I seek permission to carry on.
Debates of Feb. 16th, 1996
Topics
Article Titled "civil Servants Lead Lives Of Quiet Collusion"
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 46
Article Titled "civil Servants Lead Lives Of Quiet Collusion"
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 46
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Member for Yellowknife Centre is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Conclude your statement.
Article Titled "civil Servants Lead Lives Of Quiet Collusion"
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 46
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
...And you can get lost out of hand because there is no competition to provide the same product at less cost and there is little accountability except to the politicians, but they are dependent on you for information. If you tell them everything is going well, how can they say otherwise? After all, they are well-meaning amateurs while you are the professional. Public servants simply know better.
Is government really this dysfunctional? To me, it's hard to tell because I don't know the public service today. I do know that from the ones I've talked to, many public servants elsewhere like this person who, by the way, is a Member of the Yukon government, is very disillusioned and they are very disillusioned. Perhaps it is time for us to find out as well what the morale is within our government and to deal with some of the problems facing that morale.
We're the leaders of the government. We here can make the changes. There are tremendously important resource for us here in the North. Perhaps it's time for us to think about different methods and different approaches and become unconventional in government ways of treating our public servants. Perhaps, like industry, we have to establish some incentives for our public servants. Hypothetically, if it's a deputy minister or assistant deputy minster, perhaps even program managers, there is a financial incentive. If they bring their budgets in line, then they get rewarded. If they overspend they get tagged for that and perhaps there's a penalty for it. If they bring it in under budget perhaps there's a reward for them.
I think we have to start thinking of these types of incentives when we face the kind of budget cuts that we're looking at. Thank you.
Article Titled "civil Servants Lead Lives Of Quiet Collusion"
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 46
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Krutko.
Amalgamation Of Renewable Resources And Ed&t
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 46
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement is with regard to the Honourable Donnie Morin's statement on amalgamating the departments of Renewable Resources and Economic Development and Tourism. It's with regard to natural resource development, especially in my region, the Delta, where we have a long, great history of trapping in the Delta except for the downturn of the trapping industry.
In order for us to proceed with that process of amalgamating these departments, we have to take into account the interest groups that are out there. We have land claims groups in the Delta, we have hunters' and trappers' associations. When it comes to commercializing anything, especially what we've seen with regard to commercial harvesting of muskox and caribou and also the history of big game hunting, especially what we've seen in the Mackenzie Mountains, it has to be taken into account that the local hunters and trappers have to be involved with how that amalgamation takes place, also with regard to how the NWT Act will be amended to streamline the commercial harvesting and also allow people to get back to a wage economy.
Also keeping in mind that there are some clear obligations which are under land claims agreements that we have to adhere to with regard to the wildlife sections of the Inuvialuit agreement, the Gwich'in agreement and also the commercial harvesting sectors that are in there when we look at amending any of these acts to allow for this amalgamation to take place. There are also economic factors that we have to consider.
In closing, I would like the Ministers to keep in mind that when these amalgamations do take place that there are interest groups in the communities and in the regions with regard to land claims settlements. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Amalgamation Of Renewable Resources And Ed&t
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 46
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Henry.
Need For Additional Speech Pathologists
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 46
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Communication is an integral part of our society today. New technologies are developed every day, therefore the ability to communicate is critical in our world. Most of us communicate through the use of speech; however, many members of an important segment of society -- school-age children -- have difficulty with speech and language. Fortunately, there are trained specialists who can work with those children. Currently, the Stanton Regional Hospital has two speech pathologists on staff. These pathologists have to service the entire Western Arctic. The two pathologists cannot keep up with the workload. The previous government promised an additional three pathologists to assist with that workload. Sadly, the additional pathologists to date have not been hired.
Mr. Speaker, in these times of fiscal restraint I recognize it is difficult to expand services such as this. However, the problem remains. Our school-age children who are experiencing speech difficulties are not receiving the care they require and continue to be a large financial drain on the territorial budgets through incarceration of those particular individuals.
A group of concerned parents are interested in starting a speech pathology clinic -- I may have to go there myself.
---Laughter
To do so they would require government funding. Ideally, this funding could come in the form of coverage by the NWT health care for services rendered.
We often say our children are our future. By ensuring they are given the tools with which they may be successful, we will be making an investment in the future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Need For Additional Speech Pathologists
Item 3: Members' Statements
Page 47
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you, Mr. Henry. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Rabesca.
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 47
James Rabesca North Slave
Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize some of the student/trainees from my constituency who are in the gallery. They are student/trainees in the retail supermarket training program by Aurora College of the new Tli Cho Co-operative Supermarket being built in Rae. The instructor is Wilfred Barranoik. Mary Adele Dryneck, Virginia Weyallon, Georgina Migwi, Ron Mackeinzo and Peter Huskey are in the gallery.
---Applause
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 47
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Welcome to the Assembly. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Ng.
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 47
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a media representative, whose current stint as a Legislative Assembly reporter is ending today, that's Ms. Ronna Bremer.
---Applause
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 47
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Picco.
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 47
Edward Picco Iqaluit
Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a well-known union activist, Ben McDonald, Brother Ben.
---Applause
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 47
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Henry.
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 47
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to have the House recognize Dave Talbot who is the regional vice-president of the Union of Northern Workers.
---Applause
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 47
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. O'Brien.
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 47
Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik
Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize all those who haven't been recognized.
---Laughter
---Applause
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 47
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Enuaraq.
Question 39-13(2): Administration Costs Of Community Wellness Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions
February 15th, 1996
Page 47
Tommy Enuaraq Baffin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it must be getting pretty close to the weekend, I can see everybody is smiling. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Health. Yesterday, the Minister made a positive statement about community wellness and what a top priority it is for the government. However, Mr. Speaker, two worthwhile projects are being held up in Broughton Island because the Department of Health cannot seem to accept that they should pay the hamlet the administration fee for administering the funds. Is the Minister aware of this problem? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 39-13(2): Administration Costs Of Community Wellness Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 47
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng.
Return To Question 39-13(2): Administration Costs Of Community Wellness Programs
Question 39-13(2): Administration Costs Of Community Wellness Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 47
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, Mr. Speaker, the honourable Member has pointed out the situation to me and I am aware of it. Thank you.
Return To Question 39-13(2): Administration Costs Of Community Wellness Programs
Question 39-13(2): Administration Costs Of Community Wellness Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 47
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Enuaraq.
Supplementary To Question 39-13(2): Administration Costs Of Community Wellness Programs
Question 39-13(2): Administration Costs Of Community Wellness Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 47
Tommy Enuaraq Baffin Central
Supplementary question, Mr. Speaker. When will this problem be resolved so that the project can be started in Broughton Island?
Supplementary To Question 39-13(2): Administration Costs Of Community Wellness Programs
Question 39-13(2): Administration Costs Of Community Wellness Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 47
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Ng.
Further Return To Question 39-13(2): Administration Costs Of Community Wellness Programs
Question 39-13(2): Administration Costs Of Community Wellness Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 47
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the community action funding was targeted to try to provide funding for projects. In defining the criteria, they decided not to allow for general administration costs in order to maximize the amount of dollars going into the actual programs themselves. However, I recognize the honourable Member has brought up concerns about not having his communities being able to access this because of their request for general administration. But I would like to say that the department would be willing to consider specific costs if they were to be identified within the project applications; things such as direct telephone costs or materials and supplies. But at this time, for general administration overhead costs, we wouldn't be willing to look at that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.