Debates of October 23, 2006 (day 13)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll talk to the chair of the Governance Council and see how quickly this can be done. With the Governance Council meeting only between four and six times a year, I can't guarantee that the Governance Council will necessarily have it within the next month. They can't always schedule their meetings that quickly. But, Mr. Speaker, I am confident that they will move very quickly to deal with this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 163-15(5): WCB Policy On Chronic Pain - Valic Decision

Short supplementary, Mr. Speaker. Could I ask the Minister as to whether there's an opening for this review of policy to apply to all the outstanding files that deal with chronic pain? That whatever the corporation comes up with that it would apply to all the outstanding files dealing with chronic pain? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 163-15(5): WCB Policy On Chronic Pain - Valic Decision

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't believe that there are that many outstanding files, but I will certainly talk to the WCB to see what their intention is. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to ask some questions today to the Minister of Health and Social Services and it gets back again to my Member's statement where I mentioned a constituent of mine who has gone without a diagnoses for three years, is living in chronic pain, unable to work, unable to support his family and unable to sleep for any more than 15 minutes at a time, Mr. Speaker. It's unthinkable that a government can allow a resident to suffer this long with this type of situation. I'd like to ask the Minister responsible whether or not the Government of the Northwest Territories has a policy to deal with a resident who feels there's no alternative but to seek medical attention outside of this country? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 164-15(5): Health Care Difficulties Experienced By Constituent

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe there would be a policy in place that's in effect that would deal with how patients access services, whether it's in our territory then to the next jurisdiction where we have a contract for services and if there are no facilities within Canada, then further to pre-approve programs. But that would follow a timeline and process. In the particular Member's spoke about here in the Assembly, although I'm not going to get into the level of detail, I'm aware that he hasn't been left out there on his own. There have been many doctors' visits to try and deal with the situation. Unfortunately, they haven't been able to deal with the specific issue that the Member feels needs to be done, and that's travelling outside the jurisdiction. At this point, I'd have to get more detail as to what the specifics would be in this particular case. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 164-15(5): Health Care Difficulties Experienced By Constituent

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my constituent has seen a number of doctors, had a number of meetings, referrals to specialists of various nature, and is, in fact, on a waiting list in Calgary to be seen down there, as well. But I want to ask the Minister and the government, how long does somebody have to wait and what do we deem in terms of what is an acceptable level of a wait time to at least get a diagnosis to get somebody the help that they need? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 164-15(5): Health Care Difficulties Experienced By Constituent

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, throughout Canada, the issue of wait times has been important; in fact, to the level where it's being addressed nationally through the federal government and provinces and territories to deal with that issue of wait times within the field of health and social services. In this particular case, we have worked with other jurisdictions, other doctors, and many referrals to try and come up with a solution here. Unfortunately, we haven't been able and we're waiting for the next opportunity. Again, if the services are available within our jurisdiction, that's the first place we would go. If not available, then we would go to the next jurisdiction. In this case it would be Alberta, and that is in the process right now. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 164-15(5): Health Care Difficulties Experienced By Constituent

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the instant of a constituent feeling that the health care system here in the Northwest Territories and Canada has failed them and they seek alternative medical care outside of this country, or overseas for that matter, in what way do they get some kind of compensation for the money that they've spent to get the help that they need themselves? I'm wondering what the process is for that, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 164-15(5): Health Care Difficulties Experienced By Constituent

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again going from own knowledge of previous experience in this department, is that our process is established for services available within the Northwest Territories. Those that need those services would be directed to the location closest to them. If they don't like that level of service and choose upon their own wisdom to travel beyond that, that would be at their own cost. The same would fall into levels of services that are available within Canada. Again, because we've been dealing with this file with other jurisdictions and trying to come up with an appropriate level of care, if the individual decides to go beyond that of their own decision, then they would be on the hook on their own. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 164-15(5): Health Care Difficulties Experienced By Constituent

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think that three years is long enough for somebody to be allowed to suffer under the conditions that this individual has been allowed to suffer under, and the inability of our health care system to get him the diagnosis that he needs. He's in the process of travelling overseas to get some help, and I want to ask the Minister if he'll commit today to at least have a thorough examination of this individual's file. I'd be more than happy to sit down with the Minister and sort this out, because I think it's completely unacceptable that one of our residents has to seek medical care overseas because our doctors and our health care system are failing him. I'd like to ask the Minister to make that commitment to me today, that he will do that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 164-15(5): Health Care Difficulties Experienced By Constituent

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm not a trained doctor and I don't understand that profession well enough, and I'm sure the Member across will be in the same category. I'm willing to sit down, work with the Member on this and go and do some historical data, go through the process that we've used to date. At this point that's what I will commit to, is to sit down with the Member, review this file. But beyond that, again, we're relying on the professional expertise of the caretakers out there. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier in my Member's statement I talked about the RCMP presence in Sachs Harbour. I just want to follow up with the Minister. As I indicated in my Member's statement, when we travelled to Sachs Harbour he did commit to the mayor and residents there that there will be an RCMP presence by July 2007. Can the Minister confirm that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 165-15(5): RCMP Presence In Sachs Harbour

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me first indicate to the Member that certainly the community and this Member have convinced me of the need for a detachment in Sachs Harbour. One of the most pressing reasons is the distance for service from Inuvik. I was in Sachs Harbour, talked about my desire to see RCMP officers on the ground in the summer of 2007. We wouldn't have a permanent detachment by that point. We would have to send a detachment up in '08 in the summer season. So sometime in fall '08 the detachment could be operational.

Mr. Speaker, the federal government will come up with the capital money to build the detachment. They will also fund their share of the O and M, which is 30 percent. It's on us, on this government, on this Legislature to come up with the 70 percent of the O and M for the staffing complement and I'm seeking to do that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 165-15(5): RCMP Presence In Sachs Harbour

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand we're looking at capital dollars to set up some infrastructure in Sachs Harbour, but I think the question I have again, Mr. Speaker, is that at the public meeting he did say that there will be RCMP presence by 2007. Having said that, will he make sure that he follows through on this commitment? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 165-15(5): RCMP Presence In Sachs Harbour

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, again just to be clear, I've toured the old facility with the Member in Sachs Harbour. Obviously it needs to be replaced. It's outdated; it wouldn't work today. We do have a residence there that's currently being occupied by a teacher. I think we could make arrangements. So in terms of capital, we need new capital. The feds have made that commitment. The O and M to see bodies on the ground is a shared responsibility between ourselves and the federal government. The federal government has committed; it's now up to us in the upcoming budget process. So I don't presume to know what this Legislature will determine with the budget in February, but I will certainly bring it forward. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 165-15(5): RCMP Presence In Sachs Harbour

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister sit down with his Cabinet and say let's put that money there? Make it available in the upcoming budget. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Bell

Further Return To Question 165-15(5): RCMP Presence In Sachs Harbour

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the Member I do it more than once a month on an ongoing basis. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are to the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation in regards to the affordable housing initiative. I know we're in the eighth month of the first year of this initiative and I just wanted to ask the Minister about the economic sustainability to our communities with the whole affordable housing initiative and how vital it is to the economic sustainability. Out of the $33 million that's going to go into the year one for the 170 homeownership and public housing dwellings that the Housing Corp is intending to put on the ground in the next six months I hope, what process has been put out there so far with respect to getting as much of that $100 million or the initial $33 million put back into the northern economy? Is there any priority to ensure that northern suppliers of materials and construction outfits are given the highest priority when it comes to actually putting these units on the ground? Is it northern-based, or is this going to be all going south? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Honourable Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Krutko.

Return To Question 166-15(5): Affordable Housing Initiative

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we do use existing contracting guidelines. We follow the BIP process. We also follow the manufacturing directive that is in place for purchasing. I mentioned in my statement that we are working with communities to build capacity. The one thing I have been doing is trying to formulate that if they have capacity or need assistance to build capacity, through the contracting process we have, we have negotiated contracts in place, we have sole source contracts, we have means that people can build that capacity and I think it’s working with communities, working with municipalities and identifying the amount of land we’re going to need, land development. So we are looking at all aspects, but we do follow our directives and our policies that are in place in the government and also through the manufacturing directive. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 166-15(5): Affordable Housing Initiative

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let’s just move away from the land issue now. I know that’s a vital component of this whole initiative. I want to just talk about the housing packages themselves. How much northern input did we actually have into the functionality, the quality of materials that are required and the floor plans? Are these just old housing blueprints that we’re pulling out and throwing on the table and saying that we need supply of this many units of this type of house? Because as far as I know, the only housing units that have been built in the past, you know, they’re just shoddy materials, shoddy workmanship, shoddy floor plans. Are they up to date and actually have some northern input into them? Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Minister Krutko.

Further Return To Question 166-15(5): Affordable Housing Initiative

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have seriously thought this through in regards to the type of construction we are going to use. We are looking at multi-dwelling facilities, getting away from the stick-built single housing construction, because we are looking at the energy efficiency of these units versus the old units, but also looking at new building methods and materials that we use, which will basically give you better R value. We’re able to heat the homes at less costs, but also ensuring that we do allow homes to be built for senior people with disabilities and also try to meet the needs of people in the different areas. So from the designs and the types of material that we’re using, we’re realizing that we are building houses differently than we did in the past. But one of the things that we really focus on is looking at the energy efficiency and also looking at multi construction of those facilities than simply going back to stick-built. We realize that we do have to replace a lot of public housing units and in order to do that we also have to look at the energy efficiency of those units. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 166-15(5): Affordable Housing Initiative

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess one of the main reasons I was asking this question is because I was looking at some of the floor plans in some of these units, and, Mr. Speaker, in some of these units you’ve got bedrooms in these units that are 8 by 10. You know, like how functional is that? You can maybe squeeze a bed in there, Mr. Speaker. That’s the point I’m getting at.

---Laughter

You know, and anything else, if you want a dresser or anything, you’ll never have any room for it. You don’t even have any closet space in there. That’s the functionality I’m talking about. People are trying to be affordable, but functional; they have to be functional. You can’t have a 16-year-old kid moving into an 8 by 10 room and being happy with it, Mr. Speaker, affordable or not. This is why I’m asking the Minister, has there been any review of what he’s actually putting on the table there to make sure that it is ensured that it is functional for people and they will want to move in there? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 166-15(5): Affordable Housing Initiative

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we do look in regards to the type of housing that the community would like. We also look at our statistics of where the needs are. There’s the family dwellings, one bungalow or two-bedroom, three-bedroom or four-bedroom. What we’re finding in a lot of communities is that people are asking for three or four-bedroom units because there are no units for families with more than three or four kids. I think we have to realize that we have to sit down with communities and see exactly which type of housing they need in the communities, but also look at our surveys that we do to make sure that we are meeting the areas where the need is. Lately the need was with seniors and single families. I think that was where a lot of our housing was built. So we do look at it in the context of the surveys we do, we talk to communities on exactly what type of housing they want and also work with the community to see exactly who do they want to serve, the singles, the seniors or the families in those communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 166-15(5): Affordable Housing Initiative

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t know where to really go with this anymore because basically my point is to the Minister, okay, a one, two, three, four-bedroom unit, I can understand the differences and the need. The point I’m trying to make is you’re making a four-bedroom out of the same two-bedroom size of a dwelling. Basically you’re just making every room small and it becomes less functional and becomes hard for people to actually live in. All I’m saying is when they are considering a four-bedroom house, make it a functional four-bedroom house. People are going to use them for two-bedrooms, bust out a few walls and maybe make a storage room out of one of them because basically that’s the size of them, Mr. Speaker. All I’m saying is that people want a house that is going to be functional that they’re going to want to be able to pay and afford. Can the Minister ensure NWTers, all residents who are looking at those affordable housing initiatives that, yes, they are going to get a house that is really going to work for them and meet their needs? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 166-15(5): Affordable Housing Initiative

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the program is broken down into two areas. We are looking at replacing about 50 percent of those units with the public housing stock we have. But also we are looking at a homeownership component, which is the Supported Lease Program, which is for eligible clients in those communities to get to be homeowners. But again it's application-based for those families in those communities that would like to get into homeownership. Again, it’s for those people that we feel can sustain themselves in that type of a housing setting. Again, it is through an application process that you determine the size of the house, the size of the family and pit the needs of that person that is applying for that unit by way of the Supported Lease Program. So again, it’s not only we administer it, but also exactly who is going to acquire or basically occupy these units. Thank you.