Debates of October 27, 2006 (day 17)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd just like to touch on my earlier Member’s statement about the transfer of the North Slave office staff to Behchoko. Mr. Speaker, this government is contradicting itself when it recognizes the Tlicho Government but it does not have the regional offices with decision-making powers in the Tlicho region. Mr. Speaker, it’s time this government sees these decision-makers to be in the communities. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier. Can the Premier explain how over a year this government continues to ignore the self-government of the Tlicho by refusing to move these decision-making powers to the Tlicho region? How long do we have to wait? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 212-15(5): North Slave Regional Offices In Behchoko

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s an interesting proposal to have more of the North Slave region located in Behchoko. Mr. Speaker, it’s something I’d want to think about. It’s something I’d like to take a look at the load of the North Slave offices and various departments. I know their responsibility is certainly for the Tlicho people. It’s also for the Akaitcho and for the North Slave, Metis in the North Slave and Yellowknife in some cases as well. So, Mr. Speaker, it’s an interesting one. There’s nothing saying everything has to be in Yellowknife. Certainly we’ll take a look at it.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 212-15(5): North Slave Regional Offices In Behchoko

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m glad the department will certainly look into this matter. It’s very important to us in the Tlicho riding. We know the services for the region are not appropriate as long as they are delivered at headquarters in Yellowknife. It makes a difference having all the GNWT departments including the Executive represented locally by senior managers. So, Mr. Speaker, my question again to the Premier is how he will ensure that GNWT services for the Tlicho region allow for the building of relationships between the GNWT and the Tlicho Government and for the GNWT staff to be familiar with our culture of the Tlicho communities? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 212-15(5): North Slave Regional Offices In Behchoko

Mr. Speaker, our people are working on a protocol right now and there have been regular meetings between our departments that are involved delivering services in the Tlicho with the Tlicho governance. So, Mr. Speaker, we want to continue with that and I think it’s something we’re working on and something that means some dialogue both ways. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 212-15(5): North Slave Regional Offices In Behchoko

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we did make progress in this House a while back. I supported the government when the Department of Executive introduced the regional director positions so there could be a better link between the GNWT residents in the region and government headquarters. So can the Premier explain why even these regional directors of our North Slave region are located at the headquarters in Yellowknife? How can this position support the region if it is located in Yellowknife? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 212-15(5): North Slave Regional Offices In Behchoko

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said before, I recognize the amount of work and time that's spent working with the Tlicho people, and also have to balance the responsibilities of the North Slave executive offices and other departments with the work they're doing with the Akaitcho and the Metis and the other people in this area. But, Mr. Speaker, I will take a look at it, I will take a look at what the workload is, and certainly we have no hesitation about moving offices to Behchoko if the work and the economics of it really work out. We'd have to look at office space and housing and so on as well. But, Mr. Speaker, I'm certainly not against that. Everything doesn't have to be in headquarters. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 212-15(5): North Slave Regional Offices In Behchoko

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's been an issue of the gravel road to the community of Behchoko and there was a huge concern and safety issue for the departments, I guess the executive or the senior staff to be in Behchoko, to be allocated. Anyway, I would like to ask the Premier, because that's not an excuse anymore, but if he's willing to work with us, that's good, I appreciate that. Can the Premier make a commitment in this House to add these changes, whether it be capital plans '07 or business planning, to transfer these North Slave staff to Behchoko as a regional headquarter for the Tlicho region? I realize there is work that needs to be in place, but can we foresee that in '07? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 212-15(5): North Slave Regional Offices In Behchoko

Mr. Speaker, if there was office space there, if there was housing and there was no additional cost to us, then I'd want to talk to the staff about why this couldn't happen. Now, I have to respect that we just hired a regional director. I don't know his commitments in Yellowknife; that's where he was living, I believe, when we hired him. But, Mr. Speaker, as I said to the Member, I'll take a look at it and if everything is there and it costs us no additional money, then I'm not against it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are to the Minister of the environment and it's in regards to the many issues facing the Northwest Territories in terms of resource development, the enormous pressures from every corner in terms of on the environment, on water, on our wildlife. I'll just ask the Minister if he could indicate to us his sense of the role that proper stewardship of the environment has to play as the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 213-15(5): Approach To Transboundary Water Issues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given that question, I take it the grace period for this new portfolio is over. Mr. Speaker, I've taken a look at the number of issues across the board, I listened to the Member as he spoke the other day about the concerns for the environment, for the air, for the water, for a number of different things that are affecting our wildlife, and I also heard very clearly today when the Member mentioned there are issues that don't recognize boundaries. I've been having discussions with our staff in the last couple hours about how do we approach this, and I'm going to take the opportunity to take a good look at what work has already been done. I have seen some of the work in terms of plans and action plans that were drafted by the previous Minister. I think there's a lot of it that is very comprehensive. I am of the opinion that we can't operate with issues being looked at in isolation. We have to look at cumulative effects; we have to look at what's on the horizon in terms of development; and I would like to work towards developing a broad outlook of how we approach this thing so a big picture approach is taken. Having said that, we also have to look at what resources are available. So there's a lot of things that we're working on and trying to digest in short order, and we'll be keeping the Members informed as we progress. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 213-15(5): Approach To Transboundary Water Issues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the most fundamental issues is the one of water that I spoke about earlier as well, and I referenced the Mackenzie basin board. I would like to ask the Minister, as he goes through his briefings and looks at the role of the board and the issue of water, whether he would consider as Minister of one of the involved jurisdictions, the other ones being Alberta, B.C., Saskatchewan, the Yukon, and take the lead in terms of bringing together the Ministers for the first time to talk about the issue of water as it pertains to the Mackenzie basin board? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 213-15(5): Approach To Transboundary Water Issues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm not sure if I've been a Minister of ENR long enough to say I will get the committee to take the lead. The issue of water is something that I am also concerned about as are the rest of the Northwest Territories residents. We have a number of transboundary issues that we have to resolve. We are talking with Alberta to try to come up with an agreement on how to deal with water. B.C. is another jurisdiction; Saskatchewan. There are a number of areas that we have to work out agreements. I'm not comfortable enough right now, with the amount of time that I've spent in this department, to commit to that. I certainly would consider it though, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, thank you. My questions this afternoon are again for Mr. Roland, the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, it was about a year and a half ago that the government decided, surprised us all, actually, with a decision to relocate the Territorial Treatment Centre, a facility for children between the ages of eight and 14 who have severe behaviour disorders, to move this facility from Yellowknife to Hay River. In the meantime, or recently, Mr. Speaker, we were advised that there was a kind of a change in plans here. The government might be looking instead of renovating the Dene K'onia facility in Hay River to take this on that they were going to build a brand new facility. I wanted to ask the government what's the latest chapter in the Territorial Treatment Centre saga of renovation and/or new construction, Mr. Speaker?

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

Return To Question 214-15(5): Territorial Treatment Centre Relocation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the treatment centre is, as the Member pointed out, a decision was made to relocate and look at one of our existing facilities in the community of Hay River for a renovation projection. We've worked with the Department of Public Works and Services on a cost analysis of that, and it was decided, after a second review of that, that we would proceed with a renovation of that facility and are continuing to work with the Department of Public Works and Services to come up with some final options on that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 214-15(5): Territorial Treatment Centre Relocation

So, Mr. Speaker, could the Minister advise the House what is the timeline before us now as regards the relocation of this program? We've obviously seen considerable delays in the decision-making about this. In the meantime, the families and the staff are wondering what's going on, and so am I, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 214-15(5): Territorial Treatment Centre Relocation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, it was hoped to have the start of the renovation or the project itself in the community of Hay River at some point in this fiscal year. As we're still in the planning process, we will continue that step. I'd have to get an update as to the actual timelines. I know we were trying to get something started as early as this fall, and I'm not sure where we are with those timelines. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 214-15(5): Territorial Treatment Centre Relocation

Okay. So we still don't know exactly what the government's plans are with this, Mr. Speaker. I think in our deliberations on this, we had originally started out with a budget of $3.2 million and I’m wondering if the Minister can assure the Assembly that even after all these delays and the costs of inflation and things in construction, are we still going to be able to see this project achieved for that budgeted amount, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 214-15(5): Territorial Treatment Centre Relocation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the direction was given to live within the budget and that's the intent and that's the work that's being done, is to do the work that's necessary within the budget. We're waiting for our final layout as to what renovation will be taking place, and then I can come back to this House with further information. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 214-15(5): Territorial Treatment Centre Relocation

Mr. Speaker, the TTC, the Territorial Treatment Centre, now presently being used located in my riding of Great Slave still has I think some viability potential as a facility of some kind in this community, and I'm wondering has the government looked at potential future uses for this facility? Or if it's going to require demolition, is this also included in the $3.2 million budget cost for the transfer of this program, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 214-15(5): Territorial Treatment Centre Relocation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the budget that has been identified is for the renovation of the facility that we've been discussing in the community of Hay River. The plan for the existing facility and future potential it may have, I have not been involved with to date. I can check with the department to see if there has been any discussion around that facility. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Time for question period has expired. Written questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to seek unanimous consent to return to item 6 on the agenda, oral questions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to return to item 6, oral questions. Are there any nays?

Nay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Human Resources.

Could the Minister look into re-establishing a standard acknowledgment notice, either through e-mail or by post?

Could the Minister look at setting up a web page to let people know general information as to the status of jobs, such as:

open competition - accepting applications

competition close - screen

interviews

finish - appeal process

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

My question is for the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board.

On October 23rd, in response to Question 162-15(5), the chronic pain policy, the Minister responsible for the WCB advised that there would be consultations on this very important issue.

When will this consultation take place?

What groups or interests will be consulted?

Will the Minister provide a copy of questions, which will be the basis for the consultation process?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health and Social Service.

Can the Minister please state any and all cases where they had paid for out-of-country medical care for a resident of the Northwest Territories?

Thank you.