Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question also has to do with the Member’s statement earlier that I made with regard to the transfer of the Territorial Treatment Centre. Mr. Speaker, there are lots of issues involved in this with respect to the decision, but I think the more important and crucial question that I’m hearing from the people impacted are the way in which this has been done. Mr. Speaker, as I stated, I don’t think any of us wants to hear the bad news that within a year or two we’re going to lose our jobs that we love, that we have been trying to do and are committed to and such. But if that was to happen, I think we would like to be told in a more respectful manner than reading it on the front page of the newspaper. It seems that because these 27 people are not government employees and they’re not unionized, where there has to be more process in place, it seems that they’re really hurt. I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, that these employees are really hurt that their jobs and their lives are being treated as though they’re not as valuable as the government employees. Has the Minister and the department given any thought to being more sensitive to these people who are being personally impacted with the loss of their jobs? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.
Return To Question 7-15(4): Territorial Treatment Centre Employees
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the value of the jobs that these people do is very high. The work they do is very important, dealing with children, and we are attempting to be as sensitive as possible. But if I can hearken back to the previous session when there were discussions of closures in other communities, it is an issue that causes, understandably, distress and concern in the community among those who are directly affected and we’re trying to be very sensitive. We met with the contractor and we’ve talked with the department. We’re working out a plan to be as mindful as possible as we look at the transition of the impact it’s going to have on the current employees. I want to just categorically assure everybody that the fact that this is a contract does not in any way diminish the value or how they are regarded in any less way than government employees would be. They provide a valuable service and we’re looking to be as mindful as possible. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.
Supplementary to Question 7-15(4): Territorial Treatment Centre Employees
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t know when that meeting that the Minister refers to has taken place. As far as I’m aware, the employees impacted have learned about their job loss through the mainstream media. So I’m gathering that the Minister and his officials met with these employees after the fact. Now, I think that is a problem and I’d like to know if the Minister could make a commitment to send someone to meet with these people and have more information about what is going on. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Miltenberger.
Further Return To Question 7-15(4): Territorial Treatment Centre Employees
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will follow up on the Member’s assertions made here in this House and, as I indicated, we will take all the steps necessary to be as mindful and sensitive as possible to the issues of the staff disruption and dislocation that may occur. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.
Supplementary To Question 7-15(4): Territorial Treatment Centre Employees
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also stated in my Member’s statement that one of the concerns is that with all this movement happening to transfer these jobs to Hay River and wherever else, what is not certain yet is if those people who have lost jobs because of closure of Dene K’onia are going to be able to take advantage of these jobs. I tell you, the people who are losing jobs at the Territorial Treatment Centre will be even more upset if they lose their jobs and it didn’t happen for the reasons that it was meant to be. So I’d like to know what’s in place for the Minister to assure that in fact there are any benefits to those employees who lost their jobs in Hay River. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Miltenberger.
Further Return To Question 7-15(4): Territorial Treatment Centre Employees
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if the Member is asking me to comment on the fate and future of those former Justice employees, I’m not in a position to speak directly to that. I did indicate that there will be jobs coming through this contract to Hay River that will be advertised and filled. If there are interested and qualified people in Hay River, they will be, of course, given full consideration. I can offer that to the Member at this point. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final Supplementary, Ms. Lee.
Supplementary To Question 7-15(4): Territorial Treatment Centre Employees
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Final supplementary, Mr. Speaker, it seems to me that from what the Minister is saying there is really not a certain connection between transfer of these jobs and the loss of jobs in Hay River. What I mean by that, Mr. Speaker, is that because of the decision of the closure, politically we feel bad about that, so we’ll just, you know, discontinue this contract in Yellowknife and just move these jobs to Hay River and just give it to whoever is going to take that. Is this the kind of thing the government should be doing to use people’s lives and jobs for pay off and pay back? Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Miltenberger.
Further Return To Question 7-15(4): Territorial Treatment Centre Employees
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a government we should be taking measured, careful steps to look at our facilities and infrastructure across the territory to make sure that they’re used to the maximum, to make sure there is as equitable distribution of resources and programs as possible. As I’ve indicated previously, there’s a stated commitment that we’re prepared to look at decentralization opportunities. We have to look at the capability of the communities and we’ve done all that, Mr. Speaker. I believe we’ve made a careful, measured decision to relocate a program to a community that has a history of dealing with child welfare facilities. It has the program requirements, capacity for service that we require, and that this, while a difficult decision, is in the end a good decision. Thank you.
