This is page numbers 94 - 112 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 1st Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was age.

Topics

Fred Koe Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Social Services. Since the Minister publicly stated, before becoming a Minister, that he wished a total review of the Department of Social Services, and subsequently in this House, as a Minister, he categorically stated that he did not support a review of the department, would the Minister support the establishment of a special committee on social services?

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Minister of Social Services.

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Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Categorically no.

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Oral questions. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Transportation. Just recently I was in the community of Arviat. The airport there is under the auspices of the hamlet council, and they were having some difficulty ordering lights for their tower. They indicated to me that they were having this difficulty because of a problem they were having with the agreement that was made between the territorial government and the federal government. I would

like to find out if this agreement has been finalized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Minister of Transportation.

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not know the answer to the question. I will take the question as notice and get back to the Member as soon as I can. Thank you.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

The question is taken as notice. Oral questions. Oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is again to the Minister of Personnel. There have been concerns expressed by many residents of the Territories that at times there are competitions held, and once the competition is held there appears to be some change of thinking on the person that was initially offered the position. There have been cases where the competition has been basically put on hold or cancelled, and then the job descriptions are rewritten, basically, in accordance with the type of person that at times probably the department has identified. I would like to know if the Minister of Personnel would review and advise this House as to how many competitions have been cancelled and readvertised, and for what purpose. Thank you.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Minister of Personnel.

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I will do that.

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Oral questions. Ms. Mike.

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Government Leader. I was somewhat happy to see the Beatty report, but having heard the Minister of Social Services' Ministers' statement on the abstention clause, I was hoping that this new government would take initiatives from the community level to the cabinet and to the Legislative Assembly in that approach. Will your new government operate in such a way that it is dictating?

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Madam Government Leader.

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, we have made a major initiative that people at the community level are the best people who can organize themselves, know their issues, and take over programs and services. I do not really understand the question that has been posed. At certain points in time, decisions have to be made to reach the objective of trying to accomplish certain goals, including cost savings, including trying to reach the objective of moving the responsibility, the accountability, and the resources at the community level. If that is dictating, I am not sure if that is the question.

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My earlier question was addressed to the Minister of Social Services. In the Baffin Region there was only one community in agreement with the abstention clause for counsellors. The majority of the communities hesitantly signed, thinking that their funding would be cut. This continues to be the issue, and from the Ministers' statement I see that "if they do not adopt it, there will be no more funding until the communities involved establish new societies that will accept this important condition."

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Ms. Cournoyea, perhaps you may wish to respond to the more specific aspects of the original question.

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I did not understand the question at the time. Mr. Speaker, sometimes there are serious complications, serious issues out there that we have to grapple with. The issue of abstinence is one that was told to us as being a very serious problem in terms of the people who are conducting the counselling, doing the immediate work with people. If we talk about affirmative action, it is the same thing. We are told that people are not hired who can do the job, who are resident in the NWT, aboriginal people. Sometimes we have to take a high road and say something has to be done about this issue. These are cases where it is determined that there is a serious problem and issues have to be addressed. I do not think that is dictatorship. That is trying to meet the needs of people, trying to address a problem.

I think the Minister of Social Services, in this case, is prepared to go and meet with the Baffin communities to give them a little more time. To meet with them and get them co-operatively coming across and taking that initiative on their own.

The majority of people in this case did recognize that in that particular job -- it is not a dictatorship. I know when we were in Baffin the issue was brought up. I was asked a question, and someone said, "It is my right." It is not a right. There are a lot of privileges out there, and it has been clearly identified over the years, and there is a great abuse of this privilege that people have. It is not a right. Sometimes we have to take action on behalf of the residents of the NWT, even though it is somewhat arbitrary.

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Ms. Mike.

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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

My understanding is that what works over here does not always work in other regions. In that way, will your government take steps to try and resolve this problem?

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Ms. Cournoyea.

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, yes we will. I believe it is the intention of the Minister of Health and Social Services, at the nearest opportunity, to meet with those residents in Baffin who feel it is an imposition for them to be hired on the basis of having the clause in the contract.

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Bernhardt.

Question O111-12(1): Review Of Pay For Alcohol Treatment Workers
Item 5: Oral Questions

December 12th, 1991

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Ernie Bernhardt Kitikmeot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for Social Services. Would your department be willing to review the pay scales for alcohol treatment workers in small, isolated communities?