Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to congratulate the Department of Transportation for receiving the Silver Award for Innovation from the Institute of Public Administrators of Canada.
Every year the institute recognizes world-class innovators for improving public service in Canada. This year the Department of Transportation is nationally recognized as one of these innovators. This prestigious award acknowledges the hard work of many individuals and provides an opportunity to share the influence of their good ideas with the rest of Canada.
Mr. Speaker, the award recognizes the department’s innovative Aboriginal engagement process for planning major infrastructure projects. The Department of Transportation, led by Mr. Jim Stevens, has been using an inclusive partnership approach for planning the Mackenzie Valley all-weather highway from Wrigley to Tuktoyaktuk.
We established partnerships with Aboriginal land claim organizations to lead, develop and manage the project description reports for sections of the Mackenzie Valley Highway within their regions. Taking the lead role allowed regional and community leaders and residents to select their own project management structure, contracting and payment processes, and consultation methodology and schedule.
The four completed project description reports are being combined into one document that will form the basis of a submission to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board. Completing the work now allows us to begin considering the next stage of activities required to support a future environmental assessment. We know there will be geotechnical investigations, surveys, consultations, and studies into fisheries, vegetation, wildlife, archaeology, terrain, permafrost and hydrology. Aboriginal land claim organizations will continue to be involved in these activities.
Mr. Speaker, the inclusive engagement strategy between the Department of Transportation and Aboriginal governments is essential for building a strong and sustainable future for our territory. This approach reflects the GNWT’s commitment to building strong working relationships with Aboriginal governments as stated in Respect, Recognition, Responsibility, our strategy for engaging with Aboriginal governments. It ensures Aboriginal views and values are incorporated when planning major infrastructure.
It has led to lasting relationships built on mutual trust and respect, and also resulted in a common voice and demonstration of support for the Mackenzie Valley all-weather highway, a significant step toward achieving the goals and priorities established by the 17th Legislative Assembly. The department will continue to cultivate these successful partnerships to advance an aspiration that Northerners have held for decades: a highway connecting the rest of Canada to the Arctic coast.
Mr. Speaker, let us congratulate staff and our Aboriginal partners for their accomplishments and the wealth of possibilities resulting from hard work and cooperation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Abernethy.
Mr. Speaker, we all have a role to play in stopping abuse from taking place in our homes. Unfortunately, family violence continues to be a significant concern.
We know violence in the homes of NWT residents is having long-term physical, social and economic impacts on family members, communities, and the territory as a whole.
Our Government Is Finishing The Planning For The New Narrative Therapy: Abuse Intervention Program. This is a three-year pilot project directed towards NWT men who use violence in their family relationships. Men may choose, or be mandated by the court to participate in this program. We have contracted with a community-based organization, the Healing Drum Society, to provide delivery of these services. They will be working closely with the Department of Justice.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.
MINISTER’S STATEMENT 65-17(3):
Mr. Speaker, in October 2010, the Department of the Executive piloted a new initiative called the Single Window Service Centre. Centres, which were established in eight rural and remote communities across the Northwest Territories including Nahanni Butte, Fort Providence, Lutselk’e, Whatì, Fort Good Hope, Colville Lake, Aklavik and Ulukhaktok. Each centre is staffed by a locally hired government service officer. The centres help community residents access and navigate both Government of the Northwest Territories and federal programs. They also support Government of the Northwest Territories staff in the regional centres by providing information about departmental programs and services to residents.
A unique aspect of the initiative is the support that is provided to community elders. Every Thursday…
---[Technical difficulties]
Just one second, Mr. Premier. We are just having some technical difficulties for our interpreters.
I don’t know if that is the fire alarm or not.
---Laughter
But there’s a door right there and the other main door is right there. We’ll wait for a few minutes.
Okay, Mr. Premier. It’s working now.
Every Thursday the government service officers pay home visits to elders, providing assistance by interpreting, opening and explaining mail, and generally ensuring elders and others have better access to our programs and services as well as many services offered by our federal partners. Additionally, community residents can come into the Single Window Service Centre for assistance with filling out forms and applications on-line, through the use of the public computer. This electronic access has shortened response times and expedited the business of government at the community level.
Mr. Speaker, in the 20 months of operation, our government service officers provided assistance to clients more than 6,000 times. Given the success of the eight pilot centres, additional single window service centres and government service officer positions were established in Sachs Harbour, Tsiigehtchic, Tulita, Gameti and Fort Liard in 2012-13. Two more are planned for 2013-14.
The expansion of the Single Window Service Centre initiative also addresses the 17th Legislative Assembly’s priority to increase employment opportunities where they are needed most. The Department of the Executive is using existing funds to create these new government service officer positions in rural and remote communities. All currently staffed single window service centres employ Aboriginal women from their home community.
Furthermore, over the next year we will investigate the potential for expanding the scope of services government service officers provide and the communities in which single window service centres are based.
The Single Window Service Centre initiative has been a resounding success. They help residents gain much improved access to our government, especially in those more remote communities where Government of the Northwest Territories staff may not be located. The government service officers help residents access all of the benefits to which they are entitled; in that sense, Mr. Speaker, they are on the front lines of our efforts to reduce poverty.
Faster response times, the ability to provide services in the local language and having a familiar face in the office have all added to the success of the single window service centres.
I would like to thank all of the Members of this House for their strong support for the establishment and expansion of the centres. This is a great example of what we can achieve when we work together to make a real difference for people in our smaller communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I really didn’t know what to say today, because yesterday I had a phone call from my sister. When they say life throws curve balls at you, it certainly does, not knowing what to expect.
My sister called me yesterday and said that a good friend of mine, Mr. Anthony Grandjambe of Fort Good Hope, passed away. I couldn’t believe it.
It’s been a year since Anthony and I worked together and started my campaign in Fort Good Hope. Anthony just lost his wife, Janet, to cancer.
I spent some time with him in Fort Good Hope. We developed, over the 40 years of my knowing Anthony, a very close relationship. We talked about life. Anthony talked about how he missed his wife so badly that it was very hard for him to live life without her. She was his main inspiration. We talked about this on a man-to-man basis. He talked about how he went to her grave every day and visited her. He had good days, and days when he really didn’t know what to do.
So we developed this relationship that we could talk to each other. He talked about some of the things he wanted to do. I thought I wanted to say something about that because the friends we get, we have in our life from time to time, they are worth the recognition at this state. As a Member of the Legislative Assembly, we have a job to do and sometimes we don’t show our emotions, our feelings, because we’re so busy or keep ourselves in check.
I wanted to say this because he came from a good family. My prayers go out for him and to his children and grandchildren. I had a lot of feelings of sadness and a lot of feelings of love for this man because he helped me. I wanted to say that. I wanted to say how much we appreciate him in our region. I want to say that we extend our prayers for him and his family. We’re going to Fort Good Hope this weekend.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Colleagues, before we move on today, I’d like to welcome back into the House a former Member, Speaker and Minister, Mr. David Krutko.
I’d also like to welcome my mayor from Ulukhaktok, Ms. Janet Kanayok. Welcome to the House.
The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Bouchard.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we have been working on the infrastructure budget for 2013-2014, I’d like to voice my concerns over what is not in the budget or in any projections.
Construction of the new health centre in Hay River has begun. This facility will not have 10 long-term beds that are in the current facility. This is unbelievable. I understand the department’s justification that long-term beds are not effective in a hospital setting for both the patient and costs. My biggest problem is that the department has known for some time now that this facility will not have long-term beds. However, no matching infrastructure money has been placed in the budget to provide this essential service to Hay River. What does the department expect the community of Hay River to do without these long-term beds?
Hay River is the second largest community in the Northwest Territories. Does this government expect their seniors to travel out of the community? This is unbelievable.
The Department of Health, in public discussions and communications, has indicated that they have to assess the current demands in the North. Have we not been building similar facilities throughout the North? There is no plan? The department only needs to pick up a paper or look at any statistical information and see that the population is getting older, and Hay River is no different.
This is hard to accept that we do not have a plan. How long will it take the department to come up to speed on this issue? Hay River residents are getting nervous as the government seems to be dragging their feet on fixing this mistake. How could we have not placed the budget line item to replace a service as essential as long-term beds in the community of Hay River?
Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A couple of weeks ago I had an opportunity to attend an exciting announcement made by Discovery Air in conjunction with Spanish-based Airbus Military. Discovery Air and Airbus Military will be presenting a proposal to the Government of Canada for fixed-wing search and rescue, SAR, north of 60. There are currently only three SAR bases in Canada: Victoria, Trenton and Halifax. All three are a long way from most of northern Canada.
The need for a SAR base located in the North has long been recognized by Northerners. Our vast, uninhabited expanses and extreme climates puts anyone lost in the Arctic in great danger. The proposal from Discovery Air and Airbus to replace Canada’s aging fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft will locate a SAR base in Yellowknife, in the North. No longer will we have to wait up to five hours for a plane to arrive in the North to begin the search. With a northern SAR base, the search can begin immediately.
The benefits of this proposal are many: reduced search time; an economic boost to the North; solidification of Canada’s claim to northern sovereignty, and that’s a phrase we hear very often from Ottawa.
Since 1998, increasing numbers of aircraft are using the polar route to travel from North America to Asia and vice versa. Data from United Airlines for 2009 indicates that over 8,500 flights used one of the four polar routes. Assuming 10 percent growth per year and 350 passengers per flight, in 2012 some 11,000 passengers’ lives are at risk as they fly over our heads every day. Are they prepared to survive in our climate? Are they wearing boots and parkas? We all know that’s not the case. Instead, they’re dressed in shorts and sneakers for the climate they left in Los Angeles, for instance, or for the climate they’re expecting at the end of their journey.
If any one of these flights experiences difficulties and crashes in the North, every extra minute spent finding them will put lives in danger. A base in the North will save lives: airline passengers’ lives and our own northern residents’ lives. We spend a lot of time on the land and it’s not uncommon for travellers to run into trouble and become stranded. SAR close at hand will mean our people are found faster, fewer lives at risk, fewer lives lost.
I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
The North needs a search and rescue base located in the North. This Discovery Air/Airbus Military joint bid is good for Yellowknifers, good for Northerners, and good for all Canadians. All NWT politicians and leaders should support the Discovery Air/Airbus Military proposal. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. We are dealing with the capital budgets for various departments in this session. I have looked high and low and I am sad to say there is not a single dollar set aside to start work on a new school in Trout Lake.
The school in Trout Lake is located in one room at the community hall and it is too small. When the original log school was damaged by fire, the government said temporary placement in this community hall. For years I have urged the government to begin planning for a new school. I have to say, I now understand how a teacher must feel when the students are not listening.
The last information I had from the Education Minister was that work could not begin before 2018. It is too long a wait and this government should be embarrassed. A whole generation of students and teachers will be stuck in an inadequate school.
I have supported the construction of new schools all over this territory. Inuvik has a $100 million super-school, and I am happy for that community. We have expanded schools in Yellowknife, renovated schools in Hay River, put new schools in Tulita and Good Hope. I could go on, but you get the point. The very smallest communities seem to be left out.
I have said, time and time again, that everyone across our great territory should have equal access to education and equal opportunity to learn. The reality is access to education is not equal across the Northwest Territories. I know families in various communities who feel they have to send their children away to larger centres to get proper education.
I know that this government says it’s always short of money, especially, it seems, for a school in Trout Lake, and I am sick of hearing it. It is unfair to the people of Trout Lake, especially for the students and teachers. This government can find the money and should find the money. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Not less than a week ago I had an exchange of oral questions with the Minister of Finance on taxpayers’ cost to finance Nunavut debt. Historically, since post-division, the Government of Nunavut continued to use many of our services, primarily health care services, for their citizens. This is an understandable and acceptable practice. In return for the service, we would invoice, like any other client or contractor, for our costs of doing business.
As indicated in last week’s question exchange, I was alarmed to find out, during the spring Committee of the Whole, that this number owed by taxpayers of Nunavut to be somewhat alarming. In fact, after almost two rounds of questioning with the Minister, he finally agreed to share that there was about $2.93 million owed back to us in June but that number was whittled down to $2.39 million. Of course, he and I both know these numbers, yet I am not at liberty to share these numbers publicly until such time as it is released. We call it the rule of disclosure.
Further to this, the results of the issue of aged receivables over 180 days, or six months, owed to this government. You see, aged receivables compound interest at an incredible rate if they are not looked after. This is no different than if one was to leave a continued balance on your credit card month after month. Again, he and I both know the number but, unfortunately, this number was not shared to you, the taxpayer. In the end, the Minister indicated that there was only about $2,000 owing that was older than 90 days, and yet he also indicated that there was a time that this number was well over $8 million.
As a taxpayer, what does this all mean? For one thing, we should be called the Bank of NWT and not the Government of the Northwest Territories. However, unlike most banks that charge an interest rate for their line of credit, it appears that the GNWT does not. In fact, if we were to use the public sector accounting of audit standards on just the rolling average of the $2.39 million, which is a lower number recorded by the Finance Minister, we being the people of NWT are financing about $200,000 per year in straight line interest and carrying costs for the Nunavut government. Moreover, if you were to factor that we had some aged receivable issues, as the Minister did indicate, you can even add more to this bill.
When the Member for Mackenzie Delta is asking for one more nurse, or the Member for Hay River North is asking for some more long-term care beds, or when the Member for Nahendeh goes on his hunger strike for his beloved Highway No. 7, this approximate $200,000 hidden cost could be used for our people’s needs and not financing debt. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I will follow up on my remarks yesterday about Weledeh small businesses with a specific example of Weledeh enterprise and success.
From his home workshop in Detah, David Giroux is the owner, inventor, manufacturer, marketer and driving force behind Arctic Fire Stoves. The stoves are constructed of recycled fuel drums and salvaged steel, an environmentally sound repurposing of existing materials. This is the Cadillac of barrel stoves, and experienced people say they have never seen anything like them. It is the only model that can be used for heating as an oven, a barbeque and a smoker. The stoves are produced in a number of sizes for use not only at homes and businesses but at bush and exploration camps.
One hundred fifty stoves have been marketed thus far, all made and sold in the Northwest Territories. Product development is proceeding. Mr. Giroux is going for Canadian Standards Association certification, which would make the stoves an approved unit for insurance purposes for use in private and public buildings. He is working with CSA on installation of a membrane, and damper and door seals. Once model improvements are completed, a prototype must be supplied for testing, which takes five to six months. That is at a cost of about $10,000.
Mr. Giroux will be looking for departmental support to attend the technical conference. I will naturally be backing that application. With CSA certification, David will be looking for wider markets here, across Canada and perhaps even internationally.
Here is a man who has looked around his home community, spotted an opportunity and ran with it. Who hasn’t seen him on the Detah ice road selling the stoves from the back of his truck or at winter events displaying the various models? David Giroux is going forward. I congratulate him and look forward to opportunities to help with his business success. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Over the past few months, there has been a rash of criminal activity in the community of Inuvik. However, today on the news you all heard of the great efforts that the local RCMP attachment and its members are making.
I would like to congratulate the Inuvik RCMP Detachment for their continued support and ongoing work with the community, and their commitment and tireless efforts to make Inuvik a healthy and safe community. I personally worked with the RCMP on the Not Us campaign and also at the Inuvik Interagency Committee where their presence, involvement and engagement help set the tone to find positive solutions for community concerns. They’ve also done very successful road checks, both in the community and on the highway.
On another note, Inuvik policing does not necessarily mean RCMP presence. There is also the community aspect. On October 7th concerned residents of the community of Inuvik held a meeting to address the increase of these criminal activities. As a result, one topic that was discussed was the formation of Citizens on Patrol. I believe that this group has activated itself and is working closely with the RCMP to do daily and, more importantly, weekend patrols.
I’d like to also give recognition to this group of volunteers who have devoted their time, and committed to making Inuvik streets safe, and protecting the livelihood of Inuvik’s residents. It takes a special type of person to commit their time to patrol the streets of Inuvik in an effort to make them safe, especially after a full day of work or a busy family life.
I would like to encourage all residents of Inuvik to continue to speak up on the crimes that they may witness, and help the Citizens on Patrol and RCMP. In fact, I’d like to encourage all residents of the Northwest Territories to stand up against crime and use your voices to put an end to criminal activities that are happening in your community.
I’d like to ask Members of the Legislative Assembly to join me in recognizing the hard work and dedication of the Inuvik RCMP Detachment and Inuvik’s Citizens on Patrol group in making Inuvik a safer place to live. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Moses. The Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Many jurisdictions in Canada publish the salaries, or at least the salary ranges of individual civil servants. This has obvious benefits for accountability and transparency.
In New Brunswick, salary ranges for all employees are listed by department in the government’s annual public accounts. Nova Scotia has just begun requiring government agencies to publicly disclose the compensation, direct and indirect, of anyone who receives more than $100,000 in that fiscal year. Ontario publishes the salaries for public employees earning more than $100,000 a year by name on a readily accessible website. Manitoba requires the disclosure of all public sector salaries over $50,000 through the public body’s audited financial statements. Alberta discloses senior official salaries in an annual report issued under the Alberta Treasury Board directive. Of course, British Columbia discloses the remuneration of public servants who make over $70,000 a year.
But in the NWT, as I understand it, if a member of the public wants to know the salary range of a particular civil servant or a position, they have to file an access to information request. If the information of this is so limited and challenging, how is this being a fair essence of disclosure to our public citizens?
The government will argue this and say it’s a breach, in their view, under privacy. But I’ve given so many examples to explain why and how others do this, why can’t we? It’s time that this government is proactive in the disclosure of our salaries when we want to talk about good accountability.
The other day I raised the issue about senior management bonuses. It’s time to start talking about these things in public and sharing the information that rightly belongs in public. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Six months ago I lost a close family member to ovarian cancer. Today I’d like to acknowledge another form of cancer. This week is dedicated to the national awareness of cervical cancer. The Northwest Territories health system has an excellent screening and prevention program. Even so, cervical cancer is among the top five cancers suffered by women in our territory.
Cervical cancer develops from the human papilloma virus, or HPV. There are more than 100 different types of HPV. These viruses infect the skin and are spread by close sexual contact, not bodily fluids. You can get these viruses without having intercourse. Both women and men can carry HPV. Most of the time the body’s immune system clears these viruses from the body, but when they are not cleared, the person usually does not know he or she has HPV. It can show no symptoms and remain dormant, only to be spread later. When cancer does develop in the cervix, it can take 10 to 20 years from the initial infection.
The good news is cervical cancer is preventable, with a bit of common sense and vigilance. Here in the Territories we have an HPV vaccine program for school-aged girls that prevents cervical cancer and 70 percent of the HPV viruses that affect the cervix.
It is also important for young women to begin getting PAP smears within three years of starting sexual activity or by the age of 21 at the latest. This simple procedure detects abnormal cells. Early detection and treatment saves thousands of women’s lives every year all over the world. The Northwest Territories has the highest PAP smear coverage, 83 percent in Canada. That also means there are less than 17 percent of women who should be tested approximately every two years. All it takes is a visit to your nurse or doctor, who is your primary health care provider. I understand that the screening rate is lower among Aboriginal women and lower in regional centres and small communities than in Yellowknife. This is yet another sign of where our health system can improve.
Awareness of the HPV and cervical cancer can be a life and death matter. I’m pretty sure that most young people know very little about the human papilloma virus. For that matter, I would bet that most adults’ knowledge of this topic can be improved.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize the former Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. David Krutko. I’d like to thank him for all his hard work over the years.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d also like to recognize my brother-in-law and colleague – he looks so relaxed I didn’t even recognize him at first – Mr. David Krutko.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, wish to recognize former Member Krutko. Committee meetings are certainly not the same as they used to be. If anything, they go faster. I will say that we do miss his presence here.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to congratulate Ms. Doris Taniton from Deline, who received an award for the 2012 Minister’s Cultural Circle Award.
This is an award that is well deserved for Ms. Taniton and the community of Deline. She is known to be very passionate of her culture and heritage, which is a value to be cherished at such a young age.
On behalf of the Sahtu region, I would like to congratulate Ms. Taniton for her involvement and dedication in her community, and encourage her to continue her positive attitude for our youth across the Northwest Territories.
