Mr. Speaker, I have Return to Written Question 19-16(2) asked by Mr. Robert Hawkins on Monday, June 9, 2008, regarding the summer student hiring process.

Summer students are hired as casual employees and are subject to the same terms and conditions as other casual employees. Between April 15 and August 15, students are given a higher hiring priority for casual employment with the GNWT than non-students registered in the same affirmative action category. Departments that request a summer student are provided with access to a list of available individuals which is filtered by their affirmative action status and field of study. Departments are advised that the affirmative action status applies to summer student employment and encouraged to hire in accordance with the policy where priority students can be matched to summer employment opportunities.

The start date of each summer student hired for the 2008 summer season varies from April 1 to July 7, 2008. Later this afternoon, at the appropriate time, I will table the document 2008 Summer Student Employment Start Dates.

Approximately 63 per cent of summer students hired in 2008 were previously hired through the Summer Student Employment Program. Of these, 32 per cent have been hired three or more times.

The number of summer students that will be attending a post-secondary institute for the first time this fall is 26.

The number of summer students that are finished post-secondary schooling and will not be returning in the fall is difficult to determine as a number of students who complete their initial diploma or degree continue on to pursue their education either in another field of study or in a graduate program.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have Return to Written Question 21-16(2) asked by Mr. Beaulieu on June 10, 2008, regarding information on aboriginal employment statistics for Municipal and Community Affairs.

Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table the information I have previously provided to Mr. Beaulieu via written correspondence.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have Return to Written Question 22-16(2) asked by Mr. Abernethy on June 10, 2008, regarding return of service bursaries.

Since the implementation of the Health and Social Services return of service bursaries, 361 individuals have been supported at a total cost of $3,165,331.

To date, 80 Northerners are currently enrolled in school. The value of the return of service bursaries awarded to these individuals totals $1,073,343 with an accumulated return of service commitment of 1,248 months.

Of the 361 individuals supported, 157 have completed their return of service obligation, amounting to 1,794 months of service at a cost of $803,058.

Forty-nine individuals are currently employed in the Northwest Territories and are working towards meeting their return of service obligation. The total value of these awarded bursaries is $896,421 totaling 1,583 months. To date, 757 months have been repaid.

Seventy-five individuals have defaulted, in whole or in part, on their return of service obligation. Combined, these individuals received $392,509 and committed to 956 months of return of service of which only 205 months were returned. The amount of money that is outstanding totals $317,221.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have Return to Written Question 23-16(2) asked by Mr. Hawkins on June 12, 2008, regarding the use of locum and agency nurses in the NWT.

The Government of the Northwest Territories has contracts with three different agencies. Each of these agencies charges a “finders” fee, which is a fee for locating the nurses that will work in the Health and Social Services authorities. The nurses are then placed on the Health and Social Services authority’s payroll and are provided with compensation in accordance with the Union of Northern Workers collective agreement.

The “finders” fees for each agency are as follows:

Canadian Health Care Agency

•

Community Health Nurse

$150/day

•

Nurse in Charge

$175/day

•

Hospital – Specialty

$125/day

•

Hospital – General Duty

$100/day

Nightingale Nursing Group

•

Community Health Nurse

$150/day

•

Hospital

Nurse

$125/day

Multi Options Nursing Inc.

•

Community Health Nurse

$ 93/day

•

Nurse

Practitioner $125/day

•

Hospital Nurse

$ 78/day

Due to the increased costs associated with filling nurse vacancies through these contracts, the utilization of agency nurses is a last resort for Health and Social Services authorities. However, with the high demand for nurses and other health care professionals throughout Canada and internationally, the Health and Social Services authorities are often unable to hire nurses through the regular GNWT recruitment methods.

Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table a document providing information on the utilization and costs of agency nurses over the last two years for each Health and Social Services authority in the NWT.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have Return to Written Question 24-16(2) asked by Mr. Krutko on June 13, 2008, regarding the costs of hauling gravel.

A total of 11,065 cubic metres of crushed gravel was hauled from Inuvik to Aklavik to repair road related damages occurring from the 2006 flood. The total cost of this portion of the flood restoration

work was $1,448,105.50, which included quarrying, crushing and stockpiling the materials in Inuvik and then barging the materials to Aklavik. In addition, the Department of Transportation incurred internal costs of approximately $23,600 to manage the acquisition and transportation of these materials.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have Return to a Written Question 25-16(2) asked by Mr. Robert Hawkins on June 16, 2008, regarding the cost of regional office operations.

Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table a document that provides the operating budgets for each individual regional office within the Department of Executive for the 2007–08 and 2008–09 fiscal years.

Mr. Speaker, I have Return to Written Question 26-16(2) asked by Mr. Hawkins on June 16, 2008, regarding the cost of NWT Power Corporation operations.

1) a) The Public Utilities Board (PUB) approves

NTPC’s revenue requirement at the corporate level (as opposed to the community level), and as a result, the income statement is recorded and audited on a corporate-wide basis and not by community. In order to be responsive to your question, the corporation has prepared the requested information on a community basis; however it is for illustrative purposes only. Certain costs such as interest expense, head office, operations support and year end adjustments and revenue (e.g., interest income) not directly attributable to any specific community have been allocated using assumptions based on the allocation methodology that is reviewed by interveners and approved by the PUB during phase 2 of the general rate application process.

Rates are set based on forecast sales and expenses. The rates in effect for the 2004–05 and 2005–06 years were set during the 2001–03 General Rate Application (GRA) based on forecasts done in 1999–2000. The rates in effect for the 2006–07 year were set during the 2006–08 GRA based on forecasts done in 2005–06.

Revenues and expenses in the income statements by community are based on the actual revenue and expenses for the year.

Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table the Income Statement by Community.

1) b) NTPC receives payments from the GNWT

under the residential Territorial Power Support Program (TPSP). The GNWT also makes TPSP payments to Northland Utilities (NWT) Ltd. and customers who qualify and apply under the commercial subsidy program.

Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table the payments received by NTPC from the GNWT under the residential Territorial Power Support Program (TPSP) by community for the years ended March 31, 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005. These amounts do not include any payments under the TPSP to Northland Utilities or under the commercial subsidy program, as it is administered directly by the GNWT.

2) c) The corporation has paid a dividend of $3.5

million to the GNWT for the years ended March 31, 2008, 2007, 2006 and $3.3 million in March 31, 2005. The dividend is paid out of corporate net income and not on a community by community basis. Total dividends since 1989 have been $79,373,000 all of which have been used to fund the TPSP.

3) NTPC’s profit is used for two purposes. Part of it

is paid as a dividend to the GNWT to be used to fund the TPSP. The second purpose is to reinvest in assets to serve customers in order to reduce the requirement to fund assets with debt. The profit is based on a fair return on equity as set by the Public Utilities Board after a detailed review during the GRA process. The PUB determined that the fair return on NTPC’s invested equity for the 2007–08 year was 9.25 per cent allowing NTPC the opportunity (it is not a guaranteed return) to earn approximately $9 million. The need for NTPC to make a profit is contained in its incorporating act, the Northwest Territories Power Corporation Act (NTPCA), its regulations and the Public Utilities Act (PUA). The regulations to the NTPCA created equity in NTPC when the GNWT purchased the shares in NCPC in 1988. This provided the beginning of the equity that NTPC’s return (profit) were based on.

The NTPCA limits NTPC’s borrowing to three times equity; therefore, it is necessary to have equity and profits to a be able to borrow and continue the utility’s operation. The NTPCA provides for NTPC to pay a dividend to the GNWT to fund the TPSP. Dividends are paid from profits.

The NTPCA provides that NTPC will be regulated by the PUB which will establish the rate base, rate structure and revenue requirement of NTPC. Under the PUA, the rates that NTPC customers pay are set by the PUB at a level that is “just and reasonable” for the customers and one that will provide a “fair return” for the utility.

Fair returns include excess revenue (profit) that is necessary for the operation of the utility. The Supreme Court of Canada has recognized a public utility’s need to make a profit on its services and a fair return on its investment and its assets. In considering what constitutes a “fair return” for a public utility, the Court stated:

“By a fair return is meant that the company [public utility] will be allowed a large return on the capital invested in its enterprise (which will be net to the company) as it would receive if it were investing the same amount in other securities possessing an attractiveness, stability and certainty equal to that of the company’s enterprise. [Northwestern Utilities v. The City of Edmonton [1929] S.C.R. 186 at page 192].”

In 2006 the Supreme Court of Canada affirmed why a utility can earn a profit, stating “the regulated company must be able to finance its operations, and any required investment, so that it can continue to operate in the future. [ATCO Gas and Pipelines Ltd. v. Alberta Energy and Utilities Board et al, [2006] 1 S.C.R. 140 at paragraphs 62, 63].

With regard to public utilities, the U.S. Supreme Court has also recognized that “it is important that there be enough revenue not only for operating expenses but also for the capital costs of the [public utility] business.

These include service on debt and dividends on the stock.” [Federal Power Commission et al. v. Hope Natural Gas Company, 320 U.S. 591 (1944) at page 591].

Sections 28 and 29 of the NTPCA demonstrate the Legislature’s intention that NTPC could earn a profit as these sections provide that the utility must declare dividends from time to time on its common and preferred shares.

As affirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada in ATCO, “the PUB approves or fixes utility rates which are estimated to cover expenses plus yield the utility a fair return or profit.” [ATCO at paragraph 65]. When determining those rates, the Board considers many factors, some of which are set out at section 51 of the PUA:

a) the cost of the property of a public utility used or

required to be used to provide service to the public within the Territories at the time that property was first devoted to public use, and to

the prudent acquisition cost to the public utility, less depreciation, amortization or depletion;

b) the necessary working capital of the public

utility;

c) all revenues and costs of the public utility;

d) any excess revenue (or a deficiency of revenue)

received by the utility; and

e) the cost of any franchise tax or fee charged by a

municipal taxing authority.

Both the NWT Legislature and the Supreme Court of Canada have recognized a public utility’s need to earn a profit. This is necessary in order for NTPC to earn enough income to maintain assets (i.e., replace and repair broken equipment), to acquire new assets (like the Bluefish Hydro Station), to pay a dividend to its shareholder.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have Return to Written Question 27-16(2) asked by Mr. Robert C. McLeod on June 17, 2008, regarding transfer assignments in the territorial public service.

A transfer assignment can be used to provide an opportunity for an employee to gain a broader range of work experience, knowledge and skills to meet the changing demands of the work environment. It can also be used to address an operational pressure and make use of an employee’s expertise. This is done by providing short-term assignments to employees in their home department or another location within the public service.

Some transfer assignment opportunities are advertised and filled through competition, either Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) wide or within a specific department. In other cases, such as development transfer assignments for long-term employees or short-term assignments to address operational needs, running a competition is not appropriate.

The Department of Human Resources does not have statistics on the number of transfer assignment opportunities that were filled through competition in the last two years. General information on transfer assignment is published each year in the Public Service Annual Report.

Over the past two years, April 2006 to March 2008, there have been 619 transfer assignments in the GNWT. Of these, 183 were for indigenous

aboriginal employees and 103 for indigenous non-aboriginal employees.

Of the 619 transfer assignments, 113 were to management jobs. This included 23 transfer assignments for indigenous aboriginal people and 13 for indigenous non-aboriginal staff.

Only 33 of the transfer assignments were to senior management jobs. Three of the transfer assignments were for indigenous aboriginal staff and four were for indigenous non-aboriginal staff.

Thank you Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have Return to Written Question 28-16(2) asked by Ms. Bisaro on June 17, 2008, regarding the Framework for GNWT Response to Homelessness.

As described in the Homelessness Framework, the GNWT plans and develops initiatives that support the housing continuum for homeless individuals. The GNWT provides $1,395,628 annually to existing emergency and transitional housing options in the Northwest Territories (NWT). In addition, the GNWT has committed to provide funding for Bailey House and the Small Community Homelessness Fund (SCHF).

To date, the leading factors in directing homelessness initiatives are community input and community capacity. The SCHF provides funding to support the creation of emergency or transitional housing options for communities outside of Yellowknife. The annual budget for this fund is $200,000. In 2007–08, the communities of Fort Providence, Wrigley and Hay River Reserve created additional emergency and transitional housing units.

In Yellowknife the GNWT is supporting the planning efforts of the Yellowknife Homelessness Coalition (YHC). Since the inception of the Homelessness Framework, funds have been dedicated to the construction and operation of Bailey House, a transitional home for men. The GNWT contributed $1,748,000 to the construction of Bailey House and committed $200,000 annually for ongoing operational expenses. The YHC continues to plan for additional housing options, including transitional housing for women. Once the YHC submits a request, the GNWT will then determine if funding is available for additional projects.

In 2006–07 the funds for the NWT Housing Survey were redirected to the creation of the SCHF. This

decision was based on an MLA request to the former Minister of Health and Social Services. In response to community need, the funds were invested in programming as opposed to research.

A Territorial Homelessness Assistance Fund committee was established to review and provide funding allocations for the Emergency Financial Assistance Fund and the Emergency Travel Assistance Fund. The committee is made up of representatives from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Department of Health and Social Services, and sheltering agencies. The committee approved 21 assistance applications in 2007–08 and has approved 14 applications to date for this fiscal year.

To improve coordination on homelessness initiatives within the GNWT, an interdepartmental committee has been established. This committee meets on a monthly basis and is responsible for jointly supporting homelessness initiatives, administering the SCHF, advising and preparing materials for the Minster responsible for Homelessness, responding to NWT and publicly raised issues, communicating with service providers, increasing capacity, and coordinating funding information to service providers. The efforts of this committee have greatly benefited the joint knowledge of departments on the overall response and the momentum of projects related to homelessness.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have Return to Written Question 29-16(2) asked by Mr. Ramsay on June 17, 2008, regarding unfunded programs and positions at Stanton Territorial Hospital.

Currently there are no unfunded programs at Stanton Territorial Hospital. There are, however, 22 unfunded positions working within the programs at Stanton Territorial Hospital at an average cost per position of $85,000 to $95,000. We are reviewing all unfunded positions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have Return to Written Question 30-16(2) asked by Mr. Jacobson on June 17, 2008, regarding sport, recreation and youth division travel summary.

Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table the information I have previously provided to Mr. Jacobson via written correspondence.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have Return to Written Question 31-16(2) asked by Mr. Jacobson on June 17, 2008, regarding funding provided to sports and recreation partners.

Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table the information I have previously provided to Mr. Jacobson via written correspondence.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have Return to Written Question 32-16(2) asked by Mr. Hawkins on June 18, 2008, regarding autism policy information.

The Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) does not operate under a policy that is specific to autism. Services for children with disabilities are delivered within the context of the integrated service delivery model, which allows for access to rehabilitation services, referral to specialists and, if necessary, voluntary support agreements through the Child and Family Services Act. These services are based on the child’s needs, not their diagnosis. Families, service providers and Health and Social Services Authorities (HSSAs) have urged the Government of the Northwest Territories to avoid a silo approach that limits access and creates discrepancies in services families can access for children with varying disabilities. The services that are offered in the Northwest Territories (NWT) are individualized to the needs of the child, and service providers receive training specific to methods and interventions that are applicable to Autism Spectrum Disorder.

A framework for services for children with disabilities is being developed. The DHSS, in partnership with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and Stanton Territorial Health Authority (STHA), are currently consulting with service providers, families, and HSSAs to determine gaps in existing services and a recommended service delivery model. The framework is examining models of service delivery in other jurisdictions and adapting this knowledge to a NWT context. The framework will describe

existing services, access points, coordination mechanisms and additional services that are being added to the continuum as a result of approved appropriation funding. As well, further recommended additions to services are being included for future planning.

Since services are based on the child’s needs and not their diagnosis, there are no arrangements or agreements with service organizations providing treatment specific to autism. However, the DHSS does provide base funding to four HSSAs for the delivery of rehabilitation services, such as occupational therapy, speech language therapy, physiotherapy and audiology. The STHA receives funding for the child development team to provide rehabilitation intervention for children with complex needs. As well, HSSAs receive base funding for the delivery of voluntary service agreements. Through contribution agreements with HSSAs, service organizations such as the Council for Persons with Disabilities and the Association for Community Living are funded to provide services such as respite services, support and interventions. STHA has a contract with Capital Health in Alberta for the provision of services that are not available in the NWT. Generally, this agreement covers more acute services, such as intensive care unit care, but also covers specialized rehabilitation and assessments.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have Return to Written Question 33-16(2) asked by Mr. Bromley on June 18, 2008, regarding GNWT subsidies by community.

Information has been compiled that indicates that the GNWT spent approximately $54

million on

subsidy programs for 2007–08 fiscal year. The subsidy programs include:

The Territorial Power Subsidy program for both residential and commercial customers;

1) Heating oil and gasoline subsidies through the

Petroleum Products Division;

2) Senior’s Fuel Subsidy;

3) Public Housing Rental Subsidy program;

4) Homeownership Repair Program;

5) Homeownership Rental Program;

6) Homeownership Mortgage Program;

7) Non-Government Organizations Mortgage and

Rental Subsidy;

8) Subsidized band council leases;

9) Subsidized occupancy agreement for the Native

Women’s Association.

At the appropriate time, I will table a document that identifies the expenditures incurred on each of these subsidy programs for the 2007–08 fiscal year at the department and community level.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have Return to Written Question 34-16(2) asked by Mr. Glen Abernethy on Thursday, June 19, 2008, requesting a comprehensive list of all positions being deleted as a result of the 2008–2009 budget and a listing of new positions that were approved and created.

Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table two comprehensive lists. The first list includes the positions that are being deleted as a result of the 2008–2009 budget and contains: the status of the positions in August 2008, whether or not the positions were vacant on June 16, 2008. The second list, prepared by the Financial Management Board Secretariat, consists of new positions created and approved with the passing of the 2008–2009 budget.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have Return to Written Question 35-16(2) asked by Mr. Hawkins on June 19, 2008, regarding contract information with the Government of Nunavut.

Stanton Territorial Health Authority (STHA) provides a number of services to residents of the Kitikmeot region of Nunavut, including rehabilitation services through travel clinics. These services include speech language pathology (SLP) and occupational therapy (OT). These arrangements for services have been in place since the division of the Northwest Territories (NWT) and the creation of Nunavut in 1999.

In the case of rehabilitation services, the arrangements with Nunavut involve all Kitikmeot communities receiving visits twice per year by SLP and OT. Each of these visits takes place over a four to five day period, depending on travel requirements. There are additional time requirements associated with these travel clinics for preparation and follow-up. In the 2007–2008 fiscal years, OT provided a total of 80 service days to

Nunavut, and SLP provided 60 service days. All of the OT and SLP staff share in the provision of services to Nunavut. STHA also sees Nunavut client as inpatients: 154 for OT in 2007–2008; 16 in SLP in 2007–2008; and outpatients: 38 in OT and 19 in SLP in 2007–2008 with travel clinics providing a continuum of that care.

Invoicing for these services occurs regularly to the Government of Nunavut. The daily per diem for SLP and OT for travel clinics is $1,200. In addition, the actual travel costs are billed to Nunavut. Officials from the Department of Health and Social Services and Financial Management Board Secretariat are involved in discussions with the officials from the Government of Nunavut to collect outstanding receivables, to which there may be potential for write off.

The staffing levels for SLP and OT at STHA are:

•

seven full-time equivalent (FTE) - SLP

•

0.5 FTE - SLP program assistant

• 8.3 FTE - OT

•

1.0 FTE - OT program assistant

•

1.5 FTE - OT aide

Historically, the SLP positions have had at least one vacancy over the last two to three years, and at some times two vacancies, primarily due to maternity leaves. Unfortunately, SLP are extremely difficult to recruit, as there is a shortage of these individuals nationally. In contrast, the OT area has been fairly stable with little turnover and very few vacancies over the last several years.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.