This is page numbers 231 - 261 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 3rd 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.

Topics

Transfer Of Occupational Health And Safety To Wcb
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 235

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The transfer of occupational health and safety from the Department of Safety and Public Services to the Workers' Compensation Board has been the subject of a lot of talk, a lot of comment and some controversy. The action has been criticized by both labour and business across the Northwest Territories. Editorials have been written in the newspaper about it. Petitions have been sent to us, as Members of the Legislative Assembly, and we have received letters from workers and businesses. Those letters outlined people's concern about the lack of planning.

The NWT Federation of Labour petitioned the Honourable Ron Irwin, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, to intervene in his capacity as Minister responsible for the NWT Act. The chairman of the WCB has publicly admitted that the transfer was not the idea of the board of directors of the Workers' Compensation Board. Unfortunately, the government has ignored the concerns and requests and proceeded with the transfer, even though the required legislation is not yet in place.

The concept of the Workers' Compensation Board was created by agreements between business and labour to establish a no-fault insurance program to cover the costs resulting from work-related injuries, fatalities and industrial diseases. The Workers' Compensation Board is funded by business. Therefore, there is a need for a critical, long-term success of the Workers' Compensation Board and in order to get that, the full participation and support from business and labour must be obtained when making major changes to responsibilities and policies.

I would like to mention that next week, May 15th to 17th, the Standing Committee on Government Operations will be reviewing the Workers' Compensation Act and seeking public input into this. I urge all those companies and organizations that have expressed concern about this to provide their input to the Standing Committee on Government Operations. I believe they will be meeting between May 15th and 17th.

Also, I will be pursuing this subject during question period, Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Transfer Of Occupational Health And Safety To Wcb
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 235

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Krutko.

Supporting Northern Care Facilities And Programs
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 235

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My remarks over the last few weeks have been with regard to programs and service delivery in communities, as well as in Yellowknife with regard to the cuts to care facilities such as the psychiatric ward of the hospital.

Government's words were to try to avoid cutting those areas where people need the services the most. Those cuts that have taken place are affecting those people in the most need, especially relating to the care of disabled people, physiotherapy programs, alcohol and drug programs, to healing programs for families.

Over the last few weeks, I have spoken about the Tl'oondih Healing Society and the accomplishments this facility has had over the year. There have been 220 people go through their programs. There is a waiting list of 250 people to enter a program; that means we have a problem out there. The interest of individuals to try to get into this program is coming all the way from Alaska and some of the southern provinces such as Manitoba and Ontario. I think we seriously have to look at exactly what the goal of this government is. Is it to become more self-sufficient with regard to programs and services in the North or is it to continue the old trend of sending people to southern institutions at a cost triple what it costs to deliver it in the North?

We have a lot of our young people in southern institutions and foster care. They are at Bellwood, Poundmakers and other areas in southern Canada. There is the cost of medical travel to southern institutions. We are paying the large southern institution such as hospitals to guarantee beds from $320 to $400 a day. Yet, this government ... I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Supporting Northern Care Facilities And Programs
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 236

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Member for Mackenzie Delta is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Conclude your statement, Mr. Krutko.

Supporting Northern Care Facilities And Programs
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 236

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With regard to the overall cost to this government continuing to depend on southern institutions and not support initiatives of aboriginal groups and individual programs to help the elderly and the youth ... This could be one of the better institutions in Canada. The program we have at the Tl'oondih Healing Society is the second program and maybe the only program that is structured to deliver a family-oriented healing program where it encompasses parents, children and grandparents to deal with matters that have affected them for the last decade. Some of their problems are incarcerations in southern institutions, the hostel systems you hear about and the day-to-day stress of having to live in the communities and live with alcoholism, drug abuse and suicides.

This government has to clearly come up and state a position on supporting northern institutions to their fullest or are they there just as a band-aid solution to carry out programs, but not giving them the support they need to adequately do the job that will benefit everyone in the North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

Supporting Northern Care Facilities And Programs
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 236

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Enuaraq.

Adequacy Of Incremental Funding For Nunavut Infrastructure
Item 3: Members' Statements

May 6th, 1996

Page 236

Tommy Enuaraq Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My colleagues, good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, there have been a number of concerns expressed in this Assembly about the adequacy of the funding announced recently by the federal government for Nunavut. I am very much looking forward to learning more about exactly what the federal government is planning on spending on education and infrastructure in Nunavut. We need to know who will be responsible for managing these expenditures. We need to have more detail about what capital projects the federal government is planning.

All these questions, and more, should be asked of Mr. Irwin and his officials when he meets with the Nunavut Caucus and Nunavut leaders in Arviat this coming weekend.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to note today that it appears that the federal Cabinet has accepted the decentralized model for the Nunavut government in its recent decision.

I request unanimous consent to conclude my statement, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Member for Baffin Central is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Conclude your statement, Mr. Enuaraq.

Tommy Enuaraq Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I noted from a news report in Nunatsiaq News, dated May 3, 1996, that Mr. John Rayner, assistant deputy minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, says that Ottawa has endorsed the NIC government structure. "The structure of the government that is contained within the $150 million is as it was set out in the NIC report, and we have taken that and we have cost that out," Mr. Rayner is quoted as saying. Mr. Speaker, I am encouraged by this news and I am looking forward to getting more details of how this will affect Pangnirtung and other larger Baffin communities.

Although I know it will not be easy, I am very much looking forward to working to make Nunavut a reality. I know that the mayor and hamlet council and other leaders in Pangnirtung will be very pleased if Nunavut will mean new job opportunities for them in their very rapidly-growing community. Qujannamiik, Mr. Speaker. Koana, matna, mahsi cho.

--- Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Enuaraq. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Erasmus.

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak about the youth inhalant abuse program run by Northern Addictions Services in Yellowknife. The solvent abuse program is currently being funded through Health Canada; however, Health Canada will discontinue funding the program at the end of June.

Mr. Speaker, this program specifically targets Inuit and aboriginal youth between the ages of 12 and 17. The treatment program is an eight-bed facility designed to treat youth who have addiction problems to solvents, alcohol and drugs. Since January of 1994 to today, 30 youth from the West and 30 from the East have received services from this program, and there is currently a waiting list of 10 youth who have been referred from various places in the North.

The NWT presently has the youngest population in Canada and the highest birthrate. Over 40 per cent of our population is under the age of 20. Youth 15 to 24 make up 28 per cent of our working-age population, in comparison to 21 per cent for the rest of Canada.

Mr. Speaker, resources are scarce for the youth of the NWT and, in the past, some youth from the North have been sent to the White Spruce Treatment Centre in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, for alcohol and drug treatment at a cost of $16,000 to $20,000 per youth. This centre will be closed in the very near future. Currently, there are over 100 beds for adults in the NWT for alcohol and drug addiction. There are presently only eight beds for youth. If the youth treatment program is allowed to close on June 30th, there will be no beds available to youth for treatment in alcohol, drug and solvent abuse programs.

Mr. Speaker, the youth are our future. With the Department of Health and Social Services community wellness initiative and move toward early intervention, it is important that this program be supported, even if funding from adult treatment programs must be diverted in order to do this.

--- Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Erasmus. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Roland.

Absence From The House
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 237

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would just like to make a short statement today. I will be out of the House tomorrow. I am leaving this afternoon for Ottawa to make a presentation to a subcommittee on health warning labels on liquor products. I will be there to represent the Department of Safety and Public Services. On the way back, I get to go home to be with my family and visit with constituents. I would like to say hi to everybody back home.

--- Applause

Absence From The House
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 237

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Henry.

Multi-uses Of Existing Community Facilities
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 237

Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we go through this process of reviewing the budget, I would like to take note of comments that two of our Ministers have made recently in this House. The first is from the Minister of Education who, yesterday in his introductory remarks, stated "We are also proposing to reduce the capital programs from $35 million last year to about $25 million in 1996-97. This will be done mostly by delaying many planned projects for a year."

The second comment was made by the Minister of Community Affairs where she stated, "There are too many instances where buildings lie empty in the evening and unused on weekends, when they can be used for hosting a variety of educational, cultural and recreational activities." She says, "Joint-use facility agreements can help local groups access facilities after working hours."

Mr. Speaker, as we deliberate over this budget, I would ask my fellow Members to take heed of these two statements and look at implementing further delays to projects that will not negatively impact community life. We can, as Mrs. Thompson suggests, use existing facilities in communities for other activities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Multi-uses Of Existing Community Facilities
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 237

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Henry. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Break-up Of Mackenzie And Liard Rivers
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 237

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, ice break-up is a highlight for people who live along the Mackenzie and Liard Rivers. It is a time of the year when there is a lot of excitement and anticipation in the air. Mr. Speaker, therefore, I would like to update Members of this House on the Liard and the Mackenzie Rivers break up around Fort Simpson.

Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, May 1st, at about 9:00 p.m., the ice broke in the Liard River and started the whole process of pushing the ice down towards Fort Simpson. On the evening of Thursday, at approximately 8:30, this ice broke out into the Mackenzie in front of Fort Simpson. The next day, on Friday, May 3rd, this ice jam broke and pushed out into the Mackenzie. At approximately 8:00 that evening, this tremendous pressure from the Liard River caused the Mackenzie to break up in a very spectacular fashion in front of the community of Fort Simpson.

There are huge piles of ice along the riverbank in front of Fort Simpson. In a lot of places, it is spilling onto the front road. So, as you can imagine, it is a very spectacular sight this time of the year.

Mr. Speaker, since then, the ice on the Liard River has cleared and I am told that the ferry in Fort Simpson is in the water. Hopefully, they will have operation of this ferry by noon tomorrow. This means there will probably be an exodus of people from Fort Simpson onto the highway. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Break-up Of Mackenzie And Liard Rivers
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 238

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Antoine.

Return To Question 137-13(3): Legislation Prohibiting Consumption Of Alcohol By Pregnant Women
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 238

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to make a return to the honourable Mr. Erasmus with regard to legislation prohibiting consumption of alcohol by pregnant women. The question he asked was on May 2nd.

Mr. Speaker, on July 23, 1994, the Denendeh National Assembly at Lutsel K'e passed a resolution which proposed amending the NWT Liquor Act to: "Make it illegal for pregnant women to knowingly consume alcohol."

It should be noted that a similar recommendation, calling on the Government of the Northwest Territories to make it illegal for licensed premises and liquor stores to sell alcohol beverages to pregnant women, had been received earlier in the liquor law review from the NWT Status of Women Council and was supported by the Native Women's Association. The Status of Women Council later retracted this recommendation.

The concept that new liquor legislation should provide limitations on the sale of liquor to, or consumption of liquor by, pregnant women received considerable attention in the media and stimulated further discussion during public meetings and community gatherings held as part of the liquor law review. Feedback was also received through a survey questionnaire that was distributed to mailbox and post office locations in NWT communities. Opinions supporting the concept were received from some survey respondents, from a minority of participants in public meetings, and from staff in several licensed premises. However, far more northerners expressed opposition to the idea and identified a number of enforcement, health policy and legal difficulties.

It was noted, for instance, that enforcement of any provisions which attempted to prohibit the sale to, purchase by and/or consumption of liquor by pregnant women would be very difficult. Such legislation would place an onus on managers or servers in licensed establishments to recognize female patrons who were in various stages of pregnancy. Questions were raised as to the effectiveness of penalties that could be legislated in the event that these prohibitions were included in a new Liquor Act.

Further, there are risks that such restrictions could create unintended harm to the health of expectant mothers. For some, this legislation might encourage a more secretive pattern of alcohol use, or the substitution of other intoxicants. There is also a risk that women struggling with alcohol dependency during their pregnancy might be inclined to avoid seeing their physicians or nurses for prenatal care, simply because they believe there could be legal consequences for liquor use. Some people told the liquor law review that such restrictions could send a message which "scapegoated" women, although it was recognized that this had never been the intent of the original resolution.

As well, there are strong possibilities that a constitutional challenge could be mounted against a Liquor Act provision which attempted to prohibit pregnant women from buying, possessing or being served alcohol. It is very possible that liquor legislation which resulted in a denial of services or access to services provided under the control of the government would not be recognized by the courts.

Officials working with the liquor law review analyzed the Dene Nation resolution and similar recommendations carefully and with respect for the serious manner in which they had been made. After considerable review, however, it became clear that the difficulties associated with the proposal were sufficient to prevent its further consideration. The conclusion was that this is a problem which is not going to be solved by enacting new legislation.

Accordingly, I have instructed the department not to include any sort of liquor restrictions specific to pregnant women in the legislative proposal that is now being finalized for Cabinet consideration.

Solutions lie in increased community understanding and in workable educational and community support interventions. We believe that broader communication of the risks associated with excessive or irresponsible alcohol consumption is vital if we are going to address many of the health and social problems which plague northern communities. This is why the NWT Liquor Commission attaches health warning labels to alcohol beverage containers and is a full participant in national awareness campaigns. It is also a reason why the Government of the Northwest Territories will be sending a delegation to the House of Commons this week to appear as witnesses during public hearings on Bill C-222 which, if enacted, would make health warning labels mandatory on liquor containers sold elsewhere in Canada. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 137-13(3): Legislation Prohibiting Consumption Of Alcohol By Pregnant Women
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 238

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Item 4, returns to oral questions. 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 239

Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a well-known singer/song writer from Arviat, Mr. Paul K. Irksuk, and also a good friend of mine. Thank you.

--- Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 239

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Welcome to the Assembly. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Morin.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 239

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a good friend of mine from Hay River, Pat Thomas. She is also the president of the NWTTA. Thank you.

--- Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 239

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Welcome to the Assembly. 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 239

James Rabesca North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize ABT Engineering of Rae-Edzo. The members are Tony Lafferty, Bob Johnson and Al Harman.

--- Applause