This is page numbers 303 - 340 of the Hansard for the 15th Assembly, 6th 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 health.

Topics

Northern Residents Tax Deduction
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 309

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

GNWT Human Resource Management System
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 309

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, like my colleague from Hay River, would like to highlight the concerns about the PeopleSoft program. Mr. Speaker, the word Oracle, the name of our program here for pay and benefits, its definition is authoritative person who defines the future, Mr. Speaker. Did they foresee the thousands and thousands of dollars that would continue to be spent and paid for this debunked or crazy program that does not work, Mr. Speaker? Maybe that is what they saw all along.

Mr. Speaker, GNWT employees have been unable to enter leave for days on end. Their reports aren't entered properly. Manual pay hours have to be put in by themselves or sent even off to other people. They do not know. Confidential and personal information is out there, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, even as of late, I know an e-mail that was sent out this week to groups of employees who had everyone's pay and time leave still outstanding. So, Mr. Speaker, this is still happening, and so there continues to be massive technical errors and reworkings of the system that has continued to go denied.

Mr. Speaker, we need to focus on where we are going and what are we going to do. Mr. Speaker, this program seems unfriendly. I should say it seems fully unfriendly from the very beginning, Mr. Speaker. For instance, this system allows you to get into a program, enter a few hours and then when you are exiting, it doesn't verify or approve of what you put in. So in other words, you can leave and short your own paycheque without even realizing it. What a nightmare this has become for people who live cheque to cheque, who have child support payments or mortgage payments that come due and the money isn't there, Mr. Speaker. Oops doesn't put milk on the table and sorry doesn't work for a lot of banks. There is a lot of frustration out there on even the rollout of this program. So even that is questionable looking back to the source of the problem.

Mr. Speaker, we want an organization that works. We want the GNWT to recognize that personal information needs to be protected. All we heard is, yes, we fixed it. We heard that three months ago and it still seems to be an issue. So what are we going to do? Rather than spinning our wheels, Mr. Speaker, and begging for blood on the street, which some of my colleagues may be asking for, we should be saying, how are we going to fix this? If we can't, let's dump this program because it seems to be a waste of time and a waste of taxpayers' money.

Mr. Speaker, the apology given by the Human Resources Minister today, I will accept and I will move forward. But the fact is, we have to stop defending a program that does not work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

GNWT Human Resource Management System
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 309

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Tuktoyaktuk Gravel Source Access Road
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 309

Calvin Pokiak

Calvin Pokiak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today once again to raise the important issue of this government to allocate $15 million to construct a 22 kilometre access road from granular source 177 to Tuktoyaktuk.

---Applause

The access to this granular source is needed because the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk needs to address their municipal requirements such as repairs to the main roads, paths for new housing, erosion of private homeowners for repairing and upgrading their driveways. I have been in politics for

over 30 years and can now say, with confidence, the people of the Beaufort are ready for the access road and for the all-weather road between Tuk and Inuvik, a distance of 80-plus kilometres. I have mentioned the Tuk-Inuvik highway because the location and access to gravel source 177 is an alignment with the proposed Tuk-Inuvik highway.

Mr. Speaker, the Honourable Floyd Roland, the Minister of Finance, in his budget address in February, indicated the federal government will include $25 million for the next seven years for our infrastructure requirements. We are now in mid-August 2007 and there has been no indication from this Cabinet on how this money will be spent. Why? Mr. Speaker, why can't this government find it in their heart to make a decision to allocate $5 million annually for the next three years from the identified infrastructure fund of $25 million to a project that will address the long-term future for the residents of Tuktoyaktuk? By allocating capital dollars to a project such as a 22 kilometre access road from source 177 to Tuk, it will be prosperity for local and regional businesses, employment and training opportunities. I mention training because funding could come from the Department of MACA, DOT and ECE, and can be applied to conduct a heavy equipment operators course to build a road.

Mr. Speaker, discussions to date, discussions for locating access to granular sources has become a priority for the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk. They have asked in numerous meetings of the Premier, the Minister and the deputy minister of Transportation, MLA, mayor, deputy mayor of Tuktoyaktuk, the chair and CEO of IRC, the chair of the Tuk Community Corporation and the previous DIAND Minister, that they allocate $15 million for a three-year period towards the 22 kilometre access road to granular source 177. Mr. Speaker, I request time to conclude my statement. Thank you.

Tuktoyaktuk Gravel Source Access Road
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 310

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.

Tuktoyaktuk Gravel Source Access Road
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 310

Calvin Pokiak

Calvin Pokiak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and colleagues. A lot of time and money has been spent to meet and discuss a source to access to source 177. Let's take what was discussed and move forward and find and allocate the money to construct the access road.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues for their continued support, patience and encouragement in allowing me to raise the issue about access to source 177. The Beatles had a hit song in the mid-'60s called a Long and Winding Road. In comparison, the access road to source 177 is only 22 kilometres and a mere cost of $15 million. Compare this cost to the cost of the proposed construction of the Deh Cho Bridge. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Tuktoyaktuk Gravel Source Access Road
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 310

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Condition Of The Dempster Highway
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 310

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, before I start, I would like to extend my condolences for the family of Stella Bourque, a long-time resident of Inuvik, and also the family of Rosie Firth who always welcomed you into her home when you visited Fort McPherson.

Mr. Speaker, I take my role as MLA quite seriously. I sometimes use a little humour to get my message across but, Mr. Speaker, the condition of the Dempster Highway is no laughing matter, even though it is a joke.

---Laughter

Two hundred and seventy three kilometers from Inuvik to the border. I was pleased to see the Minister of Transportation and also the Minister of Public Works went and took a ride on that highway. I would like to have been part of that ride because I can see two Ministers riding together complimenting each other on the condition of the road and wondering what we are complaining about.

I bumped into people and they tell me, are you going to speak to the Dempster Highway, are you going to speak to the Dempster Highway? Of all the years they've lived up there, this is the worst they've ever seen it. Some members of AOC and myself had the privilege of visiting Tsiigehtchic in June. The drive to Tsiigehtchic and back wasn't a privilege, but the visit was. It is a very dangerous road, Mr. Speaker. This weekend coming up is going to be a particularly busy time on the highway as many people from Inuvik are going to be going down to Dawson City for their annual Discovery Day weekend. I am sure there are going to be vehicles on the side of the road. There will be for sure. We usually have a couple of people roll this time of year. The highway is in terrible condition.

I listened, with great interest, to Mr. Handley's comments on infrastructure and talking about the highway and the money they put into the highway, but there was no mention of Highway No. 8 or the Dempster Highway in his statement. Mr. Handley, I was paying attention to your statement. There is no money there. The money that does go into the highway I don't think is enough. I am sure the Minister has his own personal opinion of the highway now that he's been on it.

Our mandate of this 15th Assembly is almost over, but we have to put it into the business plans for the 16th Assembly to have a serious look at redoing the Dempster Highway and making it safer for the residents of the Beaufort-Delta because they deserve the opportunity to travel on a very nice highway. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Condition Of The Dempster Highway
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 310

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Administration Of Social Housing Subsidy Program
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 310

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to speak today about a topic that continues to cause some of my constituents a great deal of stress and anxiety. That is the Social Housing Subsidy Program that is now administered by ECE.

During my almost four years in this Legislative Assembly, one of the most strange and bizarre occurrences of which, Mr. Speaker, I probably would have to live many lifetimes to try to figure out and understand, is the transfer of the $30 million Social Housing Subsidy Program from the Housing Corporation to ECE. To my knowledge, Mr. Speaker, this program was working properly when administered by the housing authorities. Then the government decided to take the $30 million and put the responsibility with ECE to deliver the subsidy program. We all know when we have many discussions here in this House about the fact that ECE, in order to deliver the program, would have to hire an additional 14 staff members to carry out a program and the delivery of a service that was already being done. So we had to spend another $1.4 million a year to deliver the same program.

The problem is, Mr. Speaker, that here we are today spending this additional $1.4 million a year and getting a service that continues to fail clients, especially those clients who are disabled and unable to leave their homes with any regularity. Constituents advised me that they had never encountered problems when dealing with the YK Housing Authority. Now, on a continual basis, they encounter problems: staff being away, the power going out, computers not working, statements being lost, only one staff member being assigned to any one client. It is just so unfair and inappropriate, Mr. Speaker, that people's health, peace of mind and well-being is being compromised on a daily basis because we do not deliver the service that we previously had done with the Housing Corporation.

Last November, at the urging of Regular Members of this House, a motion was passed asking the government to put the responsibility back with the Housing Corporation and the authorities. Members spoke to the many concerns that their constituents were having with ECE, and today those concerns are still there. Clients are e-mailing documents because they get tired of so many of their statements being lost or misplaced. Not only is this having a negative impact on clients, it is also causing undue stress to the housing authorities across the Territories who are not getting the assessments in a timely fashion. This is not a situation the authorities appreciate being in and the time has come to examine the delivery of this subsidy program, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Administration Of Social Housing Subsidy Program
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 311

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Administration Of Social Housing Subsidy Program
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 311

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Members of this House, the clients and the constituents we represent are getting tired of hearing of excuses on what's wrong with this program, Mr. Speaker. It's time we fully examine its functionality. Thank you.

Administration Of Social Housing Subsidy Program
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 311

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Devolution And Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 311

Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. In our May session a few months ago, I stood here to applaud the signing of an agreement-in-principle on devolution and resource revenue sharing. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to salute the vision and the leadership shown by the Gwich'in, the Metis, the Sahtu and the Inuvialuit leaders in joining with our government to present a unified approach to Canada on sharing the wealth of this great land. We should remind ourselves, again, Mr. Speaker, that that wealth amounts to some $750,000 every single day in the value of taxes and resource royalties that are going not into our pockets but into Ottawa's.

Mr. Speaker, we had, a few months ago, high hopes that Canada would actually see the signing of this agreement as real progress and we could actually have an AIP signed off, but that was not to be, as the Dehcho, Akaitcho and Tlicho governments have not signed on.

Mr. Speaker, in doing so, the North collectively gave Ottawa again the same excuse Ottawa has been able to use over and over to say no to us; that is that until we are unified, our quest for a real share of our resources is futile. Mr. Speaker, when are we going to figure this out? How can we come to accept that as different, special, unique, deserving and entitled as we all are in our separate governments and regions, we had this one dream, this one goal that we shared? When will we resolve that the only real power that we have is that of a clear, single voice demanding that we have a real share of the wealth coming out of the very ground we claim to be ours?

Perhaps the answer lies, Mr. Speaker, not in our meagre and limited political ability as proven by 20 years of futility. Perhaps it lies instead with the youth and artisans, the real visionaries of this territory, Mr. Speaker. I want to quote from a song that a young Dene woman named Leela Gilday wrote. She's a Juno Award winner and she just might have the answer. In three eloquent lines from a song called One Drum, she tells us: "We are speaking the truth to the people. We are marching to the beat of one drum."

We have tried for decades to do it. As politicians, we've failed. Perhaps Leela Gilday has the answer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Devolution And Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 311

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Condolences To The Family Of Rosie Firth
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 311

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my sincere condolences to Robert and Firth families in Fort McPherson on the passing of Rosie Firth. Rosie passed away on Saturday morning in the community of Fort McPherson. Rosie was well known and respected for sewing and beading. Rosie's work can be seen in museums across Canada and one of her many accomplishments you can see here in the Legislative Assembly on our Mace. Rosie Firth of Fort McPherson did the Delta braid beadwork on the shaft of the Mace.

She was a great lady who contributed to not only herself, but had her house open to anyone who came to visit. She will be greatly missed throughout the Northwest Territories and the Yukon and also in the whole community of Fort McPherson. She shared her food, her stories, her

knowledge and wisdom and especially the Gwich'in culture and language that she had to give.

I had an opportunity to visit Rosie before she passed away, which is something I will always cherish for the rest of my life.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of the Mackenzie Delta, I would like to say thank you to Mary Ross and her family, Norman and Denise Firth and their families, for sharing their mother and grandmother with all of us.

I would just like to say thank you very, very, very, very much. Mahsi cho, for Rosie will be greatly missed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Condolences To The Family Of Rosie Firth
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 312

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

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

Page 312

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure today to recognize a long-time friend and well-recognized senior in Yellowknife, Mr. Ed Jeske.

---Applause

Ed called me the other day and gave me heck for not consulting with him before deciding to retire. I appreciate the fact that I made my decision before I called him. With Mr. Jeske is Vivian Squires, the executive director of the Seniors Society here in Yellowknife. I'd also like to recognize a constituent who's been in the gallery many times over the years that I've been a Member, and that's Ms. Barb Wyness with the UNW. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Page 312

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

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

Page 312

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege of being able to recognize some of the workers from Trailcross that are here in the gallery today: Pam Gallant, Tanya Smith, Shawn Smith, Mary Bishop, Jason Decker, Lacee Abbott, Kristy Jones, Tony Jones, Gertie Rozon, Kelsey Frauts, Trent Krawec and Connie Foobert. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Page 312

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

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

Page 312

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty North Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize the Tlicho chief executive council: Grand Chief George Mackenzie, Chief Leon Lafferty, Chief Charlie Jim Nitsiza, Chief Henry Gon. I'd also like to recognize Behchoko member Jonas Lafferty. Thanks for being here. Mahsi.

---Applause

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

Page 312

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

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

Page 312

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize a few special people in the gallery today: Mr. Ed Jeske, still one of my favourite seniors even though when he was my teacher he used to yell at me a lot at Sir John.

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

Page 312

Some Hon. Members

No!

---Laughter