This is page numbers 649 - 694 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

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I request unanimous consent to return to item 2, Ministers' statements.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to return to item 2, Ministers' statements. Are there any nays? There are no nays. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger, your Minister's statement.

Minister's Statement 42-14(5): Romanow Commission On The Future Of Health Care In Canada
Revert To Item 2: Ministers' Statements

March 13th, 2002

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I would like to thank my colleagues. Mr. Speaker, earlier this session I spoke about the steps we are taking through the Health and Social Services Action Plan 2002-2005 to ensure sustainability of the health and social services system in the NWT.

The issues we face are not unique. Concerns regarding the sustainability of Canada's health system led to the creation of the Romanow Commission by the Prime Minister in April 2001. The commission has been mandated to develop recommendations that will help ensure long-term sustainability of a high quality, universally accessible, publicly administered health care system for all Canadians.

The NWT supports the work of the commission. We concur with Mr. Romanow's statement that Medicare needs to be remodelled and not demolished, and we agree that long term sustainability of the health care system must remain a priority. This being said, we also believe that funding levels from the Government of Canada have not kept up with the changes in the health care system here and across the country.

The work of the commission is comprised of two stages; a fact-finding stage, resulting in an interim report, and a dialogue with the Canadian public and interested stakeholders based on the interim report. Mr. Romanow's interim report issued in early February indicated that he plans to consult Canadians about four key themes. These are:

  • • Canadian values and how they are and should be reflected in the Canada Health Act;
  • • sustainability and funding;
  • • quality and access; and
  • • leadership, collaboration and responsibility.

Mr. Speaker, the issues raised in the commission's interim report are important to Northerners. We agree with a number of the report's observations. In particular, we support the concept that the Canada Health Act must reflect the values of all Canadians, including those living in the North, and that more must be done to meet the unique needs of aboriginal Canadians.

The commission's consultation process includes 18 days of open public hearings in major urban centres across Canada. Mr. Romanow has written to us and indicated that he has scheduled a consultation in Yellowknife on May 16, 2002. The Premier and I will be appearing before the commission to speak on the challenges and opportunities in the NWT and the health issues unique to the people of the North. We will outline for the commission our action plan and the reforms we have initiated. We will also outline our government's continuing commitment to providing high quality health services to Northerners regardless of where they live.

In recognition of our consensus style of government, the Standing Committee on Social Programs will also be provided with an opportunity to appear at the commission hearing.

As there are unique health care issues facing the North and aboriginal people, we will also be recommending to the commission to take the opportunity while in the NWT to visit and experience first-hand a small northern community.

As our colleague, the MLA for Yellowknife South indicated in a Member's statement on this topic last week, all Northerners with an interest in our health care system are urged to get involved in this process.

While we support the work of the commission, the NWT, like other provinces and territories, must continue to move forward in reforming its health and social services system. The Health and Social Services System Action Plan 2002-2005 builds on the recommendations of reports and studies done on the NWT health and social services system over the past eight years and the advice of NWT leaders, residents and health care professionals. Through this plan, it is our intention to make the long-term sustainability of our system a reality. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 4, reports of standing and special committees. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My mistake, at a later time, I will have a document to table. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. Item 4, reports of standing and special committees. Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Colleagues, I would like to take this opportunity of recognizing someone special to me in the gallery, Mrs. Whitford, front row.

-- Applause

Thank you. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a couple of residents from Hay River in the gallery. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman are here, witnessing their daughter in the Legislature. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. I would like to welcome everyone who is here to see the Legislative Assembly. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. I am glad to see this government has made a financial commitment to literacy over the next five years. However, it is not clear to myself and to my constituents how the money will be filtered down into our communities. We have a lot of concerns about the lack of facilities, structures and equipment. I want to ask the Minister if he could tell me how the money will be distributed under this strategy. Is it on a per capita basis, on a first-come, first-served basis, or some other method? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Return To Question 215-14(5): Funding For Community Literacy Programs
Question 215-14(5): Funding For Community Literacy Programs
Item 7: Oral Questions

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is our intention to ensure that literacy programs are delivered in every community in the Northwest Territories as a start. The process of that will be working hand-in-hand with the community groups, as well as the college. The college has been funded $700,000 to ensure we get into every community in the Territory. We will be working with the college, with the community organizations. In some cases, the organizations are already established. For instance, in Fort Providence, we already have delivered some literacy programs over the past year.

What we need to do is ensure we get a good handle, Mr. Speaker, on the resources available in the communities, the locations, the resource people. We are doing a survey. It is actually being done through the Language Strategy and the Early Childhood Development Plan, but it can apply to the Literacy Strategy as well, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Return To Question 215-14(5): Funding For Community Literacy Programs
Question 215-14(5): Funding For Community Literacy Programs
Item 7: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 215-14(5): Funding For Community Literacy Programs
Question 215-14(5): Funding For Community Literacy Programs
Item 7: Oral Questions

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Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is good to hear the Minister and his department have committed to going to all communities. I am assuming that will include the smaller communities, such as Kakisa and Enterprise in my riding. I wanted the Minister to confirm if his department is planning to assist the communities in defining the implementation of a multi-year literacy program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 215-14(5): Funding For Community Literacy Programs
Question 215-14(5): Funding For Community Literacy Programs
Item 7: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Further Return To Question 215-14(5): Funding For Community Literacy Programs
Question 215-14(5): Funding For Community Literacy Programs
Item 7: Oral Questions

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It would be our intent to continue the programming on an ongoing basis, as long as this House provides the funding for us, Mr. Speaker.

We have an established literacy delivery program, but it is not delivered now in all communities. I believe it is in some 16 or 14 communities. I am being hypothetical with the figure. As I said, we want to ensure that goes to all of the communities in the Territories, Mr. Speaker.

With regard to funding for non-government organizations, it has been a challenge for us. We want to work on multi-year funding. That has been an issue with many organizations out there. I understand through one of our other colleagues that we are looking at that possibility, Mr. Speaker. It has some challenges because we cannot commit beyond our own term, at the moment, with some of the programs. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 215-14(5): Funding For Community Literacy Programs
Question 215-14(5): Funding For Community Literacy Programs
Item 7: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 215-14(5): Funding For Community Literacy Programs
Question 215-14(5): Funding For Community Literacy Programs
Item 7: Oral Questions

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Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With the recent surge in resource development, it has certainly been demonstrated and voiced in this House that there is a need for qualified people in the different industry sectors. I would like to ask the Minister, can we expect to see workplace literacy projects in our communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 215-14(5): Funding For Community Literacy Programs
Question 215-14(5): Funding For Community Literacy Programs
Item 7: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Further Return To Question 215-14(5): Funding For Community Literacy Programs
Question 215-14(5): Funding For Community Literacy Programs
Item 7: Oral Questions

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Part of the program is to deliver basic adult education and literacy. There is basic literacy 110, hypothetically, and goes up to 160. Additional to that, we have a Workplace Literacy Program to provide organizations with the ability to assist their employees to upgrade themselves. That is being handled through various organizations, Mr. Speaker.

We have a steering committee, which is an advisory committee to the Minister. Under that steering committee, we have working groups for all of the literacy thrusts, so at the end of the year, that steering committee comes back to the Minister with a report and recommendations on how effective this program has been, how we are spending our money and where improvements can be made. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 215-14(5): Funding For Community Literacy Programs
Question 215-14(5): Funding For Community Literacy Programs
Item 7: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 215-14(5): Funding For Community Literacy Programs
Question 215-14(5): Funding For Community Literacy Programs
Item 7: Oral Questions

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Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Instruction in the workplace is one of the best methods for retention of what is learned. I would like to ask the Minister, can he tell me how much money has been identified for workplace literacy in the Literacy Strategy? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 215-14(5): Funding For Community Literacy Programs
Question 215-14(5): Funding For Community Literacy Programs
Item 7: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Further Return To Question 215-14(5): Funding For Community Literacy Programs
Question 215-14(5): Funding For Community Literacy Programs
Item 7: Oral Questions

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I will just double check, but it is $400,000 that is the amount of money that has been identified for workplace literacy. That is part of the overall budget, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.