Masi. Minister for Municipal and Community Affairs.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we had a lot of feedback from the communities because a lot of communities were part of the group that reviewed the formula funding. We had a lot of feedback from the communities. We had a lot of feedback from the NWTAC, which represents all 33 communities in Northwest Territories. Thank you.
I'd also like to ask the Minister: what are we doing to ensure communities won't be negatively impacted by changes to the formula funding?
Our communities, they have stressed to us that they feel like they are challenged. We have given them opportunities to use some of their CPI funding that we distribute to them. I think it's up to 10 per cent that they can use to help with the O and M. Again, we won't know the potential impacts until we have a conversation with them as to the reduction in the Territorial Formula Financing.
How will the new formula funding take into account the rising cost of living?
When the formula funding review group reviewed all that, they took all that into consideration because they felt that in the past there has not been any increase due to inflationary costs and the higher cost of doing business. The plan was to initiate that work at the beginning of the life of the 18th Assembly, but we thought that, at that time, during the 17th Assembly, if we took advantage of the opportunity we had to start that work, when the new 18th Assembly came in, they would have all the information they needed to go forward. Rather than start the work now and have it done in two years, we did it in the17th, so Members coming in the 18th Assembly would have a better understanding of the challenges that our communities are facing.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that leads me to my next question. When can we expect to see this new plan to be rolled out? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As Members have heard me say in the last two weeks that we have been here and even before that, the challenges that we're facing financially, I mean, we would love to be able to be in a position where we can help a lot of the communities with their challenges that they face. We have challenges of our own as a government, and it's one of the reasons we're trying to go through the exercise that we are going through, so we can be in a position to help our communities with some of the challenges they face. Plus, being able to invest into infrastructure which would create jobs in a lot of the smaller communities. As we well hear, that's an important priority to Members opposite. It is challenging times, but we are doing what we can to try and mitigate our way through that and be able to be in a position where we can deal with all the issues before us.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.
Question 120-18(2):
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier this week we learned that the NWT Housing Corporation plans to build 45 homes for the RCMP. My question is to the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. Do they know how many of those homes are supposed to be built in each region, in each community, and specifically in Hay River? Thank you
Masi. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't know at this moment, but I can get the numbers and actually give it to all of the MLAs so they'll actually know how many are in each unit. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I understand from the Minister's previous comments in the House that the RCMP approached the Housing Corporation so the RCMP didn't have to negotiate with multiple companies in each community for housing. Instead of adding the 45 units to the hundred-plus market units that the Housing Corporation already needs to build, has the Housing Corporation considered implementing a program similar to the Rent Supplement Program, where local businesses could build and maintain these housing units or possibly utilize existing units and lease them to the Housing Corporation. This way the RCMP only have to deal with the Housing Corporation, and you're not putting the liability on the government; you're giving business to local companies.
Actually, I just got a package from upstairs and so there actually are 11 that are destined for Hay River, so I saved myself a trip for later. At this point, that's not under consideration. The NWT Housing Corporation will be procuring these units through a public process where local businesses will have the opportunity to submit a proposal. We have to keep in mind, though, with the serious financial situation that the NWT is in, the loss of the CMHC funding in 2032, that there may not be money for the operation and maintenance for public housing. So not only was the RCMP housing to support RCMP in the communities, it's also a revenue base that that we can continue to maintain the public housing needs within our communities.
It's not only the Housing Corporation that is hitting hard financial times. I think that instead of going to direct competition with local businesses, the Housing Corporation might want to consider an alternative, and I'd just ask that the Minister consider that in the future.
As stated earlier, we will be having a public process were people can bid. If there is an opportunity that they can bring us in a reasonable price, then we will certainly consider that option.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m a little excited by this today. This is my first time taking part in written questions.
---Applause
Thank you.
---Laughter
My question is around Aurora College enrolment. My question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Can the Minister state the total yearly GNWT spending for Aurora College for the past three years, and
How many full-time and part-time students were registered at Aurora College at the beginning and at the end of each of the past three enrolment years?
How many full-time students completed their full course load for each of the last three years?
What is this successful completion rate of individual courses for full-time and part-time students for the past three years?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled “Quality Mental Health Care: An Action Plan, February 2016.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Tabling of documents. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker and wish to table the following two documents entitled “Inter-Activity Transfers Exceeding $250,000, April 1 to December 31, 2015” and, “Follow-up Letter to Oral Question 3-18(2): Arctic Winter Games Mission Staff.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Tabling of documents. Government House Leader.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents entitled “Communities and Diamonds 2015 Annual Report of the Government of the Northwest Territories under the Ekati, Diavik and Snap Lake Socio-economic Agreements, 2016-2019,” and, “Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019.”
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, WHEREAS disability is defined by the World Health Organization is any restriction or inability resulting from impairment to perform a daily activity in the manner within the range considered normal for a human being;
AND WHEREAS, persons of all ages living with disability have the right to live in fully inclusive and participatory society where they have choice, are valued and respected is equal and contributing members of the community;
AND WHEREAS, at least 15 per cent of the population of the Northwest Territories lives with a disability with challenges in every community;
AND WHEREAS, an additional one in nine people in the Northwest Territories are impacted by a disability as family members and caregivers;
AND WHEREAS, there continue to be considerable and long-standing barriers to full participation and citizenship in society for people of all ages with disabilities;
AND WHEREAS, these barriers and gaps in service are not well documented or understood;
AND WHEREAS, the mandate for the 18th Assembly says government will ensure effective supports and programs are in place for persons with disabilities by preparing an accessible inventory of GNWT supports that already exist and responding to previous evaluations of government supports;
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that the Government of the Northwest Territories work with the NWT's Disabilities Council and other allies in the disability community to develop a five-year action plan that addresses the needs of the disability community including measurable outcomes and ongoing evaluation;
AND FURTHER, that the government respond to this motion by the end of June 2016 with a proposed timeline for the development of the described action plan.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Motion is on the floor. Motion is in order. To the motion. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
MS. GREEN: Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. It's my honour today to bring this motion forward on behalf of the many people who live with disabilities in the Northwest Territories. The Government of the Northwest Territories through the NGO Stabilization Plan funded a study that was completed by NWT's Disabilities Council of the status of disabled people in the Northwest Territories, and the results were somewhat discouraging.
Member Yellowknife Centre, would you please rise to make your remarks.
Oh, we're not in Committee of the Whole. I beg your pardon, Mr. Speaker. So what the Disabilities Council is requesting is that there be work done that starts from today that looks at the five pillars of the disability life, which includes education, employment, income, disability supports, and housing, and that together this group, along with the territorial government, come up with an action plan which will produce measurable outcomes and an evaluation plan that will show progress on meeting the needs of people with disabilities. I'm not sure how previous Assemblies have so badly failed people with disabilities, but I think that we have a chance now to make a difference to them by providing them with an action plan and the increased support they need to live whole and fulfilling lives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. To the motion. I’ll allow the seconder to make comment on the motion.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, rise in support of this motion because in my constituency of Deh Cho, there are disabled persons who are affected by autism, spina bifida, brain injuries. It's rather unfortunate that the citizens sometimes are ostracised and pushed to the outer periphery of society. But here in the NWT we pride ourselves on having a good healthcare system.
In Canada, we have almost a universal healthcare system that guarantees that each of us will be cared for in a very dignified manner by health professionals when we need help. Unfortunately, the reality is that here in the NWT, because we are separated from Southern Canada, we don't have the facilities that we should have, facilities that could bring about proper care for people who do need specialized care, and especially, treatment with dignity. People who should be treated with dignity and cared for in a loving way, involving their families as well. I stand in support of ensuring that there is needs assessment done at the same time as evaluation and an action plan developed by this government, and we would go forward in ensuring that we meet the needs of disabled persons in the NWT. Mahsi.
Masi. To the motion. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also rise in support of the motion put up by Ms. Green and Mr. Nadli. In my riding, we do have persons with physical disabilities. We have persons with, also, invisible disabilities in the community. People with physical disabilities are often housebound all winter because, in the small communities, we don't have the proper accessible vehicles to move people around. We don't have the proper infrastructure on the roads and so on for easy mobility for people, like wheelchairs as an example. For sure, if this is supporting addressing many of those issues that we are facing in the small communities with our persons with disabilities, I definitely support the motion.
Masi. To the motion. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I also rise to speak to this motion. I would like to thank Ms. Green and Mr. Nadli for bringing this motion forward. I live with a non-visible disability in my own family, and as I have spoken in the House here previously about the education system and the challenges that they have had there, I really think we as the government need to come up with a process. After I spoke about it, I had a number of constituents ask about this as well, and I explained that Ms. Green was bringing this motion forward that would ask the government to address this and come up with a plan so that we could actually make all residents equal on this. I thank Ms. Green and I will be supporting this motion. Thank you.
Masi. To the motion. Honourable Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my capacity as the Minster responsible for Persons with Disabilities, I am pleased to support this motion today. The Government of the Northwest Territories remains committed to improving services for persons with disabilities and to do so we need to take a government-wide view of what needs to be done and how to accomplish it. We need to also rely on the expertise, the knowledge, and dedication of non-government organisations and volunteers in our communities, who work every day to improve access and services for persons with disabilities.
The 2008 action plan helped to focus priorities and resulted in some concrete improvements, but it's time for a fresh start. I have asked the departments to collaborate on preparing an updated inventory of GNWT resources, programs, and services that are available today to support persons with disabilities. This work, which is almost complete, will set the stage for us to move forward with the development of an action plan by identifying gaps and opportunities for improvement. I have also met with the NWT Disabilities Council and asked them to partner in this work. As this motion is consistent with the mandate that was tabled recently, Cabinet will be supporting this motion.
Masi. To the motion. I will allow the mover to make the closing remarks on the
motion.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would very much like to thank the Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities for his promise of a fresh start, and thank him for his offer to collaborate. I am looking forward to taking part in that myself and to furthering the quality of life for people who have disabilities. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Masi. You almost missed that one there.
---Laughter
The Member has asked for a recorded vote. To the motion. All those in favour, please stand.
