Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank the mover and seconder for bringing this motion to the floor as well as bringing the important discussion. I’ve listened carefully to all the Members and what I think is clear is that addressing the issues of individuals living with disabilities is a shared responsibility, and clearly we need to work together on solutions, whether that’s government to government or governments working with NGOs or NGOs working together. We must all work together in meaningful partnerships to actually make change and bring about change for people with disabilities.
To that end, I’d also like to also applaud the NWT Disabilities Council for being such strong advocates for persons with disabilities and for doing the report that they recently did. The department works very closely with the NWT Disabilities Council. Recently, we collaborated on several products, including the Yellowknife Day Shelter Project and, more importantly, the Community-based Respite Project.
I recently met with the council on May 26, 2015, and at that time the preliminary results from the Disabilities Survey Project were actually shared with me. The survey is aligned with some of the work that is currently being done with the GNWT. Following up on the review, under the leadership of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, they are conducting a new baseline inventory of GNWT programs and resources that are available to persons with disabilities within the territory. That work is currently being done.
I wrote to the council on June 2nd and committed to having the findings of the final survey report considered in all future planning that is being done by the Department of Health and Social Services and other departments that have other responsibilities with respect to persons with disabilities. Mr. Speaker, I stand by that commitment today and I stand by that commitment in the future.
The final report of the survey project was shared with staff in each of the partner departments on June 9, 2015. It will be considered as we move forward with future planning, once that baseline evaluation of all the programs offered by the GNWT is done and complete.
The council has indicated that they tend to initiate dialogue with partner departments and bring those departments together to have a discussion about what they saw, what they heard and their thoughts on the plan. I checked with the department, and that meeting hasn’t been organized at this point by the council, but I know that at the Department of Health and Social Services and staff in other departments are available and obviously would be pleased to discuss the work that is already underway as well as discuss any new or future opportunities that we have with respect to persons with disabilities.
There have been a lot of suggestions to say that nothing has been done. Although I hear the Members, I don’t fully agree. I think more can be done, but there has been a number of things done as a result of that report. For example, the GNWT delivers a range of programs and services to support persons with disabilities. As the Minister, I continue to recognize the importance of supporting services and programs for persons with disabilities.
The Department of Health and Social Services provides funding to non-government organizations to provide disability-related services. NGOs remain valuable partners in the delivery of programs and services to persons with disabilities. I will give you a few examples here. This year we are providing the NWT Disabilities Council with $184,164 and an additional $226,553 for community-based respite outside of Yellowknife. The Hay River Committee for Persons with Disabilities receives $37,000 annually. The Canadian National Institute for the Blind receives $100,000 annually. The Yellowknife Association for Community Living receives $250,000 annually for community-based respite. The NWT Seniors’ Society receives $199,000 annually.
Mr. Speaker, we are taking a system-wide approach to best meet the needs of NWT residents with disabilities and a number of the actions that were included in the 2008 Disability Action Plan – and this is important – are now imbedded within the department’s strategic plan, or aligned closely or directly articulated in the Early Childhood Development Right From The Start Framework. Right From The Start Framework for Early Childhood Development focuses on prevention as well as identifying and providing supports for children with disabilities. This includes screening for the development of disabilities; support for at-risk families to minimize the risk and impact of disabilities; and improve diagnostic and therapeutic supports for children with disabilities. It also includes case management support for families and children, and improves support for expectant mothers for prevention of disabilities such as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
The department continues to work with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment on disability initiatives such as Learning Supports for Persons with Disabilities Committee and Advocacy and Information Services.
The Labour Market Agreement for Persons with Disabilities was signed by the Government of Canada in February 2014 and will provide funding to better support education and training and to promote employment participation for persons with disabilities. This agreement was one of a series of recent labour market agreements successfully negotiated between the GNWT and the Government of Canada including the targeted initiative for older workers and Canada-NWT Job Fund agreements.
A four-year agreement will provide $1.25 million in cost matched funding to new and existing programs.
The NWT Housing Corporation and the Department of Health and Social Services work closely in developing supported independent living housing for seniors in designated communities. Five facilities are built, they’re replacing the Joe Greenland Centre in Aklavik, and four new facilities in Fort Liard, Fort McPherson, Fort Good Hope and Whati.
The NWT Housing Corporation also offers the CARE Program. CARE assists existing homeowners in making necessary repairs to their home to ensure a safe and healthy residence and to increase the remaining economic life of their home. Additional assistance is available for improving the accessibility of dwellings for persons with disabilities assistance. Up to $100,000 is provided in the form of a forgivable loan to subsidize the cost of preventative maintenance, checks, repairs and renovations in their existing homes.
Low-income homeowners with disabilities may be eligible for up to $100,000 to carry out modifications to their home to improve accessibility and support independent living. Modifications may include such things such as construction of wheelchair access ramps, installation of grab bars in bathrooms and creating better access to bathtubs, showers and the kitchen. There are also services such as home care assistance, respite services offered through our Home Care Program to provide temporary relief for families taking care of their loved ones who have disabilities. We fund the supportive living program, providing people with disabilities with residential services and day programs to help promote independence and personal choice.
The Department of Health and Social Services will continue to work with our partners to improve the quality of life of Northerners with disabilities by providing the appropriate access to sustainable programs. However, while I agree that we should strive constantly to improve upon what we do for residents with disabilities, Cabinet is unable to support this motion at this time and will be abstaining as it is direction to the government.
But I do commit to taking a copy of Hansard as well as all the information provided and the report from the NWT Disabilities Council and make it available to the future Minister and to the future Assembly so that they can be informed when they come to the 18th Legislative Assembly so that we can once again have some meaningful debate on this issue and move forward.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Closing remarks. Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to start by recognizing the Minister’s call for all people to be working on this, all those of us in authority, and have some responsibility for doing work on this. I think, in this particular case, I know when I, along with my colleagues Bisaro and Hawkins, in this case, attended the latest AGM of NWT council, I was a little bit shocked. I think Mr. Moses expressed disappointment that I felt in myself for not being more on top of that.
I’m glad to hear the Minister has already been working with the council and community councils in addressing many of the issues that we’re raising today, and this will be good support for him and the 18th Assembly.
I think, as mentioned, we’re really talking about our constituents, thousands of whom and thousands of families, thousands of constituent families are persons with disabilities or struggling with those things, so we’re talking about our own people. We’re talking about community well-being. We’re asking this to be made a real and active priority with every department, and we’ve heard from the Minister of Health and Social Services. We’re asking that this be given the profile in every department and that every department be given the tools to actively address the priorities that have been identified by the council. Again, as the Minister said, this is a message we are asking to be carried forward.
We heard from several people that this is very disheartening to see people with disabilities struggling in our communities when in fact we have the opportunity to provide the key supports they need. I am a little disappointed we didn’t, including myself. I appreciate that we’re starting to get after that, and I appreciate hearing from all my colleagues today.
The community council perspectives are important. They are active and critical for persons with disabilities in every community. We heard that mobility and the handivan issue is common.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The Member is asking for a recorded vote. All those in favour, please rise.
Mr. Bromley, Mr. Yakeleya, Mr. Blake, Mrs. Groenewegen, Mr. Dolynny, Mr. Bouchard, Mr. Nadli, Mr. Hawkins, Ms. Bisaro, Mr. Moses.
All those opposed, please rise. All those abstaining, please rise.
Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Abernethy, Mr. Miltenberger, Mr. McLeod - Yellowknife South, Mr. Ramsay, Mr. McLeod - Inuvik Twin Lakes.
All those in favour, ten; opposed, zero; abstentions, six. The motion is carried.
---Carried
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 70, Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2016-2017, be read for the first time.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. The motion is carried.
---Carried
Bill 70 has had first reading.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Bill 69, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 2, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, Bill 69 makes a number of amendments to the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act. These include amendments to:
•
allow for the duration of the Legislative Assembly to be extended in the event of a postponed polling day under the Elections and Plebiscites Act;
•
align the sitting requirements of the Legislative Assembly with the Northwest Territories Act (Canada);
•
clarify certain provisions in respect of processes for appointments and revocations; and
•
extend the period before an election within which a vacancy may occur without requiring a by-election.
The bill also makes a related amendment to the Elections and Plebiscites Act with respect to a postponed polling day in the event of conflict with a federal election period. This bill comes into force on polling day for the General Election that follows the dissolution of the 17th Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. To the principle of the bill.
Question.
Question has been called. The motion is carried.
---Carried
Bill 69, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 2, has had second reading. Mr. Bouchard.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 69(2) and have Bill 69, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 2, moved into Committee of the Whole for today.
---Unanimous consent granted
Mr. Miltenberger.
I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 70, Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2016-2017, be read for the second time.
This bill authorizes the Government of the Northwest Territories to make infrastructure expenditures for the 2016-2017 fiscal year. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.
Question.
Question has been called. Bill 70, Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2016-2017, has had second reading.
---Carried
I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of the committee, Ms. Bisaro?
Thank you, Madam Chair. We’d like to continue with Tabled Document 325-17(5), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2015-2016. If we complete that, Tabled Document 324-17(5), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2015-2016. If we are really efficient, we will move on to Bill 56, Bill 59, Bill 62, Bill 63, Bill 64 and Bill 69.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Committee agreed?
Agreed.
Agreed. We will proceed with that after a brief break.
---SHORT RECESS
I’d like to call Committee of the Whole back to order. When we left off on Friday, we were on Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2015-2016. I will ask Minister Miltenberger if you would like to take the witnesses table and bring witnesses into the Chamber.
Yes, I would, Madam Chair. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, could you please escort the witnesses to the table.
For the record today, joining Minister Miltenberger is Sandy Kalgutkar, deputy secretary to Cabinet; and Mr. Mike Aumond, deputy minister of Finance.
I would like to ask Members if they have any general comments, please.
Detail.
Okay, detail. Thank you, Members. Please turn to page 6 of the tabled document. Education, Culture and Employment, labour development and standards, not previously authorized, $100,000. Total department, $100,000.
Agreed.
Thank you. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, forest management, not previously authorized $406,000. Total department, $406,000.
Agreed.
Page 8, Finance, Office of the Chief Information Officer, not previously authorized, $120,000. Office of the Comptroller General, not previously authorized, $160,000. Total department, not previously authorized, $280,000.
Agreed.
Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Could I have an explanation of this last item of $280,000? It sounds like there was a surplus in the child and family services budget for the information system that we’ve been trying to get in place for years now. In fact, I was told there was ongoing work that we’d approved for this fiscal year and that there was even more capital dollars planned for next year to finish off the Child and Family Services Information System. If I’ve got that right, I’m questioning how there can be this $280,000 in surplus given we’re barely halfway through the year, if I’m understanding this correctly. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Mr. Aumond.
