This is page numbers 5293 - 5320 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 5th 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 language.

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

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Before I begin I would like to thank my colleagues on the Social Programs committee, the research staff of the Legislative Assembly, the individual professional members we had travelling with us, the members from the Department of Health and Social Services who did travel along with us, and last of all a big thank you to those people who did come forward to make their presentations.

At times it was tough for the individuals, but even tough for ourselves, having to sit there and listen to some of the experiences these individuals had with

the area of child apprehension or child custody issues and the effects it has had on especially the mothers and the loss of their children and, more importantly, the loss of the culture and values because of some of their experiences.

Mr. Chairman, I think this is something that, one of the things that as a Member who served here for some four terms, probably one of the higher achievements that I was able to take part of knowing that when this legislation first came forward in the 13th Assembly, the intention back

then was to deal with exactly what we have been confronted with today and the whole notion at that time was because we were one Territory, we had some 58 communities that we represented, more importantly, that we had basically a majority of aboriginal Members in this House which basically were sold on the idea of community involvement and responsibilities by way of establishing a child and family services committee in all of our communities and allow the community input into the process and be able to resolve those issues at the community level, more importantly, find community solutions to these social and challenges that we face in a lot of our communities, more importantly, the economic and social conditions that most communities have to struggle with, regardless if it’s employment, high unemployment, and more importantly, the lack of programs and services. I think that we do have to take a close look at how these recommendations were formatted, but more importantly, for the Department of Health and Social Services to assist them in ensuring that when they implement these recommendations that they are doable, that they are basically achievable.

There is going to be some financial expenditures to implementing this, but what is the cost of not doing it, realizing we already spend in the range of $12 million and we have some 600 children in care in our system in one way or the other. I think we have to be able to realize what effect this has had on the children that find themselves in the system by way of having to be put in the foster care programs, regardless of their placement, regardless of where they are placed.

I think it is important to realize that this legislation, since it came into effect in 1995, that a review has taken place and that the numbers have drastically increased over the period of this program and the number of children that are receiving services in this care is well over a thousand. One of the gaps that we definitely identified is those children between the age of 16 to 18 finding themselves in a grey area of who really has responsibility for those children and exactly how do we work with those children and assist those children that may not find themselves back with their parents and might find themselves in a different community or also ensuring that they do have the means that they can take care of themselves or be able to have access

to services that will assist them and be able to take care of themselves. Again, that is something that I feel we have touched on. I think that we have to show the rest of Canada that we are open to suggestions, recommendations, and realize that we are not alone in this problem. It is a national problem.

There are more children in foster care in Canada today than there were children in care in the residential schools. That is the scary phenomena that we face as Canadians, but more importantly, here in the Northwest Territories. One thing people don’t realize is there is a direct correlation between foster care, residential school and exactly the history that a lot of these children are talking about. You are talking families that go back decades in regards to being put in a type of care. In the region I represent, in the community of Fort McPherson, the first Indian residential school was opened in 1898. That is over 110 years ago. Also, in other communities, in regards to Fort Providence it was 1867, and yet we hear stories from our parents, our grandparents and now we are going to hear it from our children and our grandchildren of this phenomena that we talk about in regards to the best interests of the child. At the experience we face today in regards to the residential school phenomena, that effect does not go away simply from one generation to the next, to the next. Again, the only way we will break that cycle is we have to do things differently than we have done in the past, find solutions to work with the people, the families, the children, the communities to find workable solutions to our problems.

I would also like to correlate one of the things that doesn’t really spell out in the agreement, and I know a couple of my colleagues touched on it, is the area of poverty. A lot of these families are living well below the poverty line in Canada or, for that matter, looking at it as a third world country. Statistics have shown us that the majority of aboriginal people in the Northwest Territories have an income well below $18,000 per year and yet the majority of the other population, the non-aboriginal population, is $54,000. Even that in regards to our communities, we have large pockets of individuals that I have mentioned in regards to statistics that show that almost 45 percent of our people in the communities that I represent of Aklavik and in Fort McPherson, which is basically 43 percent make less than $30,000 a year. That is over half of our households in our communities. If the people are struggling just to make ends meet and struggling to provide for their children, their family and try to keep a roof over their head with that type of income, we have to do a better job of supporting the systems that we have and making sure they are really assisting those families, children and, more importantly, the communities to find ways of improving the quality of life for those children in our

communities, the family members who are basically struggling, more importantly, find community solutions to our problems.

Again, in the area of child and family services, one of the areas I know a lot of my colleagues touched on is the area of child and family services committees in communities. Fort McPherson is one of the areas that I have been pushing for the last number of years to take advantage of that section of the legislation, but again it was a struggle to where we are today to realizing that there is a cost associated with putting these committees, yes, but what is the cost of not allowing or involving our communities and community members to assist us in making those tough decisions, finding solutions at the community level and ensuring that the community is finding solutions to their problems and not to leave that decision to someone else in a faraway office or in a different setting outside the home communities. Let’s not continue to repeat the cycle of knowing what’s best, but find solutions to ensuring that our children are protected and their best interest are met.

In closing I’d like to offer up that I think it is important that all Members of this House speak on this issue, regardless whether it’s Cabinet Ministers or Regular Members. I think this issue is essential to the well-being of the North as a whole.

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, Mr. Krutko. General comments. Ms. Lee.

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

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to acknowledge the hard work of the members of the Standing Committee on Social Programs and congratulate them on the undertaking of this very important task.

The review of the Child and Family Services Act was timely and has offered an opportunity for the Department of Health and Social Services to hear feedback from the most important source of information: the families and communities directly affected by the legislation.

The department will undertake a detailed review of the report and recommendations and develop a comprehensive response. Many recommendations will require the input and engagement of other departments and I will work closely with my colleagues to ensure a coordinated response across the department.

I have also instructed my deputy minister to work with other departments affected by these recommendations to develop interdepartmental responses as some recommendations are cross-government. I will commit to providing an overall response within 120 days.

From a preliminary review, some of the recommendations will require an investment. Many recommendations were policy related and can be addressed without going back to alter the act. A few

recommendations will require a legal review. Some recommendations will commit future governments.

I can say that the department is very excited by the prospect of improving services for children and families and is prepared to make the most of this opportunity.

I’d like to conclude by thanking all of the numerous people who shared their stories and experiences and were involved with this review. Although there is much work ahead of us, the momentum is in place to make significant and valuable changes to the way we deliver child and family services across the Territory.

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, Ms. Lee. General comments. Mr. Ramsay.

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

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’ve got a few comments I’d like to make on the report. First off I’d like to thank yourself, Mr. Abernethy, and Mr. Beaulieu and the rest of the Social Programs committee for embarking on this ambitious piece of work. It took you over a year and I know many mornings you’d be here and on weekends as well, and I know the committee put a lot of time and effort and understanding into the issues surrounding the review of the Child and Family Services Act. It’s because of that work and commitment that I think we have a report before us that is one that speaks to a variety of issues.

The big one for me, and I’ve heard this from constituents, is that gap. We have to try to address the gap for youth between the ages of 16 and 19. I think that’s a big part of it. They’re too old for foster care, too young to receive income support. That’s a gap I think we need to address. Hopefully this leads us down that road.

I was listening to some of my colleagues speak earlier. The impact, the sheer volume and impact that alcohol, drugs and the abuse of those substances have on our communities, on our families, is devastating. I think we really need to, as a government, get to the root cause of family breakup and what’s causing things to go astray. I know we’re working towards that. We’re spending a lot of money in that area. The social indicators aren’t getting any better and I think we need to do a rethink on how we’re approaching things, especially on the prevention side.

I again appreciate all the time and effort that’s gone into the report. Hopefully we can find a way forward.

The other thing too, while I’ve got the floor, that I wanted to mention, was when families break up and the impact that has, it’s a very tumultuous time in a family’s life when the families do break up, the impact on the children who are involved in that breakup have. I’ve always been a big supporter of equal shared parenting in a way that both parents can fit into the lives of children. That’s something

that I fully support too. The more we can get in and mediate circumstances like that, the better as well. Keep family issues and family law out of the court system as much as possible. That’s a good thing. We would be doing families a valuable service if we could do that; also benefitting the children that are involved in those family breakups as well.

With that, I do hope this is a tool that can be used effectively as we move forward. Once again, thank you and thanks to the Social Programs committee and to the Minister and her staff, and everybody else who was involved in the foundation of getting this report before us 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, Mr. Ramsay. General comments. Mr. Ramsay.

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

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move to report progress.

---Carried

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

I will now rise and report progress.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Can I have the report of Committee of the Whole, please, Mr. Abernethy?

Report of Committee of the Whole
Report of Committee of the Whole

October 26th, 2010

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee has been considering Committee Report 3-16(5), Standing Committee on Social Programs Report on the Review of the Child and Family Services Act, and would like to report progress. I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

Report of Committee of the Whole
Report of Committee of the Whole

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. A motion is on the floor. Do we have a seconder? The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

---Carried

Item 22, third reading of bills. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Monfwi, that Bill 8, Social Work Profession Act, be read for the third time.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Bill 8 has had third reading.

---Carried

The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Tourism Act, be read for the third time.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Bill 9 has had third reading.

---Carried

Mr. Clerk, orders of the day.

Orders of the Day
Orders of the Day

Doug Schauerte Deputy Clerk Of The House

Mr. Speaker, there will be a meeting of the Economic Development and Infrastructure committee at adjournment today.

Orders of the day for Thursday, October 28, 2010, at 1:30 p.m.:

1. Prayer

2. Ministers’

Statements

3. Members’

Statements

4. Reports of Standing and Special Committees

5. Returns to Oral Questions

6. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

7. Acknowledgements

8. Oral

Questions

9. Written

Questions

10. Returns to Written Questions

11. Replies to Opening Address

12. Petitions

13. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills

14. Tabling of Documents

15. Notices of Motion

16. Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

17. Motions

18. First Reading of Bills

19. Second Reading of Bills

20. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of

Bills and Other Matters

- Tabled Document 4-16(5), Executive Summary of the Report of the Joint Review Panel for the Mackenzie Gas Project

- Tabled Document 30-16(5), 2010 Review of Members’ Compensation and Benefits

- Tabled Document 38-16(5), Supplementary Health Benefits - What We Heard

- Tabled Document 62-16(5), Northern Voices, Northern Waters: NWT Water Stewardship Strategy

- Tabled Document 66-16(5), NWT Capital Estimates 2011-2012

- Tabled Document 75-16(5), Response to the Joint Review Panel for the Mackenzie Gas Project on the Federal and Territorial Governments’ Interim Response to “Foundation for a Sustainable Northern Future”

- Tabled Document 98-16(5), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2009-2010

- Tabled Document 99-16(5), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 5, 2009-2010

- Tabled Document 100-16(5), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2010-2011

- Tabled Document 101-16(5), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 4, 2010-2011

- Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Social Assistance Act

- Committee Report 3-16(5), Standing Committee on Social Programs Report on the Review of the Child and Family Services Act

- Minister’s Statement 65-16(5), Devolution Agreement-in-Principle, Impact on Land Claims and Protection of Aboriginal Rights

21. Report of Committee of the Whole

22. Third Reading of Bills

23. Orders of the Day

Orders of the Day
Orders of the Day

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Thursday, October 28, 2010, at 1:30 p.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 5:07 p.m.