This is page numbers 2215 - 2266 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 3rd 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.

The House met at 1:35 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, the lead Minister on Strategic Initiative committee.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take the opportunity today as the lead Minister for the Refocusing Government Strategic Initiative Committee to provide an update on the activities related to the Board Reform Initiative.

We need to take a moment to take stock of the whole board reform idea and where it has come from. It is important to remember that the question of how the GNWT approaches boards and agencies has been discussed by the Legislative Assembly for more than a decade. This is not an idea that has just occurred during this Assembly. During the 15th Assembly, Members were involved

in an extensive boards and agency review that considered many of the same issues on the table for discussion now. With our renewed focus on effective and efficient government in the 16th Assembly, the time is right to move forward with changes. We can take steps now that will allow us to offer improved services to our residents and help us resolve some long outstanding issues.

Board reform is not about suggesting that the boards aren’t working hard to deliver programs and services. However, it is about recognizing that a large part of the client base for each of these boards is the same people and that the issues in one area cross over into another. It is also about ensuring that what funding we do have is spent as much as possible on direct delivery of programs.

The Northwest Territories is relatively small in terms of its population. At the moment, there are more than 70 different education, health and housing boards at the local and regional level. Each of these boards has a dedicated group of individuals who represent community or regional interests, an administration, and programs that it delivers. This wasn’t necessarily a situation the government set out to create. The current structure emerged over many years as individual boards were created, sometimes in response to specific circumstances or needs. While some boards may function well individually, they were not necessarily designed to function as a system. We need to ask ourselves if this is the approach we need now, or if we want to have a system specifically designed to deliver integrated, comprehensive services to our people.

Mr. Speaker, when we got together at the start of the 16th Legislative Assembly a key message from

Members was that we needed to get on with board reform. Work had been done in the past on various elements of the system and the call was for us to act. In trying to determine the most appropriate approach, there were three factors that drove our thinking.

First was that regional input into service delivery mattered and should be preserved. We have a long history of having local input into program delivery. While some might prefer to see all services delivered at a territorial level, we believe that regional priority setting is an important feature of our approach to boards that must be retained during this reform.

The second element was that a case management approach was needed. Our services should focus on our clients and their needs, which is aided by removing barriers to people working together and integrating service delivery wherever possible.

Board reform is not about fixing particular problems with education boards or health boards, but it is about finding better ways to serve the needs of our residents. This is not to suggest that many of our regional staff aren’t already trying to find ways to work together, but often these efforts are done in spite of, rather than because of, the organizational structures we have in place.

The third element of our thinking was related to the management and administrative duplication that occurs when 70 boards are involved in governance for health, social services, education and housing programs. While board reform isn’t about saving money, it only makes sense that we don’t need separate administrative structures for every single business line when these resources could more effectively be directed at front-line delivery in services our residents need.

Mr. Speaker, we have heard concerns from Members, stakeholders and the public about the amount of information the government has provided on the Board Reform Initiative. I understand that people are concerned about what this initiative might mean for them and are anxious to hear some details. We intend to provide those details as work on this initiative progresses. Board reform is a significant undertaking and we did not want to finalize our plans behind closed doors without input from the people it will affect. Our strategy was to get some initial ideas and concepts on the table for discussion, rather than to try to work out all the details before letting the public know what was going on.

In late January, we released a document that provided a description of the general approach to the proposed regional services boards. This document was not intended to answer every question or provide specific implementation plans, but rather to support continued discussion on elements of the proposed approach. We have been consulting with boards and staff on this general approach and also want to hear from the public and other stakeholders. We have posted the consultation package already distributed to boards on the Department of Executive website. The package includes an overview of the issues we are looking at as we develop our plans, and asks specific questions about elements in our approach. I encourage anybody with an interest in board reform to download and read the package and give us their thoughts on the issues we have brought forward at this time.

To those who are merely standing to say “no” to a change to how boards operate in the NWT, we would ask that you give some thought to the goal we are trying to achieve. We want to provide better and more effective services for our residents. We encourage you to come to the table not with a no, but with a list of what is most important to you and your ideas about opportunities to work better together within communities and regions.

Board reform is a work in progress. The issues are complex and it will take time to develop our plans and implement any changes. We have stated in the past that this may end up taking on different forms in different regions. There may also be a

different time frame for implementation in different regions and it is possible that a phased approach will be most effective.

Much has been made of the milestone set for this coming April. Let us be clear that this is only one such point on a much longer path. In April, the first round of consultations on our general approach will be done and we will have completed some of the more detailed costing associated with board reform. We will then be in a position to work with Regular Members and make decisions on how we want to proceed with this initiative. No one has suggested that regional services boards would be established this April or that all final decisions will be made.

Mr. Speaker, I want to state for the record that boards are an important and vital part of how the GNWT manages and delivers services to the people of the Northwest Territories. Boards are a critical link between the government and the people we serve. We depend on the boards to ensure that services are meeting community and regional needs and we do not see that role changing. Boards do good work and this initiative is not because we think they don’t. But where we are doing a good job now, we believe we can do an even better job in the future.

I encourage all Members to continue to engage in a dialogue on the best path forward. There are some that may prefer that we do nothing. I believe that if we are true to our goals and priorities for the 16th Legislative Assembly we will all work together to make the changes needed. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Minister of Education, Culture and Employment

Mr. Speaker, this week we are celebrating Aurora College Week. Our northern college provides many opportunities for NWT adults to develop new skills and engage in lifelong learning.

Twenty or thirty years ago, people could graduate from high school, take a few years of training and be set for life. Those days, Mr. Speaker, are gone.

Technology is always changing, knowledge is expanding and skill demands are continually evolving. What was considered an adequate level of skill 10 years ago might not be adequate today. Ten years from now, we expect that NWT adults will need additional skills to those required today.

In the 21st century, adults from all walks of life must

be lifelong learners to keep up with the pace of change. Lifelong learning happens in the classroom, the workplace, the community and at home. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment encourages NWT residents of all ages to keep learning and developing new skills. The global and national economic recession is a concern for all of us. Every night on the news there are stories of Canadians losing their jobs and falling on hard times. However, even in this economic recession, some employers are having a hard time recruiting employees with the skills needed to do specific jobs. The jobs that are the most resilient to economic ups and downs are high-skill and knowledge-intensive jobs. One of the best things Northerners can do to protect themselves from economic hardship is to continuously upgrade their skills.

Aurora College offers a wide variety of programs, ranging from academic upgrading to degree programs. Aurora College also offers many evening continuing education courses, so NWT residents can upgrade their skills without taking time off work.

I encourage NWT adults to explore the many opportunities Aurora College provides for them. I encourage all NWT residents to become lifelong learners. During Aurora College Week and every week, learning is for life.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, by tradition, the third week in February is celebrated across Canada as Heritage Week. This year in the Northwest Territories, many organizations are celebrating the importance of heritage.

I would like to highlight some of the Heritage Week events that will be taking place in the Northwest Territories this week.

On February 16 and 17, several organizations are promoting heritage and culture-based education resources at the NWT Teachers Conference in Yellowknife. Representatives from the NWT Heritage Fairs Society are giving out pieces of a “heritage” cake February 16 to mark the significance of National Heritage Day.

The Norman Wells Historical Centre has organized a storytelling event today aimed at local family participation. Long-term resident Ed Hodgson is sharing some of his favourite stories of life on the land. The Historical Centre continues to feature many exhibits of history, art and cultural heritage of the Sahtu region. For example, moosehide craftwork by Sahtu Dene artisan Myrtle Harrison is on exhibit along with artifacts and natural history

specimens that portray the beauty of the land and tell the story of the CANOL Trail, exploration and aviation history of the region.

The City of Yellowknife Heritage Committee kicked off its celebration of Heritage Week yesterday with an afternoon of storytelling and a heritage art show at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. They also announced the winners of the 2008 Heritage Award to the Mildred Hall School heritage mappers.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to invite Members to the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre to view the various new displays and exhibitions including Pihuaqtiuyugit – We are the Long Distance Walkers. The exhibit features traditional place names near Ulukhaktok and the literacy skills used by Kangiryuarmiut to travel from ancient routes from the sea ice inland to caribou calving grounds.

Awareness, appreciation and promotion of our northern heritage is important because it helps strengthen our cultural identity as individuals, families and communities.

I would like to recognize the efforts of all cultural and heritage organizations and individuals across the NWT who work to promote, preserve and revitalize our unique northern heritage throughout the year. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to speak today about diamonds and our local cut and polish industry. I spoke numerous times about the Government of the Northwest Territories’ inability or lack of desire to pursue new directions and a commitment to the secondary diamond industry here in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, Laurelton diamond factory closed its doors and with it 40 jobs were eliminated. I have constituents with young families who worked at Laurelton who have come to me and said could this have been avoided? Where was the Government of the Northwest Territories when it came to protecting the jobs at Laurelton and the cut and polish industry? Mr. Speaker, an industry that we have worked so hard to establish is being left to die on its own and my belief is that it’s not too late. The Government of the Northwest Territories must

look at ways to be flexible and accommodating during these rough economic times. We need to sit down with the existing cut and polish factories and find some creative ways to keep their doors open and retain the 65 jobs that remain in these factories. What good is a new diamond policy going to be if we don’t have any factories left?

The Arslanian and polar bear factories are shut down all of this week and already five employees have been laid off. The factories are closed so that management can come up with a plan as to how to survive in this worldwide recession and their plan may be to close the factories for good. This would be an outright shame.

I believe the Government of the Northwest Territories should be trying to sort out some interim rules or policy to allow the remaining factories to function. According to industry experts, the turnaround in the diamond industry will not happen until the last quarter of 2010. The next two years will be extremely difficult for existing cut and polish factories. We need to ensure that we do everything in our power to help these factories and the cut and polish industry survive until the market turns around.

Do we not care about the remaining 65 jobs and families involved? Can’t we show this industry and the diamond world that we actually care about the cut and polish industry here in the Northwest Territories?

I will have questions for the Minister of ITI at the appropriate time.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Spring will soon arrive in Fort Liard. Spring, as Liard residents know, brings the bison into their town. Some communities in the Northwest Territories may have dogs roaming around in town. Other communities may have unsupervised youth or children looking for trouble. In Fort Liard there are bison. They can ruin the trees, dig up gardens, damage properties, and are a significant hazard to the residents.

The Minister of Environment and Natural Resources committed to the development of a Bison Management Plan. A draft Bison Management Strategy is now out for public comment; a plan that suggests that it will take another two years to prepare a plan specifically for the Nahanni herd. The unwelcome visitors in Fort Liard belong to the Nahanni herd.

The Bison Management Strategy also states that ENR will immediately increase its efforts to keep bison out of the communities, including the increasing availability of public education materials.

Last spring the Minister advised me that the department was considering increasing the quota for the community from one to six animals and was working with the Department of Transportation on fencing options, including testing electrified fencing.

I recognize the Minister is getting started on the task. I suggest to the Minister that, to the best of my knowledge, new public education materials are not going to keep the bison out of Fort Liard. Nahendeh residents continue to expect more substantial action from the Minister to help us with this serious problem.

I’ll be asking the Minister questions during question period.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.

Salvation Army
Members’ Statements

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about the Salvation Army and highlight the wide range of services it offers to the people of the Northwest Territories.

As Members of this House and the general public are aware, there are serious issues of homelessness and substance abuse in the North. Since 1981 the Salvation Army has been one group of many who attempt to address these issues in our community. They provide a noon hour soup line and an evening supper at the entrance of their shelter. Free bread is distributed during office hours. The emergency shelter provides a secure sleeping place for people who would otherwise be left in hazardous situations. Activities and an evening snack are available to clients who are sober or who are involved in transitional programs.

As we know, people will not change their lifestyles until they make personal decisions to do so. Fortunately, when someone decides to make a positive change, the Salvation Army is prepared to help. Case workers support clients with withdrawal management services followed by Life Recovery and Making Productive Choices programs that deal with life skills, emotional stability, and relapse prevention. Staff and volunteers also provide assistance with resume writing, as well as with job and apartment searches. They help address education and literacy needs. The Salvation Army also offers budget counselling, emergency clothing

vouchers to be redeemed at their Thrift Store, and family housing assistance.

The Salvation Army staff are extremely busy. Volunteer opportunities are available in many areas. Members of the public make donations to the food bank or participate in Christmas Food Hamper and Adopt-a-Family programs, and all is coordinated through the Salvation Army.

Services are not exclusively for the homeless. They are available for any community members who are at serious risk. They do, however, offer some programs targeted at specific groups. For instance, accommodation and life recovery programs are available for men only. With the opening of the Bailey House, the Salvation Army hopes to better support men in transitional circumstances.

If we ignore the issues of addictions and homelessness, more people will be victimized on the streets and we will experience more poverty and crime in the North. The Salvation Army reaches out to the individuals, addressing a great need in our community.

I would like to recognize and applaud all of the staff and the volunteers of the Salvation Army and thank them for their dedication to the Northwest Territories. Let’s remember their contributions and pledge our continued support.

Salvation Army
Members’ Statements

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to speak about the need to develop and expand our research capacity and knowledge on northern climate change. The Northwest Territories is on the front lines of climate change and if Northerners are to successfully adapt to these changes, we need to understand it and how to apply this knowledge to our everyday lives.

The Yukon government has taken a proactive approach to better understanding these changes and impacts. It was recently announced that it will fund the Yukon Research of Excellence. The mandate of the research centre is to develop, coordinate, and support leading edge research on climate change adaptation for the Yukon. It is also supporting the Yukon Cold Climate Innovation Centre, which will focus on the development of viable business opportunities related to cold climate technologies.

I believe we need to make similar investments in this type of research and take a proactive approach

to climate change adaptations and innovative technologies in the NWT. It will help us better understand what changes are occurring as a result of climate change. What can be done to adapt to these changes and potentially develop made-in-the-North, made-in-the-NWT solutions?

We have a number of organizations that are committed to climate change work in the NWT. They include the Arctic Energy Alliance, Ecology North, and the Aurora Research Institute. An investment in these types of research moves us closer to our goals of a greener, more sufficient Territory.

The old saying used to be that climate change was on our doorstep. I’m going to say that story is no longer. Climate change is like an unwanted visitor who is on my couch and not going away.

I would have to say the world is hungry for this type of urgent information. I encourage the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources to reach out to the federal government and our many partners to help create and establish a centre of excellence here in the Northwest Territories, a climate change research centre. This is an institute that could be good for all.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice announced recently that the government would be committing an undisclosed amount of money to subsidize Imperial Oil and its partners for costs associated with the Mackenzie Gas Project. Given that the environmental and national review process is not completed yet, this is a serious breach of the government’s responsibility to the people and an insult to many of those who participated in the review.

Rather unbelievably, our own Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment said that he was very pleased with the announcement. By backing the project financially, the federal government has not just gone against their word, they have severely undermined their ability to make fair and objective decisions about the MGP.

Despite the review process not being complete, the government has clearly made its decision. Minister Prentice speaks of the project as a done deal, ensuring that once the review process has been completed the project would proceed quickly.

We know something about conflict of interest, and in my mind the federal government’s decision is unequivocally a clear breach of ethics on conflict of interest. It’s bad enough that the feds are undermining the voice of our people by essentially bypassing the review process, but to have our Cabinet publicly support such a move is outrageous.

Esso is one of the richest companies on earth, regularly announcing unbelievable levels of profit while crying for subsidies. Whose side are we on, the people’s or the multi-national oil companies? It’s a question worth asking, Mr. Speaker, because as it stands, the pipeline is going to benefit the oil companies far more than it will benefit Northerners. At the very least, where is our use of this project to leverage devolution so we can actually ensure meaningful benefits? Where is this government’s demand that this gas be directed to replacing dirty fuel or the transparent process to ensure our public that this will occur? Where is the demand that this gas not be used to fuel an industry that is currently threatening our water quality for the length of the Mackenzie River?

At a time when our economy is in serious trouble, thousands of Canadians are losing jobs and our environment is threatened as never before. Our federal government is handing out money behind closed doors and ignoring due process. How about diversifying our economy and creating jobs in alternative energies and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and our escalating vulnerability to climate change?

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and colleagues. Here, Mr. Speaker, in the Northwest Territories, we are completely unprepared tax wise or regulatory wise to ensure maximum benefits within a narrow window of authority we do have. Trying to do the same old things the same old way does not serve our people and sometimes it is downright shameful. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Today I want to highlight the Akaitcho Business Development Corporation and their 2008 award winners. The Akaitcho Business Development Corporation works to advance economic development in Ndilo, Dettah and

Yellowknife through assistance to small businesses. Last year the corporation assisted over 56 businesses with loans, loan guarantees and business advice and that resulted in the creation of more than 75 full-time jobs.

In December of 2008 the Akaitcho BDC held their annual general meeting and awards luncheon and five Yellowknife area businesses received awards in recognition of their success. They were the Bella Dance Academy, business of the year. Ms. Lina Ball is the owner of the academy and received the Excellence of the Year award previously. S.L. Painting, Youth Business of the Year. Mr. Sebastien Lévesque began his business in 2007 to fill an expanding need in the Yellowknife market. Didehcho Gas and Diesel Services, Aboriginal Business of the Year. This business is owned by Grant Blondin and has become well known for quality repairs and services on machines run by gas and diesel. YK Glass Recyclers, Environmental Business of the Year. Matthew Grogono started recycling glass in 1994 and converted YK Glass Recyclers to a co-op in 1997. Sam’s Monkey Tree and Diamante Restaurant, Excellence of the Year award. Harvey Bourgeois and Steve Dinham credit the success of their business to concentration on service and the quality of the food.

Mr. Speaker, the success of these businesses is impressive. Owning and operating a small business is a daunting and all-consuming task. Most new businesses struggle and some of them do not survive. I would like to congratulate all of the award winners and make special mention of the following 13 businesses who have each achieved the five year mark in the life of their business and that is a very significant mark. They are: DJ’s Towing, Donald Clark; Euphora Hair Spa, Samantha Kidston; Birchwood Gallery, Tony Watier; Behind the Scenes, Pat Thagard; Certified Refrigeration and Burner Services, Ellison Watkins; Aurora Telecom Services Ltd., Mark Rocher; Millenium Technology Solutions, Norm Fillion; McKay Electric, John McKay; J&A Fire Protection, Jim and Angie Mernickle; Yellowknife Funeral Services, Bill Skentos.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and colleagues, for allowing me to finish this great list. JMS Services, Dave Hysert; DW Maintenance, Darrell Peddle; Quarter Pound Fries, Dave Lantz.

I think everybody has had some of those great fries. They each deserve our congratulations and best wishes for another successful five years in their business. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, being the former vice-president of the Northwest Territories Metis Association is an honour by way of wearing my Metis sash today in recognition of the father of the Metis revolution, Louis Riel.

This day in 1885 Louis Riel was hung for the Red River Rebellion. He was a leader and a man with foresight in regards to the battle of First Nation and Metis rights in western Canada. Louis started the First Nation rights as we know them today. The battle for settling treaties has crossed western Canada, the settling of land claims and the battle for constitutional protection and recognition for First Nations and Metis people in Canada.

Looking back 124 years, aboriginal people have come a long way. The challenges and the recognition of their rights in Canada are still a struggle today. It is still with us today with the leaders of today and the aboriginal people that basically strive for those rights can look back in regards to 124 years and realize that Louis Riel was a hero. His struggle and this battle for recognition of indigenous people’s rights in Canada wasn’t lost for all. He is a leader that has taken the sacrifice for what we have today as native people in Canada. The Metis people in Canada should celebrate that 124 years ago the struggle began with the death of Louis Riel. Native people, Metis rights, constitutional protection is something that is a result of the protection of section 35 of our Constitution, which means something to First Nations people. But yet today, people still do not recognize aboriginal land claims, aboriginal treaties and aboriginal rights when it comes to health care, education, dental care. Yet, Mr. Speaker, the struggle goes on.

Again, with that, I would like to say, mahsi, Louis. Thank you for the struggle. Without you, we wouldn’t be here where we are today. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member for the Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, today I listened to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment talk about the lifelong learning specifically in the Aurora College initiative that is happening down the

Mackenzie Valley in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to congratulate the people who are making a difference in the small communities and large centres in terms of entering into college or university or learning the new technology of the workplace.

Mr. Speaker, my concern with the smaller communities is that a tracking of our education system. Mr. Speaker, we have lots of young people who are graduating from school who are finishing Grade 12 but have a very difficult time entering into college or university because sometimes they have to do a couple of years of upgrading to prove their standards to enter into a qualified program at either a college or university. Sometimes the support isn’t there and so these students are left out in the cold, so to speak.

As a case in point, I have several constituents in the Sahtu that have finished Grade 12. We celebrated and graduated them, and yet when they try to enter into a college program of their choice, or university, they are told that they have to upgrade their skills in order to enter into that college. That is where I feel that the education system is somewhat needing to be improved with our students here.

I want to look at these gaps here in terms of where this department is focusing their energy to help these young students to get into colleges and to support them through the college system, even though it means that we have to look at different areas where we can support them through a preparation for college or a university either here in the Northwest Territories or somewhere in universities. Sometimes we seem to not have enough resources to support them. I would want to question the Minister later on in the House in terms of what ways we can look at supporting these young students into colleges or universities and not let them fall between the cracks in terms of the education system. I will be asking questions to the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you.