This is page numbers 1 - 24 of the Hansard for the 15th Assembly, 4th 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 ---applause.

Topics

Supplementary To Question 9-15(4): Operation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre
Question 9-15(4): Operation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 19

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 9-15(4): Operation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre
Question 9-15(4): Operation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 19

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of what NGOs pay their staff is one that is affecting many operations within government, including other operations in Yellowknife, especially those that are unionized who are increasing pressure for a wage parity and it's an issue that we are struggling with. The reality is we have a program run by Bosco in Fort Smith that is staffed and fully functional. It's our anticipation that we will be able to do this as well in Hay River with either the staff, a few that are going to transfer, or through the hiring process in Hay River. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 9-15(4): Operation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre
Question 9-15(4): Operation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 19

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 9-15(4): Operation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre
Question 9-15(4): Operation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 20

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier the Minister answered that he will make an effort to meet with the affected employees and perhaps the administrator of the program to answer some questions or allay some of their anxieties. Will the Minister be willing to talk to them about possible severance packages, or give them more certainty about what's happening with their jobs in light of the fact that all of this is happening in the media and causing them undue hardship that could have been avoided if it was handled better? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 9-15(4): Operation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre
Question 9-15(4): Operation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 20

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 9-15(4): Operation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre
Question 9-15(4): Operation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 20

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I indicated that I would follow up on the Member's assertions and that we would take every step possible to be sensitive and mindful of the situation that the affected employees are going through, and that's what we intend to do. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 9-15(4): Operation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre
Question 9-15(4): Operation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 20

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 20

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a couple more questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. I know the price tag that's been talked about, whether it's at the current TTC location or the renovations to Dene K'onia, is in around $3 million. Can the Minister let us know how he intends to pay for whichever renovations that might happen? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 20

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Return To Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 20

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there has been money in the capital budget to do this. We've carried it over for the last year or so and the money that is already there, instead of being used here, will be used for the renovations of Dene K'onia.

Return To Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 20

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 20

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't think it appears in last year's capital budget, at least not the last time I looked. So maybe the Minister could check that and I can check my budget document, as well. I think it was in there before, but it was taken out last year, Mr. Speaker. I know the Minister stood up earlier today and said that he's convinced that the move of the TTC would not impact the program or its clients. Can the Minister demonstrate to Members of this side of the House how that is going to happen and how it will play out that the clients in the programs are not impacted by the move? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 20

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 20

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there will be impacts as we move through the transition, but the quality of the program that Bosco delivers will not be impacted, in my opinion. They have a track record in Fort Smith where they have delivered a contractual program since the mid '90s, I believe, and they've invested a lot of time and effort. They have a lot of skilled people available and we'll get through the transition, and, as we have in the past, we will be provided with quality child welfare programs in Hay River. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 20

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 20

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister commit to us today to share whatever research that his department has done in terms of looking at moving this treatment centre to Hay River? I know it hasn't come through and it goes back to the decision-making process, but nobody has been consulted on this and nobody has seen a business plan. I'd like the Minister to commit to us today that he will share whatever information he's got so that we can say we're not just making a move to make the move, but we're doing so for the benefit of the clients. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 20

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 20

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, we're going to be building a lot of the detail of this move into the business plan, but I would be happy to put together a package for the Social Programs committee and meet with them, along with the many other issues we have on the agenda to meet with them about in the next number of weeks.

Further Return To Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 20

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Supplementary To Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 20

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So if I'm not mistaken, what the Minister is saying is the decision to move this program was made before any type of business analysis or business plan was conducted. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is that true? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 20

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 21

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

No, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Question 10-15(4): Renovations To The Dene K'onia Facility
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 21

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Question 11-15(4): Location Of Treatment Centre Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 21

Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, my questions, too, are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. The information that he provided earlier today indicated that about half of the residents of the TTC right now are from Yellowknife and perhaps the North Slave region, and half are from elsewhere in the NWT. That would seem to indicate that with Yellowknife as approximately half the population of the NWT, there is a local and a resident need it will be here and may continue to grow. Could the Minister, Mr. Speaker, give some indication of whether or not there is justification for establishing not only a home in the facility in Hay River, but maintaining and continuing to provide a service for Yellowknife where half of the NWT's population is located? Thank you.

Question 11-15(4): Location Of Treatment Centre Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 21

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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