Debates of October 13, 2005 (day 9)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I spoke of the need to connect Tuktoyaktuk to the Canadian national highway system.

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Can the Minister of Transportation inform this Assembly and the people of the Northwest Territories what progress is being made on the construction of the all-weather road from Tuktoyaktuk to Inuvik? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have discussed this issue of the Tuktoyaktuk road on a number of occasions in this House and I have indicated in those discussions that we have a document called Investing in Roads for People and the Economy, which was put together in the year 2000. It highlights a number of issues around the transportation systems, including the roads that need to be improved, the roads that have to be reconstructed, and we have made submissions to the federal government to do a number of reconstruction projects along those lines. We are now drafting a new proposal that we will be releasing in the near future that will be submitted to the federal government to continue that work.

We are also embarking on a national strategy, that the Premier is leading with his provincial counterparts, that has a national transportation system or strategy that will look at building a number of new roads, and that includes the extension of the road from Wrigley to Tuktoyaktuk. It is a very costly initiative. The numbers that we have to date are around $700 million. Those documents are still in draft form, and they will be released to the public I believe some time in November. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 98-15(4): Adding Tuktoyaktuk To National Highway System

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s good to hear that the draft is coming out sometime in November. I’m just wondering, can the Minister, Mr. Speaker, indicate to this House on whether they can actually put forward the road from Tuktoyaktuk to source 177? That would be the start of the highway from Tuktoyaktuk to Inuvik. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 98-15(4): Adding Tuktoyaktuk To National Highway System

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it’s difficult to point to exactly all the initiatives because this document is still in draft form. But I would like to assure the Member that the road to Tuktoyaktuk is included in all our discussions and both our proposals. The proposals fit together. It’s all part of a bigger vision statement. There are other initiatives in new areas that we have yet to develop proposals that we’re working on. The Tlicho roads, for example, that we still have to work with the chiefs and we still have to work on realignment. That proposal has to be done. We are also talking with the Mackenzie gas project proponents and we’re looking at the legacy projects. Of course we’re taking consideration of the road to Tuktoyaktuk and the actual stretch that the Member is talking about to a gravel source, the 22 kilometre gravel source. So it is included in all our discussions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 98-15(4): Adding Tuktoyaktuk To National Highway System

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just one last follow-up. A few years ago there was one kilometre built between the source itself towards Tuktoyaktuk. Another 21 kilometres will actually hit Tuktoyaktuk. So like I say, can the Minister at least with the Cabinet consider finding the funds from the federal government to complete the 22 kilometres to the gravel source that can be fully extended towards the Tuktoyaktuk-Inuvik highway? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 98-15(4): Adding Tuktoyaktuk To National Highway System

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’ve indicated already that we are committed to doing that and we have it included in a number of our different proposals and will continue to bring those forward. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat and corporate human resource services. I go back to the statement that I made earlier and getting back to retiring employees. I think there are a number of issues at play at this new corporate human resource service that I think need to be addressed, and ultimately somebody is responsible for how constituents of mine have been dealt with. I’ve heard other stories of other retiring employees that have waited up to six months to receive pension cheques and get service from FMBS. Mr. Speaker, like I said, somebody is responsible. I want to ask the Minister today what FMBS is doing to ensure that employees have a smooth transition into retirement, and is there a policy for retiring employees and what type of guidelines are there for that policy? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. A couple or three questions there. The honourable Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 99-15(4): Corporate Human Resource Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the area of human resource service centres, as the Member has pointed out, we have realized throughout government, because of the way the human resources was decentralized, that every department had its own section, which caused us a fair bit of problems. We recognize that and put forward this plan to bring the human resource service into centres within each region and here in headquarters to work better with our employees to make sure the forms were getting done and those things were being dealt with. One of the problems we’ve found as a result of doing this amalgamation of the human resource services to the centres is that there have been a lot of files that needed attention and we’ve now put in the resources to address that backlog. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 99-15(4): Corporate Human Resource Services

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, from what I’ve heard from constituents of mine and from others is that it’s an actual disaster, the human resource service centre today, and people are having a heck of a time trying to get any service. I want to ask the Minister why it should take my constituent 13 attempts to contact FMBS to set up a simple meeting to go over their paperwork so they can retire with the dignity that they deserve. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 99-15(4): Corporate Human Resource Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m aware of the file that the Member has spoken of and I can inform him, and I think he’s aware, that that file has been taken care of and information has been sent out. As for why it took 13 calls, I can’t speak to that specifically. I haven’t asked for that information from the department. I was aware that the file was being looked at and being dealt with. Unfortunately, as I was saying, as a result of creating the human resource service centres, we have found a large backlog of files that were not being dealt with when all departments had control of those areas. We are now putting in the resources towards catching up with that backlog so that we can ensure employees are being dealt with in a fair and responsible manner. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 99-15(4): Corporate Human Resource Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is because they went and sought the assistance of the UNW. They came to see their MLA. That is why their case is being dealt with, Mr. Speaker. How many more people are out there going through the same difficulties having to contact FMBS 13 times to try and set up a meeting? I would like to ask the Minister, in both of the cases that I have, it involves two forms -- 2386 and a submit -- very simple forms. One is a pay scale and one is a verification on years of service. Does FMBS not have a checklist for employees so that when they send the paperwork to superannuation in New Brunswick, they can’t simply check off a checklist? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 99-15(4): Corporate Human Resource Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when employees inform us that they will be retiring or transferring or leaving this government for whatever reason, there are forms that have to be filled out and sent in. From time to time, we find, unfortunately, that some forms are omitted or that the department the staff member was working for filled out some portion in error and caused a delay in the schedule that has been identified.

As I stated, we are working on improving the system. That is why corporate human resource service centres were established to create a better environment for employees. Through that initial plan putting everybody together and finding the office space, that has added to some of the backlog, but we are now working at clearing up that backlog and trying to ensure that employees don’t have to wait for these long delays. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 99-15(4): Corporate Human Resource Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In both cases that I have outlined for the Minister earlier today, there is also the issue of severance. Both are being grieved right now. I would like to ask the Minister if he can address that issue as well, because on the forms that FMBS is filling out for people, they are putting in "resignation," not "retirement." They are only giving these employees 13 weeks' severance, not the 30 that they are entitled to. I would like to ask the Minister if he can address those two issues as well. Thank you.

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Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 99-15(4): Corporate Human Resource Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I will look into those specific problems in that area. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I promised earlier, I do have my thought-provoking questions for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Mr. Speaker, status quo has truly become the norm. The one-year land lease-only policy is probably up to 16 years of life. The roadblocks for the City of Yellowknife are still being put in front of them because they need land to develop in a reasonable way. They try to work with the Yellowknives. Will the Minister provide an update on the status of discussions between himself and the Yellowknives Dene on how the City’s land requests are coming through and being transferred? This logjam must end. Can the Minister tell us how? Thank you.

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

Return To Question 100-15(4): Requests For Development Lands In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for his thought-provoking question.

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Mr. Speaker, it is quite simple how the logjam, as the Member refers to the land issue in and around Yellowknife, would end once the municipality has control over the lands that are turned over to it by this government and once the Akaitcho Dene have their land selection all settled. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 100-15(4): Requests For Development Lands In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That wasn’t quite the thought-provoking answer I was looking for.

---Laughter

I will certainly take any answer. He said once the land is turned over to the city by this government. Does he mean that it is the intention of his department to turn over all of the remaining lands in this term of this government to the City of Yellowknife? I just want to get some clarity on that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 100-15(4): Requests For Development Lands In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, Mr. Speaker, it is the goal of this government to turn over lands in the city limit boundaries to the municipality as it is to turn over all lands in the different municipalities. Whether that can happen in the term of this government, I can’t guarantee that, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 100-15(4): Requests For Development Lands In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will we still have a piecemeal process going on? I compliment the Minister on allowing a transfer to go through just in September that gave the city access to three parcels of land. We further pushed back the rest of the lands for a decision to be made in January. Regardless of what is going to happen in January, is the Minister prepared to act on the remaining outstanding applications that the City of Yellowknife has for lands and stop holding the city hostage? They need to continue to develop lands for houses and businesses, et cetera. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 100-15(4): Requests For Development Lands In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is important to recognize the needs that Yellowknife has and the pressures they are facing in terms of land, but it is also important to recognize that the Akaitcho Dene have a process that is recognized by the highest law of the land: the federal Crown and the treaties that were signed with them. We have to respect that. I will do my best to ensure that Yellowknife has lands that they can use for some of their needs in the area, but I also have to do my best to ensure that the Yellowknives’ rights are looked after. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 100-15(4): Requests For Development Lands In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No one wants to circumvent the process for the Yellowknives Dene in the land that is rightly theirs. But, Mr. Speaker, consultation needs to come to a close eventually. So if there is still a process that has reached no further results due to the negotiations on land selection, what is the Minister going to do? Is he going to finally agree to turn over those lands in January that the city has had out on request for quite a long time? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 100-15(4): Requests For Development Lands In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a side table on lands around the Yellowknife area in the Akaitcho traditional area is something that we supported for some time. We have not been able to reach that level until recently. Discussions have taken place. All issues involving lands around Yellowknife and the Akaitcho area are going to be put on the table for discussion. I welcome that. The department welcomes that. The government supports that. We are hoping that it will be resolved. All the identification will be resolved by January. Failing that, it would need more time. It depends where we are. The land issue is something that we have done a lot of consultation on. The issues are basically all in front of us. I am assuming that we will be able to make those decisions come January. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I spoke in my Member’s statement about the Norman Wells Aurora College, the community learning centre and about the facility that is in Norman Wells. Can the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment tell me if there are any future plans to relocate the Norman Wells Community Learning Centre to a more suitable location in the town of Norman Wells? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 101-15(4): Norman Wells Community Learning Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had hoped to be able to bring this project forward in this current year because I visited the learning centre and would agree with the Member that it is far from ideal. It does need to be replaced. Unfortunately, given the other pressures that we had with schools in the Northwest Territories, we ran up to the limit of the capital plan before that project could be included. So it will be one that I am hoping will come forward in the very near future. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 101-15(4): Norman Wells Community Learning Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Minister is going to bat for the town of Norman Wells on this facility here. However, can the Minister tell me whether this tiny, run-down ATCO trailer in Norman Wells is a typical community learning centre across the Northwest Territories, or is it standing out as a sore thumb in terms of the facilities that the department owns in Education? Thank you.