Mr. Abernethy, Mr. Beaulieu, Ms. Bisaro, Mr. Bromley, Hon. Paul Delorey, Mrs. Groenewegen, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Jacobson, Mr. Krutko, Hon. Jackson Lafferty, Hon. Sandy Lee, Hon. Bob McLeod, Hon. Michael McLeod, Mr. McLeod, Mr. Menicoche, Hon. Michael Miltenberger, Mr. Ramsay, Hon. Floyd Roland, Hon. Norman Yakeleya
Debates of Nov. 28th, 2007
This is page numbers 65 - 98 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 1st 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 community.
Topics
---Prayer
Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer
The Speaker Paul Delorey
Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the House. Orders of the day. Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.
Minister’s Statement 2-16(1): Hamlet Of Enterprise
Item 2: Ministers’ Statements
Deh Cho
Michael McLeod Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, October 29, 2007, marked a very special day for municipal governance in the Northwest Territories. On that date, for the first time in over 20 years, a new hamlet was established in the Northwest Territories. That was when the Settlement of Enterprise officially changed its legislative status to become a hamlet.
---Applause
This important decision was made by community residents after many years of consideration of the impacts of greater authority and responsibility.
This is a very challenging time for all community governments in the Northwest Territories. The legislative framework for community governments was updated in 2004 to provide greater authority and accountability, and many communities are taking on more as their councils work with the legislation. Funding for community governments has increased over the past three years, but so have the challenges facing our communities and public expectations for service.
Enterprise will experience the benefits that come with hamlet status, such as the ability to pass bylaws and to establish land management and development plans.
In addition, because the community can now acquire and dispose of property and borrow to acquire assets, they will have more direct control over local programs and infrastructure. It is with great pleasure that we helped Enterprise celebrate obtaining hamlet status in October. I talked to many of the residents who, over the years, helped to make the community government what it is today in either a council or administrative capacity. Their dedication, ideas and hard work contributed to the community’s decision to take that important step in becoming a hamlet.
I would like to commend the community residents of Enterprise for their hard work and invite my colleagues in the Legislative Assembly to join me in congratulating Enterprise in obtaining hamlet status. Mahsi. Thank you.
---Applause
Minister’s Statement 2-16(1): Hamlet Of Enterprise
Item 2: Ministers’ Statements
The Speaker Paul Delorey
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Human Resources, Mr. Bob McLeod.
Minister’s Statement 3-16(1): Human Resources Efforts
Item 2: Ministers’ Statements
Yellowknife South
Bob McLeod Minister of Human Resources
Mr. Speaker, human resources are the most important resource in an organization. Government of the Northwest Territories managers and the Department of Human Resources are becoming strategic partners in human resource management, ensuring the GNWT has the right people in the right jobs to support GNWT business program delivery.
In the months to come, I am looking forward to providing this House with an update on those efforts and highlighting some of the initiatives that will enhance our ability to recruit and retain a top-notch public service. Today, I would like to touch on a few areas for challenge and improvement.
One of the largest challenges relating to employees in addressing old issues is pay and benefits. Between now and summer 2008, the department is focusing on the backlog of pay and benefits items that are not current. Human Resources staff process approximately 7,000 transactions in pay and benefits every two weeks. This workload has resulted in delays in old file issues being dealt with. A backlog team is dealing specifically with any issues that are more than two months old. The first members of the team have already begun the work on outstanding pension estimates and final pays. The Department of Human Resources is funding this effort by focusing on the priorities and reallocating its resources. I will be providing updates on progress as this work proceeds.
Another challenge is to improve the timeliness and success rates of recruitment. The government is competing for new employees with other sectors, locally and nationally. Competitions need to be run quickly and within the hiring guidelines. Steps are being taken to review the process and to ensure timely staffing services.
While there are many challenges for human resource services, there have also been areas of improvement.
Self-service was introduced to the GNWT just over a year ago and provides employees and managers with direct secure access to their own information from anywhere they have Internet access. This month, the final group of GNWT employees, those working for Aurora College and the divisional education councils, will get access to self-service. Self-service has improved the timeliness of payments for employees of benefits such as overtime and regular pay for those who must report their hours worked. It gives employees access to their pay information, beneficiary details and the means to revise their own
personal data including addresses, emergency contacts and bank account information.
While winter and the upcoming holiday season are on most people’s minds, human resource staff are beginning the annual campaign to enrol post-secondary students and graduates for possible summer and graduate work in summer 2008. Promotion of the programs and registration information will be available in the month of December.
As part of the effort to ensure that employees are properly compensated, the Department of Human Resources provided all employees with an opportunity this fall to verify their leave credits. Approximately 600 public service employees came forward with questions and they are being provided with a review and explanation of their leave. These reviews should be completed by mid-December.
Given the challenges in recruitment in the health and social services sector, an Allied Health recruitment unit was created by Human Resources in summer 2006. The results have been positive. This was the first year for a number of years where there have been no closures of health centres, ensuring that residents had access to local services. Through the development of a larger casual pool, there has been a reduction in the use of nurses hired through agencies of 70 percent, resulting in over $1 million in savings for the health and social services authorities.
As we set out priorities as an Assembly, it will be critical that the public service is ready and able to help us address those priorities. Mr. Speaker, in the months ahead, I will be providing the House with information on efforts to better support the human resource management of the public service and the efforts of all GNWT staff. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause
Minister’s Statement 3-16(1): Human Resources Efforts
Item 2: Ministers’ Statements
The Speaker Paul Delorey
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister responsible for the Homeless, Mr. Lafferty.
Minister’s Statement 4-16(1): Homelessness Initiatives
Item 2: Ministers’ Statements
Jackson Lafferty Monfwi
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Homelessness is a pressing and complex issue across the Northwest Territories. No one agency or government department can address the problem of homelessness. The Government of the Northwest Territories is working with non-government organizations and communities to alleviate homelessness.
The homelessness fund for small communities is the newest initiative. The program provides funding for application-based emergency shelter projects up to $40,000 and homelessness support projects up to $10,000 in communities outside of Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Smith and Inuvik. There has been $170,000 provided to organizations in small NWT communities to respond to needs of the homeless. Fort Providence, Hay River Reserve and Wrigley are increasing emergency shelter options. Organizations in Fort Providence, Wrigley, Fort Liard and Aklavik have undertaken projects to help the homeless with their non-shelter needs.
The departments of Health and Social Services, Education, Culture and Employment and the NWT Housing Corporation provide operational funding to several emergency shelter programs, including the Inuvik Homeless Shelter, Salvation Army, the Centre for Northern Families, Hay River Family Support Centre and the SideDoor Youth Centre. The NWT Housing Corporation provided the Centre for Northern Families with a grant of $49,644 for shelter enhancements in 2007-2008. GNWT funding provided to these emergency shelters totals $1,097,330 in 2007-2008.
The Department of Education, Culture and Employment and the NWT Housing Corporation support the transitional housing units provided through the YWCA in Yellowknife. Together they have provided $227,335 to the YWCA for these services.
I am pleased to report on the construction of Bailey House. It will open in March 2008 and will increase the number of transitional housing units in Yellowknife. Bailey House will be a mixed-use, three-storey facility to house 30 to 36 men. The NWT Housing Corporation has partnered with the federal government, the City of Yellowknife, Diavik Diamond Mines Incorporated and other significant community and private business partners to bring the project to reality. The NWT Housing Corporation contributed $1.748 million towards Bailey House. An additional $50,000 from the Department of Health and Social Services has also been provided for operations support. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause
Minister’s Statement 4-16(1): Homelessness Initiatives
Item 2: Ministers’ Statements
The Speaker Paul Delorey
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Ministers’ statements. Honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.
Minister’s Statement 5-16(1): Minister Absent From The House
Item 2: Ministers’ Statements
Inuvik Boot Lake
Floyd Roland Premier
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Michael Miltenberger will be absent from the House today to attend the Joint Review Panel proceedings on the Mackenzie gas project in Inuvik. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister’s Statement 5-16(1): Minister Absent From The House
Item 2: Ministers’ Statements
The Speaker Paul Delorey
Thank you, Mr. Roland. Ministers’ statements. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
Deh Cho Bridge Concession Agreement
Item 3: Members’ Statements
David Ramsay Kam Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to speak today about the process that the Deh Cho Bridge has been following. Again, for the record, Mr. Speaker, I want to state unequivocally that I support a bridge being built across the Mackenzie River. Some might wonder why I am so upset at the process and again I want to give you some reasons why.
Let’s start with the loan guarantee to the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation. It has increased five times in the life of the last government. The first four times the government told the Regular Members that we were hanging onto the hopes that the federal government would inject capital dollars into the project. Mr. Speaker, that never happened. The last time the loan guarantee was increased to the
Deh Cho Bridge Corporation by $5 million it was to start work on a project that the government had told us adamantly would not happen without federal money.
Mr. Speaker, there was a fundamental shift in this project from a self-finance project to one in which the Government of the Northwest Territories would need a top-up every year with $2 million indexed for the next 35 years; a decision, if I could remind Members, that was not ratified by Members, not subject to an updated public consultation process, and not put through our macroeconomic policy shop for further analysis.
Mr. Speaker, there was also no cost-benefit analysis done on the new numbers. This, on the largest piece of public infrastructure in our territory’s history. Members deserve better and the public deserves better. The cavalier attitude of the last government was showcased again for me when I learned that the concession agreement was signed by the previous government three days prior to the election, on September 28th . Obviously negotiations are
part of any agreement. That is why I was looking forward to at least having an opportunity to question the government on agreements before they were signed. Members deserve the right to ask questions, especially on a project that is going to cost $165 million. I believe our negotiating ability was undermined by political deadlines and that is no way to serve the people of the Northwest Territories.
So, Mr. Speaker, here we are today with so many questions and still so little in the way of answers. This government can now sit comfortably on that side of the House and point the finger on a decision made by the last government. That’s not good enough either, Mr. Speaker. We need to be able to be accountable to the people we serve; transparency must always be at the forefront. We must find out what happened in this case so we don’t make the same mistakes twice. That is why yesterday I called for a full public inquiry into the Deh Cho Bridge process and that is why I remain so disturbed at how this process is playing itself out, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi cho.
---Applause
Deh Cho Bridge Concession Agreement
Item 3: Members’ Statements
The Speaker Paul Delorey
Thank you Mr. Ramsay. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.
Infrastructure Improvements For Tu Nedhe Communities
Item 3: Members’ Statements
Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker…(English not provided).
In my Member’s statement today, I want to speak about the need to reprofile the seniors’ facility in Fort Resolution to meet long-term care needs of our elders. As it stands now, Mr. Speaker, as soon as an elder gets too sick or infirm to stay in Fort Resolution, they are sent to extended care in Yellowknife, Fort Smith or Hay River. This is far away from their home, their family and community, as well as the traditional foods they need for their diet. In short, Mr. Speaker, we are penalizing elders who live in small communities who do not have a hospital, by forcing them to spend their final days in another community. I am sure that between the services of homecare and some additional nurses, as well as some renovations to the seniors’ facility, that an extended care service could be offered in Fort Resolution for a vast majority of the elders
who are sent to one of the larger communities for their final days.
I think that a case could be made that the cost of offering extended care in Fort Resolution would be comparable to the costs involved in transporting patients and providing bed space in the other communities of Yellowknife, Fort Smith or Hay River.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services on the provision of long-term extended care for Fort Resolution. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause
Infrastructure Improvements For Tu Nedhe Communities
Item 3: Members’ Statements
The Speaker Paul Delorey
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
Renewable Energy In The NWT
Item 3: Members’ Statements
Bob Bromley Weledeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the NWT Wind Energy Conference opens today in Tuktoyaktuk. In recognition of this event, I want to talk about renewable energy and what it can mean to the Northwest Territories.
Wind energy is about one form of renewable energy, which includes hydro, solar, ground source heat, and biomass such as wood or peat. Renewable energy is carbon neutral; that is, it produces very few greenhouse gas emissions which cause climate change. Almost all our greenhouse gas emissions come from fossil fuel energy such as oil, gas or coal. Renewable energy is also a form of energy that is much more labour intensive, producing long-term locally rooted jobs.
Amazingly, production of wind energy has been increasing by 30 percent per year around the world. After running into technical glitches in the ‘70s and ’80s, adjustments were made to correct those problems. Wind generators are now being produced in units that can produce 2.5 megawatts and greater under good wind conditions, enough to power a community of 1,200 people.
The countries that did the development work are, of course, the ones that adopted it quickly and now export this technology around the world.
Wind energy has become a major tool in reducing a country’s greenhouse gas emissions. Its growth continues while costs decline; again, especially relative to fossil fuels.
Mr. Speaker, the NWT experimented with wind energy in the 1980s when this technology was problematic, but we did not move with the times and realize the great opportunity afforded by the new technology. The wind conference in Tuk is an indication of progressive movement to get back on track and capitalize on the opportunities that wind can offer.
In a larger way, it highlights many of the opportunities we in the North have been missing to reduce our costs while also reducing our contribution to climate change. All of the forms of renewable energy are applicable in the Northwest Territories. This is because of the fortunate pattern of renewable energy being roughly equally available around the globe.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, renewable energy is of a scale that fits our communities and is ideal for small business and local economies with the appropriate supports and policies in place. But I stress the right policies and support. The removal of barriers requires broad thinking from Aurora College programs in renewable energy to grid-tied renewable energy, to local business training. Mr. Speaker, let’s get it done. Thank you.
---Applause
Renewable Energy In The NWT
Item 3: Members’ Statements
The Speaker Paul Delorey
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.
Rural Community Capacity Development
Item 3: Members’ Statements
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to speak in regards to a concern relating to capacity development in rural communities across the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, the NWT has community empowerment policies in regards to finding solutions to deal with the critical problem of attracting the resources we need to run programs and services under the New Deal for communities.
Mr. Speaker, today out in the rural communities, they face many challenges when it comes to capacity development required for self-sufficiency in our communities. More and more responsibilities are being downloaded onto the communities and requirement is more and more needed by way of adequate resources to develop these programs and services.
But yet, Mr. Speaker, very little is done by way of capacity development programs in aboriginal communities with aboriginal governments and within our regions to ensure that critical mass is addressed to maintain efficient, effective communities by way of community development programs. We have to observe what’s been done elsewhere.
Mr. Speaker, working with people that have already dealt with this fundamental challenge in effect of providing program service results in community capacity development, as an MLA who has been here for 12 years, this issue has always been a forefront of our questions in this House.
Mr. Speaker, there’s an institution in the Northwest Territories that has been in place for over 40 years. Mr. Speaker, I’m talking about the registered society more known as the Beavers organization or the volunteer foundation operation of Beavers foundation. Mr. Speaker, they have been working in our communities as volunteers to help with the housing challenges we face, assisting our district education councils in regards to helping us with the shortage in our schools, but, more importantly, working with communities to find the challenge of finding capacity.
Mr. Speaker, the foundation has a proven record in the Northwest Territories and in our communities. Communities have been able to take advantage of this organization to deal with the problem of critical mass in our communities and develop community capacity, working with a non-charitable organization who has proven that they can give us results and help communities deal with the stress of capacity development.
Mr. Speaker, I think it’s critical that this government considers working with charitable organizations such as the foundation that I mentioned.
Rural Community Capacity Development
Item 3: Members’ Statements
Rural Community Capacity Development
Item 3: Members’ Statements
Rural Community Capacity Development
Item 3: Members’ Statements
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. Krutko.
Rural Community Capacity Development
Item 3: Members’ Statements
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I believe that the Beavers foundation can help the Government of the Northwest Territories and our communities to ensure that we are able to deliver programs and services efficiently in all our communities by working with charitable organizations who can help with the challenge of community capacity development throughout the Northwest Territories.
With that, Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be asking the Premier questions on this matter. Thank you.
---Applause
Rural Community Capacity Development
Item 3: Members’ Statements
The Speaker Paul Delorey
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.
Renewable Wind Energy Conference In Tuktoyaktuk
Item 3: Members’ Statements
Jackie Jacobson Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank my colleague Mr. Bromley for bringing up the hosting of the Wind Energy Conference in my community of Tuktoyaktuk. There’s over 100 delegates across the Northwest Territories and the northern remote jurisdictions, such as Alaska, Yukon, Newfoundland and Nunavut. It’s particularly exciting that the conference is being held in Tuktoyaktuk, the windiest region in the territory, and the region, I believe, that offers the most immediate opportunity for the use of wind energy.
Mr. Speaker, this conference provides an important opportunity for the community leaders to come together, to learn from the experience of the northern leaders, developers, academics, researchers and experts, who have developed wind energy projects in the remote northern communities from Alaska to Newfoundland. Mr. Speaker, this also allows community leaders to clearly state their wishes and desires of all levels of government regarding development to support the purchase of wind energy.
Mr. Speaker, I believe at this time it is the right time for both federal and territorial governments to develop long-term, stable, comprehensive programs to support our remote northern communities to take advantage of this resource. As we all know, the North is not just bearing the brunt of rising global fuel prices, but also the front lines of changing global climate. Many Arctic communities, including those in my constituency, are faced with extremely high and rising living costs, rising sea levels, and melting ice packs and want to be a part of the solution.
However, for wind energy to be successful there is a need to increase northern capacity and partnerships between governments, the private sector and research organizations. For example, the Inuvialuit are proposing a model that identifies Tuktoyaktuk’s infrastructure and human resource capacities and economies of scale together with the training and research capabilities of Aurora College and Aurora Research Institute as making it a good candidate for a wind turbine project and hub.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
Renewable Wind Energy Conference In Tuktoyaktuk
Item 3: Members’ Statements
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. Jacobson.