This is page numbers 131 - 159 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 work.

Topics

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think I heard the Minister say that there has been an increase to the funding, but if there is an increase to a daily subsidy which continues to be based on attendance of children, it really doesn’t assist the day cares in maintaining a constant funding formula and be able to budget efficiently and manage their operation. So will the Minister clarify that and will the Minister agree that there needs to be a review of the application of this particular subsidy?

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Mr. Lafferty.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when we first heard of the closure of this facility, it was a one day closure. Our department had been notified immediately. I met with my staff to deal with this issue and what kind of solutions and options that could be offered by working with the facility, working with the communities. Because it is not only one facility, it is across the board, Northwest Territories as a whole we have to look at. It is an ongoing discussion. I can commit to working with the colleague, Ms. Bisaro, to work on this solution. When there is a problem, there is always a solution. We need to move forward. I am committed to working with her. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very pleased to hear the information from the Minister that they are looking at this particular situation. I totally agree with the Minister that this is not a problem that is limited to Yellowknife. It is definitely a problem for any day care anywhere in the Territories. I happen to be aware of an example in Yellowknife. So I ask the Minister, if there is a review underway, when can we expect to get some results from this review and a possible change to the current subsidy application? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Mr. Lafferty.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I stated, there is discussion. They are taking place within my department and working with the day care facilities on identifying the needs of the day care facilities. This will be an ongoing discussion as we speak now. I am hoping that we can see a review document by early in the new year somewhat integrated through the strategy planning that we are strategizing for the 16th Assembly.

Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, an unsettling number of employees suffer from what can be called a toxic workplace, one where workers literally live in fear of a tyrannical supervisor. These workers can be so scared and oppressed that they find themselves unable to securely and safely communicate their situation to those who can help, at least not without risk of severe repercussions. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my constituents, I would like to ask the Minister of Human Resources how this department plans to detect and deal with these pockets of fear and oppression that exists now within our government departments.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Minister responsible for Human Resources, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Minister of Human Resources

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for the question. The government has a workplace conflict resolution policy. That outlines how we would deal with those toxic environment situations that he described. Generally we depend on our management and the employees in question to report on those types of situations. We take them very seriously because the safety of our employees is our first priority. If we do become aware of any such situation, we take immediate action in a variety of different ways. If we feel that there is an immediate danger, we will take steps to remove the employees in question or send them home or take some action so that there is no possibility of something more serious occurring. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary, Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure that answered my question of how those pockets will be detected without sort of endangering our employees to the wrath of their supervisors. I would like a little more detail on that. How can we be sure employees will be protected? There must be an element of confidentiality or something in that to ensure that either the supervisor is not directly involved or that there is very close oversight.

How will the department ensure that protection? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Mr. McLeod.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member right now is talking about a hypothetical situation. Employees that do find themselves in such a situation are encouraged to contact their senior management or to contact the department. We have invested a lot of time and effort to train investigators. We have a number of positions within the Department of Human Resources that have been trained to specifically deal with workplace conflict situations and also to conduct investigations into these types of situations. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary, Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to assure you that there is absolutely nothing hypothetical about the situation I am presenting. I understand that the department initiated a review towards considering whistleblower protection. Has this review resulted in the intention to develop such legislation? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Mr. McLeod.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My understanding is that the whistleblower initiative is geared to a much broader application whereby if individuals or employees see situations occurring which they feel is improper or that they can report on it. I think in this instance we are talking about specific situations on the job. In those cases, I would like to reassure the Member that we take them very seriously. The individuals in question, the information they provide, will be respected and their privacy will be accommodated. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that assurance. It is a very serious subject with some of my constituents. The Government of Canada, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia all have whistleblower protection. I wasn’t clear on the answer. Are we moving forward with developing legislation in the form of whistleblower protection? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Mr. McLeod.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This issue came up in the previous government. A discussion paper was enacted. I believe there were 69 responses to

the discussion paper. This is something that we will consider again as this government goes through establishing its priorities for the next four years. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the cost of living in Lutselk’e are very high due to freight costs, no all-season road, cost of transportation, flight costs, the cost of gas for boating and snowmobiling back and forth, all translates a very high cost for food, and power costs in Lutselk’e is also very high. I would like to ask the Premier today if he would consider looking at appointing a Minister to be the point Minister for the cost of living, similar to a Minister of Youth and Seniors. Thank you.