Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, today I am very pleased to present the report on the elimination of the Alcohol and Drug Board of Management, prepared by the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions.

Introduction

Alcohol and drug abuse is one of the most serious social problems facing northerners today. As a result, the funding of alcohol and drug programs has always been a sensitive and important issue in the debates of the Legislative Assembly.

Early in the term of the 12th Assembly, the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions selected the Alcohol and Drug Board of Management as one of the government agencies to be reviewed by the committee.

The standing committee considered this matter in meetings in Yellowknife from April 25 to 29, 1994. The Minister of Social Services, the Honourable Rebecca Mike, was unable to appear before the committee. She was represented by her deputy minister, Mr. Ken Lovely, who appeared before the committee on April 26th. The standing committee wishes to acknowledge the input of the deputy minister and thank him for his appearance at the public hearings.

General Observations

Over the past few years, concerns related to Alcohol and Drug Board of Management were raised regularly by Members in the House. Members were concerned that the board was not carrying out its duties and that the government as not giving the board the support necessary to do so.

The government finally eliminated the board at the end of the 1992-93 fiscal year. As a result, there is no formal mechanism available for the Department of Social Services to receive input and recommendations concerning alcohol and drug policies.

The standing committee is disappointed the government eliminated this board without having consulted the Assembly, either as a whole or through this committee. Recent government initiatives to eliminate boards -- most recently, the Denendeh Conservation Board and the Highway Transport Board -- included consultation with this committee. The elimination of the Alcohol and Drug Board of Management should not have taken place without similar consultation.

Committee Members acknowledge that the board's primary purpose, to make recommendations on the distribution of grants and contributions to alcohol and drug programs, has been taken over by the department. While that responsibility may now be elsewhere, the responsibility to provide input to the Minister and the department is one that must still be met.

Further, there was some concern that the department was too interested in numbers and statistics from the alcohol and drug workers and not in the other issues and concerns often raised by the workers. Alcohol and drug counsellors in the communities are the front-line workers in this battle and their input is critical in the development of effective policies to reduce the damage of alcohol and drug use by northerners.

As for the grants and contributions, the standing committee feels that there must be some means of monitoring the effectiveness of those grants. How effective are they in different communities? Are there some programs or communities that are more effective or efficient than others? What can be learned from those effective programs? Committee Members appreciate the department's assurances that program will be better monitored.

The department told the committee that an alcohol and drug strategy would be developed this year by the combined departments of Health and Social Services. The standing committee sees the establishment of mechanisms for input by front-line workers and for monitoring of the effectiveness of grants as an essential part of any alcohol and drug strategy.

Recommendation

The Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions recommends that the Department of Health and Social Services complete a comprehensive alcohol and drug strategy and provide it to the committee by December 31, 1994. Further, that the strategy include mechanisms for monitoring the effectiveness of grants and contributions to alcohol and drug societies, and for gathering input from alcohol and drug workers to the department.

Finally, the standing committee agrees with the department that alcohol and drug problems are not so much a cause as they are an effect. The government has limited resources and these resources must be directed so as to have the greatest possible impact on all health and social services issues facing northerners. Directing attention at the causes of alcohol and drug abuse is an admirable goal, and we encourage the government to continue their efforts to fight the roots of the problems facing northerners through a greater emphasis on community mental health. Mahsi cho.

Some Hon. Members

Hear, hear.

---Applause

Motion To Receive Committee Report 13-12(6) And Move To Committee Of The Whole, Carried

Fred Koe Inuvik

Madam Speaker, that concludes the report of the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions. Therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Lewis, that the report of the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions on the elimination of the Alcohol and Drug Board of Management be received by the Assembly and moved into committee of the whole. Mahsi.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion.

An Hon. Member

Question.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, in a new dress, Mr. Gargan.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. The honourable Member for Natilikmiot, Mr. Ningark.

Amending The Terms Of Reference

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The work of the committee in Taloyoak raised the ongoing concerns of committee Members regarding weaknesses in the Advisory Committee on Social Housing's terms of reference. During the final day of meetings, the Members discussed these concerns and, as a result, developed amendments to the terms of reference to address the concerns. The amendments focus on three key areas.

Name Of The Committee Making Recommendations To The House

The committee was originally set up strictly as an advisory group. This allowed the Minister of Housing to share ideas on housing issues with ordinary Members and receive feedback which would allow the development of more effective policies and programs.

However, since the creation of the committee, the issues surrounding social housing have become more controversial. The drastic federal funding cuts and the resulting program reductions by the Housing Corporation mean that there will be times when the committee not only wishes to recommend changes to the Minister, but also wants to bring those recommendations to the Legislative Assembly. Committee Members feel they will be taking a stronger role in the future as the tough housing decisions must be made; as a result, the committee needs the authority to make recommendations to the government on housing issues, rather than just providing the Minister with advice.

To accommodate the changing role of the committee, two changes to the terms of reference are proposed: first, that the name of the committee be changed to Special Joint Committee on Housing; and second, that the committee have the authority to make reports, motions and recommendations on housing policies programs and other issues to the government through the Legislative Assembly.

Selection Of Chairman

For most committees of the Legislative Assembly, the chairman is selected by the committee from among its Members. However, under the current terms of reference for the housing committee, the Minister of Housing is automatically the chairman of the committee. While Members are satisfied with the performance of the current Minister as chairman, they would like to see a different method for selecting and removing the chairman in the future. Members recognize that, as chairman, the Minister can control the agenda and direct issues; however, he cannot talk to the issues, which is a distinct disadvantage.

Madam Speaker, to provide consistency with other Legislative Assembly committees and to give the committee flexibility in its choice, a change to the terms of reference allowing the committee to select its own chairman from its Members is proposed.

The committee will be bringing forward to the Assembly amended terms of reference for consultation and approval.

Madam Speaker, I will not be comfortable in reading the next line, so I will ask Mr. Gargan to proceed. Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The committee would like to thank the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Natilikmiot and the people of Taloyoak for their warm hospitality.

---Applause

As well, the committee would like to thank the Minister and staff of the NWT Housing Corporation for the presentations...

---Applause

...and material provided on the review of the regional and community consultations. The completeness of the information and the open approach taken by the Minister greatly assisted the committee in its detailed consideration of the issues. Madam Speaker, that concludes the report of the Advisory Committee on Social Housing.

Motion To Receive And Adopt Committee Report 14-12(6), Carried

Therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Natilikmiot, that the report of the Advisory Committee on Social Housing on its meeting in Taloyoak be received by the Assembly and adopted.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Your motion is in order. To the motion.

An Hon. Member

Question.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.