This is page numbers 1107 - 1140 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 5th 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

Members Present

Honourable Roger Allen, Honourable Jim Antoine, Mr. Bell, Mr. Braden, Mr. Delorey, Mr. Dent, Mrs. Groenewegen, Honourable Joe Handley, Honourable Stephen Kakfwi, Mr. Krutko, Mr. Lafferty, Ms. Lee, Mr. McLeod, Honourable Michael Miltenberger, Mr. Nitah, Honourable Jake Ootes, Mr. Roland, Honourable Vince Steen, Honourable Tony Whitford.

-- Prayer

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 1107

The Speaker

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. Good afternoon. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our Student Financial Assistance Program continues to be the best program of its kind in the country. We provide some of the highest benefit levels to encourage more and more of our aboriginal students and those who were schooled in the Northwest Territories to further their education and to return to the North and to contribute and prosper in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, one of the most exciting statistics that I have the pleasure to share with you today about the Student Financial Assistance Program is that more and more people from all age groups and from every remote corner of the Northwest Territories are completing a post-secondary education because of the support that this program provides.

in just this past year alone, the number of people applying from all over the North in places like Tulita, Wha Ti, Aklavik, Holman, Paulatuk, Lutselk'e and Wrigley are up by 3.5 percent over the previous year and we are seeing increases despite a very positive job market. people are increasingly seeing the value of furthering their education, of laying the foundation of a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

Mr. Speaker, it is for these students who are taking such an important step in their lives that we continue to improve the service that we provide. We must ensure that our programs continue to address the new ways that students are learning all around the world, through correspondence courses and now over that World Wide Web.

To ensure that our students have access to these learning opportunities, we introduced for the first time this fall on of the best distance learning programs of its kind available in Canada. Now students can stay at home with their families if they choose and still complete their education with financial support from the government of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, although students with disabilities face many of the same challenges as other students, they often encounter barriers related to their disabilities. in responding to their needs, the department raised the level of support that it provides to students living with disabilities through the Northwest Territories Study Grant by 60 percent. For the fall 2002 semester, the value of the Northwest Territories Study

Grant has been raised from $5,000 to $8,000 per year. This is over and above the grant and loan assistance that we provide to other students.

Through the additional support ht we are making available. I like to think that we, as people of the Northwest Territories, share in a desire to support the success of all students, including those with disabilities.

Mr. Speaker, we have a very positive economic outlook, making it possible for many of our new graduates to live a prosperous life in the Northwest Territories. We have noted, however, there are new graduates who require a little extra time to get started in their careers and also in repaying their loans. To ensure that these students get the bets start in life that they can, we have increased the income thresholds for our Interest Relief Program so that those who are experiencing difficulty have the time they need.

Mr. Speaker, our students are our future. If they are to build a better world for us tomorrow, then we need to give them the tools that they require today. However, a strong, educated workforce requires a considerable investment on our part. That is why we spend $12 million each year on the Student Financial Assistance Program. I can tell you that investing in our students is the best investment that this government makes each year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

The Speaker

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Antoine.

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the United States Congress has been working in conference on an energy bill for the past couple of months. Discussions on this legislation have covered broad energy issues for both the production and conservation of energy in the United States.

One element of the bill was a proposed floor-price subsidy for Alaskan natural gas production. If implemented, this subsidy would severely distort the North American natural gas market and could harm the potential development of gas reserves in the Northwest Territories.

The Government of the Northwest Territories was the first to oppose this ill-conceived subsidy. We lobbied very hard and very effectively against this measure. The Government of Canada, the United States administration and many members of the oil and gas industry in both countries also oppose the subsidy. We all agree the subsidy would favour gas production in one region to the detriment of gas production in all other regions of North America.

Mr. Speaker, the United States Energy Bill Conference has been unable to come to an agreement on this legislation. The Alaskan gas subsidy is one of the contentious issues that is still unresolved. We have been informed that Congress has adjourned for the upcoming mid-term elections in early November and has put the energy bill on hold for now.

When Congress reconvenes, we will continue to defend the interests of the Northwest Territories against any measures in the energy bill that puts our gas development potential at a disadvantage.

Mr. Speaker, we have always believed that the timing and extent of northern gas development is best served by allowing industry to make market-based investment decisions and not by the interference of government. We will continue to work with the Government of Canada and the industry to ensure this occurs. Mahsi.

-- Applause

The Speaker

Mahsi, Mr. Antoine. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Handley.

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week the first Northwest Territories Chapter of the United Way was launched in Yellowknife. I am pleased to announce today that the Government of the Northwest Territories has agreed to allow employees to donate to the United Way through payroll deductions.

Mr. Speaker, the United Way plays a very important role in fundraising efforts on behalf of charitable organizations. The local chapter is committed to building a strong and healthy community by responding to health and social service issues in our communities. Individuals can also choose to direct their gift to any registered charity in Canada or any of the 90 plus charities registered in the Northwest Territories. These are listed on the Yellowknife United Way Chapter's website at www.yellowknife.unitedway.ca.

Mr. Speaker, the United Way is a widely known and respected institution in Canada which has established a presence in the Northwest Territories and are in the midst of the inaugural campaign. I understand that along with the GNWT, the City of Yellowknife and the federal government also offer this voluntary payroll deduction service to their employees and that the Union of Northern Workers and the Northwest Territories Federation of Labour have given support to this campaign.

It is expected that the first United Way payroll deductions from participating employees will likely begin in January 2003. Employees from across the Territories will be able to access this service and will be able to indicate which registered charity they wish to contribute to.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the GNWT is able to play a part in assisting the United Way efforts to raise donations. I believe this will greatly benefit charitable organizations across the Northwest Territories who continue to work hard for many good causes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

The Speaker

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Gaps In The Student Financial Assistance System
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, sometimes as Regular Members we feel we bring constituency issues to Ministers, senior bureaucrats and to the floor of this House and we might as well be having a conversation with ourselves.

Although the solutions seem simple and prudent to us, the ability to get a timely and favourable response at times seems next to impossible. It can be very discouraging. Recently I had such an occasion to share such a constituent issue with Minister Jake Ootes regarding student financial assistance. It was a gap in the system that was not necessarily affecting a lot of people but creating serious hardship for the families and students that were affected.

My constituent's issue concerns students who are attending university but seemingly not belonging to any jurisdiction. We live in a very mobile society. We have students who may have received a good part of the K-12 education in the North. One example of a gap which existed is when one parent may have left the North and they shared a joint custody for a portion of their school years.

Even if the financially contributing parent was living in the North, the student's subsequent residency in another jurisdiction was affecting their access to student financial assistance.

Another scenario is a student growing up in the North, the family leaving prior to the student's entrance into post-secondary education. Now the parent is returning to the North, still being financially responsible for their son or daughter, but the student is being denied access to financial assistance because of their intervening absence from the North.

The problem presents in establishing residency for the purpose of accessing student financial assistance. Our Student Financial Assistance Program did not allow for recognition of a supporting parent's jurisdiction of residence or allow the students to re-establish their northern residency within a time frame consistent with other programs and services, thus making the student disqualified in the jurisdiction where they were attending school, because their family lives someplace else, and being enrolled in school they couldn't spend enough time at home on holidays to re-establish their residency. The student then would not be considered to be a resident anywhere.

When this situation was brought to the attention of the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Minister Ootes, he and his department quickly recognized the deficiency of policy in this area and have committed to addressing the issue.

I can tell you this will come as very welcome news to some post-secondary students and families in my riding, and I would like to thank the Minister today for his timely action in response to this issue. Occasionally, some things happen that renew my confidence as an elected representative on behalf of the people that I represent. I would like to thank Mr. Ootes and thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Gaps In The Student Financial Assistance System
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Family Violence Prevention Legislation
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, two weeks ago, we marked Family Violence Awareness Week in the Northwest Territories, a time to pay attention to the problem of abuse in the Northwest Territories. Many of us participated in activities marking that event. Family violence is a serious problem in northern society.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the work of the front-line involved in ending violence, such as shelter workers, counsellors, police officers, social workers and the people offering victim services.

Though often hidden, one of the most disturbing forms of family violence, Mr. Speaker, is elder abuse. That form of violence has been a key concern of the NWT Seniors Society, who held their annual general meeting at the Baker Centre here in Yellowknife last week.

Mr. Speaker, the NWT Seniors' Society can celebrate many accomplishments since their establishment in 1983. Over the years, the society has worked in partnership with other seniors' societies and with government and related organizations to improve the independence and quality of life for seniors in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, last year, they partnered with the victims' assistance committee to host workshops in Hay River and Yellowknife. The workshops concluded with a final report entitled "Taking Action on Elder Abuse."

Out of the Yellowknife meetings came a powerful list of goals. The first on that list was legislation to protect older adults. Mr. Speaker, the seniors society feels that our current legislation does not lend sufficient protection to elders in the Northwest Territories. In Alberta, they have several acts to increase the protection of elders. They have passed the Dependent Adults Act, the Nursing Homes Act, and they have the Protection Against Family Violence Act.

Mr. Speaker, our current legislation does not permit immediate protection from family violence like elder abuse. Police cannot obtain immediate protection orders over the phone. Victims are re-victimized by having to follow often overwhelming, cumbersome, time-consuming legal processes to obtain the protection they need immediately. Many are incapable of dealing with this volume of bureaucracy and process.

Mr. Speaker, many times I have asked the Minister to move quickly to enact family violence prevention legislation similar to that found in Alberta, PEI and most other Canadian jurisdictions. He keeps saying that they are studying the issue and makes no promise to move things along.

So again today, Mr. Speaker, I urge the Minister of Justice to reconsider his and his department's position and take immediate steps to implement an act protecting families against violence. I also urge the Minister to consider further specific legislation to protect those who have contributed so much and who will continue to be important teachers, caregivers and role models -- our elders. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Family Violence Prevention Legislation
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to raise a matter that directly impacts the settlement of Enterprise. This matter is directly related to the handling of dangerous goods, and more specifically, that of ammonium nitrate within community boundaries.

Mr. Speaker, we are all aware that Enterprise is located such that it sees the majority of highway and rail traffic, both of which transport a large quantity of dangerous goods. In addition to ammonium nitrate being handled within the community, last winter's fuel haul to the mines alone was in excess of 10,000 loads -- all of which passed through Enterprise.

Mr. Speaker, the mayor of Enterprise, Ms. Winnie Cadieux, has informed me that positive steps are now being taken to address the concerns that were raised regarding the handling of ammonium nitrate within the community. Polar Explosives, the company handling the ammonium nitrate, has indicated a commitment to consult with and keep the community informed with respect to its activities in the area.

Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to hear that productive meetings have taken place between the Settlement of Enterprise, Polar Explosives, Government of the Northwest Territories representatives and other stakeholders. From these meetings, an understanding was reached and a committee was formed from a cross-section of the meeting participants. This committee is tasked with the responsibility of addressing matters related to the movement of dangerous goods within and through the community.

Mr. Speaker, as we are all aware, the settlement of Enterprise is a direct conduit for the passage of dangerous goods. Because of its location, Enterprise has identified a potential economic opportunity with respect to the handling and storage of not only dangerous goods, but waste products as well. This opportunity has spurred an initiative by the community to explore the feasibility of establishing a dangerous goods and regional waste management site that would be used for potential economic opportunities.

Mr. Speaker, I would encourage and recommend to this government that it continue support to the Settlement of Enterprise by committing appropriate financial resources required to plan and research the feasibility of establishing a dangerous goods and regional waste management site. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

The Speaker

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Inuvik Municipal Election Results
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my colleague from Inuvik Twin Lakes and I would like to congratulate those who were elected in the recent elections in Inuvik. Elected to the town council for Inuvik were George Doolittle, Arlene Hansen, Derek Lindsay, Alfred Moses, Denny Rodgers, Cheryl Sharpe, Marja Van Nieuwenhuyzen and Clarence Wood.

We would also like to congratulate those who were elected to the Inuvik District Education Authority, and they were Jeffery Amos, Sue Clarkson, Shauna Grant, Judy Harder, Deanna Marie Jacobson, Shauna MacKay, and Ruth Wright. We would also like to thank those who spend time in those bodies working on behalf of our constituents through their previous work and those that ran but did not choose to run again. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Inuvik Municipal Election Results
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Stanton Hospital Nursing Shortage
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to speak to the nursing shortage issue at Stanton. In case there was any doubt left anywhere, it is critical to get our staff complement up to a full complement at Stanton.

A recent publication by the Journal of the American Medical Association, I think the report just came out yesterday, Mr. Speaker, spoke to the issue and studied the issue of over-worked nurses. Their findings indicated, Mr. Speaker, that for each additional post-surgery patient that a nurse has to take on, their increased chances of mortality are 7 percent greater.

I think, Mr. Speaker, this is a clear indication that we need to do something quickly about our staff shortage issue at Stanton. Last week, I spoke to it already in the House, Mr. Speaker, the GNWT came out in the local media indicating that we feel we have very competitive wages for nurses. And it would look the case, Mr. Speaker, when you look at entry-level nurses right out of school and we talk about minimum pay for nurses, we are high. I think we are second in the country when you adjust it for cost of living and for other bonuses, Mr. Speaker.

But if you look at the maximum rank, we find out that we are pretty middle of the road. We are about fifth in terms of other jurisdictions. Those are the nurses we are in critical shortage of. Clearly when we hear that the ICU is not reopened because we don't have the nurses with specific training and experience in order to re-open ICU, we know it's not just a matter of plugging nurses with lower levels of experience or lower skill levels in there, because I believe that there are no vacancies in those areas, Mr. Speaker.

So it is about addressing this critical shortage of experienced and skilled nurses, and we still continue to stand here, Mr. Speaker, as a government, and argue that, well, we are middle of the road. We consider that competitive. Mr. Speaker, it is not going to get it done. I would suggest that if the Minister and the department, and indeed, this government, cannot recognize that, we are truly going to be in dire straits for some time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Stanton Hospital Nursing Shortage
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Stanton Hospital Staffing Shortages
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like today to also talk about the crisis at Stanton Hospital due to the shortage of staff. Mr. Speaker, as Member for Yellowknife South has already mentioned, I do not think we need to look at numbers or status to tell us what the real problem is with respect to the shortage of staff at the hospital.

Mr. Speaker, everyone tells us that our package for wages and benefits is just not competitive, and it really does not matter what the national status is or whatever, because the result is showing by the shortage of staff.

Another thing that really, really comes up all the time is the housing shortage. I have a case here that I could tell you, and that I want to tell the Minister about that. It illustrates what a problem housing and the cost of living and the cost of housing is having on these people on making a decision to stay here.

Mr. Speaker, in the beginning of September, I had a lady come to talk to me. She is a registered nurse. She is aboriginal. She was trained here and she has worked as casual staff at the hospital for a very long time. Finally, this fall, she had a job offer to work as a permanent nurse. She is a Northerner. After much consideration, she had to turn down that job because she just could not afford to buy a house and she could not qualify for any government programs that are available because she was already making money. She just did not make enough money, even with nurses' wages, to live here. She is a Northerner. She went to the recruitment office, they dismissed her. "We can't do anything for you. Go away."

She was totally shocked, as would be any reasonable person, after all she has heard about the lack of nurses and how the government wants to attract nurses and they want to attract northern nurses. Nobody wanted to help her.

I wrote a letter to the Minister. The Minister wrote me back three weeks later saying, "We will have our compensation person call her." I talked to her yesterday and she did not hear from anybody. She heard nothing. She has left town. She said to me, "Tell the Minister if he wants me to work on a casual basis, I am ready. If he will fly me in and put me in a hotel and pay me the wages he is paying for everybody else." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Stanton Hospital Staffing Shortages
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Support For Negotiated Contracts
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to talk about the negotiated contracts. Mr. Speaker, I agree with negotiated contracts. Negotiated contracts look at training, opportunities where employment is low. They look at the benefit to the community and the benefit to the Northwest Territories' government.

Mr. Speaker, I spoke yesterday about the work that the Department of Transportation did on Highway No. 6 and how an opportunity was lost and at the same time, shoddy work was done. I am speaking again today on that same issue and I would like to work with the Department of Transportation to see what can be done to include the community of Fort Resolution in that resurfacing work that is ongoing for the next few years. There is some money committed by this government for next year and the following year. I believe if we partner up with the community and through the community, get some federal funding and access the training and education experience of Aurora College, we could make this work, Mr. Speaker.

I think the negotiated contracts right across the board make sense to the people of the Northwest Territories and it makes sense to this government, similar to the negotiated contract that has been discussed in the paper, in the House today with the water bomber contracts, I think that is a good thing.

Not to change the issue, but if it helps people in the Northwest Territories, why not, Mr. Speaker? I will be asking the Minister of Transportation questions on the possibility of working in partnership between the Department of Transportation, the community of Fort Resolution and other agencies. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Support For Negotiated Contracts
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

Cost Overruns On Capital Projects
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Leon Lafferty North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, through the life of this Assembly there have been many occasions where there have been cost overruns on capital projects. One of the most recent examples is the North Slave Correctional Facility which has had cost overruns during each phase of its development.

Mr. Speaker, these cost overruns are not small sums of money. They involve millions of dollars. Along with the cost overruns, there have been different adjustments to capital plans, Ministers write to Regular Members informing them that money has been reallocated from one project to another. Sometimes these funds are reallocated from one riding to another without any discussion at all.

Mr. Speaker, also, special warrants for funding are another way money is issued for projects not in our business plans. Mr. Speaker, as Members of this Legislature, we gather together and determine annual budgets. We lobby hard for our regions and the projects within it. It is not fair that hard-won projects are affected by funding transfers from one area to another.

Mr. Speaker, with all of these cost overruns, I see two things happening. The first and most obvious is that community projects that are really needed are not considered. An example is a need for addictions and health centres in the Territories.

The second thing that is happening is that a substantial debt is going to be handed over to the next Assembly. Mr. Speaker, are these multi-million dollar cost overruns, budget adjustments and special warrants a result of poor planning, or are they a case of ministerial mismanagement or, are they simply an unavoidable fact of life?

I am sure your constituents would like to know the answers to these questions as I find it very difficult to guarantee them that new or already planned projects will occur without these funding reallocations. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions on this later. Thank you.

Cost Overruns On Capital Projects
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.