Debates of October 22, 2004 (day 26)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the youth portfolio, as the Members know, is fairly new. We have a number of programs that we operate currently. First of all, we have the Youth Corps Program, for which we budgeted $750,000 and we targeted that funding towards youth at risk and also some of the educational programs. We also have some funding towards youth contributions.

In the last while, we’ve been quite focused on where we intend to go in the future with this whole portfolio. We are doing a review of what is in the other departments. We’re cataloguing all the programs that youth can access and we’re also doing a review of the funding that we’ve been distributing in the last while with the intention that we will have a portfolio that can respond quicker to the youth in the NWT.

We are quite aware that the youth themselves have been taking advantage of our funding and have been focusing on organizing themselves in terms of conferences. We’ve worked with the youth to look at an NWT youth conference over the last couple of years and more so in the last while on the youth councils that are starting to develop in the different ridings. So our intention is to take a look at where the money is being earmarked and where the money is being spent and also what the other departments have.

We also have a program through MACA that is being utilized for youth. A lot of the youth facilities in terms of youth centres that are starting to come forward are being funded through our Community Initiatives Program. So, Mr. Speaker, there is a lot of activity in the area of youth. There could be more. We have really kind of become more focused and developed our long-term goals for this whole portfolio. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 282-15(3): Support For Youth In NWT Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Minister. You gave a really good scenario of all the programs and things that we could do to support our youth. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister continue to maintain and I believe that the needs should have more dollars going into the program? So would the Minister see or work toward the youth contributions that the youth are getting that they would see an increase or at least see something that could be a core program for our youth in our region? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 282-15(3): Support For Youth In NWT Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated earlier in my responses, we are reviewing our programs in terms of how effective they are and our dollars are being spent and utilized accordingly. We are also coordinating, as a department, an interdepartmental youth program, which meets with other departments twice annually to share information to see what we are doing and what other departments are doing. As part of that, we’ll be looking at what the requirements are for youth, as I stated earlier. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 282-15(3): Support For Youth In NWT Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Education in his Minister’s statement…I applaud him and the Minister of MACA for putting the initiative out there in the communities to help our youth. At the same time, Mr. Speaker, youth are killing themselves in the small communities. The honourable Members Mrs. Groenewegen and Mr. Dent were talking about that earlier and I’m asking the Minister what can we do to set some strong policies? I appreciate the Minister revisiting the portfolio and seeing what can we do for youth in the communities that sets some strong guidelines, legislation, policy. That could really help our youth in the communities. It is getting really scary in the communities.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. I heard a question and maybe the Minister can answer.

Further Return To Question 282-15(3): Support For Youth In NWT Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That question of what can we do for our youth is a very difficult one. It’s been raised here in the House on a number of occasions during this session and it’s something that we are very concerned about. First of all, we have to get our own programs and our own infrastructure requirements and programs for infrastructure in order. We are attempting to do that by cataloguing what other departments are doing. We are looking at our programs. We are reviewing them to see if they are adequate. We are meeting with other departments in terms of social program Ministers and we are trying to coordinate all our programs and infrastructure in a way that one Minister would be responsible and be able to be more responsive and be able to refer communities and youth groups to proper funding sources or organizations that are out there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Your final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 282-15(3): Support For Youth In NWT Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell us when that report will be tabled in the House?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 282-15(3): Support For Youth In NWT Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have a lot of information to review. We’ve had conferences all over in the Territories in this past year. We’ve had conferences in the Sahtu, we’ve had conferences in the Deh Cho and the South Slave regions. We have a report that’s coming forward to us with regard to the review of our Youth Corps funding and that is being put together as we speak. I’m expecting those recommendations for my consideration in the next little while and I’d be glad to share that information with the Member, Mr. Speaker, as soon as I receive it.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday in this Assembly we had quite a day debating the merits of the process of devolution and resource revenue sharing. I think it was one of our better days so far as the 15th Assembly, Mr. Speaker, and I would really like to congratulate my colleagues and our staff for assisting with this process. My question today is a follow-up to that debate. It’s to the Premier on the issue of devolution. Mr. Speaker, last week in response to a question, the Premier committed to make available the GNWT’s devolution mandate and my question to the Premier is when might we be able to expect it to be made available? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday was an excellent debate and I would say in my view it certainly was one of our better days if not our best day as legislators here. With regard to the mandate on devolution, I had said that I would make it available to Members and I certainly will do that. Mr. Speaker, because we are in negotiations, I really don’t think it would be wise to make public our mandate unless everybody wanted to put their mandates on the table because it is a negotiated process. But, Mr. Speaker, I’m ready to make it available to Members privately. I’m ready to make it available to the committee and if the committee wants to meet on it, then I certainly take to heart one other Member’s statement of not wanting to do too much business in committee, but there are some things that probably are better dealt with in committee so we don’t bias our process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 283-15(3): Progress On GNWT Mandate To Pursue Devolution

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can appreciate that and certainly, in general, I support the protection of a mandate when there is a negotiation going on. That will certainly be something that committee can consider is the opportunity or the offer made by the Premier to have a look at this mandate, but I would like to explore it a little bit more. I’m wondering if the Premier could talk a bit about what are the principles that have gone into the mandate. What are the criteria by which the mandate has been set? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 283-15(3): Progress On GNWT Mandate To Pursue Devolution

Mr. Speaker, some of the main principles that our government has been very public on and certainly our principles that underlie what we do in devolution include that we will not somehow abrogate or somehow compromise any aboriginal rights of any groups or their treaty rights. As we negotiate devolution, we will not prejudice any land claims or self-government agreements. Mr. Speaker, as well we have said that aboriginal governments should have a role and responsibilities when devolution is complete. We are not just looking at devolution from federal government to us, but rather we want to include aboriginal governments. So that would be another principle. We also believe that all governments, including the GNWT and aboriginal governments, should have reasonable net fiscal benefits as a result of devolution. Mr. Speaker, those are some of the main principles that our discussions on devolution are based upon. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 283-15(3): Progress On GNWT Mandate To Pursue Devolution

Mr. Speaker, one of the things we talked about yesterday was the role of some of the timelines and the expectations. In fact the agreement that was signed earlier this year said that all three levels of government, federal, territorial and aboriginal, agreed to shoot for April 2006. Now is that agreement still in place, or is that target still in place, Mr. Speaker? Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 283-15(3): Progress On GNWT Mandate To Pursue Devolution

Mr. Speaker, yes, that continues to be in place. It’s in the framework agreement that all three parties signed last winter and we signed in January; I think the federal government signed off in March. That’s the only time frame we have right now, and at some point soon we will have to sit down with the aboriginal governments and with the federal government and review that and see if this is still a realistic target for us to be aiming at. Mr. Speaker, I want to make significant progress or complete devolution during the life of our government and I’m still aiming at trying to do it by 2006 if that is possible, if we have the willingness on all sides. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 283-15(3): Progress On GNWT Mandate To Pursue Devolution

Mr. Speaker, the resources of the Northwest Territories and the value of those resources are leaving our territory at unprecedented and increasing rates as we continue to negotiate. Does the negotiating framework have any trigger mechanisms or ways in which we can force a conclusion in the event that our regular or agreed-to or hoped-for timelines are not met?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Premier.

Further Return To Question 283-15(3): Progress On GNWT Mandate To Pursue Devolution

Mr. Speaker, no, there are no trigger mechanisms that can force anyone to sign on a devolution deal that they are not willing to sign on. This has to be a good deal for everybody. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question would be directed to the Minister of FMBS, the Honourable Floyd Roland, regarding the department which oversees all the human resource policies of this government. Mr. Speaker, I know the treaty issues are not something new, but to date government policy, that I feel can be quite concise and clear, has not been developed to date with regard to entitlement leave on treaty day. I feel all treaty Indians, treaty members, regardless of their place of employment are entitled to the half-day leave, which some receive today and some don’t. I guess my question to the Minister is when is the Minister going to circle the government wagons and get a policy in place that entitles all treaty Indians to leave to go out and receive treaty no matter where they live? Thank you.

Hear! Hear!

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. The Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board, the Honourable Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 284-15(3): Government Leave Entitlement On Treaty Day

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the civic leave section of the human resource manual states that civic leave is for those that are entitled to the treaty or have treaty status in the Northwest Territories and it is quite clear. It hasn’t been an issue raised to me in the past, but it does state that Dene employees with treaty status would request one half-day leave per year to attend treaty celebrations in their community. That can be granted. So it is clear at this point, but I guess what I am hearing is that there is a concern that it should be eligible to status Dene whether they move from one community to another to take part in that day and that’s something we can look at. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 284-15(3): Government Leave Entitlement On Treaty Day

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am well aware of the civic leave entitlement in the UNW agreement and the government policy, and the Minister did exactly hit the point that I am trying to put across to you, that many treaty Indians that have relocated for employment purposes and no longer go out and receive treaty in their respective communities, even though they are employed in and, in some instances, employees that are entitled to treaty in another community, are not granted the leave by their employers because they don’t receive treaty in that community. So I guess my question is maybe the Minister should direct the department to omit the section in article 17 under civic leave, which states that employees are entitled to receive a half-day off to receive treaty in their community. I think that should be omitted out of the policy and maybe the Minister could direct his staff to carry out that initiative. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 284-15(3): Government Leave Entitlement On Treaty Day

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think, as the Government of the Northwest Territories, we are one of the leading jurisdictions when it comes to recognizing aboriginal rights throughout Canada. For example, we have provided National Aboriginal Day as an actual day that is recognized as a paid day off for employees of the Government of the Northwest Territories and have put it in as recognized throughout the North. So I think we have examples of being proactive here. I would gladly discuss with the Member the specifics of what he is looking at. The whole civic leave area is one of some concern as the more time we add to it, it means more cost to the government as we have to fill those spots of people leaving the place of work where we still require the work to get done. I would gladly sit down with the Member and try to work out some specifics here. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Third supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be glad to sit down with the Minister just to make some changes on that policy, but I know this government is really supportive and develops a lot of good initiatives that deal with the aboriginal and treaty rights. The point, I guess, I am trying to make is that, on a government-wide basis, the human resource policy is interpreted differently from department to department. There is no consistency. It depends on which department you are working with. For instance, in Aboriginal Affairs, I am sure all the treaties in that department get a half-day off, including non-treaties, from what I understand. Then you go across to the other side of the government spectrum to the Department of Finance…

What is your question, Mr. Villeneuve? Could you please get to question?

Supplementary To Question 284-15(3): Government Leave Entitlement On Treaty Day

When is this government or the Minister going to ensure that the government makes all the government departments more consistent in the delivery of the whole leave policy on treaty day? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 284-15(3): Government Leave Entitlement On Treaty Day

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have started our work as a government to bring all departments and boards into line when we deal with our human resource issues. We have begun that work to ensure that. The rules that we have in place are interpreted the same way across the board. We have heard the concerns before and are starting to do some work in that area and bring it into line. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. A very short supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 284-15(3): Government Leave Entitlement On Treaty Day

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that response because I look forward to seeing some changes in the near future. I am willing to sit down with the Minister and help develop some new policies with respect to more consistent delivery of the human resource policies in this government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is to the Premier in his responsibility as the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation. It is with regard to the oil spill at the Jackfish plant.

Mr. Speaker, in the newspaper on October 8th, the story was covered. The Minister indicated that, because of less usage of the plant with the Bluefish plant being more operational, there has been less need for 24-hour supervision or there has been some cut. It is a cost-cutting measure. The Premier questioned whether or not having more people there would have prevented it. I think the point is that not that more people would prevent that, but when it does happen, that the more people being there could take care of the situation. So I would like to know from the Minister whether or not he has had any discussions with the Power Corporation about having adequate staff there to monitor it so that when something does happen there is a quick response to it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 285-15(3): Spill At Jackfish Power Plant

Mr. Speaker, yes, I have had discussions with the Power Corporation about security and having someone to make sure that these kinds of incidents don’t happen if they can at all be prevented. Mr. Speaker, we have to recognize as well, though, that the generators out at Jackfish do not operate many hours any more because of the mine shutdown and because we have bought the Bluefish hydro project. We are, in the city here, now largely a hydro power serviced community. The only times that the Jackfish plant generators are running is for routine maintenance; the need for them to be started up every now and again. They will be used when the weather turns colder and a few days when it is minus 40 and so on. We don’t need operators to watch generators that are not operating, that are just shut down. What we need, though, is more security. I have talked to the Power Corporation about that issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.