As I said I'm meeting with the grand chief this week. Later this week, I'll be meeting with the federal Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs. Our negotiators are making sure all sides have a common understanding on the different positions. I expect in the very near future that we will be able to do so.
Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I spoke about the situation that the Family Support Centre in Hay River is facing, and I have some questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services in that regard. I stated that the shelter is underfunded, not just in general, but in comparison to other shelters in the territory. There doesn't seem to be any sort of funding formula based on beds, based on needs or anything like that. I'd like to ask the Minister, does he plan on coming up with some sort of formula so we can adequately fund all of the shelters? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mahsi. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct, there is no current formula for the funding in the different shelters and all the different shelters; the shelters are funded to different degrees. Currently, we provide about $2.85 million for the shelters across the Northwest Territories. I did have an opportunity to meet with representatives from a number of the shelters in March where we discussed a number of the concerns. One of the things they raised was the fact that there are these additional demands on them, as the Member talked about, and they've submitted a proposal to me for the shelters. They submitted a proposal to me, $20,000 each to help with some of the one-time costs for 2016-17. We're currently looking at that, but at that time they also mentioned their frustration with the lack of a formula. I committed to them at that time and I can reconfirm the commitment here, that I would work with those shelters and the shelters across the Northwest Territories to develop a formula. There's a bit of a timing difficulty on this. We need to wait until we get to one authority. I've committed to them that once we get to one authority we will move forward with the development of a formula. I've asked that they be involved, because it's important to make sure that we get their insight as we're developing a formula. We will be developing one. It might be a year out before we start, but we will get it done in the life of this government.
I'm glad to hear that there's work started on that. Given that these shelters are NGOs; they're non-profits; they're not government-run facilities. The buildings they're in are owned by the non-profit, so in the case of the Family Support Centre in Hay River, they're in need of major renovations. Frankly, they're probably in need of a new building. Given this big capital cost, does the Minister and his department have any plans to provide any funds for physical infrastructure, either to improve or building a new building for the shelter?
When I had my meeting with representatives from a number of the shelters in March the Minister responsible for Housing was also there. They have since had a subsequent meeting with the Minister of Housing who has identified the pot of the money available to help do some renovations and upgrades to the shelters across the Northwest Territories. The Minister at the time did ask them, these shelters themselves, to help set some priorities for how to spend these dollars to do maintenance and upgrades to those facilities. It's my understanding, and you may want to check with the Minister, that the Minister's waiting for those shelters to come forward with a list of priorities, which may include renovations to Hay River. We understand that there are some challenges with that facility. That facility may not be… We may not be able to help with the renovations. They may have to consider a different facility. I'm going down to Hay River on June 11th for the opening of the Hay River Regional Hospital. At that time I'm looking forward to having a tour of that facility and have some further discussion with the staff and board for the Hay River facility.
The Minister stated that he's aware that there's some major problems with that facility. My question is: if the government can’t help renovate that facility, if it's beyond repair, if it needs a new building, is the department prepared to help provide that building or are they willing to let this service just disappear from the community?
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health and Social Services funds for the O and M component of the facilities, the Housing Corp. has indicated that they want to work with the shelters, so they're looking for the shelters combined to set some priorities. I'm not sure we would be in a position where we can fund the development of the construction of a complete facility, but we want to be partners on this and it may mean helping identify appropriate locations. I don't know, but first thing we need to do is have the different shelters help identify the priorities. Hay River is participating in that. From there, we'll have a better sense of where we need to go, but I am looking forward to getting a proper tour of the facility in Hay River. They have submitted a one-time proposal for the 2016-2017 fiscal year for $20,000 to help them with some of their costs. I believe those are the increased electrical costs and other costs that the Member has mentioned, and we're looking to support that. We're just trying to find some money within.
Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For my final question, I just want to ask if the building can't be saved and this non-profit can't continue doing their work, what's the government's plan? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the dollars available for the O and M component are going to continue. Hopefully, the organization will be able to find or renovate their building. As I've indicated, the Housing Corp is working with them and has asked them to help set some priorities for the utilization of the money. If it comes to a point where the facility isn't appropriate, we may have to look at other GNWT facilities that we might be able to sell to them for a reasonable price. I'm not 100 per cent sure what's available in Hay River that might fit that need. But we're certainly looking to have those types of discussions. But first and foremost, we really need Hay River and the other shelters to help us set some priorities for these renovation dollars. I believe, and you might not want to quote me on this, you may want to check with the Minister, but it's about $300,000 plus for the 2016-17 fiscal year. So there are some substantial dollars there to help do some renovations of these shelters.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am looking for further clarification on the questions I asked the Minister of Transportation earlier today. My first question trying to seek clarity is: is the Department of Transportation now asking the federal government to approve projects in the second bundle project by project as opposed to the whole bundle? Thank you.
Minister of Transportation.
Mr. Speaker, my understanding is the Hay River/Pine Point Bridge was submitted to Infrastructure Canada on May 27th as part of the bridge rehabilitation project. This particular project we expect to have approved by mid-June or end of June. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I know that the intention is to rehab the bridge, extend the life for 35 years. Bridges are usually amortized over 75 years. I would like to ask the Minister if it was just too cost-prohibitive to replace the bridge. That is why we are going with rehabilitation.
The consultants provided various options and life cycle costs of these assets. Their recommendation was to go with the rehabilitation option for the 35 years.
Mr. Speaker, we are asked to pay 25 cent dollars on the Building Canada Plan. It is an opportunity that we may not see again, especially not on that bridge or those bridges, in any event, or any part of those projects I suppose. An opportunity to pay only 25 per cent of the capital cost of a project like this, the department goes to a consultant, the consultant indicates that it would be better to rehab the bridge and extend the life for 35 years as opposed to putting a new one in for 75 years. Again, my question is: was that decision made because it was too cost prohibitive to replace the bridge and that we did not have enough money to do it?
I would have to look into that question, if that was the reason for that. One thing I can tell the Assembly is that the cost of repairing and keeping the upkeep on the road system in the Northwest Territories is significant, and we have challenges with that on a daily basis. There is only so much infrastructure money to go around for the whole Northwest Territories and transportation has a serious need of upkeep on some of the infrastructure needs. I can look into what the Member is asking and get back to him on it.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister if I can get that information before session is completed this time. I am referring to the whole session at the end of June. Thank you.
I will look into getting that back to the Member for end of session.
Mr. Speaker I have a Return to Written Question 1-18(2) asked by Mr. O'Reilly on February 23, 2016, to the Honourable Bob McLeod, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, regarding vacancies on co-management boards.
As of May 31, 2016, the Sahtu Land Use Planning Board and the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board currently do not have quorum. All other co-management boards have sufficient membership to maintain a quorum.
The Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to an effective regulatory system in the Northwest Territories. The GNWT is only one party in the overall system of board appointments in the Mackenzie Valley and Inuvialuit Settlement Region. While the GNWT endeavours to make timely appointments or nominations, the completion of board appointments depend on several factors: timely nominations from claimant group organizations; the process required to undertake federal security checks; and the time needed by the federal Minister or Governor in Council to finalize appointments.
Since 2014, the GNWT has maintained a Boards Registry which is publicly accessible and provides an up-to-date listing of all memberships that the GNWT appoints or nominates to. All board membership and vacancies as they become available are tracked and monitored to ensure that each board is able to maintain quorum.
Mr. Speaker, there are 14 co-management boards in the NWT with a combined total of 106 board positions. Of the 106 positions, 24 positions are currently vacant. Some of these positions have been vacant from as little as two weeks to as long as five and a half years. Of the 24 vacancies, the GNWT is the nomination authority for four. The GNWT has submitted names for the appointment of each of these four board members to fill these vacancies and are awaiting approval from the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada or Governor in Council.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table 12 follow-up letters to the following oral questions: Oral Question 24-18(2): Health Care System Improvements; Oral Question 25-18(2): Seniors' Housing Shortages; Oral Question 30-18(2): Sahtu Regional Health Centre; Oral Question 34-18(2): Resources for “Aging in Place” Programs; Oral Question 51-18(2): Care Aids at Stanton Territorial Hospital; Oral Question 60-18(2): Health Care System Challenges in Nahendeh; Oral Question 61-18(2): Alcohol Addiction and Mental Health Treatment Options; Oral Question 66-18(2): Family Violence Shelters Funding; Oral Question 79-18(2): On-the-Land Healing Programs; Oral Question 105-18(2): Long-term Care Program Review; Oral Question 116-18(2): Disabilities Action Plan; Oral Question 40-18(2): GNWT Summer Student Employment Opportunities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Lands.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled “Follow-up Letter to Oral Question 44-18(2): Agricultural Land Availability.” Mr. Speaker, further to my Return to Written Question 3-18(2), I wish to table the following document entitled “Security Held by GNWT for the Prairie Creek Project.” Thank you.
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
