This is page numbers 1229 - 1250 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 premier.

Topics

Return To Question 566-12(7): Status Of Health Services In Nahendeh Region
Question 566-12(7): Status Of Health Services In Nahendeh Region
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1238

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, at the meeting of the representatives in Fort Simpson, I committed that what we should do is take a two-tiered approach where we would make a list of the things we could do immediately and some of the issues that would take a little longer to reconcile. I said we would be willing to work with the representative group in Fort Simpson. The department has tentatively come up with a list that they felt they could deal with. However, for some reason, we haven't received the list from the representative group on the areas they felt were priorities to address in the short term. Once session is concluded, I intend to try to get together again with the representative group. Departmental officials are in continual communication to find out if we can list the issues for the short term and for the long term. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 566-12(7): Status Of Health Services In Nahendeh Region
Question 566-12(7): Status Of Health Services In Nahendeh Region
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1238

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Supplementary To Question 566-12(7): Status Of Health Services In Nahendeh Region
Question 566-12(7): Status Of Health Services In Nahendeh Region
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1238

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that commitment. During the meeting, there was also discussion about Mackenzie Regional Health Services. Currently, it is headquartered in Yellowknife with a number of

employees serving the Dogrib region as well as the Deh Cho region. There have been commitments made in this House with regard to taking these positions and putting them into the regions. I would like to ask the Premier the status of Mackenzie Regional Health Services' devolution into the regions. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 566-12(7): Status Of Health Services In Nahendeh Region
Question 566-12(7): Status Of Health Services In Nahendeh Region
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1239

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Ms. Cournoyea.

Further Return To Question 566-12(7): Status Of Health Services In Nahendeh Region
Question 566-12(7): Status Of Health Services In Nahendeh Region
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1239

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, that's one issue that the department has determined is possible to attain in the short term. We're proceeding to identify the positions and also talk to the people serving in Fort Simpson. We will attempt to make the necessary notifications to fulfil our obligations to the legislation governing labour standards. It is intended that those positions will be in place in early September. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 566-12(7): Status Of Health Services In Nahendeh Region
Question 566-12(7): Status Of Health Services In Nahendeh Region
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1239

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Supplementary To Question 566-12(7): Status Of Health Services In Nahendeh Region
Question 566-12(7): Status Of Health Services In Nahendeh Region
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1239

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The other issue I would like to ask the Minister about is with regard to a health board of some sort in the Deh Cho region. This has been discussed quite a number of times. The problems arising in the delivery of health services in my constituency seem to stem from lack of local decision-making with regard to health services. This comes down to the question of the board. What has the department done with regard to the development of a health board in the Deh Cho or the constituency of Nahendeh? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 566-12(7): Status Of Health Services In Nahendeh Region
Question 566-12(7): Status Of Health Services In Nahendeh Region
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1239

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Ms. Cournoyea.

Further Return To Question 566-12(7): Status Of Health Services In Nahendeh Region
Question 566-12(7): Status Of Health Services In Nahendeh Region
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1239

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, this is not just a one-sided approach to this issue. The community has to be involved. What we discussed at the meeting is in the initial transfer of health responsibilities to the Northwest Territories, there was funding for one board. However, because the Deh Cho has committed to combining a health and social services board, we probably would be able to combine those two responsibilities and move along with a representative agency for that area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 566-12(7): Status Of Health Services In Nahendeh Region
Question 566-12(7): Status Of Health Services In Nahendeh Region
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1239

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Ballantyne.

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Finance. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I asked the Minister of Finance about the status of the formula financing agreement. There is another very important financial negotiation which should be taking place and is taking place, I hope, in conjunction with the formula financing agreement, and that is the incremental funding necessary for division of the territories. I wonder if the Minister of Finance can tell us how those two negotiations are coordinated? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 567-12(7): Status Of Formula Financing And Incremental Division Funding Negotiations
Question 567-12(7): Status Of Formula Financing And Incremental Division Funding Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1239

John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have tried to put incremental costs for the division of the Northwest Territories on the table at formula financing meetings and have been unsuccessful. The federal government is not particularly interested in discussing that at the present time, although they will tailor the agreement and make mention of the fact that division is going to occur. With regard to addressing the issue of incremental funding, at this particular time we have not been successful in convincing Mr. Martin of it's importance. We will continue to pursue the matter with the federal government, though. Thank you.

Return To Question 567-12(7): Status Of Formula Financing And Incremental Division Funding Negotiations
Question 567-12(7): Status Of Formula Financing And Incremental Division Funding Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1239

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Supplementary To Question 567-12(7): Status Of Formula Financing And Incremental Division Funding Negotiations
Question 567-12(7): Status Of Formula Financing And Incremental Division Funding Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1239

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you. I know we have discussed this issue a number of times with the Minister of Finance, but I have some real concerns when the federal government talks about incremental funding when we have no idea what our base is going to be. So, it's really an irrelevant conversation until we know exactly what the base is. You can give us $30 to $50 million a year in incremental funding but if you take $100 million off the base, you're losing $70 million.

I wonder, in the meeting coming up soon with the federal Minister of Finance, if our Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard, will again try to impress upon the Minister of Finance that we need some certainty as we go into division. Because if we don't have certainty as to our fiscal base and stability, we're going to have a lot of problems here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 567-12(7): Status Of Formula Financing And Incremental Division Funding Negotiations
Question 567-12(7): Status Of Formula Financing And Incremental Division Funding Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1239

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 567-12(7): Status Of Formula Financing And Incremental Division Funding Negotiations
Question 567-12(7): Status Of Formula Financing And Incremental Division Funding Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1239

John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Premier and I will be meeting with Mr. Martin. One of the issues that we will be raising with him, amongst others, is we see the division process taking place, we're all doing work, whether in ministries or in this Legislative Assembly. We're all moving in that direction, NIC is doing a lot of work, as is NTI. The move is on and there needs to be some certainty with regard to incremental funding. I sympathize a little bit with the federal government because they say, how can we judge what the incremental funding is going to be when we don't know what the forms of government are going to be. But they need to be a little warmer than that on this incremental funding, so we will pursue it with Mr. Martin when he's here, the week of the 26th, I believe. Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

Further Return To Question 567-12(7): Status Of Formula Financing And Incremental Division Funding Negotiations
Question 567-12(7): Status Of Formula Financing And Incremental Division Funding Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1240

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Premier. Mr. Speaker, I've been advised by individuals in the fire control office about fire suppression. I've been advised particularly about one issue that is quite disturbing. I've been told that prior to the fire getting out of control and becoming a danger to Fort Norman, there was a request to ask for extra bombers but apparently the deputy minister or the Minister's office refused that request. Could the Premier determine and correct if a request to ask for extra assistance for fire suppression was refused? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Madam Premier.

Return To Question 568-12(7): Request For Extra Assistance To Fight Sahtu Forest Fire
Question 568-12(7): Request For Extra Assistance To Fight Sahtu Forest Fire
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1240

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, normally we don't, as Premier or a Minister at this level, get involved or have knowledge of those day-to-day operational requirements. It's generally handled by the people who are in the field. However, I can commit to find out an answer to that question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 568-12(7): Request For Extra Assistance To Fight Sahtu Forest Fire
Question 568-12(7): Request For Extra Assistance To Fight Sahtu Forest Fire
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1240

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you. I know Ministers don't normally get involved in the day-to-day operations. That's why they have personnel staff and deputy ministers. But, unfortunately, this type of stuff has been happening, which leads me to my next question, Mr. Speaker.

On May 9th, the manager for air operations was advised that his services were no longer needed. He was not told whether his position was declared redundant or whether he was dismissed. When the concern came to my attention, I immediately wrote to the Minister responsible for fire suppression and I further followed it up with a question to the Minister of Personnel. He indicated to me today that when a position is declared redundant and the department is unable to find alternative employment, a formal letter of layoff is issued.

With regard to that, Mr. Speaker, this position being responsible in the operations of fire suppression, the employee is required to work for three months but that requirement may be waived at the discretion of the employee's deputy minister. Can the Premier indicate to this House whether or not the deputy minister has waived that particular procedure of the government with respect to fire suppression staff. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

That's a new question. Madam Premier.

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, I will have to take the question as notice.