Debates of June 9th, 2008

This is page numbers 993 to 1058 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 education.

Topics

Oral Questions

Prayer

Minister’s Statement 57-16(20) Maximizing Opportunities

Minister’s Statement 58-16(2) Mining Week

Aboriginal Employment In GNWT Senior Management Positions

Proposed Women’s Correctional Facility In Fort Smith

Gravel Source For Trout Lake

Dempster Highway Road Conditions

Counselling Services In Lutselk’e

Mining Week 2008

Training Opportunities For Young Northerners

Public Service Employment Of Persons With Disabilities

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Question 286-16(2) Gravel Source For Trout Lake

Question 287-16(2) Counselling Services For Lutselk’e

Question 288-16(2) Dempster Highway Road Conditions

Question 289-16(2) Public Service Employment Of Persons With Disabilities

Question 290-16(2) Proposed Women’s Correctional Centre In Fort Smith

Question 291-16(2) Ekati Diamond Mine Tailings Spill

Question 292-16(2) Aboriginal Employment In GNWT Senior Management Positions

Question 293-16(2) Training Opportunities For Young Northerners

Question 294-16(2) Proposed Women’s Correctional Centre In Fort Smith

Question 295-16(2) Aboriginal Employment In GNWT Senior Management Positions

Question 296-16(2) RCMP Public Complaints Process

Question 297-16(2) Proposed Women’s Correctional Centre In Fort Smith

Question 298-16(2) Aboriginal Employment In GNWT Senior Management Positions

Question 19-16(2) Summer Students Hiring Process

Question 20-16(2) Wage Subsidy Program

Tabling of Documents

Bill 11 An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Main Estimates 2008–2009 Department Of Education, Culture And Employment

Committee Motion 34-16(2) To Reinstate $110,000 For The Coordinator Assessment And Evaluation Position, Department Of Education, Culture And Employment, Under The Education And Culture Activity (Committee Motion Carried)

Committee Motion 35-16(2) ECE Modification To The Income Security Program Regarding Rent Increases (Committee Motion Carried)

Committee Motion 36-16(2) ECE Childcare Subsidy Program Reform (Committee Motion Carried)

Committee Motion 37-16(2) ECE Income Security Program Reform Regarding The Senior Home Heating Subsidy As Amended (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)

Committee Motion 38-16(2) To Defer Further Consideration Of The Department Of Education, Culture And Employment — Operations Expenditures (Committee Motion Carried)

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

Committee Motion 37-16(2) ECE Income Security Program Reform Regarding The Senior Home Heating Subsidy As Amended (Committee Motion As Amended Carried)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

I’d like to move a motion in regard to that matter, and I believe that it’s similar to the motion passed earlier. Here is my motion.

I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment modify its Income Security programs to allow employed family members to stay in their family member’s home without losing their Seniors’ Home Heating Subsidy where such an arrangement would improve their quality of life and allow for continued independent living.

The Chair Glen Abernethy

The motion is on the floor. The motion is being distributed. The motion has been distributed. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Again, Mr. Chair, I believe that we do have to revisit and relook at our Income Support programs, but I think Ms. Bisaro was right when she stated that the cost of putting these people in long-term care, or having to pay somebody to care for these individuals in their homes.... If these people decide to move out of their homes and move into social housing, this government will have to pay the full cost of that person being in social housing.

As communities that want their parents to be close by and also be able to live comfortably in the homes that they lived their lives in with their husbands, their children — watched their kids grow up and whatnot.... For most of them, that’s where home is, and that’s where they want to live their lives out.

It’s awfully frustrating when you know — as in the situation I mentioned earlier — a person that’s worked basically for this government and put their years in by serving the people of the Northwest Territories. Then finding out later on that you have cancer and then having to battle that battle. Then find out you’re being told, “Well, sorry; you’re out of fuel and there’s nothing we can do about it.” And it’s forty below and they’re running around town talking to myself and the chief and whoever else to try to get fuel into this person’s home.

We have to be able to, as somebody mentioned, put some humanity into what we do here as government and especially in this case. With that, it’s imperative that we do have a system that’s fair; we do allow for some flexibility. If it means we change exactly the income threshold that’s going to be used — finding ways to ensure that the majority of the people that really need these programs, and need the care and comfort of their family members to live with them — we have to do whatever we can.

So with that, Mr. Chair, I would be requesting a recorded vote.

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you,

Mr. Krutko. To the motion.

An Honourable Member

Question.

The Chair Glen Abernethy

The question has been called. The Member has requested a recorded vote. To the motion, Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman. I

appreciate my colleague from Mackenzie Delta bringing this motion forward. I agree with the spirit and the intent of the motion, so I will be supporting the motion. However, there is one thing causing me some concern and that’s employed family members. I’m not sure if we wanted that to include multiple family members or one family member being in that elder’s home to look after them. Is it supposed to be plural? I’m not sure. Maybe I could go through you, Mr. Chairman, to ask the mover of the motion whether or not it’s intended to be plural.

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you,

Mr. Ramsay. I will ask Mr. Krutko to provide some clarification on the motion.

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have no problem making the amendment to make it refer to family member, not family members. So I’ll agree to that amendment.

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thanks for that, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay Kam Lake

I don’t have anything further if the mover of the motion wants to move that amendment. I can move the amendment that we go to employed family member. If it’s easier to do it through me, or whether you think it’s easier to do it through the mover of the motion.

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you,

Mr. Ramsay. I’ll check with the Clerk. Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr.

Chair. I’d like to

amend my motion which will exclude or remove “employed family members” and replace it with “an employed family member.”

The Chair Glen Abernethy

The motion to amend is in order. To the motion to amend. Question.

Amendment motion carried.

The Chair Glen Abernethy

To the original motion as amended.

Some Honourable Members

Question.

The Chair Glen Abernethy

The question has been called. The Member has requested a recorded vote. All those in favour, please stand.

Principal Clerk Of Committees (Ms. Russell)

Mr. Krutko,

Mr. Bromley,

Mr. Menicoche,

Mr. Ramsay, Mrs. Groenewegen, Mr. Hawkins, Ms. Bisaro.

The Chair Glen Abernethy

All those opposed, please stand. All those abstaining, please stand.

Principal Clerk Of Committees (Ms. Russell)

Mr. Lafferty, Ms. Lee, Mr. Miltenberger, Mr. Roland, Mr. M. McLeod, Mr. Yakeleya, Mr. B. McLeod.

The Chair Glen Abernethy

The results of the recorded votes on the motion are in. We have seven in favour, zero noes, and seven abstentions.

Motion as amended carried.

The Chair Glen Abernethy

We’re going to return to page 8-33, Activity Summary, Income Security, Operations Expenditure Summary: $69.901 million.

Department of Education, Culture and

Employment, Activity Summary, Income Security, Operations Expenditure Summary: $69.901 million, approved.

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Moving on to page 8-35, Income Security, Activity Summary, Grants and Contributions, Grants: $9.051 million. Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Although I’m in support of this, I just have a question. Apparent to that, we recently about…. When it comes to our difficulty of finding people to stay in the North, or finding professionals, et cetera, et cetera, has the Department of ECE ever contemplated asking for a longer sort of remission period in order to get a little more value out of our training students when they become professionals? And hopefully they’ll come back and put a little more time in the North.

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you,

Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Daniels.

Debates of June 9th, 2008

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