Debates of June 2, 2006 (day 4)

Colleagues, before we begin today, Nunavut recently lost a long-serving political figure when Jobie Nutarak, most recently the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, was killed in a tragic snowmobile accident on April 22, 2006. Mr. Nutarak was hunting 400 kilometres from his hometown of Pond Inlet when he lost his life riding over rough terrain. Mr. Nutarak was the first confirmed Member of the Nunavut Legislative Assembly when it was first opened in 1999 representing the Tunnuniq riding. He was re-elected to the Assembly in 2004, and was acclaimed as Speaker of the 2nd Legislative Assembly in March of 2004. Mr. Nutarak was involved in local politics as a member of many boards and councils in Nunavut. Mr. Nutarak was survived by his wife and five children who live in Pond Inlet. I got to know Jobie fairly well as our paths crossed in Speakers’ circles. I found him to be a man of genuine integrity and had pride in his political accomplishments.

Sadly, I must announce the passing of a respected resident of the Tlicho region, Joe Migwi. Mr. Migwi was a respected Tlicho elder who was involved in the negotiations of the Tlicho land claims and was also deeply involved in the Tlicho community and organizations. Please stand and join me in observing a moment of silence in memory of our colleague Jobie Nutarak from Nunavut and respected Tlicho elder Joe Migwi.

---Minute of Silence

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning. Mr. Speaker, the months of May and June are a popular time to celebrate educational achievement as students graduate from high schools, post-secondary institutions and various technical training programs.

Graduation ceremonies have been taking place throughout the NWT, where achievement is formally acknowledged and grads given awards for their achievements in academics, athletics, fine arts, leadership and community involvement. I have had the pleasure of attending graduation ceremonies this spring in Inuvik and Fort Resolution. I will be attending ceremonies in Fort Simpson on June 3rd and Tulita on June 9th.

Whether they have won awards or not, each and every student who has successfully completed their programs should be exceptionally proud. We celebrate completion of high school, adult literacy and basic education, apprenticeship or post-secondary certificate, diploma and degree programs. Graduation from these programs is a significant marker in the journey of lifelong learning and takes hard work, dedication and perseverance.

Over the years, high school graduation rates have steadily increased across the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, in 2005, the high school graduation rate was above 50 percent for the first time ever.

---Applause

This year, Mr. Speaker, compared to last, there are almost double the number of students registered to write diploma exams. This suggests growth will continue.

During 2005-06, there has been a 34 percent increase in the number of students enrolled in Grade 12 in small communities. The results of grade extensions are evident in high school completion rates as well as by increased post-secondary student enrolment at Aurora College, with 610 full-time students and 5,734 part-time students for 2005-06.

At the college, we saw the first graduates to complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program in the Northwest Territories. These NWT graduates bring a high calibre of skill and the added bonus of a northern perspective to patients and to people they serve.

I also would like to congratulate the graduates of the Office Administration Program. Delivery of this program was made possible through a unique partnership between Aurora College, the Mine Training Society and industry, including BHP Ekati, De Beers and Diavik.

Although award ceremonies for many apprenticeship and technical training programs do not coincide with the academic school year, I would like to recognize the achievements of individuals pursuing careers in the trades and occupations at a time when the economic landscape of the North has never seen a greater demand for a skilled workforce.

Adult Learning and Basic Education Program completion ceremonies will be held at Yellowknife Campus and Thebacha Campus in Fort Smith on June 9th. Yellowknife Campus will recognize the achievements of 20 ALBE students, 17 Access students and 14 students from the Literacy Outreach Centre. Thebacha Campus will celebrate the accomplishments of 13 pre-technology and 33 ALBE students. At Aurora Campus in Inuvik, an ALBE completion ceremony on June 16th will honour 40 ALBE students. ALBE completion ceremonies will also be held in many community learning centres throughout the NWT. We hope many of these students will choose to continue pursing their studies; or they may enter into the workforce with the confidence that comes with graduation.

I would also like to take a moment to recognize the network of support behind every successful graduate. This includes:

family members and relatives who often ensure students have enough sleep, food and give that extra little push and support when times get tough;

community members who volunteer their time to assist in classrooms, with school teams and trips as members of our district education boards and authorities;

teachers who dedicate themselves to encouraging each student to become the best they can be and promote the advantages of being open to learning;

adult educators and college staff who understand the special pressures adult students face while realizing their educational goals; and

community leaders who, through their public support of education and training, highlight the value of education and celebrate the success of those participating in programs.

We can all be proud of our northern students and their success. Each of them will help the NWT realize its full potential as they realize their own.

Mr. Speaker, I invite Members of the Legislative Assembly to join me today in applauding the achievements of our students. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in April, I was pleased to launch the 2006 Get Active NWT community challenge at the Circle of Northern Leaders meeting in Norman Wells.

This campaign is a friendly challenge to NWT residents to increase their physical activity. I want to thank all Members of the Legislative Assembly for their enthusiastic participation and to recognize Mr. Miltenberger and the other Mr. McLeod for having the most steps on their pedometers.

---Applause

At the end of last year’s Get Active challenge, over 6,400 residents of the Northwest Territories participated and made a commitment to being physically active. In total, participants logged over 101,000 hours of physical activity.

The 2006 Get Active NWT community challenge is now in its fourth week and I am extremely pleased to report that more than 5,500 residents have registered. This represents 13 percent of the NWT population who have committed to being physically active this spring and summer.

Mr. Speaker, some communities have demonstrated outstanding participation and I would like to take a moment to recognize Colville Lake, Deline, Whati, Lutselk’e, Tuktoyaktuk and Wrigley who are leading with the most citizens registered to date.

There are also other impressive results for me to report. In the month of May, students at the Harry Camsell School in Hay River logged an incredible 954,000 minutes. Over 10 children in Deline participated in the community carnival scavenger hunt and, as a result, logged 15,000 minutes of physical activity. In Tuktoyaktuk, residents have been active in basketball, soccer and floor hockey and have logged over 650 hours.

I know many individuals will continue to carry on with their personal commitments to physical activity and healthy lifestyles after the Get Active community challenge is over. To all those sound role models, congratulations on your efforts and the example you set.

Mr. Speaker, each year in Canada, more than two-thirds of deaths result from four groups of chronic diseases: cardiovascular disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes and respiratory illnesses. These chronic diseases share common preventable risk factors including physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and tobacco use.

The Get Active NWT campaign is one of a number of efforts that the Government of the Northwest Territories is supporting to promote all residents to live healthier lifestyles. If we can convince even a few more people to be physically active, the cost savings for our health care system are huge and the lifestyle improvements immeasurable.

I would like to thank all the Members of the Legislative Assembly for helping to set an example through your participation in this year’s challenge and I encourage you all to continue promoting Get Active and other healthy lifestyle choices. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Today is a sad day for the Tlicho Nation. We are mourning the death of two members of the community of Behchoko. Mr. Speaker, it was just two weeks ago when one of our young community members, Richard Apples, went missing after his canoe capsized. Three days ago, his older brother found his body on the Marion River. It’s a sad day, but at the same time the family and communities of Behchoko are appreciative of the efforts of their families and friends and are relieved that they are able to bring their son home to rest.

Mr. Speaker, just yesterday afternoon about 2:00 p.m., an elder of Behchoko, Joe Migwi, passed away. He was a highly respected elder in the Tlicho region. He was also recognized within Canada, too. Mr. Migwi was a former chief and grand chief for the Tlicho region. He was also recognized for his contribution to the Tlicho Agreement, having been involved with the negotiations of the Tlicho Agreement since its inception and serving on the advisory council.

Mr. Speaker, both Richard Apples and Joe Migwi will be sadly missed. Our deepest wishes to their families to be strong. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t have to tell anyone in this House today about the rising problem we have in our communities with drugs. We have an annual $22 million drug habit in the Northwest Territories and it's projected to get worse as we grow. In this House, we talk about the drug problems; we talk about the help for the drug addicts; we talk about catching the criminals who traffic the drugs, but we rarely talk about the citizens in our communities who are living next door to these drug dealers.

The local newspaper reported last year that in a Yellowknife neighbourhood, residents had to call police repeatedly over several years about what they considered to be a crack house. Mr. Speaker, because of the neighbourhood crack house, in one month’s time five neighbourhood residences had strung-out individuals gaining or attempt to gain entry into their homes while they were in them. The RCMP dispatcher actually asked the neighbours if they would consider moving, since they had called about the problem so much.

We do not want that activity in our neighbourhoods, Mr. Speaker. We do not need them affecting and bothering good, honest people. These are un-associated dangers that these people do not need to have happen around their home. We do not need to have these people operating drug houses around our schools or playgrounds for our children. We do not need to have drug traffickers strategically locating themselves near our schools just to infect those children.

I want to propose implementing the safer communities and neighbourhoods act. It’s legislation that exists in Saskatchewan. This program has been well received in Saskatchewan and in other provinces and territories. Presentations have been made to the Yukon and Nunavut governments by the Saskatchewan government. We need solutions today to get these drug dealers out of our communities. We need effective enforcement tools.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Justice in Saskatchewan says safer communities legislation will improve community safety by targeting and, if necessary, shutting down residential and commercial buildings and lands that are habitually used for illegal activity such as producing, selling or using illegal drugs, prostitution, solvent abuse or other unlawful sale or consumption of alcohol. Mr. Speaker, they are doing something.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, may I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement?

Thank you. The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, this legislation will empower the citizens to take back their neighbourhoods by reporting problem residences and businesses to the RCMP or whatever enforcement agency. This type of legislation needs to become in practice now. This would allow authorities to take immediate action about this addiction plague. It is time to put our residents’ safety first, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions for the Justice Minister at the appropriate time to see how we can move quickly on a discussion paper and possibly a bill to implement legislation like the one I have talked about, maybe even in this session. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Today, I, too, would like to express my congratulations to graduates and especially to the Nahendeh riding. As well, I would just like to commend the Minister of Education for sending his appreciation to all grads, parents and teachers that are out there as well.

In today’s world, more and more education and prosperity goes hand in hand. Without graduates from our schools and our colleges, our future and the future of Nahendeh can be bleak. Today, I want to dedicate my Member’s statement and commend the graduates of Nahendeh, to the youth, the adults, the single parents and grandparents that have taken the time in their life to further develop their own skills to improve their lives and those around them.

I realize today they will be doing what their parents and grandparents did, but in a different way. Long ago, every year the people of the Dehcho separated for long periods of time to travel across this beautiful land to hunt, gather, trap and to provide for our families in our communities. They, too, have been doing this and will be doing this as they travel far away to learn new skills to provide for their families and their communities. As the MLA for Nahendeh, I am very proud of them. I have known most of the young students and adult students all of their lives. I am very honoured to have them complete their academic accomplishments. This year, as well, I am pleased to see that half of our student graduates, 45 percent of our student graduates will be from the small and remote Nahendeh communities, Mr. Speaker.

This government has committed to regional and community capacity building. This can only be done one student at a time, one generation at a time, and one community at a time. This year’s theme, with my participation with the graduates, will be "You are Already Leaders." These students have already taken on responsibilities of being role models. I wish success to every one of them in their endeavours in the future. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first I would just like to send out my condolences to the residents of Behchoko for their recent passing of a couple of their community members. In particular, my great uncle, Joe Migwi on my mother’s side. He will be sadly missed, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I had an opportunity to meet many northerners from different communities across the NWT while I attended the AFN residential school update meeting here in Yellowknife. Although the topic of conversation mainly dealt with the residential school compensation issues, many people expressed dismay about this government’s fluctuating level of support and action when confronted with issues and concerns on housing, health and justice.

Mr. Speaker, the reason I selected the Health, Housing and Justice departments as targets of some constructive criticism today, it is simply because it is these departments of the government which seem to fluctuate the most when it comes to questions of accountability, transparency and responsiveness. What I mean by fluctuating, Mr. Speaker, is that when there is a public outcry for better or more housing in a particular community, the Housing department reacts by cutting through all the red tape and swiftly gets houses on the ground. When there are dire health concerns, our communities yell loud enough. The Minister immediately holds a community meeting to address these concerns. When there is general consensus that there has been an injustice committed, there is already an internal review underway. The point I am trying to make, Mr. Speaker, is that why do we need a public outcry, a crisis situation or wait for the pot to boil over before this government takes immediate action, action which is usually efficient and effective? By this I mean we have to be more proactive and continue communicating with the public what this government’s plans are and processing public’s feedback on issues. I believe many of these public concerns and requests can be avoided. Then we can regain the public’s trust and confidence in this government which I feel, along with many of these northerners that I spoke to, has seriously deteriorated over the past few years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Honourable Charles Dent for his opening Minister’s statement this morning.

Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, the Honourable Charles Dent, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment; the honourable Robert McLeod, MLA, Inuvik Twin Lakes; and invited distinguished guests attended the 2006 Aurora College convocation ceremonies on May 12, 2006, in Inuvik. Forty-three students from across the Northwest Territories were honoured and congratulated for their accomplishments by the invited guests.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my personal gratitude to those students from the Beaufort-Delta and across the Northwest Territories. These students accomplished their dreams even though it meant leaving family and friends in their home communities. Leaving home to further their studies is an accomplishment alone. I can attest to that because I did that 25 years ago.

Mr. Speaker, it is the beginning of a new life for those who graduated on May 12, 2006. I wish each one of them success in their future endeavours. Mr. Speaker, each student from the Helen Kalvak Elihakvik School from Ulukhaktok held their Grade 12 graduation ceremonies on May 25, 2006. I would like to extend my congratulations to its eight students and would like to encourage them to pursue their dreams by attending college or university.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, there may be at least six students graduating this year from Mangilaluk School in Tuktoyaktuk. They will be holding their graduation ceremonies on August 4, 2006. At this time, I would like to extend a personal invitation to the Honourable Charles Dent, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, to attend this special occasion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is with great pleasure and pride that I rise today to recognize students from my home community of Fort Providence who are graduating from the Aurora College this year. Last month we had three students who celebrated their graduation from the Thebacha Campus in Fort Smith: Alana Krutko, Arlene Canadien, and Joyce Villeneuve. This month the students studying at the Nahecho Keh Learning Centre in the community are celebrating their graduation. I am very pleased that there are far too many of them to name here today. Forty-two students will be graduating from several different programs, Mr. Speaker. This is a very great achievement. Never have we had so many students graduating at one time before.

---Applause

Never have we had so many people from the community acquiring valuable skills needed to improve their lives and the lives of others. It is important to mention that 90 percent of the students enrolled in the trades program passed their trades entrance examinations.

---Applause

Also, many others have plans to continue their education at the diploma level through the Aurora College program. This success is a source of pride to everyone in the community. It really gives us all hope for the future. Northerners are facing new opportunities as well as new challenges. The academic success we are celebrating now only produces more success to celebrate in the future.

Mr. Speaker, my only regret is that I will not be able to attend the graduation ceremonies in person, which is taking place today, but I know my colleagues here in this House will join me in congratulating these students on their fine achievement and wishing them well in their future endeavours. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I am going to discuss an issue that I have brought up in this House numerous times in the past couple of years. That is how our government is handling the amalgamation of our human resources.

Mr. Speaker, last year I had a number of constituents who were very concerned over how they were being treated by the new HR division, now the Human Resources department. Some of the stories were very alarming. The Minister knows these well, and I do thank him for helping me resolve those issues. That was last year, Mr. Speaker.

Between then and now, have the business processes and the treatment of individuals improved any? The answer for me is still an emphatic no. The Minister’s answer to fix HR was to rush out and hire an American company by a sole source $450,000 contract to come in and tell him what was wrong. Results from this consultant’s work should be forthcoming soon, as the Minister stated I think it was yesterday. The problem, Minister Roland, is that the problems are still very evident in your department. Phone calls are not returned. Files remain incomplete. Responsibility is bounced from one person to another person and getting a record of employment, well, that would require quite a degree in patience as it sometimes takes up to eight weeks. The service levels remain unacceptable, Mr. Minister. People still stop me at the store, in the street, with horror stories about how long it is taking them to get their first pension cheques. Just the other day a man told me a story of how he waited 20 months to get his retirement issues resolved. He had to work two jobs once he left the employ of the government in order to make ends meet.

What I am very interested to hear from the Minister today is whether or not this sole source $450,000 contract has done anything at all to improve the services to our employees and to the public we serve. I want the Minister and the Members of this House to know that I do still remain committed to the amalgamation process of our HR services. However, I remain very skeptical of our government’s ability and its leadership to take whatever corrective steps that are necessary to make this new HR department as accountable, transparent and as effective as possible. Comments I hear from employees and the public is that it remains, in the words of many, a mess. Mr. Minister, I am leaving out many expletives that accompany the words "a mess." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to speak again today to something that has been raised in the House numerous times before. As we are all aware, the Government of the Northwest Territories, its boards and agencies, are one of the largest employers in the Northwest Territories. As such, the GNWT’s public service health care plan, as administered by Sun Life Financial and paying 80 percent of prescription’s cost, is probably the second largest defined benefit health care program in the NWT, after the aboriginal non-insured health benefit plan administered by the federal government. The problem, Mr. Speaker, is that the Sun Life plan this government participates in does not allow NWT pharmacies online real time access to Sun Life for approvals and confirmation of receipt of the bill for the filled prescriptions. The majority of other health insurance providers allow for this type of online access and issue cheques to pharmacies every two weeks. By batching two weeks of prescription onto one cheque, the administrative burden on pharmacies is lightened. When the pharmacist receives a cheque and batch information from one of the other health insurance providers, it is a simple matter for the pharmacy to check against their transaction records. In contrast, Mr. Speaker, under the Sun Life plan, each prescription is submitted separately and each transaction has its own cheque issued by Sun Life. The pharmacist also does not know whether the prescription is approved for payment until they get the cheque.

So for a small pharmacy, like the one in my community with about 800 government employee prescriptions on file, they could easily be looking at 1,000 cheques and prescriptions they must reconcile each month as opposed to the two cheques and batch lists that other health insurance providers supply.

Mr. Speaker, I had correspondence with the Minister of Human Resources on this issue before. The response that I received seems to indicate that there are no problems with pharmacies billing Sun Life directly on behalf of government employees and that this is just a simple matter of the employees signing over their billing rights to the pharmacy. Mr. Speaker, it is not that simple. It is a matter that needs to be resolved. I will have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Mahsi. Good morning, Mr. Speaker. Funding for non-government organizations is an issue constantly raised with me and my colleagues and our committees when we meet with organizations doing very valuable work in the voluntary sector.

Mr. Speaker, NGOs and their volunteer efforts cut across all areas of our daily lives here in the communities; cultural, economic, educational, environmental, sporting and, of course, social programs. Mr. Speaker, there is no question that without their contribution, life in the NWT would be much different.

An issue particularly is the acute need of those organizations such as the YWCA, the Tree of Peace, the Council for Persons with Disabilities, the Yellowknife Association of Concerned Citizens for Seniors, to be able to offer their staff competitive wage packages that will allow them to be able to stay in business.

Mr. Speaker, staffing for these organizations really is becoming a revolving door as they bring people into their payrolls, get them up trained and familiar with the circumstances in the North. They are very often the first people that the government and other agencies want to have and so they are easily lured away.

Mr. Speaker, the YACCS organization, this is the Concerned Citizens for Seniors here in Yellowknife, with a staff of 30 sees a salary variance of approximately 20 percent in comparison to government. A recent review by the YWCA, which has 150 staff delivering much needed social programs, found that its frontline workers receive $10,000 a year, or about $5 an hour less than similar public service positions. These differences do not, Mr. Speaker, reflect further variances that are caused by pensions that governments and larger operations are able to offer.

Mr. Speaker, it is urgent that we look at the need for NGOs if government is to continue to rely on the contributions these sectors make to our society. Mr. Speaker, it is time this government recognizes the true value of these organizations lead by volunteers to our society. It is time we add new cash to their resources, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, every year in the NWT, the government undertakes capital projects. These projects can range from construction of new schools, student residences and major renovations, to existing buildings. Mr. Speaker, I am becoming alarmed at the number of projects that go over budget, and in some cases are not awarded at all. Some of the projects, Mr. Speaker, have to be re-tendered with changes made to the design and to keep within budget.

A good example of these high costs, Mr. Speaker, would be the Deh Cho Bridge. The first figure I heard was $25 million. Then I heard another figure come in at $40 million. Then I heard $60 million. The last I heard was $140 million. The price of steel is not getting any cheaper.

Another good example would be the student residence in Inuvik that was recently delayed because the tenders came out over budget. We could be in danger of losing our building season if we have to put it off for another year. That begged me to ask, Mr. Speaker, if we are over-designing our buildings. I believe you can design a building that can be functional and attractive at the same time. Mr. Speaker, I believe we need to get a grip on the number of projects that continue to go over budget and be delayed, because we continue to lose our building seasons and people have to wait to get into new buildings. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to speak on the Novel housing concept. Mr. Speaker, for me the rules of engagement for this government in the ATCO Novel housing is pretty straightforward. It is very straightforward. We, the people of the NWT, are to get a real good deal by taking over the used workforce trailers from the pipeline company after it is finished with them. We are lobbying for ATCO to get this contract, in the hopes that we will end up with at least 830 used but converted mobile homes at the end of the day at a cost better than anything else comparable, certainly a lot cheaper than stick-built homes and presumably a lot better than unused, unconverted, brand new mobile homes in the market. Mr. Speaker, I have to ask, where is the evidence? The government has spent already hundreds of thousands of dollars on touring the facilities and staffing. Yesterday, in the House and in committee, the Minister tells us, in fact, it will cost us more to buy the used ATCO trailers and convert them to Novel housing than the conventional approach under its own affordable housing initiative. This is not taking into consideration all the liability this government is assuming on this project, Mr. Speaker, because the Minister said we would get 530 units spending $100 million and yet we will spend twice as much to get only 300 more.

Mr. Speaker, if this is such a great project, I would like to suggest a few things and one is that the government should stay out of this project. ATCO is a big company; they have all the resources; they can do their own lobbying. Let them bear all the liability, let them buy those trailers or keep those trailers because it is their trailers they’re making, they’re going to rent it to the pipeline companies. Let them convert them, let them transport them and then the government could be the biggest buyer for them. If the government insists on assuming this liability, I have to insist on better numbers, on a better deal and better due diligence. The only way for this government to be transparent and responsible on this project is to do a tender. The government must send out a tender and say, for $200 million, who can provide us…

Sandy Lee, your time for Member's statement has expired.

Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to just finish my sentence? Thank you.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I challenge you and challenge this House; we have to at least ask the industry to see what they can do with $200 million in terms of providing housing. At the end of the day, ATCO could be the winner, but we would all be aboveboard. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have visitors. I am thankful that they are here. Noel Bishop, Jeffrey Mackenzie beside him, and George Weyallon. They are from Behchoko. I would like to thank them for visiting the House.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member from Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a former classmate of mine, Adelle Gaudet. Her name now may have changed, but it was Gaudet when we were in school together. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions this morning are for the Minister of Finance and perhaps FMBS, and this relates to the arrangements that our government has with many non-government organizations in the delivery of services for our government, Mr. Speaker. Very recently, the voluntary sector and our government put together a study on this area and the study poses a number of very useful questions. I think they’d do well to be heard in the Assembly this morning. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask, for instance, what policy or legislative change or program guidelines would enable more NWT departments to adopt multi-year funding arrangements for work done by voluntary groups, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for FMBS, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 32-15(5): Funding For Non-Government Organizations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the area of multi-year funding agreements with non-government organizations or NGOs, as we reference them, is something that we have looked at and we have worked with departments to try to identify areas of how we improve in this area. We do have an avenue where we can do that. Of course, every multi-year agreement is dependent on the Assembly’s approval of the year’s budget that comes up. We are also looking within our Financial Administration Act to review where we’re preparing to come forward to this House with a rewrite of that act and looking at those areas to see where we can clarify, even, I guess, put a stronger position in that would address that area. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 32-15(5): Funding For Non-Government Organizations

Mr. Speaker, it’s encouraging to know that under the FAA review that we’re going to be looking further into it. I guess for now a number of organizations experience a lot of delays and uncertainty in their funding and their stability. Mr. Speaker, how can our funding mechanisms today be streamlined to improve access to funds and reduce administrative time and stress to these organizations and I would venture, Mr. Speaker, to our own civil service? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 32-15(5): Funding For Non-Government Organizations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we proceed forward from a day-to-day basis as all the rules and policies are in place, those organizations requesting multi-year funding can go to the department they are receiving their funding from and on that basis that department would review that situation and proceed from there. If it requires any other decision items, that would come forward to FMB. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 32-15(5): Funding For Non-Government Organizations

Mr. Speaker, it’s about this time of year that the departments, all the departments begin assembling their business plans for the coming fiscal year. In this, especially in the social program envelope departments, Mr. Speaker, are the core or the service agreements with a number of these organizations. Mr. Speaker, is FMBS going to really seriously look at the variances that have been so well illustrated by a number of these organizations and the difficulties they are having in our competitive job market? Are we going to address this for the coming fiscal year, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 32-15(5): Funding For Non-Government Organizations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In a specific request as we’d look at variances or the request for further funding, again, each organization would approach the department responsible for the particular area they are delivering a service and put their requirements in. The department would then, as part of their forced growth submission for the upcoming year, include them in their forced growth submission. So, for example, if an NGO was working with the Department of Health and Social Services or a board, one of the health boards out there, they would put in their request and if the board is accepting of that, would move their request forward to the Department of Health and Social Services. If there was agreement there, then it would come forward in overall Health and Social Services requests for forced growth. There lies the problem. On an annual basis would come forward for forced growth requests. They would have to go through our process and get approved and then be put into the business plan submissions. So that goes back to why we have to, on an annual basis, move forward. Even though there may be a multi-year agreement, it ultimately comes back to this process we use. So these organizations that have requested funding increases from the department, it’s included in their forced growth submissions as we prepare for the next budget cycle. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 32-15(5): Funding For Non-Government Organizations