This is page numbers 549 - 580 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 6th 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 housing.

Topics

Further Return To Question 270-12(6): Status Of Informatics Strategy
Question 270-12(6): Status Of Informatics Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 563

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Supplementary To Question 270-12(6): Status Of Informatics Strategy
Question 270-12(6): Status Of Informatics Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 563

Fred Koe Inuvik

I find that strange. When you are dealing with a complicated system like we have in this government, one has to evaluate and assess what we have and where we want to go. You would think there would be a plan to achieve that target. I'm wondering why there wouldn't be a report or some kind of plan developed to make the changes that are required.

Supplementary To Question 270-12(6): Status Of Informatics Strategy
Question 270-12(6): Status Of Informatics Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 563

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 270-12(6): Status Of Informatics Strategy
Question 270-12(6): Status Of Informatics Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 563

John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, so that I don't confuse the House, there was a report done last year that identified the issues that we should address and made recommendations. The first recommendation was that there should be an informatics policy committee and that's the committee I've told the House about. Obviously, they have some targets in mind about what they would like to get accomplished during the different years as we go down the road.

If Members are interested, Madam Speaker, I'll circulate that workplan to Members so they can see the time lines these people are working with. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 270-12(6): Status Of Informatics Strategy
Question 270-12(6): Status Of Informatics Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 563

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Supplementary To Question 270-12(6): Status Of Informatics Strategy
Question 270-12(6): Status Of Informatics Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 563

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi. I am looking forward to reviewing that report. Can the Minister give us an estimate of what this whole strategy will cost to implement?

Supplementary To Question 270-12(6): Status Of Informatics Strategy
Question 270-12(6): Status Of Informatics Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 563

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 270-12(6): Status Of Informatics Strategy
Question 270-12(6): Status Of Informatics Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 563

John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, when we first started this, we looked at pretty rough numbers of what it would cost to link all the communities of the Northwest Territories and get them all on line. At that time, the rough number was $9 or $10 million, and that was money we didn't have. What we are doing now is, as you heard yesterday, Public Works are doing some things to upgrade in the regions next year with their system. Within their particular areas of responsibility, departments are buying programs, using manuals and buying equipment and so on.

What we have decided to do is this committee will work towards standardizing the dollars already in department's budgets. So, as they are getting new equipment, it is of a certain standard and, as they are developing new programs, those programs will mesh with other departments and other users. That includes the divisional boards, the health boards, and so on and so forth.

If there is a major change to be made, that will be done by supplementary appropriation. But, at the present time, this committee is merely asking departments to spend the money they already have in their budgets in a coordinated and unified fashion. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Further Return To Question 270-12(6): Status Of Informatics Strategy
Question 270-12(6): Status Of Informatics Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 563

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Baffin South, Mr. Pudlat.

Question 271-12(6): Cost Of Living Survey
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 564

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Health and Social Services. I understand that we have a shortage of funds, but people who receive social assistance go through a very difficult time. Has there been a study done to try to find out the difference between the cost of living in the south and the cost of living in the north? Has there been a study of this done by the GNWT? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Question 271-12(6): Cost Of Living Survey
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 564

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Health and Social Services, Madam Premier.

Return To Question 271-12(6): Cost Of Living Survey
Question 271-12(6): Cost Of Living Survey
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 564

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, it is my understanding that the formula for social assistance does take into account the cost of living. Thank you.

Return To Question 271-12(6): Cost Of Living Survey
Question 271-12(6): Cost Of Living Survey
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 564

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, a few years ago I asked the Minister of Renewable Resources about walk-in freezers for Kakisa. At that time, the then Minister indicated that the Department of Renewable Resources was working with Public Works in order to develop a policy about walk-in freezers. I have waited at least a year and a half now for that to come to a satisfactory conclusion, so we can start having walk-in freezers. I would like to ask the Minister for the status of that. Have you developed any kind of a policy with the Public Works department or did you not deal with it at all?

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Return To Question 272-12(6): Policy For Walk-in Freezers
Question 272-12(6): Policy For Walk-in Freezers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 564

Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to thank the honourable Member for asking me a question. It gives me the chance to stretch.

---Laughter

With regard to the community freezers, at the present time we have a position in the Department of Renewable Resources, put in place by the Department of Public Works, to assess walk-in community freezers; where community freezers are in the Northwest Territories. From this information, Madam Speaker, I'm hoping in the new year we will be able to assess the needs and the process in which these freezers would be made available to communities.

At the present time, this person is going into the various communities. Because of the varied needs of the communities, with regard to size and the amount of space required per community, we have to be careful about how we spend our funds on freezers. I'm hoping we will be able to come to a decision paper for Cabinet sometime in April, 1995. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Return To Question 272-12(6): Policy For Walk-in Freezers
Question 272-12(6): Policy For Walk-in Freezers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 564

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Supplementary To Question 272-12(6): Policy For Walk-in Freezers
Question 272-12(6): Policy For Walk-in Freezers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 564

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you. I would like to ask the Minister, what is the name of the person who is going to be travelling around doing the assessments, and when can he be expected in Kakisa?

Supplementary To Question 272-12(6): Policy For Walk-in Freezers
Question 272-12(6): Policy For Walk-in Freezers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 564

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Supplementary To Question 272-12(6): Policy For Walk-in Freezers
Question 272-12(6): Policy For Walk-in Freezers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 564

Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik

Madam Speaker, I do not know the name of the person, nor the schedule of the person's travels. I will take the question as notice. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 272-12(6): Policy For Walk-in Freezers
Question 272-12(6): Policy For Walk-in Freezers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 564

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Item 7, written questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I have a written question for the Minister of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Would the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation please advise the House of the following:

What is the amount of arrears owed to the NWT Housing Corporation as of March 31, 1994?

Please provide this information on a community-by-community basis.

Mahsi.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 7, written questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I have a written question for the Minister of Health and Social Services.

Would the Minister of Health and Social Services please advise this House of the following:

1. Please provide the numbers of public health nurse positions in each community and the population they serve in those communities; and,

2. Have there been any changes in the numbers of public health nurse positions in communities since the transfer of health from the federal government?

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 7, written questions. The honourable Member for High Arctic, Mr. Pudluk.