Mr. Speaker, the Minister says that the department is doing everything they can. I asked about concrete action. I would like to ask the Minister, has she instructed her department to prepare a submission to improve the wage scales of alcohol and drug workers? Thank you.
Debates of Dec. 1st, 1993
Topics
Supplementary To Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 326
Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
Supplementary To Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 326
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Minister Mike.
Further Return To Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 326
Rebecca Mike Baffin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is not only the alcohol and drug workers who have wage parity problems. In fact, the other departments have been asked by our Premier to identify employees who do have wage parity inequities. The government is doing something about it. Up until the work is done and dealt with at the Cabinet level or FMB, I really cannot make any commitments at this time. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 326
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.
Further Return To Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 326
Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Social Services -- whose answer is that the matter is still being studied -- would the Minister agree that further study on the wage parity issue on alcohol and drug workers and other workers -- such as the proposed Northern Workplace Commission -- is not needed, but what is actually needed now is money? Thank you.
Further Return To Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 326
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Patterson, you are really asking an opinion of the Minister. I would ask you if you would look at rephrasing your question to deal with government policy, rather than the opinion of the Minister. Mr. Patterson.
Supplementary To Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 326
Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
Mr. Speaker, in light of the strong concerns of Members, the recommendations of the Special Committee on Health and Social Services and the problems that the Minister is undoubtedly well aware of with community alcohol and drug centres hiring and retaining alcohol and drug workers, would the Minister accept that money is wasted if it is going to be spent on further study and that the priority of her department should be to identify extra financial resources now to deal with this urgent problem? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 326
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Minister Mike.
Supplementary To Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 326
Rebecca Mike Baffin Central
Mr. Speaker, I think the Member is asking for my personal opinion. He is not asking whether that is the position of Social Services or not. I would ask the Member to rephrase his question so that he is not asking for my personal opinion.
Supplementary To Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 326
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
If I could give my opinion on this, Ms. Mike, it is really my job, not yours.
Supplementary To Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 326
Some Hon. Members
Hear, hear.
Supplementary To Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 326
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
I allowed the second question, as posed to you as the Minister of Social Services. The question stands. How you answer it is within your own purview. Continue, Ms. Mike.
Further Return To Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 326
Rebecca Mike Baffin Central
Mr. Speaker, I cannot say, at this time, whether I agree or don't agree with the question that Mr. Patterson is asking. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 326
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Final supplementary, Mr. Patterson.
Further Return To Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 326
Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
Mr. Speaker, I understand that the Minister presented a submission to Cabinet for improving the wages of alcohol and drug workers, but was not successful in getting that submission approved. Is that true, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.
Further Return To Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 326
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Again, I would caution Members. I, as Speaker, am not aware of that. Unless the Minister has made that statement, then we're in the area of Cabinet secrecy. If the Member has knowledge that is the knowledge of this House about this particular event, then Mr. Patterson can pose his question.
Further Return To Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 326
Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
Mr. Speaker, we often hear Ministers saying, "I'll make a submission, I will consult with my Cabinet colleagues or I'll put it to Cabinet." My question to the Minister is, has she put this urgent problem to her Cabinet colleagues?
Further Return To Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 326
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Point of order, Ms. Mike.
Point Of Order
Further Return To Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 326
Rebecca Mike Baffin Central
Mr. Speaker, the Member for Iqaluit is making allegations that I often talk about or say that I will make submissions. I would like to ask the Member if, since the last sitting, I made commitments that I would make a submission? Thank you.
Further Return To Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 326
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
I'm sorry, I really don't see a point of order, Ms. Mike. Mr. Patterson.
Supplementary To Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 326
Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
Mr. Speaker, my question from the beginning has been to try to understand what efforts, if any, the Minister of Social Services has taken to deal with this urgent problem. All she has said so far is she's done everything she could. I would just like to know what she has done to try to deal with this urgent issue, Mr. Speaker?
Supplementary To Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 326
An Hon. Member
Good question.
Supplementary To Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 326
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Minister Mike.
Further Return To Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 327
Rebecca Mike Baffin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said earlier on, when I took the portfolio back in December 1992, there were increases made. Mr. Speaker, the Member had that portfolio and he had the opportunity to make the increases himself, if he was so concerned about it.
Further Return To Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Question 169-12(4): Actions To Address Low Wages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 327
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
I would like to remind Members that the Member is no longer the Minister of Social Services. The Member is not responsible any longer for any actions of the Department of Social Services. The time allotted for question period is over. We will go on to item 6, written questions. Mr. Dent.