I do know for a fact that a lot of the regional suppliers have proved competitive in the past, and they have been able to submit quality bids for the supply in their region. So I’d like to ask

the Minister if it’s proven that there’s a significant cost savings to the way the Housing Corp is proposing to do business.

Mr. Speaker, the Housing Corporation is always interested in trying to be as efficient and effective and fair as possible. We’d be happy to discuss this issue with committees, to look at the numbers to make sure this is the best way possible. Are there other options? Right now it’s based on 11 commodities Territory-wide. If there’s a regional application base developed that is competitive, I’d certainly be prepared to look at that. I’d be more than happy to sit down with the appropriate committee to look at this.

Final supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

I thank the Minister for that. I’ve seen cases where too many terms and conditions have been put on tenders that go out there, effectively eliminating a lot of people from being able to bid on this work.

I’d like to ask the Minister — and I think he made that commitment…. I’d like a commitment to have the Housing Corp put out regional tenders for all regions in the N.W.T., so that they can bid on their region. If they choose to bid on the whole of the N.W.T., they have the option also. It’s worked before, I believe, and I think it’ll work again.

Mr. Speaker, what I will commit to, as a first step, is to share the rationale and the math, in terms of economies of scale, that allowed the Housing Corporation to come to the decision to adopt this particular policy. I’ll share that with committee, and we’ll see what those numbers add up to in terms of how a regional application compares Territory-wide, based on commodities. Together we can see what that information tells us and discuss the best way to move forward.

Mr. Speaker, in November I raised the issue of follow-up on treatment programs for individuals. My questions were directed to the Minister of Health and Social Services. The Minister wrote me back, just a couple of days ago, in response to my concern about not having a follow-up process. One of the statements in her letter to me basically put the onus back on the person who’s sought treatment programs and basically said it’s their obligation to work through this process, and if they want to call in for support, it’s up to them

Mr. Speaker, my concern is that the Minister is taking, back to my reference earlier, the Pontius Pilate approach: “You’ve come for treatment. Good

luck; see you later; you’re on your own.” I’d like the Minister to reconsider this approach by establishing a follow-up process for anyone who receives treatment, and have our employees give folks a call every once in a while to make sure they’re doing okay. Would she reconsider that process?

Mr. Speaker, I must say I have a different interpretation. I read that letter quite differently. I reviewed it a number of times, and a lot of thought was put into that. If I remember correctly, the letter I sent to him said that there is, in fact, an after-care program, where the Northern residents are sent to.

For anybody who is involved in wanting to deal with their addiction, the most important part of recovering and living an addiction-free life is self-motivation and self-discipline. The letter did indicate that where the residents are sent to institutional settings, they work out the after-care program with the places where they‘ve been treated. They are encouraged to have an ongoing relationship and contact with them.

Any after-care programs that work together in partnership with the regional staff of the Department of Health and Social Services have wellness workers and addiction specialists who work with the people who want help. We in this House know addiction issues can only be addressed when the individuals involved take full control over the process.

My concern is what the Minister just pointed out right there. She read the letter and she reviewed the letter, but I’m concerned it wasn’t written by the Minister or with the intent to call it what is was.

“There’s a phone number here. They can call in.” Mr. Speaker, I’m talking about taking the responsibility one level further. I’m sure employees aren’t too busy to call folks once every three months to make sure they’re doing okay.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister again: will she move forward by setting up a policy that encourages our staff to get out there? When someone goes through treatment, they call them and follow up and just say: “Hey, how are you doing? Are you feeling okay? If you need any help, here’s the phone number and process to get back and re-engage.” Would the Minister do that?

Mr. Speaker, the letter the Member is referring to is not before the House. I have a problem with the Member misquoting and misinterpreting that letter. I stand by that letter. That letter has some information that says our workers work in full partnership with anybody who wants help with their addiction issues, whether that be by working with the wellness and addictions workers or

by wanting to get treatment. The department and my staff are involved with the process throughout.

I’m just saying that those who go through programs like Poundmaker or any institutional setting, they have a separate relationship and a separate process that is designed by that institution, and the people involved have to take full control over that. I think the Member is completely misunderstanding that information.

Mr. Speaker, we’re asking for a simple process. The Minister can set forward an initiative, a directive, by saying “Create a consultation process that phones people once every three months, six months” — whatever the Minister feels appropriate — “to re-engage folks.” We’re throwing money away if we send them out for treatment and we don’t help them follow through. Treatment is a lifelong process. We just can’t say, “Here’s a pill. Take it. Good luck. See you later. You’re on your own.” I want to see that we follow up with people. It’s a good investment for people; it shows the government cares.

Would the Minister send out a directive to create a follow-up process so people who seek treatment get continual care for a number of years, to make sure they know we care about them and their success?

I state for the Member again, that process is in place. Our wellness workers and addiction workers are continually with those who want help. I don’t really understand. That work is being done, and that is my answer.

Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

I haven't tabled the letter yet, so I’m not going to read it word for word. But one of the facilities has a phone number for people to call when they so desire. I’m talking about changing that around. I think the Minister perhaps has not read the letter that was written for her closely enough, because it says the situation is the other way around.

Would the Minister set up a program as I have suggested?

I’m happy to repeat again that those who want to have an addiction-free life have to make that choice, and they have to access programs. All the help is available to them. It is not beyond good practice and policy to ask people to be engaged in their own healing process.

All the help is there. The numbers are there. Our workers are in communities. Wellness workers are there. It’s a good policy. The programs are there for the people to access.

My question is for the Minister Responsible for Public Works and Services.

There was a technical review done on the Diamond Jenness Secondary School quite a number of years ago which listed items of priority. Code requirements were one of the areas that were listed. Areas of life safety and health were listed separately.

It would appear that for quite some time, the department, through their assessment of this building, was aware that there was asbestos on heating pipes in this building.

Under “Code-required items, if renovation planned, not complete” was:

“Remove asbestos from heating system, piping elbows, and investigate pipe elbows in crawlspace for asbestos. Present asbestos within the facility is non-friable, is encapsulated, identified by signs, and logged in log book. No immediate action required as it is not hazardous to health as long as it is not disturbed.”

I believe that the pipes and the elbows in question where the insulation containing asbestos was compromised were actually covered with duct tape, which apparently is not an acceptable practice.

This situation in the Diamond Jenness School has existed for some time, and it goes to the reason why a renovation retrofit should have been done a long time ago. Asbestos in buildings is a very sensitive issue. It has a long history of information about health risks.

I'd like to know from the Minister why this specific item was never completed, based on previous reports, which brings us to today’s situation where the air handling being fed through the whole building has possibly come in contact with these corroded asbestos-coated pipes?

The Member is correct that there is a significant amount of upgrading and retrofit that's required in the school. Our report — I believe we're looking at the same report — confirms that. That information has been provided to the Department of Health.

In this case, we've had a situation where some material fell off the heating pipes. We haven't confirmed if it is asbestos as of yet. However, we have taken the precaution of having air quality testing done. We've taken the material and sent it south, and we're waiting for those results. We suspect that the material may contain some asbestos, but we have yet to confirm that.

Mr. Speaker, right now, the school has been closed. I anticipate that if no asbestos of significant amount is found, the school may reopen as soon as Friday. If that is not the case, we have a big problem on our hands.

I’d like to ask the Minister what the chances are of expediting the retrofit to this school at this time.

Mr. Speaker, our job is to do the evaluation and take an assessment of the condition of the school. We have done that. We’ve shared that with the principal and the MLAs. We’ve also forwarded it to the Department of Education. They are making an assessment and will make the decision to bring it forward.

The time for question period has expired. However, I will allow the Member a supplementary question.

Mr. Speaker, the removal of the asbestos from the heating pipes would be a very major undertaking in the school. Many other things need to be addressed in the school besides this item.

Would it be possible to expedite or advance or move this work on the Diamond Jenness School forward, so that in the scenario of upheaval anyway, while the students are going to be removed from the school…? If they have to take the asbestos insulation off the pipes, it’s going to take some significant time and effort, and the students won’t be allowed to be there.

I just want to know, in the interests of addressing this and many other things, what kind of a time frame are we looking at for a contract for the rest of it?

It may be beyond the Minister’s jurisdiction. However, I’ll allow the Minister to respond.

The decision will be made by the Department of Education whether to bring it forward. Mr. Speaker, the time frame will be revolving around the capital planning process and when the decisions are made there. That’s the process we have to follow.

Mr. Speaker, in the capital planning process, one of the five criteria that will give priority to projects is protection of people — it’s number one. For the benefit of the people who live in Hay River and who use the school, whose students attend there, I would like the Minister to confirm that the protection of people will be given the highest priority, given the scenario that currently exists.

Mr. Speaker, I believe we’ve already done that. We’ve taken the review

from our staff and all the technical evaluation that was required and made note of where our concerns were. We have forwarded and are recommending to the department that they seriously come forward with a retrofit for this facility. It is 34 years old and is due for a serious upgrade to remove some of these areas of concern that the parents have and that their children may be facing.