Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last but not least, report on transition matters.
As the 16th Legislative Assembly draws to a close the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning continues to monitor several ongoing issues and initiatives with government-wide implications. The committee wishes to take the opportunity through this transition report to highlight areas that we believe will require the continued attention of our successor committee in the 17th Assembly.
The Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning includes all 11 Regular Members of the Legislative Assembly. The committee’s role is to:
review issues which have government-wide implications, including the overview of the budget and fiscal framework;
review government and Northwest Territories reports on financial and performance results, and program and policy evaluations to ensure anticipated outcomes are being achieved and accountability is maximized;
coordinate sessional business scheduling and planning in cooperation with appropriate Ministerial representatives;
coordinate committee public consultation efforts with respect to budget and fiscal matters;
coordinate committee strategic planning efforts;
monitor and evaluate Ministerial performance issues;
consider the budgets and financial management of any boards and agencies that are outside of the responsibility of any standing committee; and
consider any other matter referred by the House.
The sheer number of formal motions initiated by committee members recommending changes to the public housing programs speaks to the crises that is ongoing in many NWT communities and that we hear about daily from our constituents. It is well known that housing issues have far-reaching impacts across government in areas such as health, education, justice, and economic development and housing, therefore, needs to be a top priority for government.
In our efforts to find fair solutions to the difficulties our constituents face, committee members advanced several proposals including:
a number of possible changes to the rent scale;
an income exemption for newly employed public housing tenants for their first six months of employment, and immediate efforts to encourage pursuit of homeownership;
reduction of the maximum rental rate to 25 percent of assessed gross income;
changes to program guidelines to provide responsible and meaningful flexibility, and to allow for transition periods such as gradual rent increases;
regional analysis and policy changes to establish a significantly lower maximum rent schedule;
reintroduction of a home maintenance and repair program for seniors; and
the establishment of specific maximum rents for communities with no real private market as follows: $600 per month for a one-bedroom unit, $800 per month for a two-bedroom unit, $1,000 per month for a three-bedroom unit, and $1,200 per month for four- or five-bedroom units.
While the government did not implement any of these recommendations, it is indicated that rent scales will be considered within the Shelter Policy review scheduled for completion in 2012. We urge the incoming government to bring forward changes early in the life of the 17th Assembly.
The Devolution Agreement-in-Principle signed in January 2011 has created divisions among the people of the Northwest Territories that we hope can be repaired during the term of the next Assembly. We urge the incoming government to work quickly to establish a process for negotiating devolution that is fully inclusive of all Aboriginal groups.
While there have long been concerns about the centralization of public service positions in the capital, this issue is becoming more pressing with the signing of the Devolution Agreement-in-Principle and the possible transfer of hundreds more positions to the GNWT. The committee believes that the government should incorporate opportunities to decentralize its operations into its future human resource planning. Decentralization not only has the benefit of moving jobs and associated economic growth to communities which badly need them, but in some cases will also allow the government and its employees to benefit from lower office space and housing costs.
Most proposed bills undergo public review by standing committee, with the possibility of extensive hearings where public interest warrants. However, many important matters of concern to the public are addressed in regulations, which typically are approved by the Minister or the Cabinet without the involvement of Regular Members. The Act to Amend the Territorial Parks Act and the Northwest Territories Heritage Fund Act are examples of bills which leave substantial matters to regulations. The 17th Assembly may wish to consider instituting processes for standing committee review of such regulations.
In the early days of the 16th Assembly a program review office was established within the Department of Executive. This substantial investment has not lived up to the committee’s expectations, and we would encourage our successor committee to request an update on the office’s activities early in the life of the new Assembly.
In addition to the former motions making recommendations to government referenced above, committee members initiated several more, which the government has not acted upon to our satisfaction. Although some of these matters fall under the mandate of other standing committees, we list the recommendations here for convenience.
reinstatement of student financial assistance scholarships;
provide students doing upgrading with access to student financial assistance;
reinstate and fund a veterinary student placement at the University of Saskatchewan with a return of service agreement attached to the funding;
provide funding to small high schools for a minimum of three teachers;
develop a certification program for elders to teach in schools in time for the start of the 2011-2012 school year;
reinstate sunsetting funding for school healthy eating and nutrition programs;
increase student financial assistance living allowances by 20 percent, and link future increases to the consumer price index
eliminate handling fees for the collection of milk containers under the NWT Beverage Container Program;
implementation of a tiered vehicle registration system that bases fees on the fuel economy rating of vehicles;
consideration of a low carbon fuel standard that decreases or eliminates GNWT reliance on unconventional higher carbon oil by the end of the 16th Assembly, and establishment of guidelines for the use of lifecycle analysis that evaluates greenhouse gas emissions from productions of fuels imported by the GNWT;
immediate commencement of a public consultation process in partnership with the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning on the shape of a northern management regime for lands and resources, with proposed implementation of the regime to be included in the transition documents and planning for the 17th Assembly.
establishment of a milk subsidy program for all children aged one to 12 in any NWT community where milk costs are 10 percent or higher than those in Yellowknife;
establishment of a multidisciplinary team to provide assessment and diagnosis services for adults who may have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and enhancement of programs and supports for individuals and families living with FASD;
identification of various options for establishing a mobile alcohol and drug treatment program that can be delivered on the land, and a report back to the 17th Assembly on this initiative within the first six months of the term.
initiate a public process to discuss board reform;
development of a measuring tool to verify the percentage of the GNWT workforce with a disability, and ensure that percentage is maintained or increased to 5 percent within five years;
comprehensive review of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act with introduction of a bill within the first two years of the 17th Assembly term.
In addition to the above recommendations to the Government of the Northwest Territories, committee members initiated motions with recommendations directed at the federal government for the following matters, which have not yet been resolved: removal of the GST for certain goods and services north of 60; the reinstatement of federal funding for the Aboriginal Healing Foundation; and a successor strategy for the sunsetting Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership Program.
This concludes the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning Report on Transition Matters. We wish the Members and committees of the 17th Assembly the utmost success in their service to the people of the Northwest Territories.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
