This is page numbers 885 - 912 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 chairman.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 896

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Madam Minister.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 896

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, there will be a supp that will move $495,000 to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment for youth initiatives. There is a plan to promote this area of opportunity and that would be out of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 896

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Madam Minister. Mr. Dent.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 896

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This raises a number of questions. Why, for instance, was the money not moved prior to the main estimates being submitted so that when we were considering the Department of Education, Culture and Employment we could have more closely questioned the Minister about the plans for the spending of that money? I guess, because the money is planned to be moved, I have to ask you if this Minister is aware if the overall spending or the overall contributions will be made using the same general principles as have been used by Department of Health and Social Services when the money is taken over by Education, Culture and Employment. I would just ask why there is a split between the two and why the money isn't being handled by just one department?

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 896

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Madam Premier.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 896

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Chairman, because of the consolidation of Health and Social Services, we were late getting the amount of dollars moved to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment; so, it's on the fault of our department not getting the necessary paperwork ready in time to move it into the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. My understanding is that the criteria for the type of funding that has taken place in the past will carry on, but under the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, the part of money that we have retained is the dollars that were more specific to drug and alcohol types of programming.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 896

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Madam Minister. Mr. Dent.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 896

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In the 1994-95 main estimates I believe this House approved the same amount, $837,000, on the understanding that this money would be generally used to provide support and funding for youth projects that foster leadership, community initiatives and an alcohol and drug-free lifestyle. I guess from the Minister's last comments we can then assume that the leadership and community initiatives part of that funding is what has been moved to Education, Culture and Employment. Is that correct?

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 896

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Madam Minister.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 896

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Chairman, that is correct.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 896

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Madam Minister. Mr. Dent.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 896

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There has been a lot of concern among Members in this House about funds in this task having been lapsed in the past. I think there has been a real concern that perhaps young people across the north don't have enough awareness of this sort of fund. The Minister has said that there will be a better publicity campaign brought out to ensure people do know about it. I would like to ask for a commitment from the Minister that Members of this House will be kept very well informed about the use of the funds in this program, and that Members will also be given access or made aware of what forms of publicity are being planned by both the Premier's department, Health and Social Services, and Education, Culture and Employment.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 896

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Madam Premier.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 896

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Chairman, I will make a commitment to make sure that the information is provided the moment we have the packages ready. As well, I am sure that I can speak on behalf of the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Nerysoo, who will do likewise.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 896

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Madam Minister. Mr. Dent.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 896

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate that response. Moving on to another task, I believe that child sexual abuse is a task which is funded under this activity as well. Could the Minister advise if there has been any increase in funding proposed in the 1995-96 main estimates over what was proposed in the 1994-95 main estimates?

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 896

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Madam Minister.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 896

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Chairman, with regard to the number of dollars in this specific activity, the number of dollars remains exactly the same. However, I want to say that in conjunction with moving towards allowing the social service workers in the community to do the job of counselling and being involved and having the time to deal with child sexual abuse, there will be more time allocated at the community level through the social worker program. I believe in certain areas we have mental health workers as well, which are established positions; these people, in conjunction with social service workers, will be dedicating more time to the area of child sexual abuse, so even though the figure here hasn't increased, the anticipation is that the time that is made available at the community level will increase. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 896

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Madam Minister. Mr. Dent.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 896

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Given the importance of this issue and the size of the problem in the Northwest Territories, I am somewhat disappointed that more resources have not specifically been allocated to deal with it. I appreciate the Minister suggesting that social workers will now have more time to deal with the problem but, Mr. Chairman, I have to wonder just how much extra time we're freeing up for the social

workers. We've already heard that with this extra time, they'll be able to provide victims' services better and now they're going to be involved in providing better intervention and support services for child abuse victims.

I suspect that we're expecting too much of a panacea in the handing-off of social assistance to Education, Culture and Employment. Just a word of warning to the Minister, I think Members of this House will be watching very carefully to see how improved services are in areas such as this because I think Members in this House recognize what a serious problem child sexual abuse is and, in fact, how we have not really been able to anywhere near adequately, come to grips with the problem in the Northwest Territories. That's just a comment, Mr. Chairman, I don't know if the Minister wants to respond before I move on to my next concern.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 897

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Madam Minister.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 897

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Chairman, the honourable Member will get no argument from me in that regard. I just want to say that, certainly, in the number of community wellness workshops that I have been taking part in, this community-based consolidation, putting together a number of activities within the community to address the issues from a community level, certainly has indicated that the awareness of child sexual abuse has gained much more support in that people are willing to do something about it.

They're willing to try to battle the questions of not only why children get abused but the other social issues in the community which are linked, such as alcohol abuse. I hope this initiative, which tends to be catching on very well, along with income support reform, will meet some expectations of the communities. We certainly support the fact that we have to monitor this very carefully so it really does happen, Mr. Chairman.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 897

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Madam Minister. Mr. Dent.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 897

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

I have a question in another area under this task, foster care. Earlier in this House when were considering Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95, the Minister of Finance advised the House that the supplementary appropriation included an amount which would bring the 1994-95 revised forecast amount to be spent in this area to $5.019 million. He also advised the House that the amount proposed for the 1995-96 main estimates for this task is $3.556 million.

I'd like to ask the Minister to explain to the House how, in fact, they can forecast a $1.5 million decrease over this year's actuals in next year's spending for foster care?

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 897

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Madam Minister.