Mr. Speaker, would the Minister agree and consider three standalone facilities for aftercare to be built, one in the South Slave, one in the central region, and one in the Beaufort Delta, to help clients who do not want to go back to the communities upon return for recovery centres? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
What I heard when I was on the Standing Committee for Social Development and we toured the treatment centres in the South is that people were most concerned with housing, in particular. They wanted to not return to overcrowded housing, housing over which they had no control of their environment. They were living on a couch and that kind of thing. What they really wanted was a house of their own. Not necessarily even a house but an apartment of their own. That seems to be one of the key factors in making after-care work, and there is, in fact, some language in the mandate about trying this approach to see if, in fact, it will assist people to return North, first of all, and to maintain their sobriety.
Then, of course, the other thing we're doing is this survey next year, early next year, to find out what's working for people and what isn't. We certainly will make MLAs aware of that work so that they can consult their constituents. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the Premier and I differ on types of camps that should be at the border. She comes from a mining background, and I'm from the other side of the tracks, which is oil and gas. We are used to something fairly comfortable.
I've been getting complaints and concerns about the accommodation at the border, and partly because it is a tent-type facility similar to a weather haven facility. I understand the camp will be there for the rest of the winter. Just to alleviate some of the concerns by the people that are staying there because they're talking about possibly quitting and not going back, I just want to make sure that we address it before we get too far into it.
The first question for the Premier: my understanding from local service providers that they were never made aware that those services were to be contracted out, camp services. When I hear concerns about questionable hiring processes and now the contracting-out services, it makes me wonder who's in charge. I ask the Minister: was the camp infrastructure for Highway No. 1 put out to tender? If not, why, considering I made you aware of this well in advance? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will start with the first part of that because I heard two questions in that one. Who's in charge? Definitely, the buck stops here is what people have told me. I'm in charge of it. However, as the Minister responsible for the secretariat, at no time do I micromanage. My direction to departments is not which contractor to hire or which person to hire. My direction to departments has been: make sure the money stays in the North that you're contracting with Northern companies, especially during the time of COVID-19 and our economy in a slump. My other direction to departments isn't about whether you hire one individual or another; it's: make sure you're hiring affirmative-action candidates is my direction. I just want to clarify that that's -- after that, then, I trust my deputy minister, associate deputy minister in this case, would heed my directions and move appropriately.
With the other question in the same question which was: was the camp infrastructure put out to tender? In this case, Mr. Speaker, it wasn't. There are allocations within our financial act that says that, if procurement is under a certain amount, you don't have to go through that process. I think that's just recently been changed, though, if I remember right. This time, time was limited. We approached a number of northern companies that could provide the service. We also asked for other companies' names that we thought could provide it.
In the end, Mr. Speaker, though, we did contract with a northern company to provide the services for the camp, and because the camp actually -- at this point, when we first put the camp facilities in, we did realize that we were one unit short. In that case, we did contracts with a South Slave company who had agreed to put that camp in place. Two northern companies. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the Premier for that answer, and I am glad that she is looking to companies out of Hay River because there are a lot of camp shacks sitting in Hay River, a lot of equipment sitting there that could do the job. The other issue that I have is with respect to camp services. You have water delivery, sewer pump-outs. You need diesel and propane delivery. You need snow clearing, fueling of generators and heaters, communication. I am asking the Premier: was or will these services be tendered out, as well?
A lot of those services actually were needed throughout the summer. We have been operating at the border in that area since COVID-19 came to the North, so a lot of those actually are services that are currently provided by South Slave companies. We recently just put out requests for quotes for snow removal, camp cleaning, and garbage removal. Again, we have asked those from South Slave companies, so more than just northern companies, from regional based companies.
We are dealing with electrical, fuel, and propane equipment. Some of these components require tradespeople when things go sideways. Are those persons, whether it be staff or contractors, qualified to provide the camp maintenance service if there are even camp maintenance services available? My understanding is that we are expecting those monitoring the border to provide some or all of those functions. This just does not make sense to me, so I am just asking the Premier what the department is doing to ensure that those services are provided in a safe manner and that we have got qualified people.
At no time, actually, should border personnel be providing services such as camp maintenance, especially if we are talking about things like electrical and things like that. Those are trades that need to have skilled personnel. Now, I do know that sometimes people will go above and beyond and kind of help out with things as needed. It's not a requirement, Mr. Speaker, and, in fact, it's not even promoted. If it is a skilled trade, no one who does not have that trade certification should be doing it. At this point, all of the camp maintenance is being provided by South Slave companies.
For camps to be established in the NWT, in most instances, there are inspections and permitting required. I would ask the Premier: were the fire marshal, WSCC, health, electrical, and gas inspectors provided advance notice that the camp at the border was to be installed? For the safety of the employees, has the process for installation of camps been followed, or is it not required in this instance? As well, I would ask the Premier: if these shelters that they have out there are not sufficient, will the Premier consider replacing them with self-contained modular units?
The MLA is getting a lot of questions in these four questions. What I can say, Mr. Speaker, is that, when we put out a contract, we do not go to the fire marshal, WSCC, health, gas inspectors, et cetera; we expect the contractors to do that. Otherwise, we would never get any projects off the ground. Any contractor who applies on things is expected to have those in place. If there is a complaint or an issue that is concerning, let me know, and we will check into it because all contractors should be following the legislation and the regulations. If not, that is a more serious issue than camp borders. What I can say, though, as well, is: I made a commitment to the MLA, and I am upholding that, is that right after session is finished, I think it's mid-November, I have committed to going down and seeing those camps myself, recognizing that I am a diamond-driller's daughter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Honourable Premier. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. This goes back to my Member's statement on the fire hall in Detah. With the firefighting, it's such a dangerous job. All these guys, all these men and women, put themselves in harm's way. Shout out to all the firefighters in the territories. Hard job, very hard job. Now, with this news of the Ingraham Trail, they are going to be cut off for the services here in April this year. I imagine that it might cause some alarm for the residents. When we are here as MLAs, we have got to try to think out of the box to try to find solutions for our people, and I think this might be a good way. If the Detah hall expanded, it might be a good way to serve the residents of the Ingraham Trail. My question is for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, and my first question is, Mr. Speaker: will the Minister commit to have MACA explore increased capacity at the Detah fire centre, including additional funding for equipment, vehicles, and training? Marsi cho.
Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I hear the Member's concern about the fire services provided. Right now, MACA is in conversation with YKDFN in looking at fire services to be provided. I will keep the Member informed. Also, as those conversations progress, we are looking at alternative solutions, as well, and we are open to doing things differently. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you for the response from Minister. My next question is: will the Minister consider contracting out firefighting services for Ingraham Trail to Detah since the City of Yellowknife stated they will no longer provide services?
This situation right now is quite complex, and I have expressed previously that we do have similar situations like this throughout the Northwest Territories where we have built-up areas outside of the municipal boundary and outside of the community built-up area, as well. However, it does not stop the department from exploring alternative ideas and solutions. Right now, as we progress with the communication with the YKDFN, right now, I cannot commit to offering further services, but I would like to look at the enhancement that is currently offered in Detah and looking at what we can do to provide adequate equipment and services for that community to respond to fires within that area.
Thank you for that response. I understand. It's still early in discussion phases right now. Like I said, it is early on, and this idea is in its infancy right now, so let's see where this goes. I am hoping we could move forward and have something positive come out of it. My last question, Mr. Speaker is: what issues will need to be resolved to get this idea moving forward, and will the Minister commit to meeting with the YKDFN to discuss this idea further?
Municipal and Community Affairs weighs very heavily on the communication and the relationships we have at the community level and also with the Indigenous groups. Absolutely, I will keep the Member informed and looking at what will progress out of the meetings coming forward and looking at solutions to providing fire services.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. I am wondering if the Minister can explain how the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation calculates the core need income threshold, otherwise known as CNIT, and what programs use the CNIT to determine eligibility? Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the Housing Corporation does have a silly acronym, CNIT, but it is the core income need threshold for the Northwest Territories. It is determined by zones throughout the territory and looking at the specific needs for household incomes, as well, based on household income and also looking at the power, the water, the heat, and basically the utilities and the insurances for the core income threshold. I will be able to provide the Member with documentation just to further explain how we come up with the calculations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
NWT residents often identify barriers they experience in qualifying for NWT Housing Corporation's funding for home ownership, repair, or market rental program as being related to CNIT. In some cases, due to the income targets under CNIT, seniors or people with disabilities do not meet eligibility requirements, even though they desperately require the funding supports that the GNWT does have. Will the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation conduct a review of the current CNIT to create a modern way of prioritizing Northerners for housing in the Northwest Territories?
The Housing Corporation had last looked at the core need income threshold in 2015. We are currently looking at reviewing the core need income threshold for the Northwest Territories and also for the seniors, as well, we do have $1 thousand dollars deduction of the calculated grant. As I said previously, I will provide further documentation for the Member just to further elaborate and explain how we work with the CNIT program throughout the Northwest Territories because it does vary depending on jurisdiction.
Thank you to the Minister for further documentation and also the willingness to review that. When it comes to public housing, Yellowknife is considered a zone A community. This means that a person who makes a base salary of an MLA can live in public housing for $890 a month, that a manager with the GNWT is eligible for public housing for $1295 a month, and a Minister would pay a rent of $1625 per month. This is all found in the public housing brochure. It's valuable to remember that Yellowknife also currently has more people on its housing list than the total number of housing units available in the entire city. Given the highest income identified in the NWT Housing Corporation's rent scale is $8,334 and up, I'm wondering if there is a maximum eligible income for public housing in Yellowknife.
Yes. Looking at the core need for the Yellowknife area and also looking at the minimum and the maximum, the minimum of core need income threshold is $20,000, the max is $100,000. I do hear the Member speaking about we do have high income earners in public housing. Right now, the Housing Corporation has a number of 248 clients that we are looking at to work with throughout the Northwest Territories and transferring them into home ownership. The Housing Corporation, as of right now, we are looking our single-family dwellings in the smaller communities, they are up for sale and we are working with our clients to provide programming for home ownership.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. My question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. The problem with the sterilization equipment at Stanton Territorial Hospital is about to enter its fourth month, and it appears we are tinkering away with settings and hoping to find a solution. I have to ask the basic question: why can't we fix this problem? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for that question. This is such a difficult issue because people are in pain waiting for this sterilization equipment to go back up to full functioning. It's very difficult to say to them, "We don't know when it's going to be fixed." What I can tell you is what you already know from your statement, Member for Frame Lake. These are complex issues. There are a number of different factors. There is the water quality, water testing for mineralization. The instruments themselves, Stanton has had specialist repair people come up from the South to assist with trying to figure out what's wrong with the machines, and unfortunately, none of this has yet resulted in a full return to sterilization and a full surgical load. Thank you.
I want to thank the Minister for that. She alluded to the fact that patients are left in ill-health and misery. We just don't have a way of scheduling surgeries yet. Can the Minister tell me how many surgeries are on hold and what other measures can be taken? For example, can we not ship sterilization equipment into the Northwest Territories or other options to get people to surgeries they need?
It's not as if there are no surgeries taking place, it's just that some surgeries which require larger instruments are not taking place. As a matter of fact, since July, 200 surgeries have been completed, and of the 124 surgeries that were cancelled at the end of July, about 23 of those have been completed. There is a need, of course, to address this big backlog. Some of the things we're looking at is whether it would be possible for people to go to the Inuvik Regional Hospital and have surgery performed there. We had been considering sending patients to Alberta, but unfortunately, that is no longer an option because surgeries for Albertans are also being cancelled for a variety of reasons, including a surge of COVID cases.
The department has looked at the possibility of having the surgical instruments reprocessed somewhere else. They actually are going to perform an experiment in the coming week by sending surgical equipment to the Foothills Hospital in Calgary to see whether the sterilization works in that facility so that they can identify whether the problem is with the instruments themselves or whether there still remains a problem with the sterilization machine.
A big part of the problem here is the uncertainty for patients that are waiting. Not only have their surgeries been cancelled but there doesn't seem to be a solution anywhere in the future. Will the Minister see that regular public updates are issued? The last one, I think, was October 5th, three weeks ago. It doesn't even seem like there is a regular schedule, so can the Minister commit to a regularly scheduled update of the NTHSSA website and some way of actually notifying individual patients about what's going on?
There will be a letter going to all of the patients awaiting surgery at Stanton this week so that they can have an update on what's happening there directly from Stanton. In the meantime, if they are having pain management issues, and I know that's very common with leg, hip surgeries, then they should continue to be in touch with their healthcare provider to have appropriate treatment for that and that also can be done virtually if people are housebound. We want to expand the capacity, obviously, and we need to tell people when this is going to be resolved. Unfortunately, there is no specific date. All I can say is that they are working on it very diligently and we can certainly commit to updating the website every two weeks to tell people what has been tried in the prior to weeks and what the results are.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that commitment to update the website every couple of weeks. I think that way people will at least have somewhere where they can get information about what's happening. The Minister herself talked about how COVID is surging in Alberta and that might cause some difficulties in terms of sending patients there. The other concern that I've heard expressed is, of course, the impending drastic cuts that may be made by the Alberta provincial government to their healthcare system as publicly announced by their Premier. What can the Minister tell us about these impending cuts, and how that might affect our ability to get surgeries and perhaps other healthcare in Alberta? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
I’m not sure if I can answer that question. We don't have any inside information. We have heard, of course, about the privatization being contemplated in Alberta. We've heard about the possibility of wildcat strikes. We've heard about the surge in COVID cases. I'm going to say those are factors which will mean that there are fewer surgeries available to Northerners rather than more. Those are really issues that are beyond our control. They have been helpful in helping us to validate the sterilization in their own machines, but as for sending people there, that seems like a more difficult proposition. To be perfectly honest, those people I know who are waiting for hip replacements and other major surgery are not very keen to go to Edmonton for surgery at this point. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During my election campaign, I naively thought I would have a hope of getting the NWT SPCA some funding. I am now seeing that that is an impossible task. Instead of asking MACA about this for the tenth time, I am going to take another run at it today through a public health lens. My question for the Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Speaker, is: what is public health's role in monitoring health risks caused by animals? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Member not leaving me out in the questions today. He was able to teach me a new word today, which is "zoonotics." Zoonotics is where viruses and other pathogens can be transmitted from animals or insects to humans, so rabies would be an example of a zoonotic. Public health has a role in monitoring and responding to those risks when they are present in the population, particularly in investigating human illness that may be a result of a jump from an animal to a person, so the focus here is on the person rather than the animal. Thank you.
Today is actually an appropriate day to talk about zoonotics as the first dog in Canada tested positive for COVID-19 today, so there is a bit of an overlap. One of my main concerns in this area and one of the great works that the NWT SPCA does is making sure dogs are vaccinated for rabies and making sure rabies does not then transfer to the human population. Presently, that is not being done in all of the communities. Can the Minister of health put together a plan to make sure we are having rabies vaccines in all of our communities?
It's my understanding that there is a lay vaccination program in the NWT that ensures rabies vaccines for animals are available to communities who do not have a local or resident veterinarian to administer the vaccines themselves. The big challenge here is getting people to administer the vaccine, especially where there aren't veterinarians or other technicians who can do this themselves. I know that there has been some work between Health and Social Services and my colleague at ENR to identify and train individuals to administer those vaccines. I do not have information about how many of those people and in which communities they exist, but that is something I could certainly provide to the Member.
