rather than go to jail, are being given conditional sentences. They are being placed under house arrest.

I would like to ask the Minister if he does not see a gap in that type of scenario where somebody who the courts know is addicted to drugs is sentenced to house arrest and with no other, and obviously instructed to abstain, but with no other resource to back them up at the community level; no other program, counselling, or any direction provided to them and no resource available. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 8-15(5): Sentencing Terms For Persons With Addictions

Mr. Speaker, it is very difficult for me to comment on actual sentencing because that is under the purview of the courts, but I would agree that we need to have support and resources in our communities for those who need treatment. There is a lot of discussion currently around the use of conditional sentencing. I know the Members are all aware of the federal proposal to hold conditional sentencing and use it only for less serious crimes and not allow it in situations where violent crimes have been committed, sex crimes, crimes against children. It is certainly something that I support that we not use conditional sentences in those cases. But in terms of the latitude that the courts and judges have now, that is not something that we are obviously involved in. But I would say that, as a government, we have a responsibility to ensure that there are community resources to deal with addictions. We are certainly working on a number of initiatives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 8-15(5): Sentencing Terms For Persons With Addictions

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think that the Minister and everyone in this room or Chamber know that the community resources are not there to deal with drug addictions in many cases and particularly in the smaller communities. To sentence people to house arrest who are drug addicted seems like a bit of a recipe for disaster or for failure for those individuals. I would like to ask the Minister if he has room in the jails for these people. If we don’t have the resources to provide counselling and help for these people who are drug addicted, does he have room in his jails for them today? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 8-15(5): Sentencing Terms For Persons With Addictions

Mr. Speaker, obviously, it is not our hope or intention that we set people up to fail and somehow they end up back in our court system and back into our jails. We do need to do a comprehensive job as a government, making sure there are treatment options. We need to work in our corrections system to make sure that those who are in our facilities have access to these supports. I think we do a number of things that are very good. Are there needs and are there gaps? Yes, there are, Mr. Speaker. I would certainly acknowledge that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 8-15(5): Sentencing Terms For Persons With Addictions

Mr. Speaker, this is my final question. I wonder if the Minister would commit to working with the Minister of Health and Social Services to do a cost-benefit analysis on providing those resources in the communities to deal with those folks who are in court as a result of drug addictions to see which is the more economic and humane route for this government to provide the resources to support those people in their efforts to get away from those addictions, or to look at the cost of where they are ultimately going to end up and that is in jail. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 8-15(5): Sentencing Terms For Persons With Addictions

Mr. Speaker, I am certainly willing to sit down with the Minister of Health, but I think we all recognize and acknowledge and take the Member’s point. We certainly provide people a disservice if we do not provide them with the treatment and help they need. Obviously, there are personal choices to be made here. But we also have to live up to our end of the bargain, which is to make sure there are resources available, Mr. Speaker. It is a last resort to lock people up. We are certainly not trying to do that. We are not trying to unnecessarily lock people up when there are other options. I think that and will commit that, as a government, we will continue to work on treatment options. I know the Minister of Health has a personal interest in ensuring that we do that, as does our entire government. So we will continue on that course. I will have discussions with him and certainly invite discussion with committee as I know the Minister of Health would as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.