Debates of June 12th, 2008

This is page numbers 1179 to 1248 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 communities.

Topics

Oral Questions
Prayer
Speaker’s Ruling
Minister’s Statement 65-16(2) Reducing The Cost Of Living
Recognition Of Brigadier-General Chris Whitecross
Quality Of Drinking Water In Nahendeh Communities
Budget Process And Potentially Affected Employees
Reducing The Cost Of Living
Government Of Canada Residential School Apology
Budget Process And Potentially Affected Employees
Strategic Initiative Committees
Proposed Community Services Board In Lutselk’e
Trust In Consensus Government
Concerns Of Nursing Professionals
Congratulations To High School Graduates In Sahtu
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Question 321-16(2) Budget Process And Potentially Affected Employees
Question 322-16(2) Status Of Highway No. 7
Question 323-16(2) Use Of Locum And Agency Nurses
Question 324-16(2) Tsiigehtchic Ferry Service
Question 325-16(2) Notification Of Potentially Affected Employees
Question 326-16(2) GNWT Strategic Support For The Voluntary Sector
Question 327-16(2) Potential New Revenue Options For GNWT
Question 23-16(2) Use Of Locum And Agency Nurses In The NWT
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)
Question 12-16(2) Tu Nedhe Residents Suffering From Respiratory Illnesses
Question 13-16(2) Tu Nedhe Residents Suffering From Diabetes
Bill 13 An Act To Amend The Legal Profession Act
Bill 14 An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act
Bill 15 An Act To Amend The Workers’ Compensation Act
Bill 16 Write-Off Of Debts Act, 2008–2009
Bill 17 Forgiveness Of Debts Act, 2008–2009
Bill 12 An Act To Amend The Human Rights Act
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Main Estimates 2008–2009 Department Of Municipal And Community Affairs
Committee Motion 49-16(2) To Reinstate $120,000 For Community Emergency Coordinator Position (Committee Motion Carried)
Committee Motion 50-16(2) To Establish A Main Street Chipsealing Program (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)
Committee Motion 51-16(2) To Develop A Strategic Plan To Provide Support To The Voluntary Sector (Committee Motion Carried)
Committee Motion 52-16(2) To Develop A Strategic Plan To Provide Meaningful Support For Youth Programs (Committee Motion Carried)
Committee Motion 53-16(2) To Reinstate $71,000 For Youth Officer Position In The Deh Cho Region (Committee Motion Carried)
Committee Motion 54-16(2) To Reinstate $150,000 For Youth Contribution Programs Funding (Committee Motion Carried)
Committee Motion 55-16(2) To Defer Consideration Of Operations Expenditures (Committee Motion Carried)
Main Estimates 2008–2009 Department Of Transportation
Committee Motion 56-16(2) To Take Action To Develop Strategy To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Committee Motion Carried)
Committee Motion 57-16(2) To Reverse The Decision To Contract Out Operations And Maintenance Of Fort Simpson Airport (Committee Motion Carried)
Committee Motion 58-16(2) To Reverse The Decision To Eliminate James Gruben Regional Airport Manager Position (Committee Motion Carried)
Committee Motion 59-16(2) To Reverse Government Decision To Reduce Level Of Onsite Management At Fort Smith Airport (Committee Motion Carried)
Committee Motion 60-16(2) To Reverse The Decision To Eliminate Marine Equipment Maintainer Assistant Position (Committee Motion Carried)
Report of Committee of the Whole
Orders of the Day

Committee Motion 50-16(2) To Establish A Main Street Chipsealing Program (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you,

Mr. Ramsay. Are we ready for the question on the amendment to amend the amended motion?

Committee Motion 50-16(2) To Establish A Main Street Chipsealing Program (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Honourable Members

Agreed.

Committee Motion 50-16(2) To Establish A Main Street Chipsealing Program (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Question.

Amendment carried.

Committee Motion 50-16(2) To Establish A Main Street Chipsealing Program (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

To the motion as amended.Question.

Motion as amended carried.

Committee Motion 50-16(2) To Establish A Main Street Chipsealing Program (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Let’s get back to it. We’re on page 4-21, Activity Summary, Community Operations, Grants and Contributions, Grants:

$350,000; Contributions: $4.667 million; Total Grants and Contributions: $5.017 million.

Department of Municipal and Community

Affairs, Activity Summary, Community Operations, Grants and Contributions, Total Grants and Contributions: $5.017 million, approved.

Committee Motion 50-16(2) To Establish A Main Street Chipsealing Program (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

All right. Page 4-22, information item, Community Operations, Active Positions. Mr. Bromley.

Committee Motion 50-16(2) To Establish A Main Street Chipsealing Program (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Mr. Chair, a quick question. I believe when it was asked earlier, the Minister said there was a loss of two positions, but our information looks like four. I just wanted to figure that one out.

Committee Motion 50-16(2) To Establish A Main Street Chipsealing Program (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you,

Mr. Bromley. Minister McLeod.

Committee Motion 50-16(2) To Establish A Main Street Chipsealing Program (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Mr.

Chairman, I’ll have

Debbie DeLancey answer that.

Committee Motion 50-16(2) To Establish A Main Street Chipsealing Program (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

June 11th, 2008

Debbie Delancey

Yes, thank you. There is a reduction of two positions that have been eliminated as part of the proposed budget reduction process. The other two positions: one was a sunsetted position, so the funding has expired, and the fourth position is one that has simply been transferred to another division in the department.

Committee Motion 50-16(2) To Establish A Main Street Chipsealing Program (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you,

Ms. DeLancey. We’re on page 4-22, information item, Community Operations, Active Positions.

Department of Municipal and Community

Affairs, Activity Summary, Community Operations, Active Positions, information item (page 4-22), approved.

Committee Motion 50-16(2) To Establish A Main Street Chipsealing Program (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Moving on to 4-23, information item, Community Operations, Active Positions.

Department of Municipal and Community

Affairs, Activity Summary, Community Operations, Active Positions, information item (page 4-23), approved.

Committee Motion 50-16(2) To Establish A Main Street Chipsealing Program (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

All right. Page 4-25, Activity Summary, School of Community Government, Operations Expenditure Summary: $1.861 million. Mr. Krutko.

Committee Motion 50-16(2) To Establish A Main Street Chipsealing Program (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

I’d just like to ask the Minister what support for individuals will be there to assist communities when they’re requiring financial questions or dealing with administration items. Is there going to be a source by way of your department to assist communities dealing with capacity issues?

Committee Motion 50-16(2) To Establish A Main Street Chipsealing Program (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you,

Mr. Krutko. Minister McLeod.

Committee Motion 50-16(2) To Establish A Main Street Chipsealing Program (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Mr. Chairman, we have a number of resources still in the communities or working with the communities. First of all, each region has a superintendent who deals with the community governments and is in contact and works with the community governments. We also have the new capacity coordinators who will be in the regional centres, and each region has one.

Committee Motion 50-16(2) To Establish A Main Street Chipsealing Program (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Just in regard to the School of Community Government: what training opportunities will communities have to build capacity? The whole idea of the School of Community Government was to work with other government agencies — Housing Corporation, Indian Affairs — in regard to the municipalities. Will there be an opportunity for training for people to build capacity going through this program, as there was in the past?

Committee Motion 50-16(2) To Establish A Main Street Chipsealing Program (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Mr. Chairman, all our core training programs are going to stay in place. We’re going to focus on community governments. What will probably end up not being delivered is some of the administrative support programs that can be carried out by different organizations and Aurora College.

Committee Motion 50-16(2) To Establish A Main Street Chipsealing Program (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Page 4-25, Activity Summary, School of Community Government, Operations Expenditure Summary: $1.861 million.

Department of Municipal and Community

Affairs, Activity Summary, School of Community Government, Operations Expenditure Summary: $1.861 million, approved.

Committee Motion 50-16(2) To Establish A Main Street Chipsealing Program (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Moving along. We’re going to page 4-28. Information item, School of Community Government, Active Positions. Mr. Ramsay.

Committee Motion 50-16(2) To Establish A Main Street Chipsealing Program (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On 4-26, I just had one question, and that was when the department might be able to come forward with a strategy or plan to work with Aurora College on delivering programs to communities, and training to communities, and the discussions that are going on with Aurora College. When might we be able to get an update on that?

Committee Motion 50-16(2) To Establish A Main Street Chipsealing Program (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you,

Mr. Ramsay. Minister McLeod.

Committee Motion 50-16(2) To Establish A Main Street Chipsealing Program (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We have a number of partnership arrangements already in a number of different areas, including fire fighting, and I think it’s NAIT and other organizations. We have started some discussions about some of the programs that are probably coming off our list with Aurora College, and it will take some time. I would expect sometime in the fall

or toward the end of the calendar year we could update the committee.

Committee Motion 50-16(2) To Establish A Main Street Chipsealing Program (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

I’m just wondering if the

department’s plan is to migrate the entire training and learning component of the School of Community Government over to Aurora College, or are you going to keep any portion of that down the road?

Committee Motion 50-16(2) To Establish A Main Street Chipsealing Program (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Mr. Chairman, it’s not our intent to transfer all the programs to Aurora College at this point. We still have the resources, and the communities still have the desire, for us to continue to deliver core programs. We’re going to be focusing on community government and community government responsibilities.

Some of the other programs we deliver in the area of administrative support and administration.... We’ll have those discussions to see if Aurora College can put them up, or another organization.