This is page numbers 1329 - 1368 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 going.

Topics

Members Present

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

---Prayer

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 1329

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Good morning, colleagues. Welcome back to the House. Orders of the day. Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister for Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Mr. Speaker, since the events of September 11, 2001, the Department of Transportation and all North American jurisdictions have participated with the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators to development new national standards with respect to drivers' licences and identification cards.

Mr. Speaker, the current NWT driver's licence was developed 15 years ago and does not meet the current standards for document security. I am pleased to advise that the Department of Transportation will be introducing a new secure digital driver's licence this year. We are working with Canadian Bank Note, a world-renowned company, to develop an NWT digital driver's licence. This licence will be fully compliant with the new national standards and will feature the latest advancements in security measures.

We are developing a plan to introduce this licence in a seamless and effective manner. It is our intent to ensure everyone needing a licence is given the opportunity to obtain one, even prior to the expiry of old licences. The routine of obtaining a new licence will change in that a temporary licence will be issued and then the new one will be sent in the mail. Written reminders of licence renewal dates will also be sent to drivers in the mail, in advance of licence expiry. We will be visiting every issuing agency to ensure the proper training and equipment is made available. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Financial Management Board, Mr. Roland.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to provide an update on the amalgamation of human resource services.

The decision to amalgamate human resource services into regional service centres was made in August 2004. The actual implementation commenced in May 2005 and continues today as office relocations, recruitment and training proceed. We anticipate that it will be at least another year before implementation activities are completed and we have the staff, organization, business processes and systems operating at the level of efficiency and effectiveness we need. This time frame for full transition was anticipated and is much more ambitious than what other jurisdictions have indicated as their experience with the establishment of service centres.

The amalgamation of human resource services has resulted in the creation of seven full service centres in all regions. Service centres are located in Inuvik. Norman Wells, Behchoko, Fort Simpson, Yellowknife, Hay River and Fort Smith. These service centres are supported by two corporate units, employee relations and corporate human resources. Services that were provided to employees from Yellowknife are now available from the regional service centres in each region.

There were many reasons why we amalgamated human resource functions:

  1. to improve consistency and fairness of staffing processes;
  2. to improve the quality of service being provided to existing staff;
  3. to improve our human resource planning and recruitment and retention strategies in light of national and international labour shortages;
  4. to increase our efforts in achieving a representative public service; and
  5. to improve our ability to effectively respond to rapid changes driven by globalization, resource development, self-government and technological change.

We knew at the outset that addressing these issues would not be easy and we expected that the change process would be difficult and it would take time to achieve the efficient and effective level of service employees and the public expect.

Staff have worked very hard and faced many challenges and after nine months in operation, we believe we are starting to see progress in the quality and consistency of the human resource services we are providing in following government-wide policies and procedures. Human resources staff are collaborating with managers to meet each department's organizational need while maintaining a consistent GNWT approach. I would like to thank our human resources employees for their efforts to date, and

encourage them to continue striving for excellence as we proceed with full implementation.

The human resource amalgamation has had to cope with additional issues over the last nine months:

  1. the challenge in recruiting qualified northern human resource practitioners;
  2. the long timelines in obtaining the office space necessary to house the service centres;
  3. the backlog of pay and benefits transactions that the new organization took over; and
  4. the volume of other changes that arose over the year, such as negotiating and implementing two collective agreements, integrating six pay offices into one location, implementing a relief worker system, the conversion of employees to the Tlicho Community Services Agency and many others.

Although there were many highly qualified human resource practitioners who became part of the consolidated human resources, there were also many vacancies to fill. With these new employees comes a correspondingly large learning curve for the first year or two and a slower move to a full level of service in all locations. In keeping with our policies and practices, as many northerners as possible have been recruited for those positions. There has been an intensive effort to provide all human resources staff a common base of knowledge and then build on that base.

Mr. Speaker, while we often focus on the problems that arise when we go through change, it is important to recognize the positive things that are happening. Because of the amalgamation, we have been able to dedicate positions to conduct workplace investigations and to address employee health and wellness. Investigations into workplace issues are now dealt with in a more timely and consistent manner, with better support to managers and employees in these situations. Because of the employee health and wellness position, there is now a resource available to assist managers and employees with difficult situations, such as employees who return to work after an extended absence due to illness. Finding ways to address workplace accommodations to deal with disabilities has also improved. Individuals interested in GNWT employment can now find information about jobs, including job descriptions and tips on how to apply, in one location on the GNWT web site.

There has also been a significant improvement in the clarity regarding employee entitlements to different types of leave. The amount of GNWT-wide staff training has also gone up. These are not changes obvious to most individuals, but they begin to address the basic concerns which lead to the amalgamation in the first place.

Employees in human resources are committed to achieving service excellence. The amalgamation of human resources is still in its early stages. There has been significant progress, but we also recognize the need to continue to improve service levels to better support excellence in human resource management. I look forward to reporting further at our next session in May-June on this important shift in our approach to human resource management in the government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Calvin Pokiak

Calvin Pokiak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the cager basketball tournament being held this week in Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to report, for the first time in history, the Mangilaluk School senior boys have entered a team to compete in the high school basketball tournament.

---Applause

The team and coaches left Tuktoyaktuk this morning at 7:00 a.m. and their first game is at 6:00 p.m. tonight. It is unfortunate, Mr. Speaker, they will not be in the gallery today because of the team's schedule.

Mr. Speaker, during the regional trials for Arctic Winter Games, the Mangilaluk School boys made the Tuktoyaktuk residents proud by taking top spot. I should add that some of these young athletes made it to the territorial trials, but did not make the team to represent the Northwest Territories. I am proud of their accomplishments. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to recognize these young athletes who will be competing this weekend in the tournament. These athletes are Codey Felix, Carl Klengenberg, Joshua Teddy, Logan Gruben, Noah Gruben, Darren Pokiak, Derrick Felix and Amos Teddy. They are accompanied by their coaches, Mr. Joshua Mackenzie and Skip Wilson. Mr. Speaker, I know they will be good sportsmen but, most of all, good ambassadors for the residents of the Tuktoyaktuk. I wish the team all the luck and I will be cheering them on this weekend. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. McLeod.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we've heard many times before, the Northwest Territories is at a very important time in our history. Leadership of today have an opportunity to ensure that future generations will be looked after. Today, Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak to that leadership, and that includes us and the Assembly. We should be deeply concerned that money flows out of our territory to Ottawa. Last year alone, $270 million left the NWT in royalties and we didn't get a nickel.

An Hon. Member

Shame!

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Yesterday, my AOC colleagues and I spoke of the need for regional treatment centres. Think of the services, Mr. Speaker, we could provide with even half of that $270 million, but we want more of it.

With the chance of a pipeline being built increasing, there will be even more money in royalties. Mr. Speaker, depending on the flow of gas, Ottawa stands to gain 12 of $15 billion in the next 21 years. We, as leaders, can't allow this to happen. Are the people of the NWT not the rightful owners of this land? Even the new Conservative government agrees with the principle that northerners should be the primary beneficiaries of development of our resources. We should hold them to that.

Mr. Speaker, leaders in the NWT have a duty to represent those who elected them. If they get a good deal for their region, we should be glad for them. But we, as leadership of the NWT, have to look at the big picture, put our differences aside, go to battle with Ottawa's united front and get what's rightfully ours, then we can go back to squabbling amongst each other.

Royalties that should be ours continue to go south and we get next to nothing. Mr. Speaker, we are elected leaders; let's start acting like it and let's do what's best for the whole of the NWT. That way, Mr. Speaker, that will ensure that my little niece Kelly, up in the gallery, and her generation will be well looked after. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in many of my Member's statements, I include the triple A description regarding programs and services; adequate, accountable and accessible. Today I would like to add one more, appreciation for our dedicated and committed health care staff all over this territory.

In the recent federal election, health was the number one issue for most Canadians. So what puzzles me is why our health care system is so poorly funded and the staff not recognized. While many organizations and governments review, discuss and resolve various health care related issues in the Northwest Territories, it is equally important to commend the hard work and dedication of our health care staff. Whether in small communities or regional centres, health care providers are working very hard, day after day, in very stressful and under-funded environments.

Long wait times and waiting lists compound the patients' and families' anxiety creating an often stressful work environment for our health care staff. Having a shortage of qualified nurses is nation-wide, and difficulty in recruitment also adds to the already strained health care system. I believe health care staff appreciation must not be only a once-a-year function or special event, but must be practiced and highlighted by the people of our community and government continuously.

Additional resources to the small and regional centres for health care service and infrastructure must be addressed. These additional funding initiatives would dramatically alleviate the enormous stress currently placed on our communities' health care staff.

I commend the commitment of all health care staff and service providers throughout the territory, whether in Yellowknife or the small communities, with their tireless efforts to bring comfort to our sick and healing to our wounded.

Difficulties exist in the Northwest Territories with the implementation of equitable and accessible health care as increasing costs and complexities of our northern geography and medical coverage must comply with national medical standards. I am adamant in the overall improvements of health care services and funding increases while remembering the hard work of our health care staff, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, two years ago, almost two years ago to the day, the NWT Department of Health and Social Services introduced the NWT action plan for persons with disabilities. In talking to some disabled persons and NGOs, I am told that there is work, there is progress on this file. It has not been all that visible or all that high profile, Mr. Speaker. One part of this framework was that there would be a review and a monitoring program undertaken, which we have yet to see any action on, Mr. Speaker, or any sort of reporting back on the progress or the status of implementing this framework. It's in quite a contrast, Mr. Speaker, as one of my discussions brought out, especially with the accent on big development, on big pipeline, on big money in the Northwest Territories, that the interests of the, shall we say, the little people or the citizens of the Northwest Territories tend to be taking a back seat, Mr. Speaker. This is especially the case in the area of our social safety net, the consequences and the impacts of big development on our societies and communities, especially in the social services area.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister for Health and Social Services is also the lead Minister for carrying our government's message to the Joint Pipeline Review Panel last week. The question that's coming up now, Mr. Speaker, is, while our government is making a very serious, concerted, heavily funded and highly resourced move to make sure our development and our environmental word is heard at these hearings, where, Mr. Speaker, is the word of the social services for the disabled, for the people who can't look after themselves? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Laurie-Anne Fabien who has been working with us this week as a Page here at the Legislative Assembly.

---Applause

Laurie-Anne is a member of the K'atlodeeche First Nations from the Hay River Reserve. She is a college graduate with two certificates from Fairview College in Alberta...

---Applause

...one in transition/vocation and another in disabilities. Laurie likes to keep very busy in the community of Hay River Reserve. She works as a classroom assistant at the Chief Sunrise Education Centre. I would like to thank Laurie for all her hard work this week and the excellent job that she has done for us. I also hope that she enjoyed the experience. We certainly enjoyed having her here.

I would also like to thank her mother, Georgina, and also Walter Brown, my constituency assistant, for his efforts and all the people here at the Legislative Assembly who have been so accommodating and helped us out. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Indeed, Laurie has been doing an excellent job for us this week. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

Funding Levels For Community Justice Committees
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1332

Robert Villeneuve

Robert Villeneuve Tu Nedhe

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about the funding levels for community justice committees, many of which do a lot of exceptional work in addressing community justice concerns, tackling youth crime head on, and diligently working with community and government organizations to make the Community Justice Program work. But the funding levels which the government provides to the 32 communities are seriously out of balance, Mr. Speaker.

Out of the $652,000 that this government provides to these 32 communities, 14 percent, or almost $100,000, goes to eight communities which have not had any directly related justice activities. Four other communities which handle approximately 45 percent of the 1,275 justice committee activities here in the NWT received only 18 percent, or $122,000, of the total justice committee budget.

To me, Mr. Speaker, it does not seem fair for the communities which are fully engaged and participated in the justice committee programs but are seriously under-resourced by this government. I am curious if the Department of Justice is aware of how the communities that receive funding and do not take on any activities are spending these so-called limited resources. I feel that these limited resources should be redirected or reallocated to other communities that have active committees that take on 100 or more activities per year but operations are seriously under-funded, therefore, jeopardizing the success of the justice program.

The Department of Justice must gather the historical data which clearly shows that local justice committees work in the activities that they carry out. I think that the funding arrangement should reflect that information. Mr. Speaker, I will have some questions to the Justice Minister at the appropriate time about these funding levels. Thank you.

---Applause

Funding Levels For Community Justice Committees
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1332

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my Member's statement is about the Liquor Act review. It is with great anticipation, Mr. Speaker, that I have awaited the release of the final report of the Liquor Act review. This review has been long overdue. The last time the GNWT took a look at this legislation was back in 1994, but, at that time, nothing was changed. I had an opportunity to look through the report. I wanted to take this opportunity to share some initial thoughts on things that I saw.

Mr. Speaker, I am very much in support of this proposal where we increase maximum fines for bootlegging individuals up to $25,000 or 12 months in jail, and $50,000 or two years in jail for subsequent offences. For corporations, the proposed fines are even higher: $50,000 for first offence and $100,000 if caught again. Bootlegging is a serious concern across the NWT. I agree with these findings in this review. It is time to get tough. Let's give this legislation some teeth. What we are missing here, Mr. Speaker, in my opinion, is clear minimums to make sure people know we truly do mean business.

Mr. Speaker, from a constituent point of view, I do have some reservations about Sundays and holiday openings. The concern, Mr. Speaker, is the disruption of intoxicated people spilling out of the bars that are in my residential areas of downtown. Mr. Speaker, I tabled a document in the House last October which outlined concerns of some constituents about the proposed Sunday openings. The residents of Northern Heights already contend with negative factors such as noise and public drunkenness. Sunday openings would only add to this concern. Mr. Speaker, what about the day of rest also known as Sunday?

Mr. Speaker, I was glad to see that the recommendations of Sunday openings, though, also note a strong support that stakeholders should be consulted through the bylaw process. So I am in extremely strong support of that recommendation because this is a decision that could be made by the city realizing that they truly know what their community is like and how these effects will spill out into the details. Speaking of details, Mr. Speaker, the devil is in the details. I would like to hear more about recommendation 19 which talks about the peace officers and the three-strike rule, or recommendation 22. It says non-beverage liquor. I am not sure if this is forward thinking or creative writing by this liquor review, but I look forward, again, to those details.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the Minister of Finance for bringing forward this work that has been called for by the Accountability and Oversight committee on several occasions. Again, Mr. Speaker, I look forward to reviewing this legislative proposal when it does come before review. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Elders' Senior Facility In Behchoko
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1333

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty North Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) My Member's statement will be on the elders' senior home in Behchoko regarding the back-up generator. When the power is out, they have a back-up generator. (Translation ends)

...operates at Jimmy Erasmus Seniors' Home in Behchoko. It is a residential facility that accommodates eight elders whose needs are classified as level two and level three care. This means that, although they are considered to be somewhat independent and mobile in walkers or wheelchairs, they can still be very fragile requiring 24 hours of medical care.

The facility is owned by the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Speaker, which is responsible for maintenance of the building. There is no accelerated power source or generator in the elders' home in the event of an emergency, Mr. Speaker. During the past month, ice damage to power transmission lines affected power to both Yellowknife and Behchoko. In Behchoko, the power disruption was potentially very serious, with one disruption lasting over 10 hours, Mr. Speaker. Other disruptions followed almost on a daily basis and there is a significant uncertainty over whether this disruption would be of a shorter or longer duration; consequently whether it would be necessary to evacuate the elders, Mr. Speaker.

Actions taken during the last incident to keep the home warm have been vetoed by the fire marshal for future occurrence, and the elders' home will need to be evacuated for the safety of the elders in the event of any extended power outage.

Opportunities for evacuation in Behchoko are the health centres, the Elizabeth Elementary School, the Chief Jimmy Bruneau regional high school in Edzo and the residents, all which have back-up power generators. However, none of these are appropriate for a number of fragile elders requiring oxygen and 24-hour medical services.

Mr. Speaker, Tlicho Community Services Agency staff have expressed concerns for the NWT Housing Corporation that the home does not have a back-up generator.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Elders' Senior Facility In Behchoko
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1333

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. Lafferty.