Debates of March 9th, 1992

This is page numbers 327 - 351 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 2nd 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 chairman.

Topics

Members Present

Item 1: Prayer

Ministers' Statement 33-12(2): Teachers' Collective Bargaining

Opposition To May Survey Of Peary Caribou

Clean-up Of Pcbs, Coral Harbour

Uqqurmiut Centre, Pangnirtung

Workers' Compensation Board

Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Question O283-12(2): Internal Review Of Workers' Compensation Act

Question O284-12(2): Workers' Compensation Lump Sum Payments

Question O285-12(2): Local Input In Study Of Peary Caribou

Question O286-12(2): Record Of Positions Taken By Mr. Todd During Tenure On Workers' Compensation Board

Question O287-12(2): Workers' Advisor Position On Workers' Compensation Board

Question O288-12(2): Clean-up Of Military Sites

Question O289-12(2): Use Of Affirmative Action Policy In Workers' Compensation Board

Question O290-12(2): Regional Advisory Boards Under NWT Business Credit Corporation Act

Question O291-12(2): Telephone Calls Made From Workers' Advisor's Office, Workers' Compensation Board

Question O292-12(2): GNWT Employees At Expo

Question O293-12(2): Number Of Trees Required To Make One Million Board Feet

Question O294-12(2): Area Logs Will Be Harvested For Patterson Sawmill

Question O295-12(2): Review Of Year's Maximum Insurable Remuneration A Priority

Question O296-12(2): GNWT Contributions To Workers' Compensation Board

Question O297-12(2): Changes To Workers' Compensation Act Re "exclusive Jurisdiction"

Question W22-12(2): Workers' Compensation Board Affirmative Action Hiring Record

Question W23-12(2): GNWT 1991-92 Financial Situation

Question W24-12(2): Government Of The Northwest Territories' Deficit

Question W25-12(2): Non-recovery Of Aboriginal Health Care Expenses From Diand

Question W26-12(2): Aboriginal Employment Statistics With GNWT

Question W27-12(2): Community Employment Officers

Item 7: Returns To Written Questions

W11-12(2): Meeting Of Canadian Coast Guard Officials

Item 12: Tabling Of Documents

Notice Of Motion For First Reading Of Bill 24: Financial Administration Act, No. 2

First Reading Of Bill 19: Real Estate Agents Licensing Act

First Reading Of Bill 22: Write-off Of Assets And Debts Act, 1992

First Reading Of Bill 23: Loan Authorization Act, 1992-93

Second Reading Of Bill 20: Nursing Profession Act

Second Reading Of Bill 21: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 1990-91

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Item 19: Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Item 21: Orders Of The Day

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 345

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Yes, thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I will proceed with my opening remarks. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to present the Department of Social Services 1992-93 capital estimates. The department is requesting the 1992-93 capital budget allocation of $8,272,000 which is comprised of $4,481,000 for new and continuing projects with an additional $3,791,000 carry-over from 1991-92.

The major thrusts of the department for the coming year are in family and children's services: to build a group home for children in care at Baker Lake; in the alcohol and drug and community mental health: to build a Hay River Reserve alcohol treatment centre and an alcohol treatment centre in Iqaluit for the Baffin; in community and family support services: to complete a senior citizens' facility in Fort Smith and in Fort Franklin. The remainder of the budget is for renovations to existing facilities, purchase of minor equipment and planning for new facilities.

In closing, I would like to provide you with an overview of the capital estimates, the 1992-93 capital estimates. The 1992-93 capital estimates overview are: The department is requesting the approval for 23 projects in 1992-93, which total $8.272 million. Of this total, $3.791 million is carry-over from six projects in the 1991-92 capital budget. Through federal funding agreements, for corrections and alcohol and drug facilities, the department will receive $1.668 million, so that the net funding impact to the GNWT will be $2.813 million after deducting carry-overs.

I hope that the committee will support these requests and will agree that the total budget cost is very reasonable in light of the size of the operating programs and the need to maintain and build facilities to support this department's mandate. Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening remarks.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair James Arvaluk

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Todd.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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John Todd Keewatin Central

I have no general comments, other than what we made earlier last week, with respect to Social Services. Some other Members may have, but at this time I do not have any.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair James Arvaluk

Mr. Minister, do you wish to bring in your witnesses?

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Mr. Chairman, the witnesses have been called and I understand that they are proceeding here forthwith.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair James Arvaluk

Thank you. In the meantime, are there any general comments? Mr. Lewis.

Importance Of Volunteers And Fund Raising

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 346

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

I would not want us to leave the Chamber now that we have a quorum, Mr. Chairman. My remarks are very brief. One of the concerns that many people have expressed over the last while is that, because of the downturn in the economy, and due to the fact that the government has had to realign its budget and look very carefully at every dollar, the voluntary agencies have been pressed, more and more, to do things that in the past have been done by government. They have been squeezed more and more. I would like all Members to know that the voluntary agencies have been very involved for a long time in assisting with social programs and services. If we cannot supply the modest capital dollars that these agencies have asked for from time to time, then there is going to have to be a far better organized voluntary sector in order to supplement whatever we can supply.

I will not go into great detail in these general opening remarks, but I would like Members to note that if we did not have a very strong voluntary sector to do fund raising all over the place, the demands on the government purse would be very high. We should be doing as much as we can to make sure that the pressure on the public to keep digging, and digging, to come up with more money to provide essential services is not going to be frustrated because these essential things are no longer going to be available to people.

I know the Minister is very well aware of this. Fund raising throughout the Territories has been quite extensive for many years now, and we want to make sure that people are continuing to do that with the proper generosity of spirit and will not be frustrated because of the initiatives that government takes that could drive that up somewhat, as people get a little bit more anxious about the future of Social Services. I am not doing this just to fill in time and to use up the minutes on the clock, Mr. Chairman, but I would like you to be aware that that is a concern that many Members have. Thank you.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 346

The Chair James Arvaluk

Thank you, Mr. Lewis. Any other general comments? Are you ready to go to the details, page by page? Agreed?

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair James Arvaluk

Thank you. On the capital estimates, page by page, it starts at 15-7. I apologize for that. I made a mistake. It is 15-10. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Mr. Chairman, before we go into the capital estimates page by page, can I get clarification from the Minister in respect to the comment he made on a senior citizens' home in Fort Smith that was being built? Can I get clarification from the Minister on that?

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair James Arvaluk

Mr. Minister.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Mr. Chairman, it is to complete the senior citizens' facility at Fort Smith.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair James Arvaluk

Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Mr. Chairman, is the Minister stating that the Department of Social Services is building a senior citizens' facility in Fort Smith?

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair James Arvaluk

Mr. Minister.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 346

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Mr. Chairman, I would ask your indulgence on this. We are waiting for Mr. Doyle to come. I believe this was an error. It should have been Hay River.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair James Arvaluk

Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 346

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Mr. Chairman, for the record I would like the Minister to get it corrected, because the Department of Social Services is not building a senior citizens' facility in Fort Smith. I know the Town of Fort Smith has taken the initiative to build one in conjunction with CMHC, but not with funding from the Department of Social Services, so that should be corrected for the record.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair James Arvaluk

Thank you. Before you answer, would you like to invite your witness?

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair James Arvaluk

You may proceed, Mr. Minister. Would you like to introduce your witness to the committee?

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Yes, Mr. Chairman, thank you. I would like to introduce Bernard Doyle, the deputy minister for the Department of Social Services.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair James Arvaluk

Thank you. Welcome to the committee. Would you like to answer Mrs. Marie-Jewell's question.

Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Mr. Chairman, the completion of the senior citizens' facility is in the Fort Smith Region at Hay River. I would like to extend my apologies to the honourable Member for that and correct that for the record.

Debates of March 9th, 1992

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