This is page numbers 1 - 24 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 2nd 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 services.

Topics

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services. It is regarding the contract that was let for $110,000 to look at the area of children and family review. One of the big problems that I see with a lot of these reviews is we do not really get a real concept of the problems that we face in our smaller communities.

One of the big problems that is in our small communities is that we do not have a lot of the service providers in our communities, especially dealing with family counselling services, legal services, alcohol and drug dollars to deal with the problems that a lot of these problems originate from.

With that, I would like to ask the Minister what exactly has this committee done to ensure that they will hear from the smaller communities in the Northwest Territories so they can state the problems they see regarding children's services and family services that this government is supposed to be providing?

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, the Honourable Jane Groenewegen.

Return To Question 8-14(2): Nwt Child And Family Services
Question 8-14(2): NWT Child And Family Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In response to the Member's question, the communities that were visited by the Child Welfare League of Canada were four larger communities and four of the smaller communities. Let me give you a list of the communities: Fort Resolution; Fort Simpson; Fort Smith; Hay River; Inuvik; Rae Edzo; Tulita; and Yellowknife. Those were the eight communities that were visited.

As a result of our Caucus considerations and discussions in Fort Providence, the department has arranged for the contractor to be in Yellowknife until Saturday. I would really encourage Members to take advantage of this opportunity to make an appointment, or if we could get together as a group of MLAs, since it seems our time is very pressed right now. If we can get together as a group and take advantage of this opportunity to share some of our perspectives, having heard concerns raised in our communities. Certainly, the group of MLAs here does represent a cross-section of small communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 8-14(2): Nwt Child And Family Services
Question 8-14(2): NWT Child And Family Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Oral questions. Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 8-14(2): Nwt Child And Family Services
Question 8-14(2): NWT Child And Family Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

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David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will this individual or individuals look at the lack of program services delivered in a lot of our communities? I feel that feeds the problems we see with family services and with family crisis in our communities. There is no real group that you can reach out to help you in times of family break-ups or family violence, as a lot of it is alcohol related. I think they have to seriously look at that, because it is one of the biggest problems we have in our communities. Again, I would like to ask the Minister, are they going to look at the problem areas and recommend solutions to this government to find ways of resolving these problems?

Supplementary To Question 8-14(2): Nwt Child And Family Services
Question 8-14(2): NWT Child And Family Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Further Return To Question 8-14(2): Nwt Child And Family Services
Question 8-14(2): NWT Child And Family Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the mandate of this particular group was very specific. Undertaking a system-wide review of Northwest Territories child welfare practices to ensure consistent standards of performance and outcomes and best practices. So this was a very specific review. I think that some of the other issues that the Member is speaking of are issues that need to be addressed by this government, by regional community health boards, by NGO's, and agencies operating at the community level. Certainly, it is going to be a priority of this government to address the availability of services in the communities. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 8-14(2): Nwt Child And Family Services
Question 8-14(2): NWT Child And Family Services
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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 8-14(2): Nwt Child And Family Services
Question 8-14(2): NWT Child And Family Services
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David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister table the terms and conditions of this contract in this House?

Supplementary To Question 8-14(2): Nwt Child And Family Services
Question 8-14(2): NWT Child And Family Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Further Return To Question 8-14(2): Nwt Child And Family Services
Question 8-14(2): NWT Child And Family Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be pleased to do that. I do not have it with me today, but I will arrange to have it available to be tabled tomorrow. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 8-14(2): Nwt Child And Family Services
Question 8-14(2): NWT Child And Family Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Madame Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment. I am aware of a program this government has and this department carries out called the Working Together Program, which I believe had a budget of a million dollars last year. This program helps employers hire summer students when they arrive home from university. I am wondering if that program is ongoing and will again be in place this summer? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, the Honourable Jake Ootes.

Return To Question 9-14(2): Status Of Working Together Program
Question 9-14(2): Status Of Working Together Program
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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That program has been in existence for the last two to three years, and it has been quite successful. It has apparently hired students and youth in the neighborhood of four to five hundred students a year. It has been very successful for both students and employers, giving an incentive for students to get experience and for employers to get assistance during summer periods. The funding for that ends as of March 31, 2000. It will be a consideration of the business plans and the budget process whether this program will continue. Thank you.

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Question 9-14(2): Status Of Working Together Program
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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Supplementary To Question 9-14(2): Status Of Working Together Program
Question 9-14(2): Status Of Working Together Program
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Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister what our government intends to do when university students arrive home this summer looking for work if, in fact, the funding is not continued?

Supplementary To Question 9-14(2): Status Of Working Together Program
Question 9-14(2): Status Of Working Together Program
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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, the Honourable Jake Ootes.

Further Return To Question 9-14(2): Status Of Working Together Program
Question 9-14(2): Status Of Working Together Program
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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

It is a projection, I suppose, Mr. Speaker, of what we are going to do. At this point, all that I can tell you is that the funding has terminated as of this year and there has to be consideration made yet whether this program can continue. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 9-14(2): Status Of Working Together Program
Question 9-14(2): Status Of Working Together Program
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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Supplementary To Question 9-14(2): Status Of Working Together Program
Question 9-14(2): Status Of Working Together Program
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February 21st, 2000

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Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you. When will that consideration be made?

Supplementary To Question 9-14(2): Status Of Working Together Program
Question 9-14(2): Status Of Working Together Program
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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Further Return To Question 9-14(2): Status Of Working Together Program
Question 9-14(2): Status Of Working Together Program
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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is part of the budgetary process and that is ongoing at the moment. I cannot give the Member a definitive answer as to an exact date. Thank you.

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Final supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Supplementary To Question 9-14(2): Status Of Working Together Program
Question 9-14(2): Status Of Working Together Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will it be before students arrive home this summer?