Debates of May 26, 2005 (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions this afternoon are for the Minister of Health and Social Services on the issue of the decision to relocate the Territorial Treatment Centre from Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, the process of taking ideas or proposals from concept or potential into reality is normally quite an extensive and sometimes an even prolonged process in this Assembly. That’s one of the strengths, sometimes one of the weaknesses of consensus. But this is not a partisan House, Mr. Speaker, this is a consensus House where the minority government has to work with the majority of Members on this side to help make those tough decisions in the best interests of everyone possible. My question, Mr. Speaker, is after all the commotion that this House went through in the last session where the communities of Inuvik and Hay River were affected by the closure of remand centres and the Dene K’onia centre, has this government not learned anything about how sensitive and how critical a matter it is to work with MLAs on this side when we’re talking about moving jobs and moving public services from one community to another? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 13-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as an MLA from one of the smaller communities, I am very, very sensitive to the issue of government resources in communities and how they are spread out across the North, including the capital and all of the other small communities, and how important those resources are, especially in the smaller communities. Have we learned anything through the last session? Yes, we have. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 13-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Then if something has been learned, how, Mr. Speaker, has that been manifested in this lightning-quick decision to move the treatment centre without bringing, as my colleague yesterday, the Member for Kam Lake, Dave Ramsay, said, where is the business plan? How are we to know what is going to be the effect on workers and on staff and on families? If the government has learned something, we’re not seeing it here, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 13-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I indicated yesterday and made a commitment to the Member for Kam Lake that we would pull together the information that we’ve been looking at to date. I also indicated in this House that the detail of this transition is going to take 18 months or so to be complete with the part of the business plan process that is now currently underway for the coming fiscal year. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 13-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Then in that business planning process, Mr. Speaker, what is going to be the ability of us as MLAs to work with our constituents, to represent our people and have a real tangible impact and effect on how that business plan is going to roll out and affect their families, their futures and their careers? I’m asking for some meaningful input here and I don’t know that I’m going to get it. I’m really hearing done deal. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 13-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Member indicated, we operate on this side of the House in a perennial minority situation, and that point is brought home to us time and time again. It’s something I’m very, very cognitive of, and we’re all very sensitive to the need to work in a consensus style with all the MLAs, both those from Yellowknife and those from outside Yellowknife, but as a collective for the common good. We intend to do that. The business plan will lay out the detail and we’re always interested and, once again, sensitive in trying to accommodate issues raised in committee on issues that are falling out of what’s being proposed in the business plan. In this case, that situation will once again hold true. We will work to make sure that this process is governed in the best way possible with us being as sensitive to the issues that involve staff as possible, and to the children, once again, ensuring that there is going to be a high quality program set up in Hay River that will provide the service on a territorial basis for all children in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 13-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Mr. Speaker, one of the aspects that have been brought to light about this potential move -- and this is not a slight at all against the good people of Hay River -- are certain levels of support and treatment and professional care that are not established in Hay River. Is this business plan going to address the needs that these children have for as full a spectrum as possible of care, and how is that going to be established? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 13-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the service that will be provided will be on par with what is currently here. If there are services that are required that aren’t accessible as they are possibly in Yellowknife five minutes away, they’ll be accessible in Hay River 35 or 40 minutes away by plane. We have folks that travel, we have other territorial facilities across the North that provide service to all the people of the Northwest Territories and this program will be no different, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.