Mr. Speaker, I think Ottawa has been very well versed as to our desire to see the Mackenzie Valley road project move forward. We’ve made a number of contacts over the years and more recently had some face-to-face discussion with a number of different Ministers. The Premier has also raised it as well as other Ministers.
Mr. Speaker, our plan right now is to take the economic analysis, package that up with more detailed information that we’re going to require, which is going to be reflected in what we are calling a project description report which will be done over the next while. That’s our focus at this time.
The portion from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk is being compiled, information is being compiled as we speak, and we are currently working to have a plan in place to do the remaining sections so that we can have a complete document that would build our business case. We’ll have a firm base study, we’ll have analysis and we’ll also have the economic analysis that could be part of the package which we would be able to present to the federal government and hopefully attract some investment for this new road that we all desire. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Your final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I take the view and the analogy of Ottawa just like a donkey, you know, in terms of the Mackenzie Valley Highway. You know the trail, you’ve studied the trail. It’s like putting the donkey in front of the trail and trying to make it go -- you’ve got to tug it, yell at it, push it, but it still won’t go even though all the benefits are over there. So I guess, in terms of this Mackenzie Valley Highway -- because so far now we have a goat road into the Sahtu region -- I want to ask the Minister regarding his discussions with his colleagues and also with the federal Minister in terms of sections of the Mackenzie Valley Highway. For example, like Wrigley to Norman Wells, I know he talked somewhat of the Inuvik and Tuk roadwork. Can we look at something like that to put in front of the federal Minister?
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t know if I’ll use his analogy for any of our discussions. I think the federal government has recognized that this is an important piece of infrastructure for the Northwest Territories and they have been continually investing over the last long term with all the different programs that have come forward. It has enabled us to improve a lot of the portions of the winter roads, for example, and great improvements in the Member’s riding. It has allowed us to build 34 bridges and most of them are in the Member’s riding, and it has allowed us to do a lot of improvement which has expanded the season, it has improved the safety features on the road, and they are intended to continue to do so.
Mr. Speaker, we are trying to work so that we can create a partnership, provide a document that will have a lot of the answers that the federal government may be asking, and really building a solid business case that will attract some serious consideration. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of Housing some questions. I just recently got a call from Trout Lake and a lot of the elders are getting letters asking for more information, T-4 revenue statements. These letters are directed to the elders, but they’re actually non-English speaking. Slavey is their first language and they’re getting these letters, and Housing, for good reason, is getting non-responsiveness. So when that happens, programs are in jeopardy of being cancelled or else transferred to other people. The band manager said can Housing at least cc the band office so that they can help and assist them with filling out the necessary paperwork that Housing needs and/or at least have staff visit the elders and translate these letters. I think it’s a very valid point. To expect an elder to reply to a technical request is I don’t think a fair way of doing things. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, Mr. Robert McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member makes a valid point and I think it’s a concern that we’ve heard on a few occasions. If there is an issue with the fact that some of the elders in his riding are unable to understand the letters, then I think we can work with the band or whoever we need to, to make sure they have a very good understanding of the letters so then they’d be able to respond back to the department. Thank you.
How much work would it take to, like the band manager suggested, if they’re going to write a letter to an elder, to cc it to the band office so that they can at least know that there’s a request for more information to the elder or even, indeed, if it’s an approval letter, the elder is not even going to know that either, Mr. Speaker. Often -- and I’ve brought it up in the House before -- elders will receive a letter and they’ll just put it on the table until somebody comes along that understands English, had some schooling, et cetera, then they’ll open it up and ask what that letter is. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I’ll commit to the Member that I’ll have that discussion with the department as to whether we can cc the band or not. If it’s confidential information, then I’m assuming that we’re not going to be able to. The elder could take the letter to the band, I suppose, and have a discussion with them, the interpretation. But I’ll follow up on the Member’s request and see if we’re able to cc the community government on the letters that are sent out to the elders. Thank you.
Another issue that the elders are raising there is the department officials usually ask for T-4s, Revenue Canada statements. So they’ve filled out applications before and they just don’t understand why they’ve got to keep filling out applications every time they ask for a program. Their situation is not going to change very much over a year, especially if it’s a senior. It’s like a fixed income. So they don’t understand why they have to keep filling out applications, Mr. Speaker. Do they have to fill out one application or for every program? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, usually the process is they would fill out an application for each program that they apply to. The only one that I know of that they don’t have to apply to every year -- their name is basically kept on the list -- is the Seniors Preventative Home Maintenance Program. Once they’re on that list, then they would just continue to receive the service year after year. But as far as I know, they do have to apply for each particular program. The Member is correct, though, the senior’s income usually doesn’t change very much and we may have to take that into consideration. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Your final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. In this community’s case, I think the request is simple, that the elders need a better understanding of how the programming works. So can the Minister look at, I don’t know if it’s an elder workshop with a particular focus on the programs that they have for them? Can the Minister work towards that? It’s probably something that many, many small communities have challenges with throughout our North as well. Thank you.
That is a concern that’s raised across the Northwest Territories. Housing has taken some steps and they do have training workshops for folks that apply for particular programs. There was some concern that some of the seniors didn’t understand how the programs worked and would somebody else be able to take it in their place. The answer was yes. We made those arrangements. But we’re always willing to see how we can improve our services, especially to elders that don’t understand the English language very well. It’s not their first language. So we’re always willing to look at ways that we can improve our service to them. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I raised the issue, as other Members have, of our concerns about the lack of support for the seniors who wish to go to the Canada 55 Games.
Mr. Speaker, if I had time today, of course, I’d question the Minister of...Sandy Lee as Minister responsible, and, of course, that’s @email. But my questions are to Minister Miltenberger directly, because he is truly in charge of the purse strings on this initiative and I think he could bring forward some type of supp process. So, Mr. Speaker, directly to Minister Miltenberger, the Minister of Finance, @email, would he be willing to find a way to find $50,000 to help support the seniors? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories provides tremendous support to seniors. We have some of the best seniors’ benefits in the country. The Minister of Health and Social Services has indicated a willingness to work with the NWT Seniors’ Society to look at a regional type of games that would maximize the ability of seniors in the communities to actually get out and take part in an event much more egalitarian, much more widespread. That’s the focus, and business plans will come forward reflecting that commitment. The Minister has already made that commitment in this House. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate our thespian Minister with his full-of-interest and wonderful-sounding answer. Of course, if I had time today I’d ask @email the question about how we can do this, but the reality is the fact that we have to get the money from the Minister of Finance.
Mr. Speaker, they’re not asking for a lot of money and the government seems to keep turning around and saying it should be regional only. Mr. Speaker, what is holding this government back, from a finance point of view, of finding a way to find $50,000 in our $1.3 billion budget? Thank you.
The reality is that there are far more needs than there are resources. The reality is we make choices every day. The reality is that the focus of the government is on working with all the seniors in the Northwest Territories in all areas of their need, and when it comes to the recreation piece, the interest has been and the indication is that we do a lot of work at the regional level to maximize the involvement of seniors in the communities often who never get any other opportunity to take part in an event such as the regional games.
That’s the focus. I think it’s a very good idea, it maximizes input and that is what the Minister has committed to working with communities and the NWT seniors to try to make a reality. Thank you.
Well, if I may offer some reality, as well, because I would like to believe the Minister that this is the only reality, but I’m not sure I’m prepared to be deluded in that direction of lack a little faith on how good these things can be.
Mr. Speaker, the last Canada 55-plus Games brought about 100 participants and about 50 percent of those participants were from the communities. So this is a territorial initiative. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Minister of Finance, because he talks about finances and money not being available, how much money does this government make off interest base alone of our capital budget that isn’t spent? Wouldn’t there be enough money on interest alone to cover the costs for our Seniors Games? Thank you.
The issue is about choices and resources that we have and decisions to put the money to the best use for the maximum number of people. That is what we’re talking about, and we are. We are making a conscious effort in some areas to go into debt, there is no doubt about that, on the short-term basis to fund some of our capital to keep our priorities moving.
In this case, we’ve made a choice to look at putting the money to get max amount of involvement by seniors at the regional level and I think it’s a good focus and the more seniors we keep active, the better.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Your final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I really like the last comment from the Minister, which is the more seniors we can keep active, the better. Well, Mr. Speaker, there’s no proof that this isn’t just as good. So I’d like to ask the Minister, is it his individual policy position that this is not a go for seniors or is he going to work to see if he can find a way to turn this into a reality? Because it’s time we give our seniors a treat and stop tricking them. Thank you.
The reality remains, as we’ve said, the focus is going to be on regional type of games, working with the NWT Seniors’ Society and communities to get as many seniors as we can involved. The Member indicated there’s no indication that this isn’t any better, there is no indication that it is better. We know that we can get far more involvement by focusing on working with the communities and the Seniors’ Society. That’s where we’re trying to put the resources we do have available in this area. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given that recent developments of the H1N1 swine flu shows how fast it can affect people and, God forbid, communities, Mr. Speaker, and given other medical conditions deteriorate in a matter of months, will the government commit to providing double the doctor visits and detailed in policies with the Minister of Health and Social Services in our small and remote communities? I’m not just talking about Nunakput, Mr. Speaker, I’m talking about the Beaufort-Delta and Nahendeh and Tu Nedhe. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Currently for the Beaufort-Delta region, doctors’ visits are scheduled for every five weeks. I do understand that under certain circumstances and weather conditions that doctors’ visits are longer than five weeks. Part of the Foundation for Change Action Plan speaks to an NWT medical model where we could have more flexibility to enhance doctor coverage in small communities and I look forward to working with the Members on the other side through that process so that we can enhance doctor coverage, especially in small communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, we’ve been pretty flexible lately. These past two years I’ve been here trying to work with her and she is doing a good job, Mr. Speaker. Given that the medical staff is in demand all over Canada and the Northwest Territories, and the small, remote communities are always left behind during staffing problems, Mr. Speaker, I’m asking the Minister of Health and Social Services to provide Nunakput a listing of how many medical positions have been budgeted for Nunakput, and how many positions are vacant, and what the ministry to planning on doing in response to the additional strain placed on the system during these demanding times. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I agree that the Member has been flexible for the last two years. What I meant is that our medical model is not as flexible to respond to the needs of our communities. Mr. Speaker, right now we don’t have a permanent doctor in our NWT communities and regions other than Yellowknife and Inuvik. In all other places, even if there are doctor PYs funded, we’re just not able to have permanent doctor residents. We’re lucky in the Beaufort-Delta that we have Dr. De Klerk and his staff and he attracts a following, so to speak. I believe there are about six to seven doctor positions there. The challenge is recruiting and retaining them. So when I’m talking about flexibility, the physicians have shown interest in creating an NWT medical model so that we could hire doctors and then give them incentive to travel to smaller communities so that we could have better coverage. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, my people in my riding don’t see doctors probably within six months, say, for Sachs Harbour. I have two elders sitting in Edmonton in the hospital because of not being seen properly and it being dragged out.
Shame.
So now they’re having to be in long-term care, one of them, and one of them is going to take months for his recovery, Mr. Speaker. This is unacceptable. This government, we have to...She has to take the lead and direct her staff to get into the communities for longer periods of time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I was in Sachs Harbour with the Member when we discussed this. I believe they had some issues with flight schedules and such, so they didn’t have a doctor right before last Christmas for about two months.
Mr. Speaker, the rule is that all of the communities in the Beaufort-Delta have to have a doctor in five weeks. They know the rule and they are to follow that, and when they are not able to do that, they need to step up to the plate.
The second thing is, Mr. Speaker, we do have a good Medical Travel Policy, where there is no doctor coverage in the communities, nursing staff is tasked to examine the patient and make the referral.
I do appreciate the Member’s concern. We need to keep on working to improve the system. The Foundation for Change Action Plan has very precise action plans that will work to advance this further. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. Your final supplementary, Mr. Jacobson.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. These next few months would be really serious in regards to the H1N1 flu pandemic. I really wish that...No, I’m not going to wish; I’m going to tell her, Mr. Speaker. I want my people to be treated just like people are down here in the South Slave in regard to doctor visits and being taken care of properly. Thank you.
With respect to H1N1, I need people to know that when they’re watching the national media, the only thing they need to get out of that is we are doing much better than down south.
Mr. Speaker, it’s really important for people to know that we have enough vaccine for everybody who needs it, wants it, in the NWT at hand. We’re not looking for any other supplies, so no one has to wait for Christmas. We’re not asking anybody to hold back. In fact, we are asking people to go in and get vaccinated, so that’s another message.
The third one is, everyone is a priority in the NWT. We have no priority list. I just need people to know this, Mr. Speaker.
With respect to small communities on the H1N1 issue, I realize that the most media coverage is on vaccination of Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Smith, Fort Simpson and Norman Wells. But I would like the Members to know that this week we began vaccinating in 14 other communities beyond those six communities. So right now, in day four, we are vaccinating in 20 out of 33 communities and those include: Deline, Fort Good Hope, Fort McPherson, Fort Resolution, Hay River Reserve, Jean Marie River, Lutselk’e, Sachs Harbour, Tsiigehtchic, Tulita, Whati and Wrigley. So I just want the Member to know that we’re working all out to cover small communities, and obviously it’s not possible to vaccinate 40,000 people at once, but our people are certainly trying. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For a long time we’ve been waiting for a new hospital in Hay River and it finally seems like maybe this is going to actually be a reality. One of the first steps is to identify a suitable location for the hospital. Where it is currently located is fraught with all kinds of problems. It’s in a fairly densely populated residential area, and there are issues with the hospital. It is old and there are issues. So I think the game plan is to go with a new hospital, but now to find a location for a new hospital.
Where the current hospital sits, there are geotechnical issues. It sits on a ravine and there are major problems with that.
Two other locations have come to light, and we’ve been briefed on those. But, Mr. Speaker, the one that seems like it is the best and the most accessible is currently occupied by the departments of ENR and ITI. That’s where they have their warehouse and their offices, all rather old rundown buildings. They’re sitting on about 25 acres of prime riverfront property in Hay River. Anyway, we want that land for our hospital, so I would suggest that the Minister, Mr. Speaker, may need to lobby the Ministers of ITI, ENR and Public Works and Services and get that land for our new hospital. I’d like to know, has she made any steps in that direction and how is it going. Does she need any help? Thank you.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is correct that the master development plan and the hospital plan for Hay River is moving forward. It’s now going into the planning study phase, and my understanding is that to complete that, there has to be an identification of the new site and I do understand there are a couple areas being looked at. I will work with all of the people involved and the other Ministers to find the best site for that property and to obviously consult with Members from the area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, one of the alternate sites that was considered was an area that the Town of Hay River is currently working on developing. I believe it’s called the Sundog Subdivision. The problem with that is it’s not going to be ready for about another four years, and the other thing is that it’s definitely on the wrong side of the tracks. So if you had an ambulance coming in off the highway or something and there happened to be a train going by, of course the train would...You would have to wait. So that is the difficulty with that location.
It seems otherwise that the current ENR/ITI office is the perfect location for the new hospital, and we can’t go out to RFP on anything until we nail that site down. So where is the Minister at in terms of determining that we can have that land and relocate ENR and ITI off that property? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that the Site Selection Committee is recommending the property that the Member is speaking to. I need to get more into the details about how to make that happen, so I will take that under advisement and get back to the Member. Thank you.
