Debates of October 27, 2004 (day 29)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would agree with the Minister that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs does have a role to play in brokering this arrangement between the aboriginal governments and the City of Yellowknife. I would just like to ask the Minister, is this process going to take two, three, four, or five years? When is it going to be concluded? When you enter into a process like this, it can take some time to get to the end of it. I would like to ask the Minister when that will be concluded. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 321-15(3): Process To Address Land Shortage In Yellowknife

Mr. Speaker, we don’t have an absolute process. We don’t have an agreement signed yet as to how all of this is going to unfold. I have asked both the city and the Akaitcho to try to resolve it in one year. We are trying to set a deadline of one year so that we can have a clear process that everybody will be able to understand and follow. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question will be to the Minister of the Housing Corporation, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Speaker, this afternoon in my Member’s statement I made a suggestion in regards to housing repairs for small communities. As we all know, Mr. Speaker, each community is limited for dollars to repair houses. I would like to ask the Minister if he would be willing to develop a multiyear program, but subject to our yearly budget approval. Would he be willing to look at that type of program? Thank you.

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

Return To Question 322-15(3): Development Of Multiyear Program For Housing Repairs

Yes, Mr. Speaker, we are definitely willing to look at that, but just ensuring that the budget has to be passed through this House, so with that being something that we would look at because I believe we do have to look at housing by way of a long-term planning process. Hopefully, with the 10-year plan we develop that to ensure that we follow what we have in our need surveys and implement that into our 10-year business plan so that people can realize that we are confronting these problems over a 10-year period so people can see how we are fixing these problems and not having projects on the book one year and finding out that the money was spent somewhere else so it is consistent. So we are definitely willing to look at that by coming forward and ensuring that the dollars addressed in the 10-year plan are going to be in place for 10 years, with the approval of the House.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Supplementary To Question 322-15(3): Development Of Multiyear Program For Housing Repairs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Minister agree with me that if we go with this route of a multiyear home repair program, that, because of our limited funding at the community level for home repair, a larger number of people would be happy with the corporation with the initiative of at least trying to get help, rather than doing it the way we are doing it now where only a number of people are being helped. Would he not agree that this type of program would benefit the corporation? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 322-15(3): Development Of Multiyear Program For Housing Repairs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the things that we are doing is working closer with the local housing authorities. We are working with the band corporations through universal partnership agreements to implement these programs closer to the communities so they don’t have to apply out of Yellowknife, out of Inuvik, or out of the regional centres. They can go directly to the local housing authority and let them make the final decision at the community level, and also ensure that the resources are there so that those dollars are expended for the programs we deliver. We are working with communities to give them a better opportunity in the decision-making process and work closer to the communities in the way it is set up right now. Hopefully by streamlining the process and making it more accessible, it will improve the clients in communities access to these programs. I believe that is one of the problems we are facing now, but we are working on improving it.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Supplementary To Question 322-15(3): Development Of Multiyear Program For Housing Repairs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am getting mixed messages. On one hand I am asking if we can develop this type of multiyear program particularly for the small communities, because they are very limited in their home repair programs for each community. Just from the last comment of the Minister, he implies that there are provisions currently within the existing program, but my understanding is that there aren't any right now. That is why I am asking the Minister if he can develop this type of multiyear program for clients that want to get the home repairs done. The reason being, Mr. Speaker, is that because of the limited number of funding that we have for each community, only a handful of people are getting their homes repaired. By having a multiyear program, we would increase the number of people to be helped. Those individual clients would commend the Minister if he does have this type of program, because a larger number will be helped rather than only a handful. Would the Minister commit to developing this type of program? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 322-15(3): Development Of Multiyear Program For Housing Repairs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am sorry for confusing the Member, but what we are presently doing now, because we are looking at the mandate of the corporation, we are looking at our programs and services. One of the things we are doing is we are trying to ensure…Right now the programs we have are application-based. It is based on the number of applications that you’d get. Out of that, we determine allocation. So what we are trying to do is work with communities to determine how many clients they have in their homes that need these programs, and work with those people at the community level to implement those programs through the Universal Partnership Agreement. The Universal Partnership Agreement is something new, but the whole idea, at the end of the day, is to empower communities to let them take on more responsibility for housing, which doesn’t just include managing our units, it also includes delivering programs by way of our programs that we deliver right now at headquarters. That is where we are working at and where we are going to improve programs and services to communities, and the way the process works right now is application-based. It goes to the regional offices, then the regional office determines allocation. Then they go back to the communities. Then they go back to the regional office. So we are trying to cut down that long, drawn-out process and simplifying it to make it easier for communities. That is the direction we are going.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Final supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Supplementary To Question 322-15(3): Development Of Multiyear Program For Housing Repairs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand the process that is currently in place, but that is not the point I am trying to make to the Minister. I don’t think the Minister is getting my point. This is specifically in regards to people that want to get their homes repaired. The point I am trying to make, Mr. Speaker, is we don’t have a program in place that is multiyear because of our limited number of funding at the community level. It is application-based, as the Minister indicates, but it is based on the assessment that has been undertaken at the individual client’s house. It could be, in some cases, in the hundreds of thousands dollars for repair needs. What I am suggesting to the Minister is, because of our limited number of funds, can his department look at developing this multiyear program so that we can assess a larger number of clients at the community level? For instance, this individual with a $100,000 repair that is required doesn’t have to take place in one year. It could be done over two years. That way, you are spreading the dollars to more clients. So that is my suggestion to the Minister. Would the Minister try to take a look at developing this type of program? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 322-15(3): Development Of Multiyear Program For Housing Repairs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, I would just like to reference my earlier comment. With our giving more authority to communities, that means if what they want is co-op funding arrangements with those local authorities to deliver programs by way of helping more of their clients, that is something that we are willing to look at. We are working towards empowering communities, especially the local housing authorities, to give them more responsibilities and give them more resources so they can do the jobs that they are there for. You don’t just set them up to manage something that they don’t have the resources to carry out. I would like to just assure the Member that I will bring forward your concern and see if that is a way that we can develop it. Right now, we are looking at empowering communities by way of giving them authority to deliver programs and services in the communities and have them delivered at the regional level. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise again today because I have a question for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Yesterday I talked about my concerns about the shortage of doctors in emergency rooms and in clinics. Mr. Speaker, a national physician survey conducted by the College of Family Physicians in Canada, the Canadian Medical Association, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons basically said there was an alarming state in regards to doctor supply. In brief, there were two serious observations: 21,000 doctors were surveyed, and 60 percent of them are scaling back their services. It said 3,800 are expected to retire within two years. Mr. Speaker, my question for the Minister of Health and Social Services is what is the NWT doing now to make the Northwest Territories a place of first choice for the doctors to come and work? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister of Health and Social Services, the Honourable Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 323-15(3): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have just in the last number of months, in our first year, signed a four-year agreement with the Medical Association of the Northwest Territories, that gives the doctors a very competitive pay and benefits package. We have many perks in there that make it very competitive. The pay is good. There are lots of good benefits. As well, we are also funding and helping to assist some northern students who are currently in medical school, who will hopefully be graduating in a number of years. I think there are four currently in school that are going to be doctors eventually. Plus, we are continuing to recruit. We have been quite successful. Overall, the number of vacancies for doctors is quite low. So we have had some success in terms of the negotiating agreements, the vacancy rates and the fact that we are supporting northern students and encouraging more and more of them to go into med school, if they so choose. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 323-15(3): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this survey noted that 26 percent of the doctors are scaling back their service in the next few years. Mr. Speaker, only four percent are looking at increasing the service. Historically doctors have been known to work 70 and 80 hours per week, whereas now they are working barely 50. Mr. Speaker, what is the department doing? I would like to hear a concrete plan of what they are doing as an action plan to bring new doctors to the Northwest Territories, recognizing that 60 percent are scaling back and 3,800 are potentially retiring within two years across Canada. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 323-15(3): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated yesterday in this House, there was about $8.4 million put into hiring doctors and nurses and midwifes late in the 14th Assembly. I also submit that the agreement that we’ve reached with the Medical Association factors in the quality of life issues, referenced by my colleague, and that is an issue of concern for the doctors. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 323-15(3): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when does that agreement that the honourable Minister speaks about expire, and does that apply just to surgeons or does that apply to all general practitioners? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 323-15(3): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that applies to both general practitioners and specialists. It’s a four-year agreement that will expire, I believe, in 2007 or 2008. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 323-15(3): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals

Mr. Speaker, speaking from a territorial perspective now, what are we doing about the small communities that suffered these services? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 323-15(3): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, out of the $8.4 million, we put in funding for additional doctors in the Deh Cho, into the Sahtu and for the Inuvik region, as well. So we’ve added doctors, we are looking at adding nurse practitioners, we are trying to come up with a special program to better mentor community health nurses so that we can get many of the recent graduates qualified as soon as possible and agree to work in the communities. So we are very aware and very concerned about the service in the regions and in the communities, and these are some of the things we are doing. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask a few more questions to the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, within the planning and design function of the Housing Corporation for the construction of northern housing units, I was wondering what kind of resources are accessed in order to do that kind of planning. I have noted that the houses that are constructed with Housing Corporation dollars in the communities often don’t seem to be very sensitive to the lifestyle and culture of the people who live in them. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, the Honourable Mr. Krutko.

Return To Question 324-15(3): Northern Housing Construction

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in regards to those units that do go in, I've heard the concern from communities with regard to how we construct these units. Most of them have been pre-designed, or we've implemented designs that have been constructed in other areas. Again the whole idea is that we have to realize that because in the North a lot of our transportation is done by roads or by barges, through the winter road systems we have to be able to package these things in such a way that most of them have been designed through the programs we do deliver by way of homeownership and those other programs. What we are doing now is giving more responsibility to the client to pick out what unit they want, rather than in the past when people were given two or three options and that was it.

I think that we do have to get away from the idea that these designs are not uniquely designed for the North and were brought from somewhere else and implemented. If you look at CMHC programs across Canada, it seems like all the units were consistent throughout. So we are looking at that, we are trying to give more of that decision to the local community and also the person purchasing the unit to make the decision for themselves on what type of unit they want to live in. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Time for oral questions has expired, however, I will allow you a supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 324-15(3): Northern Housing Construction

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when I talk about housing, that is sensitive to the types of activities that people undertake. I know for awhile there was a wholesale move to have people have these high-energy-efficient furnaces that ran on fuel, and no wood stoves. That, to me, doesn’t make sense. Another thing is the interior wall finishes. When you have access to wood, why would you pick a very hard to repair, unforgiving finish like drywall in houses? It doesn’t stand up that well, maybe it has some fire retardant attributes, but these are the kinds of things. Does the corporation seek the input of communities, even for the social housing units, quite apart from the homeownership but on the social housing units, does it seek input from people about the kinds of things they would like to have in their houses as opposed to these very white and sterile and modern materials? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 324-15(3): Northern Housing Construction

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m glad the Member is raising these questions, because I believe as a corporation we have the opportunity to look into it now. We are reviewing our mandate, we are going to look at the programs and services we do deliver. More importantly, we have to be more economically-efficient in regards to how these units operate and bring down the cost of operating these units by endorsing more environmentally-friendly means of generating energy and also being able to use less energy than we are using right now.

One of the biggest cost drivers to the corporation is the utility costs. Almost 50 percent of the dollars that go to the local housing authorities are spent on utilities. That’s an area I believe we have to really focus on and, again, it’s there in regards to the programs and services we deliver, through our housing programs that we have. Again the Member is right; it seems like the programs we have for independent housing gives you a unit with an oil stove, but they don’t realize someone should have had the choice between an oil stove or a wood stove or some sort of airtight heater. But they give you what they give you and in most cases, like you say, it breaks down. Where do you go? You can’t get a part. So again with this review and also reviewing our mandate, I think now we are open to have input from communities, so we are open to concerns from other people in the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 324-15(3): Northern Housing Construction

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m really pleased to hear that the Minister is cognizant of these issues because, of course, it’s only good stewardship to build units that consume less utilities and are low maintenance wherever possible. It is just that sometimes in the past, some of the initiatives that have been undertaken have not been good. The airtight thing, for example, is exactly why we have houses full of mould, because they try to make them so airtight to keep the utility cost down…

Mould.

So I guess I just want a commitment from the Minister that the kinds of initiatives undertaken to address these issues of maintenance cost and utilities cost will be very practical and user-friendly to the occupants of these units. There are many other examples I could give of initiatives the Housing Corporation has undertaken which just turned out to be an albatross for the people who had to actually live in those units. I don’t know what my question is, but that’s it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen, I didn’t hear a question there. Time for oral questions has expired. Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Thank you, colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Up in the gallery today I have a couple of constituents; Mervin Gruben, deputy mayor of the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk.

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Beside Mr. Gruben is Charlene Elias my newly-hired constituency assistant from Tuktoyaktuk. Thank you.

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