Thank you, Madam Minister. Mr. Lewis.
Debates of Nov. 30th, 1993
Topics
Committee Motion 40-12(4): To Delete Rankin Inlet From Keewatin Region, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 305
Committee Motion 40-12(4): To Delete Rankin Inlet From Keewatin Region, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 305
Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre
That accounts for the $100,000, but what about the Hay River one? It seems they are going to get nothing.
Committee Motion 40-12(4): To Delete Rankin Inlet From Keewatin Region, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 305
Committee Motion 40-12(4): To Delete Rankin Inlet From Keewatin Region, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 305
Rebecca Mike Baffin Central
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Hay River is in the Fort Smith region.
Committee Motion 40-12(4): To Delete Rankin Inlet From Keewatin Region, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 305
Committee Motion 40-12(4): To Delete Rankin Inlet From Keewatin Region, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 305
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just to follow up on Mr. Lewis' question. It is suspicious that it comes out to $100,000 even. Could the Minister advise whether the facilities get the funds they request? What is the process? Are they sending in requests for three or four times this amount and this is all the government is able to free up, or is this what they have requested to cover the costs of renovations and capital equipment?
Committee Motion 40-12(4): To Delete Rankin Inlet From Keewatin Region, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 305
Committee Motion 40-12(4): To Delete Rankin Inlet From Keewatin Region, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 305
Rebecca Mike Baffin Central
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. These are the capital contributions the department makes for renovations or purchasing equipment.
Committee Motion 40-12(4): To Delete Rankin Inlet From Keewatin Region, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 305
Committee Motion 40-12(4): To Delete Rankin Inlet From Keewatin Region, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 305
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have the advantage of being on the Standing Committee on Finance, so I have the project substantiation sheet in front of me and I know what this money is for. My question is how is it determined that Yellowknife will get $45,000 and the two other facilities will qualify for $55,000? I suspect at the Aven Senior Centre, needs are actually much greater than $45,000. With the amount that is being allowed for renovations, I believe that facility is falling into disrepair. How did we determine that we have this much money to provide? Is it in response to requests from the agency or can the Minister tell me specifically what the agencies have requested for renovations and why we have come up with these figures?
Committee Motion 40-12(4): To Delete Rankin Inlet From Keewatin Region, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 305
Committee Motion 40-12(4): To Delete Rankin Inlet From Keewatin Region, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 305
Rebecca Mike Baffin Central
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thought I had already said that we do receive the applications and there are talks that are ongoing, but I guess I didn't say that. The agencies submit applications to the department. Thank you.
Committee Motion 40-12(4): To Delete Rankin Inlet From Keewatin Region, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 305
Committee Motion 40-12(4): To Delete Rankin Inlet From Keewatin Region, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 305
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Then the question is, are each of the facilities getting the exact amount they applied for?
Committee Motion 40-12(4): To Delete Rankin Inlet From Keewatin Region, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 305
Committee Motion 40-12(4): To Delete Rankin Inlet From Keewatin Region, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 305
Rebecca Mike Baffin Central
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When it comes to grants and contributions that the department provides, it is never an exact amount the department gives.
Committee Motion 40-12(4): To Delete Rankin Inlet From Keewatin Region, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 305
Committee Motion 40-12(4): To Delete Rankin Inlet From Keewatin Region, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 305
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Does the department have a plan to address the shortfall in the funding for renovations and capital equipment over the longer term for these facilities?
Committee Motion 40-12(4): To Delete Rankin Inlet From Keewatin Region, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 305
Committee Motion 40-12(4): To Delete Rankin Inlet From Keewatin Region, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 305
Rebecca Mike Baffin Central
Mr. Chairman, these are non-government buildings we are talking about. We don't have any long-term plans for renovations for these facilities that have independent boards that run them. However, with the 100 per cent owned GNWT facilities we have, there is a process in place through Public Works for renovations if there is wear and tear within the facility. Thank you.
Committee Motion 40-12(4): To Delete Rankin Inlet From Keewatin Region, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 305
Committee Motion 40-12(4): To Delete Rankin Inlet From Keewatin Region, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 305
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On many occasions, across the Northwest Territories this government has provided facilities for seniors' residences. In these three locations, at least, the government has volunteer agencies that have gotten together to put the facilities together. If the government owned and operated them, the government would spend the money for the repairs and renovations required to keep them in good shape. As it stands now, they, as Mr. Koe has pointed out, are limited in the amount of funds they can collect for the cost of running. This government doesn't come anywhere near providing them with a reasonable amount of funding to cover the cost of renovations and the capital upkeep that is required, whether it is reshingling, repainting or doing those things that are required to be done to make sure the building stays in good shape and is renovated as needed to provide the services for the people inside. In effect, this government is casting off the burden that is carried across most of the territories onto the backs of these volunteer agencies in these communities. This is not fair. The government is going to have to look at addressing the long-term implications of under-funding these three facilities because, in the long run, it is going to come back to haunt no one else but the government.
Committee Motion 40-12(4): To Delete Rankin Inlet From Keewatin Region, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 305
Committee Motion 40-12(4): To Delete Rankin Inlet From Keewatin Region, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 305
Rebecca Mike Baffin Central
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Altogether, for non-GNWT elders' residences in the span of five years, there is $685,000 allocated. As the Minister of Social Services, responsible for senior citizens, I am going to say this not just to Yellowknife, but to any community that comes to the
department seeking assistance. The communities themselves have a definite responsibility in looking after our elders, along with the Government of the Northwest Territories. The total cost cannot be relied on GNWT totally. We have, as citizens, a responsibility for our senior citizens. That is the position I have. I have spoken to many people in the communities who come to Social Services requesting funds.
Committee Motion 40-12(4): To Delete Rankin Inlet From Keewatin Region, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 306