Debates of June 5th, 2008

This is page numbers 899 to 954 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 2nd 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

Oral Questions

Prayer

Speaker’s Ruling

Minister’s Statement 53-16(2) Drive Alive: Summer Safety Initiatives

Minister’s Statement 54-16(2) Protected Area Strategy

Inuvialuit Final Agreement 25th Anniversary

Early Entry To Kindergarten Programs

Inuvialuit Final Agreement 25th Anniversary

Elimination Of Business Incentive Policy

Guidelines For Seismic Lines

Inuvialuit Final Agreement 25th Anniversary

Cabinet Communications

Acknowledgement Of Crystal Milligan

Kam Lake Access Road

High Cost Of Living In Small Communities

Proposed Elimination Of Deh Cho Youth Worker Position

Inuvialuit Final Agreement 25th Anniversary

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Question 263-16(2) Early Entry To Kindergarten Programs

Question 264-16(2) Renewal Of Mining Company Land Use Leases

Question 265-16(2) Guidelines For Seismic Lines

Question 266-16(2) High Cost Of Living In Small Communities

Question 267-16(2) Teaching Position Vacancies In Beaufort-Delta Region

Question 268-16(2) Access To Gravel Sources For Aklavik

Question 269-16(2) Kam Lake Access Road

Question 270-16(2) Elimination Of Business Incentive Policy

Question 271-16(2) Seniors’ Supplementary Benefit

Question 272-16(2) Employment For Summer Students

Question 273-16(2) Protected Areas Strategy

Question 274-16(2) Elimination Of Business Incentive Policy

Question 275-16(2) Elimination Of Business Incentive Policy

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Main Estimates 2008–2009 Department Of Health And Social Services

Committee Motion 29-16(2) To Reinstate Stanton Hospital Telehealth Coordinator Position And Associated Contribution Funding For A Total Amount Of $210,000, Health And Social Services, Program Delivery Support (Committee Motion Carried)

Committee Motion 30-16(2) To Defer Further Consideration Of The Operations Expenditures, Department Of Health And Social Services (Committee Motion Carried)

Committee Motion 31-16(2) To Defer Further Consideration Of Infrastructure Acquisition Plan, Department Of Health And Social Services (Committee Motion Carried)

Main Estimates 2008–2009 Department Of Human Resources

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Ms. Bisaro.

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you. I’m a little concerned about the last item on page 6-36, which references homelessness. I see that the amount is $510,000. It sounds like a lot of money, but considering that the problem of homelessness is increasing in all of our communities, certainly the demand for services for homeless people is going up as opposed to going down.

wondered if the department had considered

increasing this amount, due to the increased demand for services for homelessness.

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you,

Ms. Bisaro. Mr. Cummings.

Cummings

Thank you, Mr.

Chair. The

homelessness program is a relatively new program to the Northwest Territories, and there are non-government organizations that have done very good work in this over the years.

It’s a matter of developing capacity. Our experience over the last year has been that the program is undersubscribed. We have done our best to reach out to communities to seek proposals for what will work in communities outside of Yellowknife, and established a process for people within Yellowknife to make applications for certain aspects of that program. So it’s a matter of capacity building, in order to be sure those funds are going to be fully utilized.

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Minister Lee.

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Just to add to that, Mr. Chairman: it’s important to know that this is a separate program that was established within the department. It doesn’t take into consideration lots of other money we give to Sally Ann and other homelessness projects.

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you. To the comment that there hasn’t been a full intake or uptake on the funds from last year and/or the year before: we did receive some information from the department in response to a committee question that itemizes how the money is earmarked. Some specifically goes to operating shelters or centres. I’m wondering if the Minister or the deputy minister could advise whether the funds that are general in nature are the ones that are not fully subscribed to, and if there’s any indication from last year as to how much money lapsed.

Cummings

Some of the funding is earmarked for the operation of Bailey House, which is not yet operational. Some of the funding is relocation assistance for people who can be repatriated from a homelessness situation to a community where they can be housed.

The remaining pot of funding is for small community initiatives to address homelessness.

The relocation assistance is undersubscribed, and the Bailey House is not yet operational.

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

I think it’s $50,000 for Bailey House. The $50,000 from 2007–2008: does that carry forward into 2008–2009, since it wasn’t operational last year?

Sandy Lee Range Lake

I’m sorry; I didn’t catch the question.

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you. At great risk to my health I’ll repeat the question. I’m just kidding. The $50,000 that was earmarked for Bailey House in 2007–2008: can that be carried forward into 2008–2009, since Bailey House wasn’t operational before March 31 of this year?

Sandy Lee Range Lake

No, not technically, I understand, but it’s been earmarked for this year in anticipation of being operational. If the Member’s wondering —

because they didn’t spend $50,000 last year — whether they could add $50,000 this year, that’s not the way it goes.

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you,

Minister Lee. Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman. Just

following up on that theme, if you will. Obviously, if the Salvation Army is having second thoughts about operating this facility, it’s almost certainly over a budget crunch. I’m wondering — without an increase here — if the situation is reflecting the lack of dollars, sufficient dollars, to support that facility. Is the Minister aware of that situation, and does she have a plan?

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Minister Lee.

Sandy Lee Range Lake

I am not aware of their funding situation.

Therehave been lots of investments into that Bailey House. Bailey House project received $1.4 million from the National Homelessness Initiative; $10,000 from CMHC; $1.5 million from City of Yellowknife; $1.748 million from the NWT Housing Corporation; and $50,000 from Diavik. I think the GNWT actually put in some more money, if I’m not mistaken.

It’s a very complex project with a long history — not a long history, but lots of partners, and lots of chronological data — so I’d be happy to provide the Member with that information if the Member wants to discuss further what some of their cash positions or operational difficulties are. I’d be happy to look into that as well.

I’ve not been contacted by the organization for any extra funding.

Bob Bromley Weledeh

I appreciate that offer, and yes, I’ll certainly take the Minister up on that. I am aware there are quite a number of non-government organizations and volunteer efforts that are going into that as well.

Just looking a little further up the same page, looking into emergency shelters and counselling services for victims of spousal assault and other forms of family violence, and given that we’re implementing, I think, phase 2 of the framework on family violence, I’m seeing a decrease — certainly no increase — in this expenditure. I’m wondering if there’s an explanation for that.

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Mr. Elkin.

Elkin

There’s a decrease of approximately $73,000, I believe. It is related to a position at the authority level for a family violence shelter consultant, which was funded through THAF on a one-time basis, so it had no impact on the actual programs. It was for a one-time consultant, funded through the THAF program.

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thanks for that information. Were those shelters given a little additional support this year for cost of fuel, maintenance, that sort of thing, then?

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The YWCA had pressing issues with respect to not being able to keep their employees under the current labour market. The increased wages they provided have helped. The executive director has communicated that to me: their labour force has stabilized.

With respect to extra money the NGOs need, they will.... Every NGO operates their budget the same way as.... I mean, not every NGO, but NGOs as established as YWCA or YACCS would be preparing their budgets for the responsible authority, and they will be taking into consideration their forced-growth issues, whether it’s fuel costs or any other matters. The authority would look at that to see if they could fund it. If they need extra resources they go to the Minister, and we’re not there yet.

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you,

Minister Lee. Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In regard to child services, in regard to Grants and Contributions, there’s $15

million that’s been

expended for child services. What’s the breakdown by way of costs, for the Grants and Contributions in that area, for children that are in care and in different types of care? I know there’s care by way of foster care, there’s custody issues, there’s treatment issues. I’d like to know exactly: do you have an actual cost breakdown of the $15 million that’s being expended for child services?

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Minister Lee.

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Is the Member referring to the section on page 6-35, under Children Services, Foster Care, Residential Care and Protective Services? That amount is not quite $15 million.

Debates of June 5th, 2008

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