This is page numbers 503 - 531 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 land.

Topics

Further Return To Question 258-12(5): Status Of Guardianship Act
Question 258-12(5): Status Of Guardianship Act
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 510

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Madam Speaker, my honourable colleagues raised a lot of questions about various stages of amalgamation of departments. When we are changing and reshaping departments, people tend to get involved. People who are of concern, obviously, are employees of the various departments. My question to the Premier is, what type of information and public relation strategy is this government using to inform and keep employees informed about the various stages of amalgamations and decentralizations of departments?

Further Return To Question 258-12(5): Status Of Guardianship Act
Question 258-12(5): Status Of Guardianship Act
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 510

The Speaker

Mr. Koe, could I ask you to possibly rephrase your question? It seems somewhat repetitive of an earlier question that has already been posed in the House. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Fred Koe Inuvik

The concern I'm raising is that staff in several departments have expressed to me that they're not getting complete information about what's going on in terms of changes within their departments, for example, employees in the Department of Public Works and Services. My question is, what public relations work has been done to keep employees informed about the changes that are occurring in the amalgamation of Public Works and, let's say, Housing?

The Speaker

Madam Premier.

Return To Question 259-12(5): Methods Used To Inform Employees Of Amalgamations
Question 259-12(5): Methods Used To Inform Employees Of Amalgamations
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 510

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, I'll try to elaborate on a similar question. Whenever the information is available on the status of amalgamation and consolidation there are general information items put out in internal government publications which go to all civil servants in the Northwest Territories. Once a decision has finally been made and employees are affected, those particular employees are notified of the changes.

The Member is aware that prior to making changes due to consolidation and decentralization, we provided a fairly broad-based information program on the workforce adjustment program. Affected employees come under that program. They can look at their career paths, there is priority hiring, retraining for another career in the GNWT, education assistance and enhanced severance payments. So if employees are affected by these changes, it is well known through the publications that go out to civil servants that this program is available to them. Thank you.

Return To Question 259-12(5): Methods Used To Inform Employees Of Amalgamations
Question 259-12(5): Methods Used To Inform Employees Of Amalgamations
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 510

The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Supplementary To Question 259-12(5): Methods Used To Inform Employees Of Amalgamations
Question 259-12(5): Methods Used To Inform Employees Of Amalgamations
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 510

Fred Koe Inuvik

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Does part of this program also include meeting with unions, with the staff being present at these meetings?

Supplementary To Question 259-12(5): Methods Used To Inform Employees Of Amalgamations
Question 259-12(5): Methods Used To Inform Employees Of Amalgamations
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 510

The Speaker

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Further Return To Question 259-12(5): Methods Used To Inform Employees Of Amalgamations
Question 259-12(5): Methods Used To Inform Employees Of Amalgamations
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 510

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, when decentralization and some consolidation was anticipated, one of the things that was worked out with the union was the workforce adjustment program. The union was fully involved and informed in working out this special program for people who are affected by the changes. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 259-12(5): Methods Used To Inform Employees Of Amalgamations
Question 259-12(5): Methods Used To Inform Employees Of Amalgamations
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 510

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Baffin South, Mr. Pudlat.

Question 260-12(5): Training For Community Employees
Item 5: Oral Questions

March 2nd, 1994

Page 511

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. It is with regard to the report, Strength at Two Levels. I understand that the villages and hamlets will have to have more power and more authority. I'm not trying to say that people in the communities are not able to perform work properly, but some employees have had difficulty performing the tasks that they are supposed to perform in their jobs. I wonder if the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs has looked at this and the possibility of having more training in reshaping departments. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Return To Question 260-12(5): Training For Community Employees
Question 260-12(5): Training For Community Employees
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 511

Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik

(Translation) I thank my colleague, Mr. Pudlat, for asking such a legitimate question. One of the communities has had a problem with regard to exactly the same concern that my colleague has. Our employees are working closely together with the University of Ontario that is working closely together with people who are familiar with organizing local governments or community governments so that the communities and the departments may be more informed. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Return To Question 260-12(5): Training For Community Employees
Question 260-12(5): Training For Community Employees
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 511

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I believe the Minister of Health is aware that the Special Committee on Health and Social Services made comments about the need to improve dental specialist services and other specialist services in the Northwest Territories. I think he has also been working on proposals that have been offered to the department to bring dental specialists to the north, rather than sending patients to the south. I would like to ask the Minister of Health, Madam Speaker, has he made progress in reversing the situation and having the dental specialists come north? Thank you.

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Health, Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 261-12(5): Success In Bringing Dental Specialists To The North
Question 261-12(5): Success In Bringing Dental Specialists To The North
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 511

John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, thank you. I was looking for an orthodontist who was a periodontist as well, and I have discovered that the two professions don't go into one person, Madam Speaker. That was what I was hoping for. Those are the two areas that we're looking at, at the present time. I've had discussions with the Dental Association of the Northwest Territories because they are providing services in

some of the communities by bringing people up to do this particular work, as opposed to the patients going south.

In other parts of the Northwest Territories, as we well know, people are being sent south, period. I've discussed it with the Department of Health, I've even talked with the Stanton Hospital board about it, and it would appear to me that inside of the next six weeks I'll be able to make a recommendation on how best to solve this problem.

My feeling is that the recommendation will be that we employ either part-time or by contract or full-time, the services of an orthodontist in the Northwest Territories. With the periodontic work, I think we're going to have to do that on a lesser basis because there's not as much call for that kind of speciality. Nevertheless, we do need to bring that kind of person north, as well.

I'm just gathering some more information, Madam Speaker, from across Canada. I'm finding out that orthodontists are in great demand everywhere. So we're going to have to be lucky to bring somebody up here to handle all of the work. But in the next six weeks, I'm hopeful that I'll have a decision. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Return To Question 261-12(5): Success In Bringing Dental Specialists To The North
Question 261-12(5): Success In Bringing Dental Specialists To The North
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 511

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Aivilik, Mr. Arvaluk.

James Arvaluk Aivilik

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Public Works. The school extension in Coral Harbour has been slated for construction this summer. Has there been a contract awarded yet on this project?

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 262-12(5): Contract For Coral Harbour School Extension
Question 262-12(5): Contract For Coral Harbour School Extension
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 511

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Speaker. No, there has been no contract awarded.

Return To Question 262-12(5): Contract For Coral Harbour School Extension
Question 262-12(5): Contract For Coral Harbour School Extension
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 511

The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Supplementary To Question 262-12(5): Contract For Coral Harbour School Extension
Question 262-12(5): Contract For Coral Harbour School Extension
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 511

James Arvaluk Aivilik

Since no tender has been issued yet, would the Minister consider that there may be a negotiated contract to benefit the local contractors in the community of Coral Harbour?

Supplementary To Question 262-12(5): Contract For Coral Harbour School Extension
Question 262-12(5): Contract For Coral Harbour School Extension
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 511

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 262-12(5): Contract For Coral Harbour School Extension
Question 262-12(5): Contract For Coral Harbour School Extension
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 511

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would be pleased to discuss that with the Member. Thank you.