Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Moses.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we proceed to 2017, I know of one question I’d asked about two years ago was just the artifacts and some of the materials that are in the museums throughout Canada and whether or not the Minister would look at pursuing to get those back up in the North so that residents can also participate and see the history of these artifacts and what helped shape the Northwest Territories.
Has he taken the process of doing that or even looking at getting some of these artifacts on loan? Specifically the one in Regina, I know there’s a museum there that has some artifacts from historical events in the Northwest Territories. Has he looked at pursuing those types of options? Thank you.
Thank you. Years ago I did work at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre and I do know that they have some artifacts, RCMP artifacts. They had a nice RCMP display in the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre at the time. There also is an RCMP museum in Regina. So, I think it’s just going to be a case of us trying to put everything together, and if it’s talking to the folks at ECE and approaching the RCMP museum in Regina maybe to repatriate some of those artifacts back to the Northwest Territories, those conversations and actions will take place. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week the NWT was witness to yet another scathing report from the office of the Auditor General and on March 5th the Member for Range Lake was put on notice by the Premier to a series of questions that are still left unanswered.
As I said last week with the Premier, the NWT Corrections Act clearly spells out consequences and processes defining a contravention of the act. With these breaches clearly pointed out by the Auditor General and the regulations, can I, for the second time now, get some answers to some of these questions by the Minister of Justice?
Without belabouring the long list of contraventions and violations of this act in the wake of the recent Auditor General’s report, can the Minister indicate if the department will invoke its legal obligation and responsibilities for the administration of its correctional facilities pursuant to the Corrections Act? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Minister of Justice, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve accepted all of those recommendations that were contained in the report. We acknowledge the results aren’t as good as we would have liked them to be. The department has strong plans in place to address those issues. We also recognize that we need improvement in several areas of the corrections service. The OAG worked with staff to refine the direction and the areas where we needed to concentrate our efforts. As a result of the work currently underway, we’ll have a stronger, more modernized corrections service focused on rehabilitation and public safety.
I think we need to take the report and the review and move forward in a positive direction, and I certainly intend to do just that. Thank you.
That’s all fair and good, but clause 49(1) of the NWT Corrections Act states, “The Minister may appoint persons to investigate and inquire into any matter connected with or affecting the administration and operation of the corrections service or a correctional centre.”
Can the Minister, given the seriousness of the circumstances, indicate to the House when such an investigation will take place? Thank you.
I continue to work with the senior management at the department, the deputy minister. I take the concerns highlighted by the Auditor General’s report very seriously, and as Members know, I’ve been here for going into my 12th year. I’ve had questions in the past regarding the corrections service here in the Northwest Territories. It is my objective here to make things better, to action these recommendations, and I certainly am intent on doing just that.
As far as the Member’s questions and concerns, I will have that discussion with the deputy minister and we’ll take things from there. Thank you.
I’d like to remind the Minister of Section 52 of the same act under Offences and Punishment reads, “A person other than an inmate who (a) contravenes this act or the regulations, or (b) conducts himself or herself in a matter that is detrimental to the good order and discipline of a correctional centre, is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $500 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both.”
Will the Minister of Justice authorize an independent investigation into whether charges should be laid under Section 52, for alleged contraventions of the act and its regulations? Thank you.
It’s unclear to me against whom the charges would be pursued. I’m not sure if the Member could clarify just who we should be charging and under what sections of the Corrections Act. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Dolynny.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have no problem answering that question from the Minister. That’s his duty, not mine.
As we heard, the department had the opportunity to take corrective action back in 2008, the department refused to do so. Now the Auditor General reminds us, now in 2015, we’re still dealing with those very same issues. So any language we’ve heard from the department thus far that claims that if the audit were done today, we’d have a very different process before us, does not hold any water.
One last time, the Minister has the power to appoint an investigation and hold those accountable for breeches under our act. Will he abide by our law? Yes or no. Thank you.
Again, I will go back to the department. As far as an investigation goes, I believe there was a report just done by the Auditor General. It has 14 recommendations. We agree with all 14 recommendations. We are taking steps to make improvements in our corrections service, and we will continue on that path with our accountability framework.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For 61 years the Conference Board of Canada has been a think tank, providing research advice on economic trends and organizational performances on public issues.
Knowing what the Conference Board of Canada has given the Northwest Territories government, what is the Department of Health going to do with this D minus? Are they going to accept it or are they going to dispute the D minus given to this government? If they choose to dispute it, which specific areas are they disputing? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister of Health, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the intents or purposes of the Conference Board of Canada’s How Canada Performs report is to provide decision-makers with tools and assessments they can use to help improve their system. We are going to take these recommendations that have been provided by the Conference Board of Canada to help improve the system. As I’ve already indicated to the Member and to the House, we are doing a number of things here to improve the results for Aboriginal people as well as all people in the Northwest Territories. We will continue to work with our Aboriginal partners, our Aboriginal health and community wellness division, to make these positive changes for all of our people. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would kind of like to hear the answer whether the department either disputes the findings of the Conference Board of Canada or accepts them. If they dispute them, I think Northerners need to know what areas they are disputing and they also need to know the truth of the matter.
Does the department accept the fact that it has received a D minus, which is barely a pass? Thank you.
As I’ve indicated previously, there are large disparities between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people across Canada. The reported health outcomes in the report are partially due to the proportionately larger Aboriginal population that we have in the Northwest Territories. The health outcomes are measured using assessment tools for health outcomes, not health care systems. Mr. Speaker, we are not challenging these results, but we are taking them in the intended from which they were provided. They were to provide us with an opportunity and tools to help improve our system. We are addressing the recommendations. We are reviewing the recommendations to make improvements here for all residents of the Northwest Territories.
The Minister has just said they are not challenging the results, so let’s get it on the record.
Does the Minister accept that the Government of the Northwest Territories Health Care Program has received a fair mark at a D minus? Thank you.
We are not challenging the Conference Board of Canada’s assessment of D minus for health outcomes here in the Northwest Territories. We acknowledge that the health outcomes for our Aboriginal people are less than our other residents in the Northwest Territories. This isn’t something that we’ve been hiding. Members in the House have been very clear about the challenges they see in their communities. We’ve been working with Members and we will continue to work with the Aboriginal governments. We have made improvements such as the Aboriginal health and community wellness division which is working with all the communities in the Northwest Territories on individual community wellness plans to start addressing the root causes of some of these health outcomes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister says he’s not challenging them. It sort of sounds like they are accepting the results the government has received of the barely passing mark of D minus. A D minus is a reflection of the department, its leadership and its management, and I would like to hear how this government is going to change this D minus mark and turn it into an action plan that delivers results specific to the areas targeted and identified by the Conference Board of Canada.
May I remind this House, this is an organization that has been in Canada for 61 years providing good advice, non-partisan advice for guidance of governments like ours. Thank you.
The Member keeps talking about the health care system, but I do need to remind the Member that the Conference Board of Canada’s report, How Canada Performs, is a snapshot at a point in time intended to provide governments with recommendations on how they can improve their systems by providing a snapshot. Health outcomes, once again, are measured using 10 indicators that recognize or evaluate health outcomes, not the health care system. We have to deal with the root causes and here in the Northwest Territories, and today I have clearly articulated that many, many actions and activities that we, as the Department of Health and Social Services, in cooperation with our partner departments, are working towards improving the health outcomes of residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I have Return to Written Question 34-17(5) asked by Ms. Bisaro to the Honourable Michael Miltenberger, Minister of Finance, on February 16, 2015, regarding decentralization analysis.
I would like to provide the following information to the Members’ questions.
Now that we are moving into phase III of decentralization, describe any and all analyses of the government’s decentralization actions to date.
The decentralization initiative is now integrated into the business planning process. This means any new position being proposed by departments will be assessed to determine if the position should be decentralized. Departments will need to provide substantiation to the Financial Management Board if decentralization of the position is not feasible.
Of the 150 GNWT positions decentralized (per Premier McLeod in Hansard, February 10, 2015), advise the job title for each position, the original community for each position and the new community for each position.
A document providing the requested information will be tabled later today at the appropriate time.
Of the 150 GNWT positions decentralized, advise how many of the positions were vacant at the time the positions were transferred.
Of the 150 positions, 122 positions were vacant at the time of decentralization.
Of the 150 GNWT positions decentralized, advise how many of the positions were new PYs.
Of the 150 positions, 132 were new.
Of the 150 GNWT positions decentralized, advise how many incumbents chose to leave the employ of the GNWT.
Of the 150 positions, two incumbents left the GNWT.
Of the 150 GNWT positions decentralized, advise how many of the incumbents chose to leave the NWT and relocate elsewhere.
Of the 150 positions, one incumbent chose to leave the NWT.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Item 10, replies to opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Mr. Moses.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Social Programs has reviewed Bill 42, An Act to Amend the Residential Tenancies Act, and wishes to report that Bill 42 is now ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole as amended and reprinted. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following documented, entitled “Return to Written Question 23-17(5), Decentralization Analysis.” Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Ramsay.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following four documents, entitled “2014 NWT Survey of Mining Employees Overall Report, December 2014;” “Review of the Venture Investment Program and the Contribution Programs of the NWT Business Development and Investment Corporation, March 2013;” “Review of Business Development and Investment Corporation Programs, Final Report, November 2013;” and “Program Review of the Northwest Territories Development and Investment Corporation, October 2014.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Wednesday, March 11, 2015, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that the Legislative Assembly strongly recommends that the Department of Health and Social Services investigate the feasibility of a domestic violence death review committee for the Northwest Territories;
And further, that the government provide a comprehensive response to this motion within 120 days. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Wednesday, March 11, 2015, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that the Legislative Assembly strongly recommends that the Department of Health and Social Services work with Aboriginal governments to establish a wellness centre at Stanton Territorial Hospital;
And further, that the Department of Health and Social Services incorporate a wellness centre into its plan for renewal of the Stanton Territorial Hospital;
And furthermore, that the government provide a comprehensive response to this motion within 120 days. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
