This is page numbers 243 - 273 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 5th 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.

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs. I was wondering if the Minister could advise us whether at the meetings this weekend or at any prior time, if there have been any discussions with Treaty 8 representatives which might lead to their taking over delivery of services similar to what is taking place under the community transfer initiative. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 156-12(5): Treaty 8 People's Takeover Of Delivery Of Programs And Services
Question 156-12(5): Treaty 8 People's Takeover Of Delivery Of Programs And Services
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 249

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Speaker, Treaty 8 had indicated to the Government Leader in meetings a few weeks ago, that they were interested in exploring options through which they could take over programs and services for their own members. The Government Leader and myself had indicated that the community transfer initiative does not lend itself to the kind of programs and services that they want to deliver, simply because we don't have the legislative capacity to set up programs and services specifically for aboriginal people. The best recourse for them would be to discuss it with the federal government since they have that legislative power, and that we would support them in setting up discussions with the federal government to explore options or ways in which this could be negotiated with the view of Treaty 8 making that offer to their members respectively. Thank you.

Return To Question 156-12(5): Treaty 8 People's Takeover Of Delivery Of Programs And Services
Question 156-12(5): Treaty 8 People's Takeover Of Delivery Of Programs And Services
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 249

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife North, Mr. Ballantyne.

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Finance, and it's to deal with a meeting that the Minister attended in January. A meeting that was put together of the federal Intergovernmental Affairs Minister, Marcel Masse, about the possible elimination of duplication between federal, provincial and territorial programs. I wonder if the Minister could give us a brief report as to what transpired in that particular meeting. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 249

John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It was actually a Finance Ministers' meeting, in which Mr. Martin had asked Mr. Masse to attend to talk to Finance Ministers about overlap in duplication. It involves areas of concern expressed by both levels of government, where we're both doing similar things. It involves the regulatory process. It involves the environment. It involves programs that are delivered by sometimes three levels of government: municipal; territorial or provincial; and, federal. It is hoped that after Mr. Masse has looked at this problem and gotten more comfortable with it, that individually, as provinces, territories and in some cases municipalities, we can agree on areas that do overlap, that do duplicate and we can come to some arrangement whereby the program would be delivered by one level of government and get some efficiency in the others. That was the gist. It was a get-to-know-you kind of meeting.

I have to write to Mr. Masse and give him our position with things that we see in the Northwest Territories that overlap and duplicate. Many of those things involve DIAND, of course, and the transfers of program responsibility that we have not yet received. I will be doing that, then Mr. Masse will respond and we'll see if we can work some of those issues out, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

Return To Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 250

The Speaker

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Supplementary To Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 250

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I find this process very interesting for us, probably as much if not more than other jurisdictions. It's a very, very important one. As the Minister has said there is a lot of overlap now. Many programs that DIAND carries out I am quite sure we are very capable of carrying out. Is the Minister of Finance the designated Minister in this process?

Supplementary To Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 250

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 250

John Pollard Hay River

Yes, I am, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 250

The Speaker

Supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Supplementary To Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 250

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Could the Minister give us a time frame where we can expect the Minister to report back to this House as to what progress he has made in these negotiations?

Supplementary To Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 250

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 250

John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I hope to be able to isolate some fairly simple things this summer and pass them on to Mr. Masse. The overall strategy has to involve the rest of Cabinet, sitting as FMB, simply because of the complexity -- as Mr. Ballantyne points out -- of the problem in the Northwest Territories. It involves a huge government department and we are going to have to sit down and look at this before we make suggestions of an immense size. We will probably be able to report with some small successes in the fall session, and with the strategy then of how we intend to approach the larger picture. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Further Return To Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 250

The Speaker

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Supplementary To Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 250

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Then would we expect this initiative to be put into the package of initiatives that the government now is negotiating with the federal government?

Supplementary To Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 250

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 250

John Pollard Hay River

It is ironic that Mr. Ballantyne should ask that question, Madam Speaker, but of course he is very swift of mind. Just as a little insurance, shall we say, when I was meeting privately with Mr. Masse, I mentioned that we had experienced some problems with transfers from the federal government to ourselves, namely minerals and the northern accord, and would he be interested in attacking that problem from the aspect of overlap and duplication. He said he would be willing to look at that situation after we had exhausted the efforts that we have under way right now with the federal Finance Minister. I think Mr. Ballantyne was probably thinking ahead and I was doing the same thing in trying to cover some bases. We may be able to attack that problem from an angle of overlap and duplication, which would perhaps speed the process up and save the federal government some money. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Further Return To Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Question 157-12(5): Report On Finance Ministers' Meeting Re Duplication Of Programs
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 250

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Social Services. The Department of Social Services has done a lot of work and have been able to find some money to resolve the salary and benefits issue for alcohol and drug workers. For this, the workers are very grateful. But other than alcohol and drugs, there are many different programs within the department. One of these is the care for elderly residents. They are cared for in either government-owned and operated facilities or self-standing facilities, which are managed by other agencies and they receive contributions from the department. What is the department doing to ensure that the salaries and benefits of employees in the free-standing facilities are compatible with the work and responsibilities they do?

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Social Services, Ms. Mike.

Return To Question 158-12(5): Wage Parity For Employees In Non-government Facilities
Question 158-12(5): Wage Parity For Employees In Non-government Facilities
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 250

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Department of Social Services has already compiled a list of where there is wage parity with the facilities we have. But there are ongoing talks within Cabinet. Social Services is not the only department that has wage parity. Thank you.

Return To Question 158-12(5): Wage Parity For Employees In Non-government Facilities
Question 158-12(5): Wage Parity For Employees In Non-government Facilities
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 250

The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Supplementary To Question 158-12(5): Wage Parity For Employees In Non-government Facilities
Question 158-12(5): Wage Parity For Employees In Non-government Facilities
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 251

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I understand that a study was done reviewing the salaries and benefits in all the long-term care facilities. Can the Minister confirm whether a study was done of all long-term care facilities funded by the department in order to ascertain the salary and benefit levels of all the staff?