Mr. Speaker, Return to Written Question 5-13(4), asked by Mrs. Groenewegen to the Minister of Health and Social Services concerning the identification of initiatives dealing with FAS/FAE and attention deficit disorders.Identification of Initiatives Dealing with FAS/FAE and Attention Deficit Disorders

The Department of Education, Culture & Employment and the Department of Health and Social Services are aware of the diverse needs of children in the Northwest Territories.

Specific initiatives presently undertaken by both departments to provide supports to children with FAS/FAE and Attention Deficit Disorders include:

- Assisting various communities in the development of project proposals which incorporate a FAS/FAE prevention component. Funding for these initiatives is being assessed through community wellness resources, such as Brighter Futures and Aboriginal Head Start.

- Assisting various communities to make contact with existing FAS/FAE projects in other regions of Canada. Materials and other supports are being shared with NWT community-based projects.

- Both departments are providing support to the Yellowknife Association for Community Living. The Association has an advisory group made up of concerned citizens and representatives from various agencies. It is developing strategies to address FAS/FAE concerns and providing coordinated support to families.

- Both departments are providing support for the development of a public information video related to FAS/FAE, in co-operation with the Yellowknife Association for Community Living and for the development of a best practices support document for teachers. Both the video and the support document will be shared with our partners in the social Envelope.

Other initiatives presently supported by both departments in providing supports to children who may be at risk or children who are already experiencing developmental delays include:

- The Department of Education, Culture & Employment and the Ministers of Education in the Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan are working together to share resources that provide support and raise awareness for teachers and students.

- Educational programs about lifestyle choices also serve to raise awareness. The revised NWT Health curriculum includes a section on alcohol and Drugs for Grades 7-9, as does the Career and Life Management course offered in senior secondary Schools.

- Schools work with their School-Community counsellors, program support teachers, and community agencies in an integrated approach. As part of their training School-Community counsellors have learned strategies for dealing with a diversity of student needs.

- In NWT early childhood programs, the child care user subsidy may pay the fees for licensed developmental care for children that are identified by a health care professional as being at risk. Children in several communities benefit from this support. Licensed child care providers receive enhanced operations funding for children at risk for developmental delays.

Both departments have recently developed an Early Childhood Intervention Framework entitled The Healthy Children Initiative. This initiative refers to support for children from 0 - 6 years, and their families, who are at risk for or who are already experiencing developmental delays.

The Framework will provide direction for early childhood intervention programs by adopting a preventative and health promotion approach to programs and services which will address the needs of all preschoolers, some of whom may exhibit tendencies typical of FAS/FAE and Attention Deficit Disorders.

Upon approval of the initiative, funding will be directed towards community level programs and services. The Healthy Children Initiative may include parenting programs, home based support services, therapeutic services or enhance existing early childhood programs. Funding for these initiatives will begin in April 1997.

Return to Written Question 6-13(4) asked by Mr. Rabesca to the Minister of Health and Social Services concerning cancer statistics.

In response to the written question from the Honourable Member, later today I will be tabling the detailed statistics which identify number of cancer cases, by type, that resulted in death in the past five years. It is important to note that the number of deaths from cancer is not the same as the incidence of cancer; many cases do not result in death and people with cancer may die from other causes. So I will also be providing the member at a later date with additional statistics identifying the overall incidence of cancer for the past five years.

There is certainly a lot of public awareness about cancer. However, awareness about cancer does not necessarily mean people will change their behaviour. We see this by traditional food in people's diets. One of the objectives of the current health reform work is to try to develop health promotion materials and activities that are more culturally relevant. This means that health boards and communities will need to become more actively involved. The best hope of prevention is convincing people of the dangers of smoking, as well as the importance of healthy eating and keeping traditional foods as an important part of their diet.

There is no lack of access for diagnosis and treatment of cancer in the NWT. Whatever diagnosis is currently not available in the NWT is provided through medical travel to southern facilities.

Screening mammography is available but has not yet been structured into an organized program. However, screening for cervical cancer in the NWT has brought deaths from this type of cancer to very low levels.

Screening should also lead to fewer deaths from breast cancer. Breast cancer screening depends on raising women's awareness of the issue, promoting and training women to do monthly breast self-examination, training health care providers to do annual clinical breast examinations in the context of well-women programs, and offering mammography to all women over the age of 50 every two years. The ministry has developed guidelines and put in place an advisory committee on this issue, but it is the health boards' responsibility to implement these programs.

Unfortunately, there is not yet a screening test for lung cancer which has a very high fatality rate. Tobacco smoking is an extremely serious issue which needs to be addressed by the department, boards, communities and individuals. this is the only hope for improvement in this area, as our rates are the worst in Canada.

There are new opportunities to bring more treatment back to the North. New technologies and easier protocols will allow a greater number of people to receive treatment for cancer closer to home in the future.

However, it should be noted that more diagnostic and treatment facilities will not decrease the total number of cancer deaths to a marked degree. It is truly on the prevention field that the war against cancer can be won or lost. As 2 out of 3 cancers are believed to be preventable, focusing on health promotion and education will contribute more to deceasing cancer deaths that all the new technologies put together.

Return to Written Question 7-13(4), asked by Mr. Krutko to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment concerning over-budgeted capital projects.

On January 30, 1997 Mr. Krutko asked for a list of all capital projects in which the final cost exceeded the original budget among the departments for the last five years.

The Government of the Northwest Territories produces main and capital estimates documents each year outlining budgets and expenditures for all projects approved by the Legislative Assembly. Capital budgets are refined from one year to the next as preliminary planning estimates become final construction estimates. As a result, almost every project budget changes up or down from the original budget to the final cost.

The department must adhere to approved standards and guidelines when establishing a project, or making changes to a budget. Approved standards and criteria guide resource allocation decisions and define levels of departmental involvement. Prior approval of a project must be granted by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, the Financial Management Board or the Legislative Assembly to alter the scope of the work, or the budget.

For all significant changes, the information the Member seeks is available through examination of capital supplementary appropriations. These changes have been made public and subject to debate in the Legislative Assembly. A process is now in place to inform Members of the Assembly of changes to capital projects between appropriations.

Since this information is publicly available, and would take considerable time to put into a report format, I am not prepared to direct departmental staff to complete such a report at this time.

Return to Written Question 8-13(4) asked by Mr. Erasmus to the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation concerning capital expenditures and revenues.

1. The 1996/1997 capital expenditures for the Housing Corporation were $64,470,000:

a. GNWT Capital 46,870,000

b. CMHC Capital 6,500,000

c. CMHC Remote Housing 11,100,000

Total Capital Expenditures 64,470,000

2. The NWTHC received $11.1 Million from CMHC (Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation) for the Remote Housing Initiative in 1996/97.

3. The NWT Housing Corporation will not have to return any funding to CMHC as a result of not proceeding with the Rent Scale increases that were slated for this spring.

4. Further implementation of the rent scale for April 1, 1997 will be deferred for one year only. this will allow the NWT Housing Corporation time to analyses the impact of the implementation so far. It will also provide time for the review of all government subsidies to seniors, now underway. As well, the Rent Rebate Program will also be extended for one more year.

5. Over the first three years the projected revenue generated by the new rent scale will be $6 million dollars, over the old scale. Without the phase in, the new rent scale's projected revenue would have been $15 million over the same period. the new rent scale was implemented two years ago, therefore the second and third year results are projected since year two of the phase in is still under way and all of the figures have yet to be collected.

Return to Written Question 9-13(4), asked by Mr. Henry to the Minister of Health and Social Services concerning reform review initiative.

In response to the written question from the honourable Member, later today I will be tabling the terms of reference for the contract with Med-Emerg International Incorporated to supply a draft strategic plan for the Department of Health and Social Services. The terms of reference were approved by a Steering Committee guiding the strategic planning process. This committee is comprised of myself, as Minister, the Chairs of the Baffin and Inuvik Regional Health Boards and the chair of the Northwest Territories Health Care Association.

The department needed to hire a highly qualified consultant for the job, one that had the technical resources and breadth of experience to accomplish a large job under some very tight time lines. There was an additional need to ensure that the consultant was fully objective and had no bias or vested interest in the current health and social services system. Because of the tight timeframe, we were unable to go to an open tender process.

In deciding which consulting firm to use, the department did frist consider northern contractors. However, no northern consultant firms have the capacity, the available multi-disciplinary personnel or the breadth of experience necessary to complete this contract within the required time lines. Med-Emerg is able to bring together a large multi-disciplinary team that covers the full range of departmental programming and services, and is capable of performing the work required on a timely basis in order to complete the strategic plan by the end of the 1997/98 fiscal year.

Although a number of northern and southern firms were considered, as Med-Emerg was the only one that was able to obtain the range of expertise required in the time frame, they were the only company asked to submit a proposal.

The full value of the contract is $701,750. This includes $501,750 for professional fees and $200,000 for expenses, including extensive travel for consultation with regional boards and front-line employees.

Besides department staff, staff of all the health boards as well as professional groups and other partners in services delivery are very involved in this review, ensuring substantial northern input. It is also important to note that this review is only an initial phase in our strategic planning process. It will be followed by extensive public consultation across the NWT, scheduled to take place during the spring, summer and fall.

Return to Written Question 13-13(4), asked by Mr. Krutko to the Minister of Finance concerning insurance for education facilities.

1. Does the government have property insurance?

The GNWT has property insurance coverage for $1.6 billion of assets on behalf of the GNWT and various boards and Agencies under an All Property Insurance Policy. this property insurance includes all schools operated by Divisional Education boards and Councils. It does not include single family and duplex dwellings, owned by the NWT Housing Corporation.

2. Is this insurance a replacement cost policy?

This insurance is written on a replacement cost basis.

3. If it is a replacement cost policy, what is the definition of replacement cost?

Replacement cost means that, on a total loss, the insurance proceeds will pay the cost to replace the building with a building of like size, kind and quality as the original structure and will include an allowance for legislated code upgrades and of course, architectural fees. the insurance also covers the replacement or repair of building contents, demolition and debris removal if required and the incremental costs of alternate facilities. However "replacement cost" will only be received if the asset is replaced. If an asset is not replaced, the policy will pay the "actual cash value" (ACV) only. (ACV is the agreed "replacement cost" of any item of property minus its accumulated depreciation).

4. What is the process followed when the GNWT is making a claim under its policy?

The process for a substantial claim is as follows:

a) The loss is immediately reported to the Risk Management & Insurance section of the Department of Finance (RM&I) which in turn immediately reports the loss to the GNWT's insurance broker and an adjuster.

b) The Adjuster visits the loss site and determines the full extent of the loss.

c) RM&I obtains original plans for the building from the Department of Public Works & Services (PW&S).

d) On behalf of the insurers, the adjuster has an engineering firm prepare, according to the plans, specifications for the repair of the building which are then reviewed by PW&S. Any suggested changes are reviewed with the adjuster.

e) After the parties have agreed to the specifications the adjuster engages a northern contractor to provide a replacement cost estimate based on the agreed specifications. This cost estimate is also reviewed by PW&S.

f) Once agreement on this cost estimate is reached, it is established as the "Replacement Cost" for insurance purposes.

g) With this agreement, RM&I may submit an interim claim which will be limited to the least of the costs incurred to date, the agreed "Replacement Cost" or the "Actual Cash Value".

h) The replacement building does not need to resemble the destroyed building in size, kind or quality, however, the proceeds of insurance received will not exceed the lesser of the agreed "Replacement Cost" for the actual cost to replace the asset.

i) To determine the recovery for contents, a list of all contents is obtained from the department responsible with an estimate of which items are destroyed and which can be repaired.

j) Once all costs are determined and agreed, a final claim may be submitted.

5. Is there a deductible for each claim or for the whole year and if so, how much?

For losses that occurred in the 1995/96 fiscal year each loss was subject to a deductible of $ 100,000.

6. What is the link between insurance proceeds received and the amount spent on a new facility?

Insurance proceeds are credited to the GNWT's consolidated Revenue Account. The expenditures incurred to repair or replace a damaged building are subject to the normal budgetary approval processes, whether by supplementary appropriation or inclusion in the capital and main estimates. This procedure reflects the fact that:

a) the replacement may be different that the original and therefore, is not directly linked to the insurance proceeds; and,

b) a replacement may not be made but proceeds may still be received, but will be limited to the "actual cash value".

Thank you. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 11, reports of committees on the review of bills. Mr. Enuaraq.

Qujannamiik. Mr. Speaker, I wish to report to the Legislative Assembly that the Standing Committee on Social Programs has completed its review of Bill 2, Justice Administration Statutes Amending Act and wishes to report that Bill 2 is now ready for consideration of the committee of the whole. Thank you.

Thank you. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report to the Legislative Assembly that the Standing Committee on Government Operations has completed its review of Bill 9, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 1996/97 and wishes to report that Bill 9 is now ready for consideration in committee of the whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Ng.

Secondly, detailed statistics which identify a number of cancer cases by type which resulted in death in the past five years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration of committee of the whole of bills and other matters. Bills 8, Committee Report 2-13(4), 3-13(4), 4-13(4), with Mrs. Groenewegen in the chair.

We will continue with Bill 8 and consider Committee Report 2-13(4), Committee Report 3-13(4), Committee Report 4-13(4). We will continue with Health and Social Services. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Sorry, Madam Chair. We will continue with Committee Report 6-13(4) as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam chair, to my right is Mr. David Ramsden, deputy minister. To my left is Mr. Warren St. Germaine, director of financial management services. Thank you.