This is page numbers 1767 to 1822 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 going.

Topics

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

Prayer.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the Chamber. Orders of the Day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, last month I joined former residential school students from across the Northwest Territories in Fort Providence for the Journey to Healing and Reconciliation Conference. The conference was hosted by the Dene Nation and featured several important discussions.

One panel discussion was led by Alex Janvier, who is a Denesuline Indian Residential Schools survivor and Order of Canada recipient, and Robbie Weismann, who is a Jewish Holocaust survivor. Another panel had Jane Morley, a commissioner with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and representatives from the Assembly of First Nations, Indian Residential Schools Resolutions Canada and the Aboriginal Healing Foundation.

At this conference, Mr. Speaker, I was asked to speak about how the Government of the Northwest Territories is supporting former residential school students. I spoke about the Residential Schools Interagency Committee, which we have always been a part of and provide funding and support to. The interagency committee facilitates government and non-government agencies to share information with former students about available programs and services.

Specifically, the Department of Health and Social Services continues to provide trauma support, counselling and referral to advanced psychological

services. The Department of Justice funds community programs that support and encourage healing. Court workers provide information on the legal system. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment continues to work with former students to provide records related to their school years.

Some of the people at the Fort Providence meetings acknowledged that we are the only provincial or territorial government that is providing support the way we do. They indicated how grateful they are for that support. They also indicated how important it is for the Government of the Northwest Territories to continue its support as we move into the truth and reconciliation phase of residential school resolution.

Later I also listened to some of the residential school survivors’ painful disclosures about what they went through, how they turned to alcohol or drugs to help them forget, and how difficult it had been to become straight and sober. This made me realize how much work we still need to do to assist survivors in their healing journeys.

It also made me realize that this government cannot afford to stop our support to residential school survivors and that we must in fact try to find ways to increase that support for our constituents, our friends and our relatives.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment and the interagency committee are now turning their attention to the truth and reconciliation panel. We will share details about the panel’s plans to travel through the Northwest Territories as soon as information is available.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, this is Small Business Week, an opportunity to recognize and

celebrate entrepreneurs and their businesses across the Northwest Territories.

Small businesses play a vital role in the economy of our communities and our territory. They provide products, services, knowledge and skills that are the foundation of sustainable local economies and enhance our quality of life.

Since March of this year an average of 2,100 individuals per month have reported being self-employed. This represents 10 per cent of all individuals employed in the Northwest Territories. Many of these individuals have and will grow their businesses to the point of being able to employ others as well.

A number of events are being hosted across the NWT in honour of small businesses. Here in Yellowknife a number of agencies — territorial, federal and non-governmental — are offering a full slate of workshops, seminars and video conferences. There are activities related to small business on every day of the week.

In particular, the Northwest Territories Business Development Investment Corporation and Canada Business NWT are offering a daylong workshop on small business bookkeeping, a noon hour video conference on starting a studio craft business and an afternoon video conference on developing a market plan. All of these events will be broadcast live to Fort Smith, Fort Simpson, Hay River and Norman Wells. In addition, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment will be presenting a full day arts workshop in Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, one of our goals as the 16th Legislative Assembly is a diversified economy that provides all communities and regions with opportunities and choices. Our priorities include developing sustainable local economies through small businesses. Small Business Week is an opportunity to meet with local entrepreneurs, attend events with a small business focus and meet some of the many individuals who work to support our small businesses every day.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Minister of Health and Social Services

Mr. Speaker, today we begin Foster Family Appreciation Week. This is the week each year that we take time to celebrate the important contribution that foster families make in the lives of children.

Foster families open their homes to children and youth, providing them with stability, guidance and nurturing. They are people who find the time and

energy to give a child a home, to give a child a chance and to give a child a place where they can be a child. They are there to help, to offer words of encouragement, to provide the care and attention needed by all children.

These families are important partners in the NWT social services network. They work in partnership with social workers, mental health professionals, schools and health care professionals to provide services and to ensure the well-being of children. They contribute to our success as a service provider in meeting the needs of our most vulnerable children. The dedication of foster parents is to be commended.

Mr. Speaker, nationally there is a shortage of foster families, and we in the NWT are no different. Foster home recruitment is a priority across the NWT, as there is an ongoing need for additional homes. Not only is there a need for all types of homes and homes with a variety of backgrounds, but there is a tremendous need for aboriginal foster homes.

I am pleased to say that the majority of the children in foster care in the NWT are placed in their home community and with their extended family. Our most current data shows we have 611 children receiving services with over half of them staying in parental, provisional or extended family homes, with 94 per cent of these children being cared for within the NWT. However, we need to do better. Our children need homes that are in their community, within their family, and homes that will ensure they remain connected to their culture. To do this we need people to come forward to open their homes to the children in need of love and support.

I would encourage anyone in the NWT who has a loving home and a desire to nurture our children in need and help care for them to call the social worker in their community and explore being a foster parent. The children of today are our leaders of tomorrow. Let’s give them the best opportunities we can.

During this week, throughout the Northwest Territories, events will be taking place to celebrate the contributions that foster families make to our communities. I wish to convey my sincere appreciation to all of the families who are choosing to make a difference in a child’s life. Thank you to all the foster families for being there for our children.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, Mr. Michael McLeod.

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to update Members on the status of our efforts at the national level to improve housing conditions and also to engage the federal government to partner with provinces and territories.

Provincial and territorial housing ministers met with representatives of national housing organizations and aboriginal leaders in Ottawa on October 8, 2008, to make the case for long term federal engagement in housing. It is our hope that our efforts will encourage the federal government to commit to work with provinces and territories on long term pan-Canadian housing solutions.

Despite a recent federal announcement extending federal funding to several key housing programs, I believe that only a long term federal commitment to housing can provide the stable and predictable funding needed to meet Canadian housing needs. This is certainly the case in the Northwest Territories. The announcement, while welcome, illustrates the problem with the current system. The lack of certainty around federal funding makes it next to impossible to conduct long term planning and develop strategies to create more affordable housing.

At the national level federal subsidies for existing social housing are declining as federal mortgages mature. Annual federal funding to provinces and territories for assisted housing will decline by $500 million over the next ten years. While housing needs grow and existing social housing stock deteriorates, the federal government will save hundreds of millions of dollars on its housing portfolio. The Ministers believe that these savings must be reinvested in existing social housing, much of which needs repair and upgrading.

For the Northwest Territories this is an even larger issue. The positive decline of federal social housing will create serious challenges for all provinces and territories. Here in the NWT it creates concern for the long term sustainability of some of our communities.

There are communities in our territory where social housing makes up the vast majority of our housing stock. It is critically important that we ensure that adequate resources are available to invest in and to operate our housing stock or risk the well-being of families in many communities.

To give you a sense of the magnitude of the problem, the subsidy provided by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation towards the operational public housing stock is declining each year and is scheduled to end by 2038. As a result, the Government of the Northwest Territories will experience a shortfall of $340 million in essential

operations and maintenance funding for public housing stock over the next 30 years.

It is an incredible challenge to sustain the delivery of public housing under these circumstances. As the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation I will continue to work with my colleagues on this issue while focusing on the unique issues facing our territory.

While in Ottawa I clearly stated that we’re also not satisfied with per capita funding for housing, as it is insufficient for our needs. Later this year I plan to meet with my colleagues in the Yukon and Nunavut to start a coordinated effort for further investments in northern housing and to ensure that our unique housing needs are recognized nationally.

Mr. Speaker, in closing I would like to thank the Legislature for unanimously passing a motion in our last sitting that stated our position clearly. While our call for an extension of our housing programs appears to have been answered, we must remain steadfast in our belief that sustainability of our social housing stock is one of this government’s key issues and will become an even larger issue in the future without support from our federal partners.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 3, Members’ statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. The Hon. Premier, Mr. Roland.

Tabling of Documents
Tabling of Documents

Inuvik Boot Lake

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Premier

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following documents entitled Ministerial Benefits Policy and Report Respecting Benefits Paid to Ministers Under the Ministerial Benefits Policy for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2008.

Document 108-16(2), Ministerial Benefits

Policy, tabled.

Document 109-16(2), Report Respecting

Benefits Paid to Ministers Under the Ministerial Benefits Policy for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2008, tabled.

Tabling of Documents
Tabling of Documents

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, Minister’s Statement 80-16(2), Tabled Document 93-16(2), Bills 14, 15, 16 and 17

and by the authority given me as Speaker

by Motion 10-16(2), I hereby authorize the House to sit beyond the daily hour of adjournment to consider the business before the House

with Mr.

Abernethy in the chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you. I’ll be calling Committee of the Whole to order. Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters. We’re looking at Member’s Statement 80-16(2), the sessional statement; Tabled Document 93-16(2), Northwest Territories Capital Estimates 2009–2010; Bills 14, 15, 16 and 17. What is the wish of the committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would suggest we resume consideration of Tabled Document 93-16(2), Capital Estimates 2009–2010. In particular I suggest we pick up consideration of Capital Estimates for Transportation before we continue with Industry, Tourism and Investment and Environment and Natural Resources. Following that, we’ll resume with consideration of ECE and Public Works and Services, in that order, and hopefully consider these matters through to conclusion today.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Is the committee agreed?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Honourable Members

Agreed.

Tabled Document 93-16(2) Northwest Territories Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Mr. Miltenberger, do you have witnesses?

Tabled Document 93-16(2) Northwest Territories Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

I do, Mr. Chairman.

Tabled Document 93-16(2) Northwest Territories Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Is committee agreed?

Tabled Document 93-16(2) Northwest Territories Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Honourable Members

Agreed.

Tabled Document 93-16(2) Northwest Territories Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

If we can get the Sergeant-at-Arms to please escort the witnesses in, that would be great.

Mr. Miltenberger, can I get you to please introduce your witnesses.

Tabled Document 93-16(2) Northwest Territories Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have with me Margaret Melhorn, deputy minister of Financial Management Board, Mr. Russ Neudorf, deputy minister of Transportation, and Mr. Mike Aumond, deputy minister of Public Works and Services.

Tabled Document 93-16(2) Northwest Territories Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. We’re on page 8-10, Transportation, Activity Summary, Highways, Infrastructure Investment Summary. Mr. Krutko.

Tabled Document 93-16(2) Northwest Territories Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

I have a question with regard to the insurance and liability of this government. I have several inquiries from my constituents about the condition of the roads and damages that occurred to their vehicles by way of punctured fuel tanks, busted steering rods and in some cases wheels falling off.

I know this government has under the Department of Finance a risk management and insurance section, and I know that it insures normal wear and tear. But when you have steering rods busting off and people’s tanks being punctured because of the condition of the roads, I think this government has to face the possibility that there is some liability.

I’d like to ask the Minister: exactly what is the case for individuals who find themselves in a situation where they’ve been stranded because of having a wheel busted off? I’ll use a scenario. I know that a number of years ago there was an individual killed on the Dempster Highway when his eighteen-wheeler hit a pothole in the road — basically corroded from the bottom up. The guy hit the hole, flipped his vehicle, and he was killed in the accident. I know this government was taken to court, and it cost us about a million dollars, so there is that liability aspect of our responsibility. We note a lot of times driving the highway that there are these holes along the road. You see them popping up. Once in a while you’ll see an orange cone sticking out of them by way of a marker. But, again, we have to realize that we’re not immune to these liabilities.

I’d just like to ask the Minister: exactly what is the government’s responsibility when it comes to those types of liabilities, knowing we’ve already been taken to court, knowing we’ve already been found to be at fault? Again, I’d like to ask the Minister: exactly where are we in regard to this issue? I know the Minister has been receiving correspondence from a constituent of mine. So that’s why I’m bringing it here today.