Debates of October 19, 2006 (day 11)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm not positive, but I do believe that the issue of residential schools is dealt with in our curriculum in the Northwest Territories. I'll have to undertake to provide the Member with more details in writing as soon as I can. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 138-15(5): Support For Residential School Survivors

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister provide Members across the House here, because they all have survivors in their own communities, in terms of an action plan, a coordinated plan, so they can give the people back home in their communities that this is what the government's doing, this is what we expect to see by February or next January in terms of what type of support and who they can call within the Northwest Territories, say the government is taking the lead role in terms of supporting our people in this issue because this is not going to go away as we think it's going to. So I'll ask the Minister that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 138-15(5): Support For Residential School Survivors

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We're hoping to bring in the federal government, RCMP, survivors' groups, to put together an interagency group that can develop the sort of action plan that the Member is talking about. I'd be very happy to, on a regular basis, make sure that all Members are kept up to date on the activities of this coordinating agency.

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

Supplementary To Question 138-15(5): Support For Residential School Survivors

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment if he would consider passing along with his other Ministers in terms of setting up a specific unit, maybe using existing resources to set up a specific unit within the Government of the Northwest Territories a residential school unit that's solely responsible for addressing certain issues by our people, by the elders, be it young people, be it education or health. Would the Minister consider taking that to his colleagues in terms of having a specific residential school unit that would work also with the national healing program in Ottawa? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 138-15(5): Support For Residential School Survivors

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll put that on the agenda for our next meeting for discussion. But I want to assure the Members that the membership on this committee right now is at the most senior level. We're talking about deputy ministers and assistant deputy ministers who are actually involved in this now. I think that tells the Members the importance that this government puts on this sort of work, and I want to make sure that we're keeping it at the most senior level. So we will have the discussion, but I'm quite satisfied that right now this issue is being given the level of importance that it should see.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are in follow-up to the Member's statement I made in regards to the government's policy on overtime, Mr. Speaker, and my questions are to the Minister of Human Resources. Mr. Speaker, I have discussed this with the Minister of Health and Social Services and I do believe that the Minister of Human Resources has been made aware in correspondence. My understanding is that with the centralization of human resources, and I support Human Resources trying to get some consistency and some coordination and reviewing policies to see where consistency is important and following through with that, but in this area I think they're doing more harm than good by making this policy consistent. The fact is, Mr. Speaker, not all government jobs are alike. I don't think anybody could dispute that somebody working in an office in downtown Yellowknife, their job is not and their overtime requirements are not the same as somebody who works in an emergency in the hospital. The policy has to be flexible enough to accommodate that. But my understanding is that the government has a policy where government-wide no one can bank any more than 75 hours of overtime. Anything over that, they get paid out and they can't take time off. So I'd like to know from the Minister whether he thinks that's a wise policy in managing human resources. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 139-15(5): Human Resources Policy Regarding Overtime/Lieu Time

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, in fact, as we pulled human resources together and looked at the departments and how they were managing their lieu time activities, we found there was great inconsistency between departments of how it was banked, how much could be used, if it was refillable, how much could be carried over from calendar year to calendar year, and a decision was made, in working with the other departments, that we did need to bring some consistency back to this and establish the 75 hour amount per year. We also do recognize that, in fact, not all occupations are the same and, as well, operation requirements are the same. So we have made allowance for two areas of exemption to this, which we allow them to continue to have a bit more lieu time, and that's the operating room at Stanton as well as employees who have heavy work schedules in early winter and seasonal periods around that time. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm glad the Minister mentioned that, because I think that speaks precisely to the inequity and the problems that come out of this Minister's policy. Mr. Speaker, it is not right for the government to have one policy, even just within the nursing field. There are nurses at the OR room at the hospital who are allowed to bank 150 hours and the rest are 75 hours. Does he think that's fair, Mr. Speaker? How could that be fair? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Asking the Minister's opinion on this, I'm going to disallow that question, or if you want to rephrase your question, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 139-15(5): Human Resources Policy Regarding Overtime/Lieu Time

Mr. Speaker, I don't want to know the Minister's opinion; that was the wrong use of words. I would like to know, would the Minister review this and see if that is not affecting the morale of the nurses when even in the same nursing field they have different banking hour requirements? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 139-15(5): Human Resources Policy Regarding Overtime/Lieu Time

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have tried to address some of the operational issues through this policy, and the one reason, for example at Stanton, is because the operating room does shut down each year and for lengthy periods of time. It was felt that this is an appropriate method of ensuring we had nurses to cover that year round when they would come back on. Again, for seasonal or for heavy work schedules in the winter or early spring, are paid out effective as of October 1st is another area. So we do try to put some flexibility in here. But the big matter here is, we have to address our operational issues. Whether a person is allowed to bank more time or not, we still have to fill that position. If they decide to take it and go on an extra long holiday, we still have to have nurses or employees filling that position. So it costs the government money one way or the other. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 139-15(5): Human Resources Policy Regarding Overtime/Lieu Time

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This flexibility that's built in for OR nurses is done because it's convenient for the government. It does not pay attention to equity issues and fairness to all the health care professionals. The government allows this flexibility because the OR shuts down. But for the rest of the health care professionals, they are asked to work overtime excessively because there's a shortage of workers, they can't take any time because there's a shortage of workers, they're asked to get cash paid out. But you know what? People don't want to work three weeks in a row, or 10 days in a row. As a Minister of Human Resources, does he not see a problem of overworking the workers and treating workers unfairly, Mr. Speaker? Would the Minister revisit this policy? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 139-15(5): Human Resources Policy Regarding Overtime/Lieu Time

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have revisited this policy. Looking at the direction different departments are in, we felt there needed to be some consistency taken into account here. We've made the necessary moves and made a couple of allowances for operational issues. So the whole fact of lieu time is something that we have. Just having 75 hours in place is to try and help the employee morale and allowing them to take extra time off, not just annual leave earned. So it is something we've tried to address, we've tried to be flexible, but at the same time we have to look at operational issues that each department has to work with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final, short supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 139-15(5): Human Resources Policy Regarding Overtime/Lieu Time

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have to tell you that this inequity is caused because of overall shortage of health care workers and it is really playing on the morale of the nurses, because nurses are being treated differently and the policy is based on the lack of nurses and this is just a catch-22 thing that's making the whole situation worse. I would urge the Minister, could the Minister just commit to looking further and talking to his managers and really revisiting this, because I'm telling you, this is…

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 139-15(5): Human Resources Policy Regarding Overtime/Lieu Time

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think we can show on a number of fronts where we take very seriously the issues that employees face who work for us here in the Government of the Northwest Territories no matter what department. We have looked at this. We need to bring some consistency back. We have tried to be flexible where operational requirements are looked at, and feel that this is the avenue we need to work with for the time period and see how it works out. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to direct my questions today to the Premier and it gets back to my Member's statement today where I talked about a connection, and what I see from this side of the House is a disconnection between Cabinet and the rank and file employees of the Government of the Northwest Territories. I want to ask the Premier when was the last time he instructed his Cabinet Ministers to go on a tour of the various departments or corporations that they represent and actually sit down and talk to the rank and file employees they represent? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 140-15(5): Ministerial Interaction With Departmental Employees

Mr. Speaker, I don't recall the last discussion or direction from me to a Minister to do that. But certainly it is expected that Ministers will visit their departments and while they're there they will be speaking with whoever. Now, I don't know if they can speak to everybody, that's a tall order in some cases, but, yes, Ministers are expected to visit their departments both at headquarters and the regional levels. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 140-15(5): Ministerial Interaction With Departmental Employees

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to know if Cabinet has a policy in dealing with employees in the various departments and corporations that the government represents or has control over. Is there a policy in place where an employee in whatever -- pick a department -- has direct access to the Minister? Is there a policy that says an employee in, let's say, Justice cannot contact the Minister directly? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 140-15(5): Ministerial Interaction With Departmental Employees

Mr. Speaker, we don't have a formal policy that any staff member can be phoning the Minister's office directly, but there is a chain of authority within an organization and normally we would expect people to talk to their supervisor. But, Mr. Speaker, certainly all employees have an opportunity speak to their MLA, and if their MLA happens to be the Minister, then, of course, they do that as well. But I don't think any Minister has ever said that I will not speak or I will not be open to any person in the public, whether they work for government or whoever they may work for. We are open to everyone. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 140-15(5): Ministerial Interaction With Departmental Employees

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think it would be beneficial to the Cabinet members if they did get out and had more on-the-ground contact with the employees that they represent and, in fact, they represent us as well. So I'd like to see you out there more, having that hand-to-hand contact and discussions with rank and file government employees so you can actually hear and discuss issues that are of a concern to them. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to ask, where in the development stage is any type of whistle-blower legislation from this government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 140-15(5): Ministerial Interaction With Departmental Employees

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A discussion paper is being prepared and will be ready for distribution this fall. I don't have an exact date, but it's being handled through Human Resources. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to ask the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs some questions on the funding cuts that are impacting the North. Some of them, of course, are for volunteerism and recreation association. I just got a letter here from Fort Simpson. I believe the Minister may have a copy of that same letter. But they're dismayed about the cuts and how it's making an impact on them. I'm just wondering if the department, Mr. Speaker, is looking at the significance of the impact to the programs that they deliver. Thank you.

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

Return To Question 141-15(5): Federal Funding Budget Reductions Impacting The North

Mr. Speaker, I don't have the luxury of having the letter in front of me. I'm not sure what letter he's referencing. The federal cuts have had impact on some of our partnerships that we have been working on, especially in the area of volunteerism. It's a working relationship that we've been working very hard on to develop over the last while, since the year 2000. The federal government had been providing core funding. We've been offering support on different areas where we could support Volunteer NWT. We are now in a situation where the core funding for Volunteer NWT is no longer available. We're looking at ways to see if we can rectify it. We've done a number of things, including action plans, and those things, of course, are in jeopardy now because of the Volunteer NWT situation. I've written a letter to the Minister of Heritage voicing our concerns. Of course, if at the end of this fiscal year there are no new resources found, Volunteer NWT would more than likely have to close its doors. So we're trying to avoid that right now. We're looking to see how we can be of assistance. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 141-15(5): Federal Funding Budget Reductions Impacting The North

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I won't reference the letter anymore, Mr. Speaker. I guess the whole point is, has the Minister of Community Affairs taken the time to look at the impacts and come up with a detailed presentation to the communities of what impacts there were? I guess that's the confusion, Mr. Speaker. Some of them are known quite quickly, like the volunteerism which lost I think it was $190,000. But has the ministry assessed other areas of impacts to the communities, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 141-15(5): Federal Funding Budget Reductions Impacting The North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, there has been some work that has been ongoing. Our deputy ministers have been looking at the situation. Sport North, who is a partner in this with Volunteer NWT, has also been looking at discussions. The Volunteer Canada has also had a lot of discussion with their members on this. They've taken a position that they'd like to start lobbying the government, rather than…They want to take the position that they would take the opportunity to lobby the government to change their mind. Of course, we in the NWT have still the responsibility of trying to get the organization to continue working. We had, last year, supported the declaration towards volunteers in the NWT. We also developed a related action plan. We have not come to any conclusion as to the total impact of this, but it's something we're looking at and, of course, we're very concerned about. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 141-15(5): Federal Funding Budget Reductions Impacting The North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is indeed unfortunate that the federal government didn't see fit that the small, little programs that affect people's everyday lives was worthy to go on their chopping block. It's mostly a federal responsibility, but is our government, is our ministry looking at an action plan maybe of paying for some of these costs in the short term in the event that there's no replacement funds from the federal government? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 141-15(5): Federal Funding Budget Reductions Impacting The North