This is page numbers 1181 - 1214 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 6th 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 know.

Topics

Workplace Safety And The Young Worker Program
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1184

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As our economy in the Northwest Territories changes, businesses -- particularly in the service industry -- are relying more and more on young workers under the age of 25. In the last three years, employment of these young workers has risen almost 10 percent. According to the Northwest Territories Bureau of Statistics labour force activity study in 2002, 84 percent of the workers are employed in the service industry. These young workers are less likely to be informed and aware of their rights and responsibilities on the job, particularly with respect to workplace safety.

The Workers' Compensation Board of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut has recognized this trend and has developed the workplace safety and the young worker program to take proactive steps to ensure that these young workers have the training they need to stay safe on the job and avoid workplace accidents. Workplace safety and the young worker program is a 25-hour course that young workers may take in the classroom or as a self-study, either as a CD-ROM or in traditional text format. It provides an introduction for new workers as to their rights and the basic safety issues they should be concerned about in the workplace.

Beyond the development of the course, the WCB has taken a variety of actions to make sure young workers, their parents, teachers and employers are aware of the program and the importance of teaching workplace safety practices at a young age. These actions include starting a workplace safety competition at the NWT/Nunavut skills competition and sending winners of this competition to the National Skills Canada competition where NWT and Nunavut students have won gold two years in a row. Becoming a Skills Canada partner can help ensure safe work practices become a part of all skills competitions. They are sponsoring a safety video competition, which was won this year by Hay River's Kelvin Redvers, and encouraging northern employers to request safety and young worker training when hiring young workers.

The Hay River Northern Store, now known as Northmart, partnered with the WCB in 2002 to have all of their young employees trained in the program. Finally, Mr. Speaker, the WCB will be hosting a young worker safety conference in May of 2004. Safety is a way of life and through the young worker safety initiatives of the WCB, we are ensuring young Northerners get a good safe start in the workplace.

I would like to commend the Minister and the Workers' Compensation Board for this very impressive initiative. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Workplace Safety And The Young Worker Program
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1184

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

12th Annual Run For The Cure
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1184

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it has been truly a beautiful week in the Northwest Territories weather wise. We've had unseasonably high temperatures throughout the week and we certainly hope that it continues right through the weekend Mr. Speaker, because as you know this weekend -- all the pink ribbons around the building would signify this -- is the 12th Annual Run for the Cure, sponsored by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. They have done a big task this year, Mr. Speaker, and that is to better the job that this community and the Territories did last year. Last year, the Northwest Territories raised over $200,000 for the Run for the Cure and as I mentioned last year in a statement, that bettered some larger cities in Southern Canada so I think we did a heck of a job. We are putting in a team again, as you know because you are on it Mr. Speaker. The L.A. Leggers will enter the Corporate Challenge again; there are a number of Members who are on the team and a lot of staff members. I know the Premier has signed up this year along with a number of Ministers. I think our top fundraiser so far in the building is Heather Riviere, but the challenge is on us to chase her down and make sure that we can better the amount that she's got.

So Mr. Speaker, I'd like to remind everyone that breast cancer indeed affects all of our lives because it affects our mothers, our sisters, our daughters and our friends. Sadly, Mr. Speaker, an estimated 20,000 plus women will likely develop breast cancer in 2003. It is an important cause.

I hope everybody in the building, in the community and right across the Territories will get out this weekend and run for the cure. Thank you.

12th Annual Run For The Cure
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1184

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Congratulations To High School Graduate Amy Miersch
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1184

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Mahsi Cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to send congratulations to a constituent of mine, Amy Miersch, from Fort Resolution is going to celebrate her graduation this year. She graduated from grade 12 and is the only graduate from Fort Resolution. I will be going there to celebrate graduation with her this afternoon along with some of Mr. Ootes' staff members and I would like to thank Mr. Ootes for making them available to me and to Amy and the people of Fort Resolution.

Education is important and Amy is a good role model for the students this year. I'd like to see more graduates in the Tu Nedhe riding. Mahsi Cho, Mr. Speaker, and congratulations, Amy.

---Applause

Congratulations To High School Graduate Amy Miersch
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1185

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Mahsi, Mr. Nitah. Good news. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Housing For Persons With Disabilities
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1185

Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On September 17th, Mr. Speaker, a very important and informative forum was held here in Yellowknife called Solutions for Barrier-Free Housing. It was organized by the NWT Council of Persons with Disabilities, prompted by the actions of a number of self-advocates with that organization. Mr. Speaker, it was co-sponsored by our departments of Health and Social Services and the NWT Housing Corporation. Both of those departments, Mr. Speaker, have been very proactive on the issue of housing needs of persons with disabilities. The self-advocates who helped with that forum were Cor Van Dyke, Lynn Cameron, Bill Burles, Doreen Baptiste, and they spoke very eloquently to the more than 50 people who attended of the different needs of the disabled when it comes to housing. The solutions go far beyond what many of us might have as the idea that well if we build wheelchair ramps and wider doorways we have looked after things, and that's only the beginning,

Mr. Speaker, an innovative survey went out to 300 people and there were 60 returns. It demonstrated that what we need to do is go far beyond those physical amenities and go into a number of far broader areas.

We identified three priorities in the course of the day, probably the most significant one was called social marketing and this is where the community of people with disabilities should be partnering with legislators, cities and municipalities and with builders and architects to establish those needs and find ways of making them happen and making them happen affordably. This of course will help to stimulate the increase in the number of units that will hopefully be built because there will be a market.

Mr. Speaker, we also want to take a very close look at the financial incentives and disincentives that we have in our income support system, in our health care system, that affect the lives of the disabled. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Housing For Persons With Disabilities
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1185

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to make a special point of reiterating the importance of the government rescinding and revisiting the changes being proposed to the BIP. Mr. Speaker, yesterday we debated a formal motion in the House and it was unanimously agreed by every Member on this side of the House that the government should not go ahead with these suggestions. Mr. Speaker, yesterday everyone -- and there are 11 of us on this side -- voted for that motion.

Mr. Speaker, you are aware this doesn't happen very often where all Members in this House agree on one idea. I believe, Mr. Speaker, that speaks to the very seriousness of this matter and the need for the government to reconsider. This also speaks to the fact that government has failed to meet the minimum standard to get the support needed in this House, never mind a majority or even a genuine consensus, but that every Member in this house has a concern about the proposed changes. In the end, Mr. Speaker, I believe it is ultimately about what the people in the communities are saying because we are here to represent our communities.

The business communities have been consistent in their position for three years. They have the right to ask if the government fails to adhere to our advice by way of the motion, what more do they have to do, Mr. Speaker? In a democratic system, what more do people have to do when they do the right thing by presenting their facts, presenting their cases, participating in the consultation process, and convincing every Member of this House on their position and then to have the government fail to act on that advice. I just want to reiterate Mr. Speaker, that the government take the advice of this House seriously and do the right thing and revisit the policy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Ms. Lee. As Speaker, I have to sometimes point out some of the rules, perhaps, that reflect on some of the things that we do. It is not often applied, however, that in Member's statement Members should not reflect upon previous votes of the Assembly, except for the purposes of moving that it be rescinded. Perhaps you can touch on it briefly but not for long periods of time. This is just a little cautionary note for other Members who may be thinking along those lines.

Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

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

Page 1185

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

I'd like to recognize, Mr. Lee Selleck from CBC.

---Applause

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

Page 1185

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley.

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

Page 1185

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, I too would like to recognize Lee Selleck. I believe he is my constituent, as well. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Page 1185

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

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

Page 1185

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize two Grade 8 students from Diamond Jenness Secondary School in Hay River who have been serving us this week in the House. They are Cassidy Mapes and Amanda Tybring. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Page 1186

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Any other recognition of visitors in the gallery? I'd just like to say welcome to the people that do come to visit the Assembly on a daily basis and I hope you enjoy your visit here with us.

---Applause

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

Page 1186

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Question 367-14(6): Status Of The Somba K'e Healing Lodge
Item 6: Oral Questions

October 2nd, 2003

Page 1186

Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question this morning is for Mr. Allen, the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. It concerns the status of the Somba K'e Healing Lodge just outside the community of Dettah in the Yellowknife region. Mr. Speaker, the lodge has gone into disuse in the last couple of years. Our government continues to hold a mortgage on this property and I would like to ask the Minister, what is the status of the Somba K'e Healing Lodge, especially in respect of the urgent need for a community alcohol and drug treatment facilities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger. Excuse me, Mr. Braden, may I ask you again whom you directed that question to, I missed that.

Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question was directed to Minister Allen of the NWT Housing Corporation. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Braden. It was the chair's error. The honourable Minister responsible for Housing and Justice, Mr. Allen.

Return To Question 367-14(6): Status Of The Somba K'e Healing Lodge
Question 367-14(6): Status Of The Somba K'e Healing Lodge
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1186

Roger Allen

Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At the moment, the facility is closed down. It is currently being maintained. We are entertaining some proposals from various interest groups to see if we can assist them with the reopening of the Somba K'e Healing Lodge. Thank you.

Return To Question 367-14(6): Status Of The Somba K'e Healing Lodge
Question 367-14(6): Status Of The Somba K'e Healing Lodge
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1186

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 367-14(6): Status Of The Somba K'e Healing Lodge
Question 367-14(6): Status Of The Somba K'e Healing Lodge
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1186

Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With respect to the confidentiality of any business negotiations that might be underway, could the Minister advise whether proposals are being entertained from agencies involved in alcohol and drug treatment? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 367-14(6): Status Of The Somba K'e Healing Lodge
Question 367-14(6): Status Of The Somba K'e Healing Lodge
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1186

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Allen.