Debates of October 18, 2005 (day 12)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister’s response. People in the Sahtu and people in Deline will be happy in terms of the potential use of that facility in Deline. In terms of timetables and time frames, when can the people in Deline expect some movement or some shift in the use of this six-unit facility, should the community and the department prove to go ahead with utilizing that facility? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 142-15(4): Status Of Long-Term Care Facility In Deline

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that we are just waiting for some final confirmation from the community member that was on the committee, at which point we would be able to build the next steps into the planning processes. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 142-15(4): Status Of Long-Term Care Facility In Deline

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once the final confirmation from the community of Deline and the departments that are associated in utilizing this facility he says build into a planning process…What is the planning process? Is it one year, two years, four years? What is the planning process? Can people in Deline actually see some tangible things happening around that facility in terms of seeing it being operated in that fashion? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 142-15(4): Status Of Long-Term Care Facility In Deline

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the important first step is almost complete, which is to finally have a comprehensive plan for the facility which also includes, as I indicated, a review of the acuity levels of all of the elders in the Sahtu region. When we get the final agreement in terms of the options, then we can determine the costs. Based on that, we can see how fast we can move on that part of the six-unit piece. I know the Housing Corporation is very interested and is willing to be, and has been, a partner in this project from the start. We are going to work together to move on this as quickly as we can. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Your final, short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 142-15(4): Status Of Long-Term Care Facility In Deline

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister, for outlining the road map in terms of actually seeing something happen in this facility. Again, I want to ask the Minister, when can the people in Deline see some actual operations in those six units? Is it going to be two months? Is it going to be two years, three years? When, I guess, will this all come together so the people in Deline can actually see that facility being opened and used by the people in the Sahtu? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 142-15(4): Status Of Long-Term Care Facility In Deline

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated to the Member, once we get the final document, and we agree on the course of action in conjunction with all the stakeholders who are involved in the committee, then we will be able to determine how fast we can move on whatever course of action is determined to be the best. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker… (Translation) At this time, I’d like say I’m sorry that my phone rang, but maybe the call was from Fort Smith.

Mr. Speaker, it takes a lot of effort, patience and persistence to find the right high chair match for a child in your home community. You can well imagine, Mr. Speaker, the time and effort it would take to locate and interview, and select and pay an individual that will meet your child's and your family’s needs when you are living outside of your home community. Compound this with the fact that if you are a student or a single parent, you can well imagine, Mr. Speaker, the stress this structure might have on you. So my question, Mr. Speaker, is what is the department’s immediate plan to meet these needs? Next week, I believe, is the closure of the day care. What will the Minister do about it between now and next week about the closure of the day care in Fort Smith? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. I’m not sure what Minister I’ll address your question to. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 143-15(4): Day Care Services For Fort Smith Students

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member may know, the day care he is speaking of is a society that is not in the direct responsibility of the government. There are some issues that it is facing, the main one being a financial one. The director of the day care, I understand, is putting together the financial records. We haven’t seen them yet, so I don’t know the detail on their financial status, but I understand that the day care is at risk of closing very shortly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 143-15(4): Day Care Services For Fort Smith Students

(Translation) Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that you are right, so I know that we do help the students with student financial assistance. On top of helping with the student financial assistance, the organization is under the government, but I don’t want any of my students to drop out and any of my constituents who are in courses to drop out. What is the Minister willing to do about it?

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

Further Return To Question 143-15(4): Day Care Services For Fort Smith Students

Mr. Speaker, I wasn’t sure what the question was, but, Mr. Speaker, the closure of the day care will create a disruption for students who have young children, preschoolers and babies. But, Mr. Speaker, we have to wait for the records, we have to know what is happening with that particular day care before any decision can be made on it. Mr. Speaker, I should say, there are a number of day homes in Fort Smith, and I’m sure the college people would be ready to help any parents who are students in trying to find a suitable day home where their preschoolers and babies can be kept in the interim until this other business is sorted out. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 143-15(4): Day Care Services For Fort Smith Students

(Translation) Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m talking about the students, I’m talking on behalf of the Tlicho students, the students from the Tlicho region, the Deh Cho, Sahtu, and Yellowknife. What will the department do specifically for the students living outside their communities, such as the students from the Akaitcho, the Tlicho, the Deh Cho, the Sahtu? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Further Return To Question 143-15(4): Day Care Services For Fort Smith Students

Mr. Speaker, when students apply for student financial assistance, their family status and their needs are taken into consideration. So if it is a family who have preschool-aged children who need to be taken care of while the college student is at class, we take that into consideration. We do provide support, as a government, to all of the licensed day cares, and in this case, we’re supporting this one Mr. Lafferty is speaking about. If it’s needed for these children to be placed in day homes, then, of course, that would be taken into consideration as well. Now I would urge students at the college to talk with the college staff and get help in finding day homes in the event that this day care closes its doors soon. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Your final supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 143-15(4): Day Care Services For Fort Smith Students

(Translation) Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m talking about the three students from the Tlicho region. I know that next week there will be no more day care. What is the Premier saying he’s willing to do? Another question is, what has the department done to ensure these parents are being resourced to help with the day care services?

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

Further Return To Question 143-15(4): Day Care Services For Fort Smith Students

Mr. Speaker, let me say, first of all, that we want the students to continue with their education. We will do whatever we can to make sure that it is possible for them to continue, and for their preschool-aged children to be properly cared for while they’re at classes. Mr. Speaker, the college will help the individuals find a suitable day home. Second, Mr. Speaker, if there is a need for additional resources, then that is something the students should be talking to student financial assistance about and, again, I’m sure the college will be prepared to help them with that, as well. Most importantly, we want to see those students continue their schooling. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are to the Minister of the Housing Corporation, the Honourable David Krutko. I will start, Mr. Speaker, by saying that I realize that this empire that has developed over the years of the NWT Housing Corporation did not all occur on this Minister’s watch, and he has fairly recently taken responsibility for this. However, he is now the point man for the NWT Housing Corporation, and the buck stops with him. So that’s why I direct my questions to him. I would like to talk first about the cost of operating the headquarters of the NWT Housing Corporation. We know that the capital dollars and operational dollars for housing needs in the North are limited. I, obviously, am of the opinion that there are too many people. How many people are employed in the headquarters of the NWT Housing Corporation? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Krutko.

Return To Question 144-15(4): Operational Costs Of The NWT Housing Corporation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with regard to the headquarters and the operation of the Housing Corporation, roughly the total budget is in the range of seven percent, which is a lot lower than other departments. A majority of our expenses are spent in the communities, and we have a district staff roughly in the range of five percent of the budget. So between the district offices and the headquarters office, you’re looking at just a little over 10 percent, which, compared to other departments, is very low. I think that you have to realize that almost 85 percent of our budget is expended in our communities to run the operations of providing housing in communities and elsewhere in the North. I’d just like to point that out to the Member, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 144-15(4): Operational Costs Of The NWT Housing Corporation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Seven percent in headquarters and five percent in the district offices; just doing the math, not to challenge the Minister, but that is 12 percent not 10 percent. This is a capital-intensive corporation. The money should be going to capital. There are not a lot of operations issues. Of course, might I also say I have no issue with the staff located in the districts. I’m talking about the staff in headquarters, and I’d like to know the number. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 144-15(4): Operational Costs Of The NWT Housing Corporation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I don’t have that detail here, but I’d like to offer that to the Member. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 144-15(4): Operational Costs Of The NWT Housing Corporation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, recently $30 million of the Housing Corporation money has been transferred to ECE. Was there a reduction in the staff numbers in headquarters as a result of that transfer? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 144-15(4): Operational Costs Of The NWT Housing Corporation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, we have reduced in the area of, as we all know, the human resources section. That has now been centralized, so there has been a decline in the human resources positions of the department due to the centralization throughout government departments. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 144-15(4): Operational Costs Of The NWT Housing Corporation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the consolidation of the human resources function is something that has happened government-wide. Every department gave up human resources people. Besides the human resources people, has there been any reduction in the staff at headquarters as a result of this transfer of money to ECE and the recent contracting out by the Housing Corporation? Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 144-15(4): Operational Costs Of The NWT Housing Corporation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there has been no contracting out. All the work has been done in house with the resources we do have. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we all know that the Premier’s favourite subjects are devolution, hydro and, definitely, pipeline. So my questions that I’d like to ask today to the Premier are what actions this government will be taking, if any, to prevent Imperial Oil from backing out or postponing the Mackenzie Valley pipeline project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Return To Question 145-15(4): Mackenzie Gas Project Planning Costs

Mr. Speaker, if Imperial were to decide not to proceed with the pipeline, there is nothing we could do. That is a board of directors of Imperial’s decision, and they are not required to build a pipeline. Having said that, Mr. Speaker, there is a lot that we’re doing in order to encourage the building of that pipeline. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 145-15(4): Mackenzie Gas Project Planning Costs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Premier tell us today how much money, to date, this government has spent on pipeline preparedness? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Further Return To Question 145-15(4): Mackenzie Gas Project Planning Costs