This is page numbers 721 - 753 of the Hansard for the 13th 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 housing.

Topics

James Rabesca North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, Mr. Speaker, I would like to comment on what my communities are receiving as a result of negotiated contracts for the construction of housing units. We have heard many times, over the life of this Assembly, that negotiated contracts should not continue. They do not provide the benefits of lower cost, for example, that tendered contracts possibly can achieve. I have argued, as have some of my other colleagues, that these types of contracts should remain as they do indeed provide many benefits to the smaller communities. In my region, all of our communities have negotiated construction contracts with the Housing Corporation and are starting to work or awaiting materials.

As I have said many times over, these contracts do provide badly needed employment and training opportunities in the smaller communities that have high unemployment and rates in low education levels. The residents want to work, and this is a great way to get residents working and at the same time, provide good quality homes that are also needed badly in our communities. With this, I encourage this government to continue with these types of contracts for our smaller communities so they can continue to provide the residents with employable training. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

The Speaker

Members' statements. Mr. Henry.

Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize an organization in Yellowknife who provide a valuable community service. Mr. Speaker, the group I am speaking of is the Yellowknife Association for Community Living. This association advocates with and on behalf of people with intellectual disabilities and their families in the Northwest Territories. In 1963, the first group of parents formed the association to seek support for their children. Since then, this association has grown and now supports individuals, families, and children in three communities in the NWT. The association is a member of the Canadian Association for Community Living and is represented by board members and self advocates at the national level.

The emphasis in the programs is first and foremost on the community inclusion. The Abe Miller Program provide opportunities for integrated training and employment of 24 people with intellectual disabilities. The Employment Support Services supports 19 people in employment in various businesses and government in Yellowknife. The Summer Café, which is operated by clients of Abe Miller, offers delicious luncheons in a pretty outdoor setting next to the Abe Miller Building.

The recently developed Literacy Outreach Centre is a partnership with Aurora College and offers individualized reading, writing, spelling, and math programs. People with and without disabilities are included in this program. The Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Program is guided by the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Community Team made up of a variety of community agencies, health professionals, families, and government. The project promotes awareness about the prevention of fetal alcohol syndrome and offers support to families. Workshops have been developed to provide information to schools, families, and the general public.

As you can see, the Yellowknife Association for Community Living is a very much active group within our community and continues to be so through the many dedicated individuals who provide their time and energy to see this group succeed. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my fellow Members join me in recognizing this association and their clients and the many people who volunteer their services to this organization. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

The Speaker

Members' statements. Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take this brief opportunity, as this session winds down and as the high temperature debate de-escalates and the even flow of the politics of this House tones down, just to make the observation that we have dealt with some very difficult decisions here, that I think if we look carefully, we all want the same things. We agreed to just about all the goals we are trying to achieve. The heated debate tends to focus on the process of how we get there. As a consensus government, I think that we have managed once again to do the work that is necessary. This is a relatively rare sitting, as far as I am aware, sitting in July. As today is our last day, I would like to take the opportunity to wish all my colleagues a good break. I hope they all get time in their constituencies at home with their families. I would like to, Mr. Speaker, wish you a speedy recovery as well from your injury.

I think we always have to keep in mind that we are all here together for the common purpose and that as we leave here, this is a job that we are doing and it should not negatively affect, hopefully, the relationships and friendships that are here. I wish you all safe trips back home, and I look forward to gathering once again in September to deal with the remaining issues that we have before us as the 13th Assembly. I think that as we all look back, we should be able to take credit on a lot of the good work we have done. Thank you.

--Applause

The Speaker

Members' statements. Mr. Erasmus.

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I arise today to speak about the growing crisis caused by the shortage of nurses and doctors. My colleague from Hay River has mentioned or asked questions and made statements a couple of times since we have been here this week. I had wanted to participate in that as well, but I want to make sure I had my other questions asked and statements made first. Mr. Speaker, because of the contracts, the union's pay equity, it is very difficult to change salaries, wages, that type of thing. We can only do that every time a contract expires. Now with pay equity, you raise one of the nurses, you have got to raise so many other different fields as well.

The problem we are having, Mr. Speaker, is to fly doctors and nurses in and out on a part-time basis because of the shortage. We are having inexperienced nurses in the communities, and because of their inexperience and their fears of something happening to the people, I am hearing they are medevacing too many people out. It is causing this type of cost to go out of sight, so something has to be done. We know that the government put $3 million or something into some type of a plan. I cannot remember the length over which this money is supposed to be utilized, but I think we have to go beyond that. There has to be something put into place so that when nurses and doctors are being offered huge incentives down south to go south, we can combat that somehow. Whether we like it or not, money plays a huge, huge factor in where people are going to go to work. It is not only the lifestyle and the rest of that. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Speaker

The Member for Yellowknife North is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Erasmus, you have unanimous consent.

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I was saying, money is a huge factor in where people decide to work. I will just give one example. There was a doctor that concluded her residency here in Yellowknife. She was offered a job. She really liked it. She said she would have liked to stay. However, she had applied in Texas as well, and they offered to pay her student loan of $160,000 if she stayed there for four years. So obviously she did not stay here. She is down in Texas. Those are the types of things we have to deal with. Mr. Speaker, maybe it is time we found a way to deal with these things. Maybe it is time the nurses were not in the overall public service contract, whatever it is called. Thank you.

--Applause

The Speaker

Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Ootes.

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

Page 724

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my great pleasure to make reference today to several people joining us in the gallery. First, Ms. Heather McNeill is a copy editor for Alberta Hansard. While she is visiting here in Yellowknife, she decided that she missed her work so much, and she joined Office Compliments to do some more work on Hansard. Heather is joined today in the gallery by Maureen Regel, one of the Northwest Territories Hansard editors, and Sue Yeatman, a Hansard indexer. We wish Heather McNeill all our best during

her holiday stay here. Well, she will not get any rest here. We are very busy here, Mr. Speaker, but we thank her for being interested in us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

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

Page 725

The Speaker

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Krutko.

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

Page 725

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Mr. Ronald English from Inuvik, who is now living in Yellowknife. Welcome to the Assembly, Ron.

--Applause

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

Page 725

The Speaker

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Mr. Miltenberger.

Item 8: Returns To Written Questions
Item 8: Returns To Written Questions

Page 725

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to a written question proposed by Mrs. Groenewegen. It is in regard to the update on education funding.

Return To Written Question 9-13(7): Update On Education Funding
Item 8: Returns To Written Questions

Page 725

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

On July 28, 1999, the Member for Hay River asked for an update on the possibility of adding $5 million to education programs. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment is currently operating under the budget approved by the Legislative Assembly in May, 1999. The need for additional resources for education is being considered as part of the work to develop the business plans and budgets for 2000-2001. Thank you.

Return To Written Question 9-13(7): Update On Education Funding
Item 8: Returns To Written Questions

Page 725

The Speaker

Returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Mr. Krutko.

Return To Written Question 9-13(7): Update On Education Funding
Item 8: Returns To Written Questions

Page 725

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, I am seeking unanimous consent to go back to item 6.

Return To Written Question 9-13(7): Update On Education Funding
Item 8: Returns To Written Questions

Page 725

The Speaker

The Member for Mackenzie Delta is seeking unanimous consent to go back to item 6. Do we have any nays?

Return To Written Question 9-13(7): Update On Education Funding
Item 8: Returns To Written Questions

Page 725

Some Hon. Members

Nay.

Return To Written Question 9-13(7): Update On Education Funding
Item 8: Returns To Written Questions

Page 725

The Speaker

Sorry, Mr. Krutko. You do not have unanimous consent. Reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Mr. Dent.

Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 725

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive rule 70(5) and have Bill 25, An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act, placed on the orders for consideration in committee of the whole today.

Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 725

The Speaker

The Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake is seeking unanimous consent to waive rule 70(5) to deal with Bill 25. Do we have any nays?

Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 725

Some Hon. Members

Nay.

Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 725

The Speaker

Mr. Dent, you do not have unanimous consent. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Roland.