This is page numbers 387 - 410 of the Hansard for the 15th 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 going.

Topics

Members Present

Honourable Brendan Bell, Mr. Braden, Honourable Paul Delorey, Honourable Charles Dent, Mrs. Groenewegen, Honourable Joe Handley, Mr. Hawkins, Honourable David Krutko, Mr. Lafferty, Ms. Lee, Honourable Michael McLeod, Mr. McLeod, Mr. Menicoche, Mr. Miltenberger, Mr. Pokiak, Mr. Ramsay, Honourable Floyd Roland, Mr. Villeneuve, Mr. Yakeleya

---Prayer

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the House. Orders of the day. Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to update Members on progress made to date on the affordable housing initiative that will provide a $100 million investment in affordable housing in the Northwest Territories over the next three years.

Mr. Speaker, commitments made by this government to invest in housing through the affordable housing initiative will give us a lasting impact on our residents, our communities, and our territory for generations to come. Our success in acquiring the federal funding to complement the GNWT's investment will provide us with an opportunity to provide residents with an improved quality of life. Over the next three years, I anticipate that we will deliver new housing in every community in our territory. In addition, our increased emphasis on energy efficiency and maintenance is targeted to ensure that these homes will remain affordable and adequate well into the future.

Mr. Speaker, on two occasions during this Legislative Assembly, motions have been passed calling on the Housing Corporation to reduce core need. These motions called for reductions in core need, a renewed focus on the needs of seniors and the disabled, new partnerships with communities and aboriginal governments, and innovative approaches to provide adequate and affordable housing to northerners.

Mr. Speaker, I want to assure Members that this government takes these motions very seriously, and will continue working towards the goal we all share of improving housing conditions for all northerners and meet targets established by this Assembly.

I am pleased to inform this House that the Housing Corporation's initial allocations in communities called for up to 530 new dwellings. Based on these allocations, we estimate spending approximately $33 million in year one with the construction and delivery of over 170 homeownership and public housing dwellings in communities across the Northwest Territories. In year two we expect to expend an additional $32 million to construct and deliver more than 160 units, and year three calls for the spending of approximately $34 million to construct and deliver more than 170 units. The delivery of new housing, the construction of multi-unit dwellings, and the replacement of public housing units will improve housing conditions, reduce core need, and ensure that residents in need enjoy the benefits of homeownership. As well, this year's construction has provided employment and training opportunities for our labour force.

Land planning and development is a key component of the affordable housing initiative. The Housing Corporation continues to work together with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and communities to ensure that land is available for construction. The formation of partnerships and community support are key factors in ensuring the success of this initiative. Land is in place for year one of this initiative, and we continue to work with MACA and communities on acquiring and developing land for years two and three.

Mr. Speaker, the provision of affordable housing contributes to our territory on many levels. The economic and social benefits of developing housing are significant, and are among the most effective tools for community development. Housing is more than just bricks and mortar. Affordable housing is vital to the health and safety of our citizens, to the economic sustainability of our communities and the quality of life of NWT residents.

Mr. Speaker, the affordable housing initiative represents a new beginning in our efforts to reduce core housing need and to ensure that residents of the Northwest Territories have access to adequate and affordable housing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Ministers' statements. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I wish to make a statement about how a constituent of mine is being treated by our health care system.

The troubles began for him in December of 2003 when chest pain and tingling sensations were present. A stress test was to be performed but due to results from blood testing, a low priority was given to allow these tests to happen. The doctor quoted a wait time of six to 12 months. In January, while preparing for a vacation, my constituent consulted with his family doctor regarding concerns over travelling. While on vacation in February of 2004, my constituent had what appeared to be a heart attack. All tests for a heart attack were found to be

negative. The doctors overseas instructed my constituent to see a neurologist upon his return to Canada.

Since getting back to Yellowknife in February of 2004, my constituent has had numerous appointments, referrals and meetings with me, as his MLA, doctors, the former CEO of Stanton Hospital and others regarding his lack of a proper diagnosis. It has been almost three years, Mr. Speaker, and my constituent is living with debilitating pain, unable to work, unable to support his family, unable to sleep for more than 15 minutes at a time, all because we cannot find or get him the help he needs and he deserves.

How long does a resident of the Northwest Territories, or Canada for that matter, have to suffer before we offer some help? Mr. Speaker, his case needs a thorough examination and I find it unthinkable that we continue to let him suffer. He is now in the process of trying to go overseas to have his condition dealt with, at his own expense I might add. Why must he be forced into such drastic measures, and why is our health care system failing him? I'm looking for some answers for my constituent in his search for some help. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Colleagues, I'd like to draw your attention to the Speaker's Gallery and the presence of Mr. Sam Gargan, a former Speaker of the House.

---Applause

Members' statements. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Observations On Recent Actions And The Road Ahead
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to rise today to let my constituents know, and the people of the Northwest Territories know, that in the months that are remaining this Assembly that I will bring their issues to the table through this forum in the House using every Member's statement that's available, as well as questions to Ministers. I will be rising in support of the many initiatives as the need arises and the occasion permits to speak to the many issues and initiatives that I believe are good ones that are underway by the government, but I'm also going to raise some issues that have to be resolved that we have to look at more closely. I'm going to be very critical of the Conservative government in this House in what they have not done for the North, or what they have done, and I'll be raising those issues.

Today I would like, as well, just to reflect briefly on the process that transpired here late last week. Mr. Speaker, the practice as we know it through years of trial, the convention, the tradition has been when there are issues that involve concerns with Ministers of significance that we go into Caucus. That was done back in the conflict days of the '90s; it was done more recently when there were criminal charges and such against another Member, as recently with the Premier. I want to make the point in this House, as I have to the press, that what has transpired did not allow me due process, that we circumvented or ignored our own procedures; procedures that are absolutely critical in my mind for the functioning of a consensus government. The only thing I believe that allows us to function as a consensus government is the fact that we have the ability to come together as 19 Members to talk about issues, and I can remember meeting many times on these type of matters before any decisions were taken. That was not the case and that is unfair and unfortunate, but it has been done, so now we move on.

But there are some lessons, in my mind, that we want to take a close look at because I understand we are not finished with some of the issues as regards to Cabinet. I want to say to this House that...

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Mr. Miltenberger, your time for Member's statement has expired.

Observations On Recent Actions And The Road Ahead
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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I request unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Miltenberger.

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we must take the steps necessary to protect those processes that have been developed and that are vital to consensus government. As well, I will not be party to any further types of what I saw as legislative vigilante justice, nor will I agree to any unanimous consent. This Legislature deserves better and so do the people of the Northwest Territories.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I will conclude by saying we have a tremendous agenda ahead of us with very limited time and we owe it to the people of the Northwest Territories to take care of their business. Thank you.

---Applause

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

Rcmp Services In The Tlicho Languages
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Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty North Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) My Member's statement for today is regarding leaders, the RCMP. When we call the RCMP station in Rae, we are forwarded to Yellowknife station. Sometimes when there are emergencies, we have to wait a very long time to get a response and people are not happy with that. (Translation ends)

...an issue or a concern that many people from my community of Behchoko have been phoning the RCMP after normal hours. Mr. Speaker, calls from Behchoko to the RCMP are routed to Yellowknife detachment after regular hours with no person there speaking the Tlicho language. In Behchoko, a number of people that speak their Tlicho language just hover over 60 to 80 percent. This is something that we take great pride in, Mr. Speaker. Unfortunately, it sometimes puts our citizens at risk when services are not available in our own languages. Measures must be in place to ensure the protection and safety of our people, especially those who are unable to speak English, should be a priority.

Mr. Speaker, elders in our community who can only speak their native tongue rely on the people to speak for them. They cannot always count on someone being able to help them especially in emergency and violent situations.

Mr. Speaker, as part of the RCMP accountability to the Northwest Territories, they state that in cooperation with the GNWT Department of Justice, they are committed to leading the country in the delivery of superior services, reflective of community needs and values. They have an opportunity to demonstrate this commitment by providing round-the-clock services in a Tlicho language, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the people of Behchoko want to work with the RCMP and the Government of the Northwest Territories to find a solution. Together, in partnership with the GNWT and RCMP, we can work towards a safer community for all residents. Mahsi.

---Applause

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

Condolences To The Family Of Lorna Norn
Item 3: Members' Statements

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Robert Villeneuve

Robert Villeneuve Tu Nedhe

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I just want to express my sincere condolences for the family and relatives and all the friends of the late Lorna Norn who perished in a house fire in Fort Smith earlier this week.

Lorna leaves behind three small children ranging from ages two to 10. Lorna is the daughter of Leona Poitras from Deninu Kue and was raised by Bill and Terra Norn of Deninu Kue.

Mr. Speaker, our prayers go out to these family members who all came together to raise an outgoing, very vibrant and well liked, and a very family oriented northern mother who was keen on providing the best for her family, but sadly her dreams and aspirations were shortened by this tragic event; an event which will not be easily forgotten by residents, by northerners, friends and especially family members from all over Tu Nedhe who knew Lorna.

Lorna will always be remembered through her children, and I ask the Creator to watch over them and ask that the many family members and friends of Lorna to take care of her children, which I'm sure will happen, and ensure that her children are always reminded of the wonderful person that their mother was to all the people that knew her. God bless her and her kids. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Condolences To The Family Of Lorna Norn
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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Mobile Alcohol And Drug Treatment Programs
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Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the many goals of this government is to look at healthy families, self-reliant people helping themselves. Mr. Speaker, people in our smaller communities want to know how does that translate into their lives and into their communities. What does that possibly mean? What type of action could be put in place to get to those goals, and where do we start and where can we help and why do it?

Mr. Speaker, communities down the Mackenzie Valley have a high increase of alcohol and drugs in the Northwest Territories. It's been reported that the Northwest Territories are big spenders on alcohol and drugs; that we have probably the highest consumption of alcohol here in the Territories and that there's a high crime rate due to the use of alcohol. If you look at the RCMP stats or the Crown stats, businesses loose thousands and thousands of dollars in this issue here due to absenteeism from workers. Families, especially young children, are devastated, affected every weekend in the communities. Children run homeless and there's homeless homes in those small communities. Mr. Speaker, then there's health, there's education. We just go on and on.

Mr. Speaker, interestingly enough this morning News/North and on CBC Radio there was a report of a potential strike of workers at Nats'ejee K'eh that may happen. The healing process will come to a halt, Mr. Speaker, for people who want to seek alcohol residential school care. Well, there is a solution, Mr. Speaker. It's right from the people; the people asking we could help ourselves. The government has to look at alternatives, mobile, residential treatment programs in the communities or on the land. Bring the programs on the land. Bring the whole family, not just the individual. Get them out into the land. Get family instruction, have it small. People help themselves out there, Mr. Speaker, similar to the justice program that we started in Fort Good Hope under the Department of Justice. Do a pilot project. Bring the families out there to reconcile and do some healing. Put the families out there, Mr. Speaker, and in the communities they can help them by the Housing Corporation take care of homes. Education can look at the children and help them with their education studies; employment where people get to work.

Mr. Speaker, the solutions are there. We have to get behind these qualities and that and get the people to start looking after themselves the best we can. Give them the tools and support. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Mobile Alcohol And Drug Treatment Programs
Item 3: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Workers' Compensation Board Claimant Ivan Valic
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Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Last Friday the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board tabled in this Assembly a glossy version of the various activities of the WCB in the last year. The Minister related to us the cover story of this magazine which featured an inspirational story of a man who entered into Canada from Czechoslovakia who, after a serious work-related injury persevered and, through determination, returned to work.

Mr. Speaker, I'd remind the Minister that there is, in too many cases, a very unglossy version of affairs to do with the cases of some injured workers in our WCB. I would relate again to this Assembly the case of Mr. Ivan Valic, an injured worker who was injured some 19 years ago and continues to seek a resolution to his issues, especially

those regarding chronic pain. Mr. Speaker, on December 14th of last year, Justice Virginia Schuler of the NWT Supreme Court ruled that Mr. Valic's rights in regard to the Charter had been violated, that his right to natural justice had been denied. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to suggest that perhaps like the gentleman featured in the WCB's magazine, Mr. Valic is also an inspiration, but there's an irony here in that he's an inspiration not in the case of overcoming person adversity and suffering, but rather that he continues to struggle valiantly against a bureaucracy and a system that seems to have gone out of its way to trample his rights.

Mr. Speaker, when Justice Schuler granted Mr. Valic's request for a new tribunal there was a hope in that ruling that such a tribunal would be struck in a timely manner. We are now coming up 10 months and this is just not acceptable, Mr. Speaker. It shows again that our WCB, the Appeals Tribunal, and the various processes that we should have working on behalf of injured workers are indeed, in some cases, continuing to stymie them. Mr. Speaker, it's been 10 months since Judge Schuler's decision and I wonder what is meant by her request for timely consideration in the view of our WCB, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Workers' Compensation Board Claimant Ivan Valic
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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Pokiak.

Rcmp Presence In Sachs Harbour
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Calvin Pokiak

Calvin Pokiak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I make my statement, I'd like to send out a birthday wish to my son Darren John Pokiak who turned 19 yesterday.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the need for RCMP presence in Sachs Harbour again. I know this has been going on for a long and I'm still going to pursue it for the presence of RCMP in Sachs Harbour.

Mr. Speaker, I had an opportunity to travel with the Honourable Brendan Bell and his staff and also the RCMP to Sachs Harbour in late June of this year. At that time, Mr. Speaker, there was a public meeting where the Minister heard firsthand exactly what's going on in the small community, where there's no RCMP presence, in terms of alcohol and drug abuse, carelessness of firearms, and also family violence, which shouldn't be tolerated in any community, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, Sachs Harbour, again, is one of the 11 communities without an RCMP presence and I hope that the department can address all these problems down the road. Also, Mr. Speaker, the mayor informed at the meeting that Sachs Harbour did have two RCMP members years ago. A small isolated community like that, they should have RCMP presence.

Mr. Speaker, I understand because of the legislation there needs to be two RCMP members located in the communities. This makes it really difficult, Mr. Speaker, for the communities without an RCMP presence. Where is the safety of these people?

Mr. Speaker, during the public meeting Minister Bell promised -- and I say promised -- the mayor and public that by July 2007 there will be two RCMP members stationed in Sachs Harbour. Mr. Speaker, I'm willing to work with the Minister in that regard and I'm going to quote Minister Bells' comment in light of the transcripts on page 721 on Wednesday, October 18th, 2006, and I quote, "It's not about, at this point, coming up with more from this government for officers. The feds pay for the tab when it comes to capital. We are looking at capital for Sachs Harbour. We think we have a federal commitment there." Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to complete my statement.

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Pokiak.

Rcmp Presence In Sachs Harbour
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Calvin Pokiak

Calvin Pokiak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In closing, Mr. Speaker, the safety of all northerners needs to be addressed by this government and the federal government by ensuring police officers are stationed in all the NWT communities.

Rcmp Presence In Sachs Harbour
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An Hon. Member

Hear! Hear!