Debates of October 30, 2006 (day 18)

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 218-15(5): Disruption Of Service At Nats’ejee K’eh Treatment Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I have tried to state earlier, the situation we find ourselves in is a difficult one. Our goal is to ensure those that were receiving services continue to receive those services and people who request services around the addiction area can get support. We are looking at that. We will continue to help them out. As for the facility in the Northwest Territories, we are going to work with them to the extent we can, encouraging them to get back to the table. Ultimately, we have a number of things that have to be looked at. The fact is that there is an existing contract in place for delivery of that service. As well, there are other unions involved. So those are things that do come into play when we review this any further. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 218-15(5): Disruption Of Service At Nats’ejee K’eh Treatment Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me ask the Minister if the added cost that the GNWT or the Department of Health is incurring because we have to send these clients down south, is that cost over and above what we are providing in terms of what contracts are in place to the treatment centre today? If they are, why doesn’t the government just provide that additional funding to the centre so they can meet the terms and conditions that maybe some of the employees are demanding? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 218-15(5): Disruption Of Service At Nats’ejee K’eh Treatment Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have to look at the existing cost of providing that level of service in the Northwest Territories with the existing contract in place. Ultimately, if the department is to continue this, we would have to look at other areas where we can come up with our savings or with additional money to continue this. That will have an effect on how we proceed with this as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement today, I spoke of a need to fund a full-time Aboriginal Language and Culture Instructor Program so that those people that were interested in pursuing this as a career will be able to access the Student Financial Assistance Program. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, can the Minister inform this Assembly of the department’s plan to offer a full- time ALCIP program through Aurora College? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 219-15(5): Aboriginal Language And Culture Instructor Program Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is an area that is extremely important to our department. As the Member pointed out in his statement, we have brought in a directive requiring schools to use the aboriginal language and culture funding for that purpose. We know that some schools are having trouble finding enough qualified instructors, so we have expanded the program. The program design work has been done so that the curriculum now goes for two full years. I would allow it to be a certificate program. It could be brought in. So we are ready to move to that. But, Mr. Speaker, at this point, the funds have not been identified to bring the program in as a full-time program. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 219-15(5): Aboriginal Language And Culture Instructor Program Funding

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in light of the ministerial directive clarifying the use of funding provided to deliver aboriginal and language programming in our schools as Minister Dent had identified, Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell this Assembly how any schools in the NWT can be expected to employ a qualified ALCIP instructor when it takes them five years or more without funding or support to achieve this goal? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 219-15(5): Aboriginal Language And Culture Instructor Program Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We think it would be ideal if all of the people who were teaching language and culture in the schools had the ALCIP instructor course. That is not a requirement. We understand and recognize that elders in our communities are very able to transmit the knowledge of language and culture to students, so we believe that it is possible for schools to provide this training now. But I agree with the Member, that it would be ideal if we could expand the programming. That is the goal. I talked to the college. We are looking to identify funds and would hope to be able to bring this program forward as a two-year certificate program in the near future.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 219-15(5): Aboriginal Language And Culture Instructor Program Funding

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Just focussing on the expansion of the department’s vision and focus, would the Minister consider instructing the Aurora College to deliver a full-time ALCIP program in Behchoko as well as all communities in the North so that these communities can offer aboriginal language programming as set out by our own directive? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 219-15(5): Aboriginal Language And Culture Instructor Program Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The intention, now that we have the curriculum and as soon as we can find the money or identify the funding to offer this program, is to offer the program in various locations on a rotating basis. So it isn’t going to be offered every year in every community. We don’t think that there would be enough uptake to be able to do that. We want to make sure we have the critical mass of students and instructors. We are only planning to offer it in one community for two years and then move it around the North in that way to make sure that everybody has access to it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 219-15(5): Aboriginal Language And Culture Instructor Program Funding

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to see action results focussing on the expansion from the department’s perspective. Can the Minister commit in this House that this can be implemented in the fall time of 2007? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 219-15(5): Aboriginal Language And Culture Instructor Program Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can’t make a commitment on next year’s budget until we have that budget in the House. I hope that we are going to be able to implement the program next year. We will do all that we can to ensure that we can see it happen. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are addressed to the Minister of Human Resources in regard to the long-awaited overhaul of the affirmative action policy and the employment equity policy that has been drafted in its place. What are the government’s plans, considering they have been working on this now for over three years and we have about eight or nine months left in our term? Is there a plan to bring this forward so that the people can see the fruit of all of this hard work? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister of Human Resources, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 220-15(5): Revisions To The Affirmative Action Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government has completed quite a bit of work on this and has some ideas for how to move forward with employment equity. We are at the point now where we are ready to discuss it with Members of the Legislative Assembly and the standing committees and then see if there is a willingness to move forward. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 220-15(5): Revisions To The Affirmative Action Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, has the document been circulated outside of this Assembly so that the other stakeholders as well could get a sense of what is to transpire, what is being proposed, or is everything dependent on feedback from AOC? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 220-15(5): Revisions To The Affirmative Action Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As is the tradition with how we do business in this House, we have offered to brief the committee. We have shared the information with the committee. We are prepared to have a discussion with members of the standing committee. That would be the first step before any document would be shared outside. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 220-15(5): Revisions To The Affirmative Action Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given the time left in the life of this Assembly, is the government of the opinion that they would be able to roll it out, or are we looking at a policy decision that is now going to be made by the next Assembly? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 220-15(5): Revisions To The Affirmative Action Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government believes that this policy could be brought into place. So the affirmative action policy fairly quickly and it could happen during the life of this Assembly, depending on how our discussions go with Members and other stakeholders. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 220-15(5): Revisions To The Affirmative Action Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister indicate to this House and to the people listening, whether the current classification of P1, P2, and P3 would be retained, or in light of the human rights legislation and other legislation that has been enacted over the years since this policy was developed whether there would be a change that would be reflected in the new policy? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 220-15(5): Revisions To The Affirmative Action Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, the definitions now, the P1, P2, and P3 would disappear, but the employment equity program would involve the identification and removal of systemic barriers as well as the identification of groups that might be underrepresented and then specific targeted actions to work to bring the representation in various parts of government up to the standards that it should be. So it is in many ways similar. Employment equity is similar to affirmative action, but it is a more active process of identifying where the problems lie and then trying to find ways, whether it is through bursaries, training or other targeted employment measures, to rectify the situation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions this afternoon are for Mr. McLeod, the Minister of the Environment, related to our regulatory regime for environmental management, Mr. Speaker. As we well know, mega development means mega consequences. Just look at Alberta and its tar sands. I believe they are the single largest contributor to greenhouse gasses in the country. Here in the NWT, we are on the cusp of something of a similar size. The government can do many things when it comes to environmental management. One of them is having a sound process to make sure that everybody plays by the rules, and that is the regulatory regime.

Mr. Speaker, Environment Canada and the National Energy Board have jurisdiction in this area over federal lands but we have a number of other kinds of lands and jurisdictions here in the NWT. When it comes to managing the impacts of a pipeline on these lands, Mr. Speaker, what is the GNWT’s plan for ensuring a comprehensive regulatory framework for the Mackenzie gas pipeline?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 221-15(5): Regulatory Authority For The Enforcement Of Air Quality Standards

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there has been a lot of work that has been done in the area of greenhouse gasses. We have looked at a number of the other issues that are facing us in terms of air quality standards and resource development, pollution and climate change, and looked at some of the documents that have been used as our guide. We have our Greenhouse Gas Strategy that was developed some time ago and recognize that we need to have some update. That is in the works right now. We expect to have that document as part of the Energy Strategy. The greenhouse gasses will be addressed. As to some of the points that the Member has made in terms of the pipeline project, air quality standards is addressed through the JRP and that is the process that is being utilized to do that. In some cases, when industry moves into an area, there is some requirement for baseline assessments to be produced by the proponent. That is handled and done through that process also. So there are a number of different things that are out there. Whether or not we are going to be doing a comprehensive environmental assessment or review, as the Member has indicated in his statement, is something that we haven’t determined yet. We are, however, participating in a summit that will be held in January. It is being hosted by Ecology North and the Dene Nation. We expect that will bring a number of issues to the forefront. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 221-15(5): Regulatory Authority For The Enforcement Of Air Quality Standards

Thank you for the answer, Mr. Speaker. Where I would like to go with this is in getting some assurance that there is adequate jurisdiction on the various kinds of lands in the Northwest Territories -- federal, municipal, Commissioner’s lands, aboriginal lands -- and the regulatory framework that is assigned to each of them. Is there a comprehensive and a cohesive regulatory framework that will enable this project to be properly regulated as it goes through these various types of lands and has various types of impacts, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 221-15(5): Regulatory Authority For The Enforcement Of Air Quality Standards

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we certainly all have to take responsibility when it comes to air quality and environmental issues across the board. At this point, we have shared responsibility with the federal government. We are looking at more than just our lands. We want to ensure that all lands in the NWT are covered. That is my position on where we are going with this. I will continue to monitor the situation. We have regulatory bodies out there that are in charge of ensuring that this happens. We will look to see if there are any areas that are not covered and certainly ensure that we have something in place. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 221-15(5): Regulatory Authority For The Enforcement Of Air Quality Standards

Mr. Speaker, Environment Canada recently pointed out to the Joint Review Panel that there is indeed a regulatory gap for the jurisdiction and the management of the project on these lands. Is the Minister’s department or some agency of the GNWT actively working this file with municipal, aboriginal and federal agencies to close this regulatory gap, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 221-15(5): Regulatory Authority For The Enforcement Of Air Quality Standards

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would have to get back to the Member on whether or not the gaps that he has referenced are being covered and if we are consolidating our efforts to ensure that happens. We are a partner on some of the files that are moving forward in terms of resource development. At this point, I would have to make the commitment that I need to find out more about the issue in order to answer that question.