Thank you. Mr. Premier.
Debates of Oct. 4th, 1996
Topics
Question 389-13(3): GNWT Deficit Recovery Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 886
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Return To Question 389-13(3): GNWT Deficit Recovery Plan
Question 389-13(3): GNWT Deficit Recovery Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 886
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you Mr. Speaker. As the Member maybe aware with his background with the housing corporation that the federal government who has a responsibility, ultimate responsibility, for supplying Aboriginal people with proper housing units three years ago, cut to this government approximately $47,000,000, basically cut the rug from underneath our feet of supplying housing to northern people. Even though that the federal government had cut $47,000,000 from capital projects in the Northwest Territories, specifically housing. We as a government never cut, as a matter of fact, we increased the dollars that we put into construction of social housing in the Northwest Territories, and today we are still building the same amount of units that we built three years ago. Approximately 340-400 units a year. So, I think we are on the right track of putting that we can afford into the right programs. For the Member's information as well, we fully realize that for every ten houses to twelve houses we can only build one, but we just do not have the dollars to put any more money into the housing program. Thank you.
Return To Question 389-13(3): GNWT Deficit Recovery Plan
Question 389-13(3): GNWT Deficit Recovery Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 886
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you, Mr. Morin. Oral question, supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.
Supplementary To Question 389-13(3): GNWT Deficit Recovery Plan
Question 389-13(3): GNWT Deficit Recovery Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 886
Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker the Premier did not answer the jist of my question, and that was, will he agree to take a second look at the cost cutting measures that this government has put in place. Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 389-13(3): GNWT Deficit Recovery Plan
Question 389-13(3): GNWT Deficit Recovery Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 886
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Morin.
Further Return To Question 389-13(3): GNWT Deficit Recovery Plan
Question 389-13(3): GNWT Deficit Recovery Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 887
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I made very clear in my ministerial statement at the opening of this session, that we as a government are willing to relook and revisit the things that we put into place to make sure that we balance our budget before the next fiscal year. But also we agreed to do that with conjunction of the Members of this house, to talk about that in this house and to debate that issue, whether what we are doing is right or wrong. I believe what we are doing is right. If we do not get our financial house in order, we will never see our way out to doing the proper things for people of the Northwest Territories unless we end up with a balanced budget. If we continue to go and spend and administer the way we are doing when we first came to office, all we will be doing is talking about how we pay down the interest rates in the future. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 389-13(3): GNWT Deficit Recovery Plan
Question 389-13(3): GNWT Deficit Recovery Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 887
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral question, supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.
Supplementary To Question 389-13(3): GNWT Deficit Recovery Plan
Question 389-13(3): GNWT Deficit Recovery Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 887
Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker. Is that a yes or a no?
Supplementary To Question 389-13(3): GNWT Deficit Recovery Plan
Question 389-13(3): GNWT Deficit Recovery Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 887
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Morin.
Further Return To Question 389-13(3): GNWT Deficit Recovery Plan
Question 389-13(3): GNWT Deficit Recovery Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 887
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As members have heard in this house in the last few days, is that when we agree to things we should stay the course, when we agree to things, once we have come to agreement, we should move ahead and follow out the plan. So the member can take it as a yes or no, but what I am saying is that we have set the course and we will stay the course, until we balance our budget. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 389-13(3): GNWT Deficit Recovery Plan
Question 389-13(3): GNWT Deficit Recovery Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 887
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions, oral questions. Mr. Krutko.
Question 390-13(3): Negotiations With The Tl'oondih Healing Society
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 887
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Social Services. I think he is probably missed me over the summer, he has not had a question from me all summer. The question is in regards to Tl'oondih Healing Society which to date there was a motion passed and the committee of the whole which instructed the Minister and the executive to start negotiations immediately with the Gwich'in Healing Society to bring them in line with other programs which are presently developed in the Northwest Territories and elsewhere. To date, nothing has been done, and also I would like to make him aware that there have been other initiatives that the Gwich'in Healing Society has taken to assist clients once they complete the program, which is an agreement that was signed this summer between the Human Resources Development Canada to develop an after care program to help individuals in acquiring skills and participation of labour market, and making the transaction from welfare to become independent and basically develop personal growth and also find employment.
Yet to date this government has not helped out in any way, shape, or form, to assist us in trying to meet requirements to be able to compete against other institutions in the north who receive core funding. For us to deliver a program through our program and from what we are getting from the government works out to about $75 per person with a cost to the tribal council of $280 after the cost of building in the operation of the camp and other expenditures that come along with it. So you work out the average of cost at that, we are losing money.
So, my question to the Minister is, is that from the motion that was passes in committee of the whole, what has he done in regards to that motion and where will you go with it?
Question 390-13(3): Negotiations With The Tl'oondih Healing Society
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 887
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. The Minister of Social Services, Mr. Ng.
Return To Question 390-13(3): Negotiations With The Tl'oondih Healing Society
Question 390-13(3): Negotiations With The Tl'oondih Healing Society
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 887
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I thank the honourable member for his lengthy question. I believe under a point of order that this question was posed two days ago to the Honourable Premier, and it was taken as notice at that time, and I will commit to getting back the
information to the honourable Member as soon as possible. Thank you.
Return To Question 390-13(3): Negotiations With The Tl'oondih Healing Society
Question 390-13(3): Negotiations With The Tl'oondih Healing Society
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 888
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral question, supplementary, Mr. Krutko.
Supplementary To Question 390-13(3): Negotiations With The Tl'oondih Healing Society
Question 390-13(3): Negotiations With The Tl'oondih Healing Society
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 888
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Yes, my question was is that there was a motion passed in committee of the whole, in regards to instructing the Minister of Health and Social Service and Executive Council to immediately enter into negotiations with the Tl'oondih Healing Society. To date, what has been done with it?
Supplementary To Question 390-13(3): Negotiations With The Tl'oondih Healing Society
Question 390-13(3): Negotiations With The Tl'oondih Healing Society
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 888
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Point of order, Mr. Ng.
Supplementary To Question 390-13(3): Negotiations With The Tl'oondih Healing Society
Question 390-13(3): Negotiations With The Tl'oondih Healing Society
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 888
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I just elaborated that this item was taken as notice two days ago by the Honourable Premier in response to the same question from the honourable Member. So I ask that we follow the rules of this house, that I will report back accordingly to that notice of motion. Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 390-13(3): Negotiations With The Tl'oondih Healing Society
Question 390-13(3): Negotiations With The Tl'oondih Healing Society
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 888
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Regarding your point of order, Mr. Ng. You do not have a point of order. The Premier has responded to the Member for MacKenzie Delta by saying that he will take it on notice. Mr. Minister, you did respond that it was taken by the Premier on notice, but you did not say that you were going to take it on notice either so, the question continues until you advise the house that you will take it. Oral questions, Mr. Krutko.
Supplementary To Question 390-13(3): Negotiations With The Tl'oondih Healing Society
Question 390-13(3): Negotiations With The Tl'oondih Healing Society
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 888
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Question Mr. Speaker. Could you tell me, is the process of this government to refer people to southern institutions by doctors is still a regular practice of this government, and what is the cost of that to this government?
Supplementary To Question 390-13(3): Negotiations With The Tl'oondih Healing Society
Question 390-13(3): Negotiations With The Tl'oondih Healing Society
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 888
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Mr. Ng.
Further Return To Question 390-13(3): Negotiations With The Tl'oondih Healing Society
Question 390-13(3): Negotiations With The Tl'oondih Healing Society
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 888
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will take the question as notice. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 390-13(3): Negotiations With The Tl'oondih Healing Society
Question 390-13(3): Negotiations With The Tl'oondih Healing Society
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 888
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The question is taken as notice. Oral questions, Mr. Steen.
Question 391-13(3): Loss Of The Rcmp Officer In Paulatuk
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 888
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Ng. Mr. Speaker, early in September, the community of Paulatuk was advised they would be losing their RCMP officer. The community was very concerned with this, as they believed the reduction in crime in the community was directly related to the presence of the police officer and they were concerned that crime would start climbing once the officer's presence was no longer in the community. Therefore, the community sent a petition to the RCMP commanding officer requesting this decision be reconsidered. I would like to ask the Minister if he is aware of this situation and whether or not he will assure the community is kept informed as to the plans of the department with the removal of this officer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 391-13(3): Loss Of The Rcmp Officer In Paulatuk
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 888
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister of Justice, Mr. Ng.