Debates of October 24, 2006 (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier, I spoke with regard to the community freezer in Paulatuk and also I applaud the Department of ITI in regard to sending their 25 freezers down in 2005-06. When we were having a meeting in Lutselk’e on a retreat, I did talk to the Minister briefly about getting more freezers for Paulatuk. At that time, he was going to confirm it. So I would like to ask the Minister. Why weren’t these freezers sent to Paulatuk this summer? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Minister Bell.

Return To Question 172-15(5): Paulatuk Community Freezers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member has indicated, we have sent, I believe, 50 freezers to Ulukhaktok, 25 to Paulatuk, and obviously we have had some recent problems with the community freezer in Paulatuk. We are prepared to sit down and arrange for more freezers to come to the community, but we do need to talk to the HDC, the hunters and trappers. We need a request from the hunters and trappers. I understand the region is working with them now. We need to understand who the families are that are in need of freezers. We can’t determine that on our own so we do rely on the hunters and trappers to come forward and let us know who in the community needs these freezers. As we have indicated in the past, we are more than prepared to work with that hunters' and trappers' group to sort this issue out. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 172-15(5): Paulatuk Community Freezers

Thank you. I would like to thank the Minister for his response. I will contact the HDC, but my understanding is that they are aware that they were supposed to at least get another 25 freezers over the summer. In that regard, I would like to ask the Minister, once that is done, when will the freezers be sent to Paulatuk? Will it be over the summer or will it be this winter? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 172-15(5): Paulatuk Community Freezers

Mr. Speaker, I will have to check on that. It is my understanding that, in the past, we have used the barge schedule. We have needed some lead time to make sure that we could get the freezers ordered, on the barge and delivered to the community. I think the next opportunity is next summer to do that, but certainly let me see what is available in the region, Mr. Speaker, and I will get back to the Member. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 172-15(5): Paulatuk Community Freezers

Thank you. The weather is kind of getting cool right now, so right now I think they are pretty safe, but I would like to make sure that these people in Paulatuk not lose that subsistence they got like this past fall and summer. So I would like to try to get the freezers down here either by airplane or can that happen, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 172-15(5): Paulatuk Community Freezers

Mr. Speaker, let me say I agree with the Member that the urgency obviously with the weather turning colder is not as great as it was in the summer. We do believe that this is the model that makes sense, having people have their own chest freezers. The issue in Paulatuk where we have a large community freezer had the refrigeration unit go out on the equipment, much of the community subsistence harvest was lost is something that we don’t think makes sense anymore. We want to make sure that we hedge our bets and that everybody has a freezer, everybody who needs one. So we will work with the community in that regard, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today, I spoke about the need to have a territorial celebration of the arts. What I was getting at is the Northwest Territories needs to take the lead on initiatives to help embrace and help promote our arts community. So, Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment is, would he look into establishing an NWT arts achievement award night? It could either be an annual or semi-annual event. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 173-15(5): Visual And Performing Arts Celebrations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Arts Strategy did talk about a need for us to consider an awards program for the arts. I think that it would make good sense for us to consider something like an awards evening or an event to draw some attention to those awards programs. This was reinforced when, in September, ITI and ECE had a consultation group take another look at the Arts Strategy and give us recommendations. They reiterated that we needed to take a look at doing something like that. I will certainly talk to my colleague with ITI to see whether or not we can move forward with such a program.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 173-15(5): Visual And Performing Arts Celebrations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That was a very welcoming answer from the Minister. I appreciate his collaboration and the necessity to talk to the Minister of ITI. Mr. Speaker, my next question to the Minister is, could he sort of outline some time frame that he could look at getting back to committee with this initiative? Could he look at doing this maybe before the next session that begins in February? Could he get back to us on that detail? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 173-15(5): Visual And Performing Arts Celebrations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are waiting for the final report from the group that we brought together in September. Sometime after we get that final report, I will sit down with my colleague. I expect that will be before the next session. I expect that, between ITI and ECE, we will be able to have some answers before the February session.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I spoke to the concern from Inuvik residents about the increase in the natural gas price. One of the statements I made was the Public Utilities Board and said there was lack of evidence over concerns and had the members been living in the Northwest Territories, then I am sure they would have heard the concerns. But that is another issue for another day. I would like to ask the Minister of the Public Utilities Board, how is it that the supplier of natural gas can raise their rates without a public hearing where citizens can hear their justifications or voice their concerns? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Public Utilities Board, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 174-15(5): Public Hearing On Natural Gas Price Increases

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I did hear the Member’s comments during Members' statements yesterday. I did take the opportunity to check the act. There are requirements that the Public Utilities Board has to follow. It is the responsibility of the Public Utilities Board to provide information to the general public. However, the utility company that also is requesting an increase has responsibilities, that is to inform the municipality, and those things have been done in this case. There have been issues raised by some of the Members regarding increase request and also the municipality of Inuvik has raised the issue. A number of residents have also raised the issue. There has been an information request provided to the utility company to supply back-up information. That may very well lead to a hearing. At this time, it is not determined if that is required. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 174-15(5): Public Hearing On Natural Gas Price Increases

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does a utility company not have to have a hearing before the rates are increased? I think that was my question, Mr. Speaker. Do they have to go through the Public Utilities Board to hold a hearing and not wait for the concerns of the citizens? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Michael McLeod.

Further Return To Question 174-15(5): Public Hearing On Natural Gas Price Increases

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the process allows for interveners. There is a process that requires application to be filled in and applied for. It has to be justified. There is also a mechanism to cover some of the costs of people that are identified as interveners. A public hearing is something that would be determined by the Public Utilities Board after there is clear demonstration that there is a need for it. At this point, it is really premature in the case of the municipality of Inuvik. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 174-15(5): Public Hearing On Natural Gas Price Increases

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is there going to be a public hearing into the rate increase proposed for the gas supplier in Inuvik? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Michael McLeod.

Further Return To Question 174-15(5): Public Hearing On Natural Gas Price Increases

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I did have a chance to talk to the chair of the Public Utilities Board. At this time, it is not demonstrated that there will be a hearing. There have been a number of issues raised around the increase. A number of requests for information have been brought forward. All indications are that, more than likely, there will be one. But at this point, I can’t confirm that, absolutely, there will be one. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 174-15(5): Public Hearing On Natural Gas Price Increases

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I find it kind of odd that people of Inuvik have raised a concern. Now, I thought…I will just get to my question. Will the Minister communicate to the Public Utilities Board the importance of having a public hearing before any further proposed increase to the natural gas rates in Inuvik? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Michael McLeod.

Further Return To Question 174-15(5): Public Hearing On Natural Gas Price Increases

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are other processes that are available. People have the ability to file as interveners. The municipalities can do this, Individuals can do this, so it is not clearly demonstrated in every occasion that there has to be a hearing. In this case, there have been a number of issues brought forth by the municipality. There are also a number of issues by residents. The MLAs for that area have raised an issue. All of this information has to be compiled and looked at before there is confirmation that there will be a hearing. At this point, the Public Utilities Board is not in a position to confirm that there will be a hearing. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to ask questions today to the Minister of Human Resources. It has been almost two years since the amalgamation of the HR departments. It is getting close to two years. I don’t see any improvement in the area of client service, Mr. Speaker. In June, I questioned the Minister in regard to the service levels. It is not good enough that employees or the public call various persons at HR and get three or four different stories about where their files are, what they can access, and what they can’t access. Questions go unanswered. E-mails go unanswered. Telephone calls go unanswered. Nurses new to town, whether they are married to maybe an RCMP officer or teacher, wait months without hearing a reply back from the Human Resources department. In fact, they have to deliver resumes to the hospital themselves. I do not think that is acceptable. The first question I have for the Minister today is, how can the Minister demonstrate that the client service levels have improved at the Human Resources department, given the fact that they have spent $475,000 last year trying to find a better way to do business? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister responsible for Human Resources, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 175-15(5): Human Resources Department Client Service Levels

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I must say the Member has a propensity to focus on the negative of how we do business in the government. We have listened to the Members in this Assembly about the concerns around HR. The Member himself stated he has been raising issues for three years. I think he has raised a number of issues in this setting right now referencing previous times he has raised issues on certain files within Human Resources. I think, instead of looking at the glass half empty, I want to see it half full and what we have done. The Member has raised the issue of a sole-source contract that we put in place to look at our practices within government. We can clearly identify that we have dealt with the backlog that came along with the amalgamation. It has not been two years since the last budget. Last year was when we officially kicked off Human Resources. There was planning before that as to how we would try to go about doing this. So we have done quite a number of things around clearing up our backlog on the pay and benefits side as well as try to do ongoing business; terminations, layoffs and pension data that is available. If there are particular issues that the Member wants to address, I would gladly try to work with him and deal with those specific issues and bring them to closure. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 175-15(5): Human Resources Department Client Service Levels

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a propensity for standing up in this House and questioning the government in regard to concerns my constituents are raising like the honourable Minister had when he was on this side of the House. I just wanted to point that out for the record, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister what performance measures or indicators does the Minister employ when he is trying to gauge whether, in fact, service levels are improving in the Human Resources department. I would like to ask him that specific question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 175-15(5): Human Resources Department Client Service Levels

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since taking on this activity and putting human resources into one area, dealing with the backlog files, a number of things I’ve put in place to monitor the work that has been going forward. One, it is on the pay side of the equation on our backlog what gets done. The second piece, and becomes more critical, is the benefit side and the backlog there. In both sides, pre-September 2005, and post-September 2005, because that is when we really started pulling things together within the department to try and smooth them out and get the flow working. We do have work. I have said that in this House on a number of occasions. There is room for improvement. We are putting the pieces together. One of the big pieces around there is dealing with our PeopleSoft program going from 8.3 to 8.9 and coming with a clean version, as we call it, or the vanilla version, where we stick with a program and change our practice around that to make sure we are using it more efficiently. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 175-15(5): Human Resources Department Client Service Levels

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do have a concern in the area of human resources. I know the Minister spoke in June of over 100 areas of concern in the Human Resources department. As a Regular Member, we haven’t had a briefing where we actually got to talk about what these concerns are and how we are going to address them as a government. I think that is fundamental and the communication has to be better between the Minister and the Regular Members on this side of the House in terms of where we are going with human resources and human resource planning. When does the Minister plan on sharing with us what exact work has been done from that active review? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 175-15(5): Human Resources Department Client Service Levels

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as soon as the AOC committee is going to give me some time that we can bring a briefing forward, I will gladly meet with them to schedule something and give the latest information on the work that has been done. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 175-15(5): Human Resources Department Client Service Levels

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given what I laid out for the Minister in terms of nurses seeking employment and the staffing issues at the various health centres across the Northwest Territories, I am wondering if the Minister could give some consideration to, in fact, having a special team assigned to the recruitment and retention of health care professionals here in the Northwest Territories, because, in my mind, the current Human Resources department just isn’t fitting the bill, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.