This is page numbers 1255 - 1298 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 chairman.

Topics

Supplementary To Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1266

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Steen.

Further Return To Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the consultation process is quite valuable in that if the application to MACA has attached to it the letters of aboriginal groups whereby they agree to the land transfer, this would speed up the process from 30 days to seven days. We could then have the papers worked out to take to Cabinet. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1266

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Health and Social Services, the Honourable Mr. Miltenberger. Over the course of the past four years, numerous submissions have been made in regard to recognition of addictions counselling as a profession by representatives of the Canadian Addictions Counsel Certification Board to this government and to the Department of Health and Social Services. As we are approaching the end of the 14th Assembly, our addictions counsellors deserve to have definite answers with regard to their future. Is the honourable Minister willing to now formally recognize the profession of addictions counselling and the certification obtained through their certification board? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1267

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we've spent considerable time and effort in developing mental health and addiction strategy to look at properly paying the addictions workers that currently exist. We've converted those positions to community wellness workers. We've also invested money in positions that are the mental health addictions counsellors, as well as some clinical supervisors. We've done proper job descriptions. We've had the pay ranges classified so that they are properly compensated with pay and benefits. We are working on the training components for those jobs so that the folks who are in those jobs currently that may not be totally up to the qualifications required will have training. We're going to continue to formalize that training process. There is no plan at this time for any kind of other certification directly related to the addictions counsellors as referenced by my colleague. Thank you.

Return To Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1267

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Supplementary To Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1267

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister please elaborate for the House as to what the impediments are to having these hard working people recognized in their designated profession? Why can they not recognize them as addictions counsellors? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1267

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1267

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at present we have been focused on some very fundamental changes in that we've converted the existing alcohol and drug positions, many of which did not work for Health and Social Services authorities, into indeterminate positions. We've created a job description entitled community wellness workers. As well, we have a more advanced level position, which is a mental health addictions counsellor and supervised by clinical supervisors. We clearly recognize the role that addictions and addictions counselling has to play in the system. It's part of the overall service delivery tied into the area of mental health and addiction services. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1267

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Supplementary To Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1267

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I stated previously, it is my understanding that representatives of the certification board have been waiting patiently for answers to their questions on recognition and certification for several years now. Is the Minister aware if they have been informed that the department will not be recognizing their profession? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1267

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1267

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a number of months ago, the deputy minister flew into Hay River to meet with some of Mr. Delorey's constituents on the issue. The reality is that at this point in time we are focused on these broad system changes. We are working at developing the training. Mr. Speaker, there are mental health addictions counsellor job descriptions and we're going to be looking at a number of qualifications and what would be considered equivalencies. So, I don't want to rule out completely that we're not ever going to do this particular step, it's just that at this point we're focused on reclassification to pay the new job descriptions. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1267

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Your final supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Supplementary To Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1267

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm aware that the Minister has met with a constituent of mine on a number of occasions on this and I want to thank him for that. But, Mr. Speaker, will the Minister give a definite answer to these people if their profession is going to be recognized or if it is not? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1267

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1267

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Yes, I will. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Question 393-14(6): Certification Of The Addictions Counselling Profession
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1267

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, in my opening remarks I talked about the need to negotiate formula financing with local education authorities to improve the education system in their communities. Every year, I understand, there's a formula that is not negotiated. I would like to ask the Minister if he would consider entering into negotiations with local education authorities to determine the true cost of running the schools in the smaller communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Return To Question 394-14(6): Negotiating Funding With Local School Authorities
Question 394-14(6): Negotiating Funding With Local School Authorities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1268

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Member bringing this forward. I know there's concern in small communities with regard to the funding process that we use. It is done on a per capita basis. There's some additional funding provided when grades are extended to grades 10, 11 and 12. That's all based on a formula, as the Member has said.

Mr. Speaker, in order to look at this particular question we have to be consistent across the Territories with all small schools and it is different than large high schools. I understand what the Member is saying and if you'll give me a moment, what I'm saying, Mr. Speaker, is that we need to identify the smaller communities and look at this process and see what kind of difficulties are arising for the small communities in this. From that base we could look at seeing what could be developed in regard to the funding process. It will mean a change in the funding formula that's provided for schools throughout the Territories, but I think the Member brings up a very good point. Thank you.

Return To Question 394-14(6): Negotiating Funding With Local School Authorities
Question 394-14(6): Negotiating Funding With Local School Authorities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1268

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Supplementary To Question 394-14(6): Negotiating Funding With Local School Authorities
Question 394-14(6): Negotiating Funding With Local School Authorities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1268

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that answer. Mr. Speaker, in the Northwest Territories we argue all the time that per capita funding doesn't work for people in the Northwest Territories because of the size of our territory. There's no difference in our communities, as well, Mr. Speaker. If we need to determine a correct formula, maybe we need to start with a pilot project with one school and start that way. I'd like to suggest to the Minister that Deninu School, who's volunteered to do a pilot project, if you would consider Deninu School as the pilot project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 394-14(6): Negotiating Funding With Local School Authorities
Question 394-14(6): Negotiating Funding With Local School Authorities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1268

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.