Pleased be seated. Monsieur le président and Members of the Legislative Assembly, as Commissioner of the Northwest Territories I am pleased to assent to the following bill:
Bill 20, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 2008–2009
Merci beaucoup, merci and quyanainni.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to make a point of order in relation to an answer provided by the Premier, the Hon. Floyd Roland, in response to Oral Question 428-16(2) on October 6, 2008.
Mr. Speaker, I refer to Rule 23(m), which states that a Member will be called to order if the Member “introduces any matter in debate that offends the practices and precedents of the Assembly.”
Page 30 of the unedited Hansard from October 6, 2008, reads: “I offered some opportunities for improvement from the last bit of criticism I had about strategic initiative committees. I got a response from the Chair of P&P on that. I guess that offer wasn’t good enough either.”
In his response Mr. Roland, the Premier, referred to matters pertaining to a confidential exchange of information that he had with members of the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning. The Premier’s reference to these matters and discussions offends the long standing convention of committee and Cabinet confidentiality, which extends to committee documents, transcripts and correspondence.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. I will allow a bit of debate on the point of order. If you want to speak to the point of order, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We were having a discussion in the House yesterday about the Members’ desire to be more involved in the activities and actions of this government that are initiated by the Cabinet and by the Premier. In response to that — I suppose in an effort to defend the government’s record — the Premier made reference to an offer that was for Regular Members to participate on certain committees.
As Chair of P and P I was tasked to respond to the government, the Premier and Cabinet that we did not wish to participate on those committees. I think that particular bit of information was not in any way otherwise in the public realm. With our style of government I think it’s very important that we draw a distinction between those matters that are tabled public documents before the House and those pieces of correspondence and communication that take place in relation to our committee work and our interaction with the government through our committee work.
I do believe that the Premier erred in making reference to that. As a Member asking a question, I was not in a good position to defend the reasons that decision was made. I don’t think it should have been divulged in the way it was. I think this could lead to a blurring of the lines with respect to this type of communication, which should remain confidential.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. To the point of order, the Hon. Premier, Mr. Roland.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The response I gave in question period yesterday that the Member has chosen to raise as a point of order…. In fact, when you look at the way we do our business as the Government of the Northwest Territories, in this forum there are many times there is reference to the direction the government or myself as Premier or one of the Ministers takes. In trying to defend our positions, we have to at times reference and let the people of the Territories know more of what’s happening.
I think it’s fair debate to respond to issues raised in this House that Members make a point of or raise. Maybe I wasn’t crafty enough to not reference a letter from the Chair of P and P. I didn’t go into detail about what that was. The simple fact is there are times in this House when we make reference to ongoing discussions or try to respond to Members on issues that do come up that need, I guess, weight on both sides of the issue being raised.
In this case, Mr. Speaker, I was referencing some correspondence I had received and on that basis responded. As people see this debate, and they only do see a small part of the debate of this House, they need to see both sides of the equation. I used that as information. If I’ve offended the Member in that area, I would apologize.
The simple fact is that Members have as well at times made reference to correspondence we’ve given to them, and we haven’t stood up and said you can’t speak to that issue. The fact is that our correspondence between us, at times, is the centre of that discussion. It would be pretty hard to have any form of debate or discussion or even responses to Members if we weren’t from time to time able to respond to correspondence we did receive from Members.
I would say, Mr. Speaker, that in trying to respond to the Member, all I did was put more information out there that all Members are aware of in this House.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. To the point of order. Seeing there is no further debate on the point of order, I will take it under advisement and return at a later date with my ruling.
Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time this afternoon, as the Chair of the Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee, I will table this government’s Energy Priorities Framework.
This document outlines the priority actions that we need to undertake to address our short and long term energy needs. Our initiatives are presented in five key action areas as set out in the 2007 NWT Energy Plan:
energy conservation and efficiency;
alternative energy and emerging technologies;
energy development and supply;
energy policy and planning; and
reducing the Government of the Northwest Territories’ own energy use.
Heading into the winter season, NWT residents are facing higher costs for energy. The immediate and most effective response we have to addressing this challenge is to conserve and to improve the energy efficiency of our homes, businesses and public buildings.
Since the release of the NWT Energy Plan the GNWT has invested over $1 million, largely through the Arctic Energy Alliance, to ensure NWT residents have the tools and information they need to manage their energy use. We have also invested significantly in finding ways to cut our own energy costs and in putting alternative energy technologies in the hands of our residents and communities.
However, as a government, Mr. Speaker, our approach to high energy costs must be balanced between these types of short term actions and the development of long term solutions to our energy challenges. We must invest in ways to reduce our reliance on imported diesel and develop our own local energy sources.
For this reason the priorities framework that I am presenting today also outlines initiatives such as:
the development of our hydro potential;
expanding the use of biomass;
developing wind energy;
investigating our geothermal potential; and
pursuing the use of Northwest Territories natural gas to heat and power our communities.
The upcoming 2009–2010 business planning process will provide all Members an opportunity to discuss the potential for significant investments in these alternative energy sources.
In the coming weeks we will be releasing two additional documents for public discussion in support of our energy priorities framework. The draft NWT hydro strategy proposes a number of actions to support the long term development of our world class hydro potential, and a discussion paper on the review of electricity regulation, generation and distribution will engage residents and communities in a broad discussion on the principles upon which our electricity system is based.
Mr. Speaker, these documents are part of the broad and coordinated approach to meet the stated priorities of the 16th Legislative Assembly:
to pursue initiatives that will reduce the cost of living and, in particular, rising energy costs;
to work proactively with residents, communities and industry on means to address and mitigate climate change; and
to advance alternative energy initiatives.
I look forward to receiving the continued input of all Members of the Legislative Assembly on these initiatives and to working together to advance our government’s important work towards a sustainable energy future for all residents of the Northwest Territories.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week a number of concerns and questions were raised by Members about the pricing of fuel in the Northwest Territories and the degree of competition in the Yellowknife retail fuel market.
The first step in assessing a situation should be to review the available information. The Department of Finance has compiled information on gasoline and diesel fuel prices in Yellowknife and other major cities in Canada from its own database and from outside sources. Unfortunately, these numbers are not available for heating oil.
The department conducts quarterly price surveys of Yellowknife gasoline retailers as part of its administration of the Petroleum Products Tax Act. These surveys show frequent differences in gasoline prices. In fact, every survey since 1995 has shown price variation among Yellowknife retailers.
Information published by MJ Ervin, an independent company reporting weekly fuel prices across Canada, shows that the difference between Yellowknife prices and Edmonton prices has been shrinking over the past nine years. For the past year the difference has averaged just over 20 cents a litre.
Although transportation is a major reason for the difference, taxes, labour costs, utilities and construction costs all contribute to the difference. These numbers also show that prices in Yellowknife are much less volatile than those in other Canadian locations.
Mr. Speaker, this government is concerned about the cost of living in the North. The cost of energy, including gasoline and heating oil, is an important part of the cost of living. Government regulation of prices makes sense where there is a monopoly, as in the case of electricity, but there is no evidence of lack of competition in the case of gasoline, particularly in Yellowknife.
Later today, at the appropriate time, I will be tabling a document that summarizes this information.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Being healthy begins with having a healthy start as a baby. It is now proven beyond any doubt that babies who are breastfed have a head start on maintaining good health throughout their lives.
In the Northwest Territories we are making exceptional progress at promoting breastfeeding as a better way to nourish infants. Annually we join other countries in recognizing World Breastfeeding Week from October 1 to 7 as a way to promote a sense of well-being and to keep breastfeeding a traditional practice and socially accepted norm when it comes to feeding babies.
This year on October 11 the Department of Health and Social Services will partner with community Canadian prenatal nutrition programs, nutritionists, community workers, public health units and Moms, Boobs and Babies in Yellowknife to join the rest of the world by participating in the eighth annual Quintessence Foundation Breastfeeding Challenge.
Breastfeeding mothers will globally unite at 11 a.m. on that day. One aspect of the challenge is for a region like the Territories to be able to say it has the most babies breastfeeding at one site at one time.
In the NWT last year a total of 35 babies from Yellowknife and Fort Smith were part of the challenge. This year we hope to have ten communities registered for the challenge, with numerous mothers and babies signing up to join in. As of September 30, six NWT communities have registered. I would like to thank the organizers for taking the time to register their communities.
Mr. Speaker, this challenge provides an opportunity to globally celebrate breastfeeding and demonstrate promotion, protection and support for breastfeeding women and their families. It recognizes breastfeeding as the gold standard in terms of nourishment. Its benefits include the lower risk of many diseases as well. Breastfeeding helps healthy brains develop.
Later this year I’d like to ask the public to look out for our NWT campaign posters and T-shirts on which are photos of well known, successful Northerners who all have one thing in common: they each were breastfed. Mr. Speaker, I will be one of them.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.
Mr. Speaker, our government’s new Support to Entrepreneurs and Economic Development Policy officially took effect on September 2, 2008. This policy, which is known as the SEED policy, was developed in response to a major review of the department’s business programs completed in 2006.
One of the key themes that emerged from our review was that GNWT business programs should provide a chance for growth, employment and self-sufficiency to a wider scope of businesses outside of the Northwest Territories’ major centres.
We heard that our programs should focus on the needs of our clients, work more effectively with banks and other partners, and incorporate a streamlined and simple approach. I can assure you today, Mr. Speaker, that the SEED policy meets all these challenges.
This program will better serve the needs of prospective businesses in smaller communities where funding contributions are often difficult to attain through normal banking channels. It allows for support in specific sectors and continues to provide support to those self-employed in the traditional economy, arts and film sectors. It also provides for economic development on an individual community level and includes support for related activities and initiatives such as arts festivals or community economic promotions.
I would like to take a moment to thank the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure for the guidance they have provided through our extensive review and consultation process.
Mr. Speaker, the SEED policy, which replaces the Business Development Fund and Grants to Small Business programs, reflects our Assembly’s goal to promote a diversified economy that provides all communities and regions with opportunities and choices. In particular, it responds to our stated priorities: to promote development that reduces regional and community disparities and to support the development of sustainable local economies through small business and community based sectors.
Thank you, Minister McLeod. The Hon. Premier, Minister Roland.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to advise Members that the Hon. Michael McLeod will be absent from the House today, tomorrow and Thursday to attend the Provincial and Territorial Ministers responsible for Housing meeting in Ottawa.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Maybe I’m going to take a page out of Mr. Menicoche’s book and stand up every day and talk about the Diamond Jenness Secondary School, like he did about the gymnasium in Nahanni Butte until he finally got a response.
Mr. Speaker, I’ve had students talk in this House many times about the Diamond Jenness Secondary School. I’m sure Members are all too familiar with the problems that face that school.
Mr. Speaker, for the record, one more time, this is a school that is more than 35 years old, and it has had no significant upgrades done to it. It is too cold in the winter. It is too hot in the summer. It has air quality issues. It had asbestos wrap on the heating pipes, which resulted in the school having to be closed down; this kept being done.
Mr. Speaker, to this day I myself have never actually laid eyes on those air quality reports that were conducted and reported on. I would like to see those air quality reports. I would like to ask if the Minister of Public Works will table those in the House.
Mr. Speaker, there has been way too much deferred maintenance on this building. There are issues with the foundation. It continues to get worse when it is not attended to. I don’t know what it’s going to take to get some action on this school. We’ve had Ministers down. We’ve gone on tours. We’ve pointed out all the problems. We’ve had the renovation or replacement of the school red flagged — whatever that means. I won’t be raising any white flags on this one. There’s going to be no surrender. I want something done about Diamond Jenness.
We’ve got money for all kinds of other things. The students and the educators in Hay River deserve better than what we try to educate our students in at Hay River. We already have other school students in Hay River taking up the classroom space in the boardroom of one of our local hotels. I mean, we have some serious issues. Like I said, we seem to have a lot of money for other things.
Mr. Speaker, I’m not trying to prescribe the solution. I’m not saying it’s the replacement of the school. Perhaps it is a major mechanical upgrade. That is a formula that has to be worked out and planned to be worked out by PWS. What we do have in hand is a functional review of this building that says this building is in serious need of attention.
Later today I am going to have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to find out what he is going to do about the conditions that exist at the Diamond Jenness Secondary School in Hay River.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
The die has been cast, Mr. Speaker, and this government seems to have set in motion the decision to implement the regional services board model as a quintessential advantage of board reform. I agree there are too many boards out there, and we should examine their mandates and strive for efficiencies where we can find them, especially during times of fiscal crisis and restraint.
What’s odd about the situation is that it’s no different from the repeated request made by me and many other Members for program review before slicing and dicing. What is interesting here, as usual, is that any decision that requires a soft glove approach becomes one of urgency and is greased through the system. I want to highlight my official concern and caution, as I can hear the Finance Minister resharpening his boning knives, which have only recently become dull on our public service because of the lack of direction.
The intent behind consolidating health and social services, education and housing boards may not be bad in principle by itself, but when considering all of those mandates under one regional board, the problems start to surface on their own. I fear that this government has come up with an implementation model and put into motion an implementation process without costing this issue by realizing at what cost.
Can anyone provide any analysis of the costs of this change? I doubt it. Can anyone provide any analysis of the efficiency of this change? I doubt that too. The Finance Minister, as always, seems convinced of the virtues of his direction and is full of wishful thinking about the implementation of this task facing him.
I look forward to hearing about what he has identified as a proposal here in Yellowknife for three school boards, a local health authority and, of course, the Stanton Territorial Hospital. I also look forward to the engagement of our public stakeholders in an open and transparent manner about the problems we face with this approach and how they plan to solve these problems with their approach.
Mr. Speaker, I only hope that board reform or government policy isn’t mandated by either wishful thinking or any magic eight ball. I prefer community based boards that respond to community based needs on their structures. I’m concerned that people will lose faith, local control and input if everything is rolled up into a regional board.
Mr. Speaker, I suggest a caring and a modest approach, one the Finance Minister is characteristically not familiar with. I support board reform and efficiency, but don’t take the community relationship out of the factor just to save a few dollars.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
[Statement delivered in aboriginal language and then in English.]
Mr. Speaker, one long standing issue facing the community of Wrigley has been a lack of permanent nursing and policing services. The government’s position has been that until there are police stationed in Wrigley, Health and Social Services would not station a permanent nurse there.
The situation has changed, Mr. Speaker. There is now a guarantee that there will soon be policing services in that community, and I want to thank the Minister of Justice and the Government of the Northwest Territories for that.
On the same note, I do have to say that the Department of Health and Social Services has indicated that they will not be moving forward with placing a permanent nurse in that community. The funding is available to station a nurse in the community, so why the delay in meeting and agreeing to the commitment that was previously made?
Wrigley has been without permanent nursing services for many years. Communities with residents deserve some level of assurance that they can receive essential health care when they need it.
Mr. Speaker, one of the goals we established at the beginning of this Assembly was a commitment to help foster vibrant and healthy communities and individuals. How can we possibly meet that goal if our smallest communities are denied access to locally available, basic health services?
Wrigley and other small communities in the NWT deserve better from this government. I urge the government to live up to its commitment to the people of Wrigley and station a permanent nurse in that community. Mahsi cho.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the last year I have had the honour as the MLA of Nunakput to travel across this beautiful territory. Since then I have seen many stunning schools. Don’t get me wrong, Mr. Speaker; the students deserve these comprehensive facilities, but so do we.
This is the shame of the government. The community schools are supposed to be a focal point of the community, where activities and gatherings and, most importantly, where learning takes place, but when a school lacks even the most basic standards, the whole community suffers. That, Mr. Speaker, is wrong.
Mr. Speaker, students should be able to go to a school they enjoy and feel comfortable in. Educating is not only books and tests; it’s the building, the environment, the teachers, the community.
One of the government’s pledges was to provide good and equal education for all residents of the Northwest Territories, but when it comes to smaller communities, schools are far below large centre standards such as Yellowknife’s. I wonder when this government is going to put their money where their mouth is.
Mr. Speaker, trades and learning skills must be promoted by this government. What better way of promoting these skills than a home ec, shop or industrial technical learning expansion centre? When the Territories begin some megaprojects, we are going to need thousands of northern skilled workers.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
Unanimous consent granted.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Is this government going to wait until we have to teach geometry in the hallways and the bathrooms and staff have to eat their lunches in a donated sea can, until students and counsellors have to talk about their personal challenges in the library and not in a private space? Or is this government going to commit to the building expansion of Mangilaluk School that the community needs so badly?
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [Statement delivered in aboriginal language and then in English.]
I would like to talk about the elders facility in Fort Resolution. As you know, Mr. Speaker, I have raised this issue previously, and it is a very important issue for the communities.
Currently, ailing elders are sent out in the community for care and assistance. With some effort by the government and the community the situation can be changed to allow the elders to remain in the community. This is something the community has been requesting for a long time.
Mr. Speaker, I know this facility would require some renovations to meet the special needs and codes required for such use. When elders are sent away, costs are incurred. These costs could be converted to cover the costs of upgrades and caring for and providing assistance to elders who remain in the community.
Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, there will always be cases where the elder must be sent out, but for the most part many of these elderly patients could be cared for in the facility by the community, by local workers and the families. Leaving the community means leaving the comfort zone they have been used to all their lives. Many times they are placed in a completely foreign and impersonal environment. Family and friends do not have the means to travel and visit, leaving the elders alone for extended periods of time and staying with only strangers.
Mr. Speaker, the support of family and friends plays an important role in the day to day well-being of the elders. It’s no secret that without this support, the condition of many of these elders soon gets progressively worse. Eventually their will to live is gone. Recently we had a case where an elder was moved to Yellowknife. He and his wife of 55 years were inconsolable. When they finally got to see each other, all they could do was hold each other and cry. In this day and age this cannot be the best government can do.
Mr. Speaker, I know we are in the environment of cutbacks, but some costs are necessary, and this is one such situation. As the government it is incumbent upon all of us to ensure the elderly are properly cared for in their home communities and that the dignity to live out their final days in their own environment is not taken away from them.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since last November when my son was born, my wife and I have had to install, take out and reinstall car seats to safely transport our son. Like other parents, we read the instructions and do the best we can to install the car seat. Currently in the Northwest Territories there is nowhere a parent can go to have a car seat inspected to see if it has been recalled or properly installed.
This is a concern, because car crashes are the number one cause of death for children from birth to 14 years. In a recent report submitted to the federal Health Minister, Tony Clement, Dr. Kelly Leitch reported that there are over 6,000 head injuries per year — a figure that she states is grossly underestimated — and that the vast majority of these are caused by car accidents. Her recommendation is that each territory and province have a site where parents or grandparents can go to ensure their children or grandchildren are transported safely in a vehicle.
Again, Mr. Speaker, today there isn’t one place, whether it is in Yellowknife, Hay River or Inuvik, where parents can go to have that seat checked for proper installation. Currently there is a proposal that has gone forward to the Department of Health and Social Services asking for some funding to bring a trainer to Yellowknife and to Inuvik to train 16 people in becoming St. John Ambulance’s car seat installation educators. The successful participants would then become educators in their home communities.
The course will also include a discussion on how to offer community based clinics and a discussion on the use of used child seats and loaner programs. The successful participants of the training will educate others on how to properly select and install child seats. The goal will not be to have them become installers but, rather, educators, to spread the knowledge as widely as possible across the territory.
Mr. Speaker, funding this project and this proposal makes sense. I’m not sure why we are continually finding excuses not to fund the training program when we know there is a gap in service. It will make the transport of our greatest resource, our children, much more safe and also provide those parents who need advice or guidance with an outlet to ensure they’re selecting the right car seat and installing it properly for their children. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last night I attended the world premiere of the Akaitcho Territory Dene First Nations film Tu Beta Ts’ena, which is “Water is Life.” At that film we were introduced to Terry Woolf, who did the filming, Alex Czarnecki, who was the director, and Norm Glowach, who wrote some original songs for the movie.
Also during the film, the facilitator was encouraging members of the audience to go out into the foyer after the meeting and get copies of some letters they had prepared to be distributed to the Premier of the Northwest Territories, the Premier of Alberta and the Prime Minister of Canada. As part of my Member’s statement I would like to read from the letter they are directing to the Premier of the Northwest Territories. It goes as follows:
“Dear Premier Floyd Roland,
“I just viewed the premiere of Tu Beta Ts’ena, “Water is Life”, a film production of the Akaitcho Territory Dene First Nation. This documentary confirms my concerns that there must be an immediate halt to new tar sands development and extensive study of the cumulative impact of current oil and gas development prior to further exploration.
“We need to know the cumulative effects to assess the impact of this industrial development on the water, land, animals and people who live downstream from the tar sands in the Northwest Territories and Northern Alberta. I am shocked to learn how little consultation there has been with people living downstream. Responsible development is a matter of justice. I urge you to protect the health, culture, environment and economy of the Northwest Territories by joining the growing call for a halt to new tar sands development and adequate study of the cumulative effects of development to date. Your constituents deserve no less.
“I look forward to hearing what you are doing to protect this important ecosystem and people who live here.”
Mr. Speaker, I imagine that many of these letters will be sent to the Premier over the next couple of days, and I encourage him and Cabinet to take them seriously.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are all painfully aware that we will have to swallow an increase to our power rates this winter. The Northwest Territories Power Corporation is the provider of power to most NWT communities, but it does not enable progress in the area of power generation for communities. It creates problems for us.
There is a fundamental problem with the mandate of the corporation and the regulatory regime it operates under. We’re bombarded with messages urging us to conserve energy, to do all possible to reduce consumption for the benefit of both the environment — the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions — and the consumer — less energy used equals lower electricity costs. I agree that we should be trying to conserve for both of these reasons.
But hold on. This logic is counterproductive if our power comes from the NTPC. The more we reduce our energy consumption, the less power we use. The less power we use, the more NTPC revenues drop. The more their revenues drop, the more riders they add to our bills. When NTPC cannot generate enough revenues to meet their expenditures, they ask for a rate increase or rate riders to make up for their lost revenue. And the bottom line is that the dollar figures they put on our power bills go up.
Where in this scenario, Mr. Speaker, is the incentive for any NWT homeowner to want to reduce energy consumption? Until we change this system, we can never get ahead. Either the environment will take a beating or our residents will take a beating, and lately it seems that we as residents are taking a worse beating.
Calculation of NWT power rates must be completely revamped with a view to fairness and equity, and I am glad to hear that there is something coming forward for us to respond to. Capital costs for upgrades to power generation in one community have to be applied to all communities across the territory, not just the individual community where the infrastructure is built.
NTPC itself must be renewed and reorganized. A culture of efficiency and effectiveness must be instilled. Cost saving has to be priority number one for this company, and there are lots of possibilities where savings can be found. The corporation can eliminate management bonuses, trim administrative fat and get creative with technology and innovation, for starters.
Only after NTPC has clearly demonstrated that all avenues for cost savings have been explored can it be allowed to consider power rate increases for its users. It is the duty of the Power Corp to do all it can to minimize the impact of power generation costs on the….
