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

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I end, I want to recognize the many sponsors of this conference, including the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, ConocoPhillips, Shell, NorthwesTel, Entegrity Wind, Frontier Power Systems, and the Inuvialuit Group of Companies. I also want to thank the hamlet and the community corporation of Tuktoyaktuk, and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, and the federal government, and our own government, led by the departments of ENR and ITI, for working hard to make this important conference a reality.

Mr. Speaker, although I am unable to attend this conference this week because of session, I look forward to hearing the results from the leaders from the forum at the end of the conference and all the recommendations it will make concerning this use of energy in the Beaufort and other regions of the Northwest Territories. Quanami, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.

Space Limitations At Stanton Territorial Hospital
Item 3: Members’ Statements

November 27th, 2007

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the last couple of months I have had the opportunity to speak to a number of my constituents as well as residents of Yellowknife and the North. A recurring theme and an area of concern which has been raised is the limited space available at the Stanton Territorial Hospital and how it affects both staff and patients. The cramped conditions are clearly felt by both hard-working and dedicated staff, as well as the patients who are receiving assessment, treatment, and ongoing care within the building.

A large number of staff in tight quarters, such as in the physiotherapy unit or the surgical day care unit, can cause frustration, which may lead to poor morale. This adversely affects the quality of care and the treatment received by the public. Similarly, the tight conditions cause stress to patients. For example, patients going to Stanton for cancer treatments or other procedures had to be fit in. By "fit in," I mean put in stress test rooms filled with staff clothing, treadmills, and other assorted items. This is not a positive environment or experience for northern residents already going through difficult times in their lives.

Mr. Speaker, later this afternoon I’ll be asking the Minister of Health and Social Services on space and physical working conditions within Stanton Territorial Hospital. Thank you.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Mr. Speaker…(English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, for decades the Deh Cho Hall has been a central gathering place for the community of Fort Simpson. Not only has it housed government offices, but it is home to a library, a family resource centre, and many other non-governmental organizations serving the whole community.

Over the last few years, the government has wavered back and forth on whether to renovate and upgrade the aging building or to find new spaces for its offices. This see-sawing back and forth has left the NGOs who share the Deh Cho Hall in a state of uncertainty and unable to make firm plans to find new spaces for themselves. Now that the government has made a decision to move its own offices rather than keep the Deh Cho Hall, the library, the family resource centre and other organizations are left scrambling to find a new location for their work.

Mr. Speaker, we have heard a great deal during the last Assembly about the difficulties non-government organizations face in finding affordable spaces and keeping their doors open on a shoestring budget. The loss of the Deh Cho Hall is going to be a heavy blow to many groups in Fort Simpson and could even spell the end for some of them. These organizations play an essential role in the community and we cannot afford to lose them.

The Government of the Northwest Territories has created this crisis situation and I believe the government, therefore, needs to step up and help our non-government organizations with transition planning. I would urge the government to organize discussions with the community and be proactive and creative in helping to identify alternate spaces for these valuable organizations.

Mr. Speaker, I’ll be asking the Minister questions during the appropriate time. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on October 22nd , many, many Hay River

residents gathered in the community hall to participate in a public meeting to discuss the loss of Constable Christopher Worden and the effect that this loss has had on our community. This meeting was organized by the Town of Hay River. Yesterday in the House I tabled the transcript of that meeting so that the comments and

questions raised by Hay River residents would be acknowledged and on the public record.

Today I’d like to highlight some of the questions and concerns that the people of my community raised in the hopes that we could find resolution to them. One of them was the number of RCMP staff in Hay River.

Records would indicate that 25 years ago there were 15 officers in Hay River. Today there’s only 12. Why over 25 years, with the population having grown and the pressures on our members increased, why would we have less members today filling the full complement of staffing at all times?

Today I just read in The Hub that there’s another member being transferred to Lutselk’e. I’m sure that’s very good for Lutselk’e, but that’s probably not good for Hay River because it takes time to replace people. So we have not enough RCMP presence on our streets and in our community.

There’s issues about coverage for RCMP members that want to take time off, go on vacation, go on course, go to court duty. There are problems covering that and many times our dedicated members are back working on their days off, trying to catch up with their workload and their files.

We need a call centre in Hay River established. Again, going back years, we always had somebody on call 24 hours a day in Hay River who knew the people and who knew the community. Today we go through the Yellowknife call centre. Constituents raised that as an issue.

Of course, the issue, in light of the tragedy, is the issue of members responding to calls on their own and being on duty by themselves, policy and procedure that is set in place by this government with regard to housing and the presence of people who are involved in criminal and illegal activities in housing units, the issue of more funding for youth programs and crime prevention, things like Neighbourhood Watch, Big Brother/Big Sister programs, Block Parents, the relationship with southern RCMP forces to prevent northern trafficking.

The people of Hay River wanted to know at that meeting what they can do to help. We need more programs like the Eyes and Ears Program, attention to Crime Stoppers and TIPS. The issue of a municipal curfew was raised.

Mr. Speaker, I’m running out of time and there were many more issues that I will be bringing to the attention of this Legislature.

Hay River wants to be involved, but we also want answers. When there’s a crisis, it’s easy afterwards to settle back to the routine of our daily lives, but for the sake of the memory of Constable Worden, I hope that will never be the case. Thank you.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

United Way Of Yellowknife
Item 3: Members’ Statements

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to take this opportunity to highlight a venerable and valuable volunteer organization that’s been with us for a long time. The United Way movement was born out of a community collective philosophy which began in Denver, Colorado, in 1887 and spread to Canada in 1917. The United Way of Yellowknife is still young, established about four years ago, but it’s an active organization. It’s been set up so that contributions can be made to your personal organization of choice and donations made through the United Way of Yellowknife stay in the NWT; 99.25 percent of the funds remain local.

The annual United Way of Yellowknife drive for contributions is currently underway and all NWT residents should assist the organizations in their community by making a contribution to the United Way of Yellowknife. Even though this branch of the United Way has Yellowknife in its name, it is possible to contribute to charitable organizations in NWT communities outside of Yellowknife through the United Way of Yellowknife. Some examples: The Canadian Mental Health Association, Inuvik Branch; Family Support Centre Safe Home Network in Hay River; and Uncle Gabe’s Friendship Centre in Fort Smith.

The Government of the Northwest Territories, the Government of Canada, and other employers offer payroll deduction plans. All you have to do is sign up. They make it really easy to give your money away.

It’s a well-known fact that non-government and charitable organizations are significant contributors to our society, that they provide valuable programs and services in support of NWT residents, that they’re the foundation for much of the health and social services networks in our communities. Your donations are critical to assisting them in their human services work.

Members spoke of the voluntary sector yesterday and its importance. The United Way is a great example of a volunteer organization doing good work.

The Department of Human Resources has kindly forwarded information on the United Way of Yellowknife to everyone in the GNWT through the GNWT Messenger service. I urge all employees and Members to take advantage of the United Way drive and commit to contributing to an organization or charity of your personal choice. I know I will. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

United Way Of Yellowknife
Item 3: Members’ Statements

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Public Housing Rental Assessment
Item 3: Members’ Statements

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during the past couple of months, we have heard a lot of talk about being an effective and efficient government. I think to prove that we are not only going to talk the talk, we are going to walk the walk, would be to take the transfer of rental assessment responsibility back from ECE…

---Applause

…and transfer it back to the NWT Housing Corporation who, along with their authorities, have proven that they can look after this function in the past.

Mr. Speaker, we still hear from tenants that are waiting three weeks for their rental assessments to be done. It is not fair to the tenants. There are more termination notices, Mr. Speaker, being given out. The housing authorities have to follow policy and give out these termination notices. For the most part, it is not the fault of a lot of tenants who continue to keep up with their rent. They are just not being sent to them on time. Fourteen new positions were hired. I don’t know where these positions went. I am assuming they are in headquarters. Fourteen people giving one person in the region instructions as to what to do.

Mr. Speaker, this is an issue that was brought up a few times in the 15th Assembly and will continue to be brought

up in the 16th until we, as MLAs, quit hearing from our

constituents that this is not a problem. We will continue to raise the issue. I think we have an opportunity now with a new Assembly and a new Cabinet. We should have a new attitude. We should look at programs that are just not working for these people that we serve. We should seriously look at transferring the responsibility back to the NWT Housing Corporation and it’s been proved that it has worked before. I am sure it will work again, Mr. Speaker. I would like to have this Assembly, as I said before, let’s walk the walk and let’s do what is right for the tenants that live in a lot of these housing authorities and it is affecting the housing authorities’ ability to deliver the programs because they are constantly waiting for their funding which can’t be done until the assessment. It is a long story and I could go on for another two and a half minutes. I think we need to have a new attitude, Mr. Speaker. Let’s give this responsibility back to the people that have proven before that they are able to do the job. Thank you.

---Applause

Public Housing Rental Assessment
Item 3: Members’ Statements

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thankyou, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak about the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, or SCAN as it is known, Mr. Speaker, that failed in the last Assembly. As we all know too well, most of our serious crime and violent crime in the NWT is related to the sale of drugs and the abuse of alcohol. There were many issues from many residents just about how the SCAN legislation would work and be implemented. There were also issues and concerns that arose about an individual’s due process rights that could be circumvented by the process implemented by SCAN. As well, there was legal access to justice that was a concern.

Mr. Speaker, none of these issues are insurmountable. Changes to SCAN could be made so the system is clear, and a better and a broader public information campaign could be done to allay fears from our northern residents.

Mr. Speaker, even though the previous Standing Committee on Social Programs could not support the bill

as it was written at the time, they did clearly support the initiative and the concept of what the tool was doing, which was giving our enforcement people the right tools to do the job to solve some of these alcohol and drug problems.

Mr. Speaker, a balance needs to be found for the greater public interest to ensure the rights of everyone to live in a safe community. Mr. Speaker, the role in our jobs as legislators is to make decisions and to make good laws that make sense that provide and ensure the well-being and safety of all northerners.

Mr. Speaker, I personally don’t care if a drug dealer or bootlegger ever votes for me. Personally, I hope they never do, because I think we need to show the respect for our families and our people of the Northwest Territories, the respect that laws like this will take care of that problem and start to deal with it. Mr. Speaker, I have a family and I have children as well as many people in this room do. I think we need to start putting a safe environment first as a priority. I am asking this government to do the necessary public consultation to get this SCAN legislation back on the road and get good public input so we can develop a good public law to protect our families, Mr. Speaker. It is in everyone’s best interest. Thank you.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Members’ statements. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Before I go on to Members, I would like to recognize a constituent of mine, my friend Mr. Vern Jones in the gallery today. He is the president of the Northwest Territories Metis Nation. Welcome to the House.

---Applause

He has quite a large contingent with him. I know they are going to be recognized, as well. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Inuvik Boot Lake

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Premier

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, as well, would like to recognize Mr. Vern Jones, president of the NWT Metis Council and Metis Nation and president of the Hay River Metis Local. Also, Mr. Ken Hudson, who is the president of the Fort Smith Metis Local; Ms. Kara King, president of the Fort Resolution Metis Local; Shannon Cumming, chief negotiator for the Metis; John Klassen, chief negotiator for Canada; and Gerald Read, chief negotiator for the GNWT. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a constituent of mine, Mrs. Gladys Bloomstrand, who has had a long association with Metis politics of the Northwest Territories.

---Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a couple of constituents of mine in the gallery, Kara King and Arthur Beck.

---Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize some Metis cousins.

---Laughter

Kenny Hudson, president of the Fort Smith Metis Local; as well as Vern Jones, the president of the NWT Metis Nation; Arthur Beck; Kara King; Jim Green from Dog River; I think it is Shannon Cumming. Also two constituents of mine from Yellowknife South, Mr. Gerald Read and Janet Pound.

---Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a constituent, Mr. Dick Abernethy, who also happens to be the father of my colleague Mr. Glen Abernethy here from Great Slave.

---Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we have missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to the House. It is always nice to have an audience in here. I hope you are enjoying the proceedings. Acknowledgements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.