This is page numbers 821 - 851 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 7th 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 health.

Topics

Further Return To Question 405-12(7): Continuance Of Role Of Rental Officer
Question 405-12(7): Continuance Of Role Of Rental Officer
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 833

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, I am not clear about the question, but the resources are there, they have been voted by the Assembly. With the exception of trying to address the issue of responsibility, which includes the method by which we carry out hearings; the issue is not that there will be someone in place. The question is what are the tasks, which is the issue that we are trying to address at this particular time.

Further Return To Question 405-12(7): Continuance Of Role Of Rental Officer
Question 405-12(7): Continuance Of Role Of Rental Officer
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 833

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Antoine.

Question 406-12(7): Tender For Renovations To Deh Gah School
Item 6: Oral Questions

April 4th, 1995

Page 833

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, the Deh Cho Divisional Board of Education has been expressing an interest in piloting capital projects for some time now. This was expressed to the Department of Public Works and Services as well as the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

There was one reference made on Monday to Deh Gah School which is in Fort Providence, for the renovation and addition to the school which was identified as a pilot project. Meetings have been conducted between the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and the board to see what the implication of this project authority would be. Furthermore, they used meetings conducted with the Deh Gah Got'ie Betterment Corporation of Fort Providence. What has happened here is that on March 3rd, a tender was put out calling for design proposals by the Department of Public Works and Services, this came as a shock to the board of directors. As a result, I would like to ask the Minister if he could explain to the House what happened here in terms of the meetings that took place between his department and the Deh Cho Divisional Board of Education. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Nerysoo.

Return To Question 406-12(7): Tender For Renovations To Deh Gah School
Question 406-12(7): Tender For Renovations To Deh Gah School
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 833

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not clear about that particular matter of the tendering because the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is not responsible for the issue of tendering. That is a responsibility that falls under the Department of Public Works and Services.

Return To Question 406-12(7): Tender For Renovations To Deh Gah School
Question 406-12(7): Tender For Renovations To Deh Gah School
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 833

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Antoine.

Supplementary To Question 406-12(7): Tender For Renovations To Deh Gah School
Question 406-12(7): Tender For Renovations To Deh Gah School
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 833

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On behalf of the Deh Cho Divisional Board of Education, there was an understanding that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment was preparing the necessary documentation to transfer project of authority to the board. This is the reason I am questioning the Minister; his department has been meeting with the board to try to work out an arrangement so that the Deh Cho Divisional Board of Education would do the pilot project for the renovation additions to the school in Fort Providence. So, I would like to ask the Minister, has the department done the necessary documentation to transfer this project authority to the board? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 406-12(7): Tender For Renovations To Deh Gah School
Question 406-12(7): Tender For Renovations To Deh Gah School
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 833

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 406-12(7): Tender For Renovations To Deh Gah School
Question 406-12(7): Tender For Renovations To Deh Gah School
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 834

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to advise the honourable Member that one of the issues that had to be addressed was a meeting between myself, the Minister of Public Works and Services, and the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. I am pleased to indicate to the honourable Member we did meet and have addressed a number of the pilot initiatives.

It is certainly our intention to come forward with a Cabinet submission to address some of the concerns, of which I believe the project the honourable Member has spoken about is one of those particular projects. But we do need some time now for the departments to bring forward the appropriate submission. It seems, Mr. Speaker, I can indicate through my honourable colleagues that the three Ministers are onside and trying to find the solution necessary to ensure that we carry it out. What is important though, Mr. Speaker, is that we recognize there is a process and we need to ensure that the partners, the people we're serving, the communities, the board, and also Public Works and Services, are clear about their responsibilities and roles. Hopefully, over the next week or so we will be able to respond to and resolve those particular issues. I can say that we have met and will be dealing positively with those issues.

Further Return To Question 406-12(7): Tender For Renovations To Deh Gah School
Question 406-12(7): Tender For Renovations To Deh Gah School
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 834

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Whitford.

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister responsible for Housing. The subject of sprinkler systems in homes comes up from time to time, particularly when a tragedy occurs as a result of fire. Fire chiefs feel that sprinkler systems in some homes could save lives. While there are pros and cons to the issue, I would like to ask the Minister -- because the territorial government is the largest landlord in the north -- in light of the opinions of fire chiefs towards sprinklers in homes, has the Housing Corporation looked at having sprinklers in their homes?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 834

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the Housing Corporation has looked at sprinkler systems for single detached units and have found that it is not economical to put these in the units. The cost is far too high and will drive construction costs very high. Thank you.

Return To Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 834

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Supplementary To Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 834

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I've heard quite a lot of support for such a proposal and also some concerns expressed by builders. Given the fact that the Housing Corporation has had a look at this, I wonder if the Minister could provide me with reports he may have on this study or review they did to justify costs. Would he be able to provide that?

Supplementary To Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 834

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 834

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Housing Corporation looked into this issue. There is a move in southern Canada to put sprinkler systems in all detached units as a fire safety precaution and as part of building codes. We did not support that move because of the costs. Also, home owners expressed concern that this would drive the costs up approximately $6,000 to $10,000 a unit, depending on where the unit is. The majority of our units have self-contained water tanks and you would have to put in another water tank to supply the sprinkler system. It would become too expensive and possibly drive the costs of home ownership up for citizens in the Northwest Territories.

I will give the Member the information I have available to me and make it personally available to him. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 834

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Supplementary To Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 834

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Housing Corporation and the territorial government, in general, are to be congratulated on providing sprinkler systems in seniors' homes and other institutions that they build and own. I would like to ask if it is just the single detached units that they're concerned with. Are the multi units, which affect a lot of people, in the category of being too expensive?

Supplementary To Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 834

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 834

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The cost for single detached units would be a lot higher than it would be in triplexes and fourplexes, for example. But we are concerned with those units as well. The Housing Corporation, at this time, is not building multi units because we don't have a rent supp or public housing program at this given time. All of our dollars are allocated for home ownership now because that is the program that is needed.

Capital funding from the federal government doesn't exist for public housing any more, for building or new construction. It's not an issue for us right now. I guess we wouldn't agree to having this in the building code because it would drive the cost up more for construction in the Northwest Territories. We'd have to weigh everything out, but the initial kick at the cat is we wouldn't support that. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 835

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Supplementary To Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 835

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I recognize the costs are there when one includes such things as safety but if it saves lives of home owners, children, elderly people and adults, I wonder what the cost factor would be? We have to take that into consideration as well. I wonder if the Minister's staff has looked at the number of fires we have and whether it is worth to put them in if it saves lives.

Supplementary To Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 835

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Question 407-12(7): Installation Of Sprinkler Systems In Nwthc Homes
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 835

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Comparing it to the saving of lives, we can look at that. But the Member must realize that what the Housing Corporation and government should look at is preventing fires. A sprinkler system is only good once a fire starts. If we can prevent that fire from starting, then we will saves lives as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.