This is page numbers 405 - 450 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 going.

Topics

Support For Nurse Practitioners
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 407

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Income Support Policy Application
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 407

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the subsidies that this government provides to its residents are probably the best in the Northwest Territories. We have over $118 million roughly in subsidies and there are still some inconsistencies in the delivery of these programs that causes me some concern, Mr. Speaker. A good example is there is a young man that I know who is a summer student who is working for the summer. His family is on income support. This young man is getting his wages clawed back by income support because his family is on income support. That's not sending a very good message to this young man. He may be better off, he may think, staying with relatives and he's paying for his family for being on income support. We have to send a better message to this young man.

Another example would be land claim agreements are included in the assessment of income for calculating how much you receive. I was under the impression that land claims agreements were constitutionally protected and shouldn't be included in the calculation of income.

ECE, when they took over the assessments from the Housing Corporation, the policy says that summer students' wages will not be included in the household family income. Yet, ECE includes his in his family's income and they claw some of the money back from his family. That's not fair, Mr. Speaker. It's not fair, Mr. Speaker, especially to the young man who is trying to work through the summer and who is trying to get a good work ethic and make some money before going back to school. Yet, he is penalized because the support payments to his family are cut back because of the money he's making, so he's having to supplement his family's income with the money he's trying to make.

So I will have some questions, Mr. Speaker, for the Minister of ECE, because I think this is an unfair situation for the young man and we have to try to do what we can to send a good message out there and support him trying to work for the summer. Thank you.

---Applause

Income Support Policy Application
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 408

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Income Support Policy Application
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 408

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to draw attention to the plight of a constituent who is falling through the cracks of our system. This woman is suffering from a debilitating illness and, in her doctor's opinion, requires round-the-clock care. However, she is entitled to home care services for up to 10 hours a week. The only alternative beyond that is she has been offered to be hospitalized. In order for her to be able to stay at home, her partner had to quit work to provide the care she needs. As a result, the couple now relies on income support. This couple owns their own home, but they are not able to make the mortgage payments. A family member, Mr. Speaker, a father, stepped forward to help them with this. He stepped forward to help them make those payments. However, this assistance is clawed back from their income support, leaving them to struggle to maintain their home.

Mr. Speaker, is hospitalization really the best we can do for this woman for this family? Surely a hospital bed would cost our government far more than providing more home care service hours or, at the very least, allowing them to keep the financial support from their father in order to make those mortgage payments before they are clawed back. Whose interest, Mr. Speaker, is it possibly in? Are we helping these individuals to go forward? Haven't they been burdened enough? Why should we be making a choice: be with your family but be in poverty or go to the hospital? Mr. Speaker, those are not fair choices this family should have to make.

The system we have in place requires a greater deal of flexibility, sort of a real life real experience policy, Mr. Speaker, that takes into consideration that we are making sure we are allowing people to look after their families, not to penalize them.

Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that this government can see its way to find a solution to ensure this woman, Mr. Speaker, this family, can work together in this situation. It is my hope that this department can look through the situation and allow the dignity of this family to stay home and get the care they need. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Health later today. Thank you.

---Applause

Income Support Policy Application
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 408

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

All-Weather Road To The Diamond Mines
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 408

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it has been said that diamonds are a girl's best friend. I have to stay I don't have enough of these best friends, but I don't mind because I know that the diamonds have become best friends of Yellowknife and the NWT. I know that our friends in Tlicho will also tell you that diamonds are a Dogrib's best friend. My colleagues in Hay River are working hard to make sure that diamonds become Hay River's best friend.

Mr. Speaker, but I have to say that I am not sure if this government has been diamond's best friend. The first thing is that the government has not done enough, in my view, to ease the logistical pressure in getting supplies to the diamond mines by extending the winter ice road season.

Mr. Speaker, I think they should be clear what this is about, because I am hearing a lot of confusion even in this House about what we need to do. Mr. Speaker, diamond mines and the resource industry are not looking for an all-weather road to their areas at the expense of other capital projects. Also, this is not about the race between the NWT and Nunavut as to whether or not if Nunavut builds a deep sea port first, that we will lose our chance. The lead for the extension of the winter ice road exists whether or not the port in Nunavut is built.

Mr. Speaker, what we need to know is that the worst impact of the climate change and the global warming is sitting right on top of where these diamond mines are. We have the most warming pattern in temperatures in this area than any other area in Canada. This is really placing the viability of supplying the mines through the winter ice road into serious question and jeopardy.

Mr. Speaker, all of the information is there by the joint venture committee and it is imperative that this government takes a very serious look at the situation and become an active participant on how we address it. Mr. Speaker, the government, both the NWT and federal government, has an obligation to support the infrastructure for the life of mines for the next 20 to 30 years.

Mr. Speaker, again I need to say that this is not a competition with Nunavut because if anyone who is interested in getting to the facts even if Nunavut builds a port, they couldn't do all the work that the winter ice roads do now as efficiently or effectively. Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to finish my statement?

All-Weather Road To The Diamond Mines
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 409

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Ms. Lee.

All-Weather Road To The Diamond Mines
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 409

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Even if there is a port, we will still need to supply the mines by road. The only way to do that in the most efficient way is by extending the winter road. The way to do that is to build some infrastructure in the entry point where there are soft spots and really shortens the winter road season. There are other parts throughout the ice road that needs enforcement that this government can do to extend the ice road and to be able to withstand some of the warming trends. So, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say, for the record, that I support the joint committee's proposal to work on this issue. I urge this government and the federal government to get on it and take care of the business. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

All-Weather Road To The Diamond Mines
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 409

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Members' statements. 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

August 19th, 2007

Page 409

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

(English not provided)

---Applause

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

Page 409

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

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

Page 409

Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very pleased to stand here today and recognize my wife of almost 30 years now, Valerie;...

---Applause

...my mother of all my life, Esther; a great friend and teacher of many people across the North, Ed Jeske.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize a constituent and leader in the arts community here in Yellowknife, Mr. Glen Abernethy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Page 409

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Braden. 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 409

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In this case I don't mind being scooped by Mr. Braden by recognizing our fine visitors, but I, too, wish to recognize Mr. Ed Jeske, Mrs. Esther Braden, and I will also recognize the other Mrs. Braden and a friend of mine in the gallery above me, Mr. Glen Abernethy. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Page 409

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for the Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

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

Page 409

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

I would like to welcome all of our visitors here today. A couple of individuals I would like to recognize: Mr. Darryl Bohnet, who was a long-time government employee and mostly worked for Diavik; and somebody who has developed a real high level of interest in politics in the last while and must be watching how much fun I have been having here, my brother Bob. I would like to welcome them both here.

---Applause

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

Page 409

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

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

Page 409

Calvin Pokiak

Calvin Pokiak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize my constituency assistant, Ms. Donna Bernhardt, who is down here to assist me to chaperone my two Pages here from Ulukhaktok, Tyler Inuktalik and Trevor Okheena. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Page 409

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

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

Page 409

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to recognize Mr. Ivan Strang. Mr. Strang is a Member of the Legislative Assembly in Alberta for the constituency of West Yellowhead.

---Applause

He sits on a number of Alberta Legislative Assembly committees. Mr. Strang was born in Winnipeg but was raised and finished high school in Hay River and was also a resident of Yellowknife for a number of years and worked at Giant Mine.

---Applause

Mr. Strang is accompanied today by his mother. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Page 409

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

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

Page 409

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize Bob McLeod today who I think has lived in Yellowknife South since 1988. That makes him one of the original Yellowknife South constituents. The riding isn't that old. Welcome to the gallery, Bob.

---Applause

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

Page 409

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

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

Page 410

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's not too often you get to recognize your long lost relatives in the House. I would like to recognize Bob McLeod who is a relative of mine.

---Laughter

He just found out.

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

Page 410

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we have missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to the House. I hope you are enjoying the proceedings. It is always a pleasure to have an audience in here.

Acknowledgements. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.