This is page numbers 495 - 544 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.

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Further Return To Question 184-15(6): GNWT Human Resources Information System
Question 184-15(6): GNWT Human Resources Information System
Item 7: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 184-15(6): GNWT Human Resources Information System
Question 184-15(6): GNWT Human Resources Information System
Item 7: Oral Questions

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David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to know if anybody that was responsible for making decisions that are affecting us today is still working for the government and, if they are, I really do believe, Mr. Speaker, that somebody somewhere has to be held accountable and has to be responsible for the decisions that were made with PeopleSoft. If it's not the Minister, it's not the Premier, it's not this government -- they want to wash their hands of it -- who is it? Who can we say is responsible for the situation we find ourselves in today, Mr. Speaker?

Supplementary To Question 184-15(6): GNWT Human Resources Information System
Question 184-15(6): GNWT Human Resources Information System
Item 7: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 184-15(6): GNWT Human Resources Information System
Question 184-15(6): GNWT Human Resources Information System
Item 7: Oral Questions

August 21st, 2007

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, because that relates to a previous government, I can't answer that question. As the Member is quite aware, in our system of government it is the Minister that is responsible for decisions that are made by their departments. Therefore, the Minister, if the question had come up in this House at the time, then that Minister could have been held responsible. But we have a situation where...It's like in Ottawa when we have the Liberals in power, they blame the party that was there first; when the Conservatives come in, they blame the Liberals. Well, it's the same situation in here in that we're not able to go back and say that such and such should have happened. At the time that some of these decisions were made, I certainly wasn't on Cabinet. It's a situation where it's a ministerial responsibility and the person who is responsible may not ever be found. Sorry.

Further Return To Question 184-15(6): GNWT Human Resources Information System
Question 184-15(6): GNWT Human Resources Information System
Item 7: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 184-15(6): GNWT Human Resources Information System
Question 184-15(6): GNWT Human Resources Information System
Item 7: Oral Questions

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David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, given the incidents that I've pointed to today such as the security breach that happened last winter, the recent module failing, all of the concerns of the employees, the client concerns, those hundreds of people who didn't receive a paycheque after July 3rd when the system crashed, I'd like to ask the Minister is there going to be any disciplinary action taken on staff at Human Resources for causing us these problems, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 184-15(6): GNWT Human Resources Information System
Question 184-15(6): GNWT Human Resources Information System
Item 7: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 184-15(6): GNWT Human Resources Information System
Question 184-15(6): GNWT Human Resources Information System
Item 7: Oral Questions

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In fact, everybody did get a paycheque so there isn't a situation where people haven't been paid. In fact, everybody got a paycheque by the next banking day. That happened because of the work that people put in at the Department of Human Resources. I'm quite proud of the fact that people worked 23, 24 hours straight in order to ensure that the paycheques went out. Mr. Speaker, as I have said before, in our opinion, the reason that there was a problem stems back to the contractor. This government does not have the expertise to buy a program off the shelf and install it; that's why that was done through a contractor. We had a contract for a program to be delivered. In our opinion, it wasn't delivered in a working fashion. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 184-15(6): GNWT Human Resources Information System
Question 184-15(6): GNWT Human Resources Information System
Item 7: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Pokiak.

Calvin Pokiak

Calvin Pokiak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if I recall, Tuktoyaktuk was supposed to receive telehealth

equipment for the Tuk Health Centre this past year. I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services if he can give an update in terms of when the installation of that equipment will be located in the Tuk Health Centre. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 185-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Telehealth Equipment
Question 185-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Telehealth Equipment
Item 7: Oral Questions

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe the equipment, along with a lot of other health centres as we've engaged in implementing our Telehealth Program throughout the Territories, is in the community, but it's a matter of getting some work done on the facility to have the proper hook-ups in place. That should be happening fairly soon, but I don't have the specific date. I can get that to the Member. Thank you.

Return To Question 185-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Telehealth Equipment
Question 185-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Telehealth Equipment
Item 7: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 185-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Telehealth Equipment
Question 185-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Telehealth Equipment
Item 7: Oral Questions

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Calvin Pokiak

Calvin Pokiak Nunakput

Thank you for that information, Mr. Minister. I'm just wondering...I would appreciate it if you can provide that information and maybe within the next month or so that it can be in place. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 185-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Telehealth Equipment
Question 185-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Telehealth Equipment
Item 7: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 185-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Telehealth Equipment
Question 185-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Telehealth Equipment
Item 7: Oral Questions

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do believe we are aiming for near the end of September, but I'll have to verify that information. Yes, I will get that to the Member. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 185-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Telehealth Equipment
Question 185-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Telehealth Equipment
Item 7: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The time for question period has expired; however, I will allow the Member a supplementary question. Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 185-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Telehealth Equipment
Question 185-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Telehealth Equipment
Item 7: Oral Questions

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Calvin Pokiak

Calvin Pokiak Nunakput

Thank you. Does the Minister guarantee that by maybe October 1st it will be up and running? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 185-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Telehealth Equipment
Question 185-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Telehealth Equipment
Item 7: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 185-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Telehealth Equipment
Question 185-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Telehealth Equipment
Item 7: Oral Questions

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my role as the Finance Minister I've had to sign different guarantees, but on this one specifically, because we will have to go out for a contract and get some renovations done, I can't guarantee it. However, our goal is to have it in place for the fall time. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 185-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Telehealth Equipment
Question 185-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Telehealth Equipment
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 515

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The time for question period has expired. Written questions. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

  1. Income support clients are covered for some benefits such as ambulance, dental and vision services, but some people with disabilities who cannot work and who collect CPP/disability pensions are not covered. Why does this discrepancy exist? Has or will this issue be addressed in the income support review?
  2. Our government provides supported living for persons with mental health and intellectual challenges, but not for those with physical disabilities. Enhanced home care services and other suggested living programs are needed. Has or will this discrepancy be resolved in the income support review?

Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Written questions. Returns to written questions. Before we go to the next order on the Order Paper, colleagues, the Chair is going to call a short break.

---SHORT RECESS

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Back to the orders of the day. Item 10, replies opening address. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

mr. Bell's Reply
Item 10: Replies To Opening Address

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Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity today to announce to my constituents that I won't be seeking re-election in the upcoming territorial election. I want to thank them for their support over the last eight years. It's been an absolutely wonderful experience for me; the most rewarding eight years of my life. Of course, a number of things, and Members know, Mr. Speaker, have happened to me in my personal life over the last eight years, very important things: I have been married, I have two wonderful children now and so it's an amazing time of change for me. Professionally, it's been absolutely stimulating, very rewarding and it's given me the opportunity to meet and work with some very exciting people. So it's been a great experience.

I have a number of people I would like to thank. Everybody in this building, who works in the building, I want to tell them how much I appreciate the staff, the efforts that they've made, the Members I have had a chance to work with and the friends I have made in this building both in the last four years and previous. I very much appreciate the chance to work with them. So it was a difficult decision for me to make, one I made with my family with a bit of a heavy heart because I like the job as much today as the day I was first elected. I am as excited about the job today as I was then, but there are a number of other things I would like to pursue, so I will be doing that.

Let me thank my family; my wife, Jill, my daughters, Emily and Madison. My little daughter Emily is now just getting to the age where she is starting to understand that I go off to work. I am sure my wife put her up to it, but she's been asking me daily for the entire week if I have retired yet.

---Laughter

So tonight when I go home, I can tell her that yes, in fact, I have retired and it seems a very strange thing to say; retired from territorial politics at this time. A lot of credit to my wife. As Members of this House know, much of your personal life, this job ends up being the focus of it. You end up being the centre of attention in the family, obviously not deliberately, but it just goes with the territory, and my wife has made a lot of sacrifices for me in this job. I very much love her for that and appreciate that. I am excited about the chance to spend more time with her, with my little girls, more pancakes on the weekends. They have been through a lot with us. There are many ups and downs, as Members know, in this job. More ups than downs, I must say, but they have been very strong through it all. It's difficult for spouses, Mr. Speaker. They never appreciate when they see things in the media or newspaper that they feel is unnecessarily critical of you. It's one thing for us to develop the thick skins that we all must and we all have, but it's entirely another to see our families go through that. It's been a great experience, as I say. I can't think of another job where I would have the ability to travel to all 33 communities in the Northwest Territories. That's been great. As a youngster, of course, I did sports and got a chance to travel a fair bit, but nothing like this and not meeting the kinds of people that I have met. I know my wife understands how important that was to me and has been very supportive of me the whole way through.

There are some staff people I would also like to mention. MaryAnne Woytuik has been with me eight years, first as constituency assistant and now upstairs in my office. I love her like family. She's wonderful and she's been very supportive and I will very much miss working with MaryAnne on a day-to-day basis.

Pietro DeBastiani, he's been great as well. Early on, he and I sat down and talked about what I thought the job that he was about to embark on entailed and what was most important to me. I said to him the most important thing to me was he work very closely with Members, ordinary Members, to deal with and solve problems on behalf of their constituents. I found it somewhat frustrating as an ordinary Member in my first term trying to deal with Ministers who were very busy, their office was very busy and I wanted to commit, between the two of us, that we would put Members' concerns as top priority and so that has been his first priority. I hope that Members have found that that has been a good experience for them. I know Pietro takes the concerns very seriously and works very hard for you.

The other thing I would like to say about Pietro is he's been very good to remind me that this job will go on, this government and the people will go on after each and every one of us is gone, but our families are critical. Striking that balance is critical. That's the most valuable piece of advice Pietro has given me and I thank him very much for that.

I would also like to mention Betty Anne Winsor who was my constituency assistant. She's been gone for about a year now and she was so good that I figured that I could never replace her adequately, so I just never bothered.

---Laughter

I miss her. She was wonderful for the constituency and did a great job. I appreciate all of her efforts.

To the departmental staff, I have had a few departments. I have gone through the change to ITI from ENR. Some of that was difficult, but I want to point to two people; my deputy minister who says, as I think all Members know and certainly Ministers know, you are only as strong as the team that you have, and that deputy minister is certainly a critical part of the team; Don Cooper with the Department of Justice. I think people across the Northwest Territories like Don, liked to work for him and that's why I think he's been able to assemble one of the strongest legal teams in the North and kept all of those people together for a long, long time. There is very little turnover in that department and people find it very rewarding to work for him and I have been the beneficiary of that and I think all of us in the Assembly have been the beneficiary of that. A lot of credit goes to Don for that.

Peter Vician, let me say that in this job meeting with industry, I have met a lot of CEOs of energy companies, a lot of CEOs of mining companies who are all very, very well paid, much better paid than we pay our deputy ministers. So I can tell you that I have not many of them who I think are more competent than Peter or who do a better job at doing their job than he does. He is an absolute professional and this government is lucky to have him.

Assembly staff, there have been a number of people through this building and let me say I appreciate all of your efforts over the years. I hope that, again, although Members are the focus of so much of what we do, I hope that I have been able to deal with you fairly. Member Miltenberger has commented often before on Members and how we tend to become "clicky fingered" I think is how he refers to it. That potentially may be inevitable. I hope that we haven't been with the staff and I want to tell them how much I value the work that they've done. Board of Management staff, first David Hamilton in my first term was instrumental in providing advice to the Board of Management. I was on that and had quite a role in dealing with a number of events on Board of Management. Katherine Petersen as well provided very good advice to that board. Now filling those shoes, and filling them ably, is Tim Mercer and Glen Boyd. I appreciate all the work they have done for that board that has taken a lot of my time over the last eight years. Myles Moreside, let me say, if I could point to one guy, the wheels could really fall off this place if Myles eventually retires and I suppose it's inevitable that he will, but I appreciate all of his work on behalf of Members.

My future, Mr. Speaker, there are still a lot of unknowns for me. There are a number of things I am interested in politically as I have alluded to. I won't deny that I will have an interest in that in the future, but more immediately I am looking forward to getting back into business. This is something that I have missed immensely. That has never been off my mind. I look forward to being able to pursue some of those interests in the near future. Who knows what the future will bring, but I want to just tell my constituents that I appreciate your support. It's been a

great experience for me, an eight years I will never forget. I want to thank you for that. Thank you.

---Applause