This is page numbers 4527 - 4554 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 4th 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 territories.

Topics

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Thank you. The community recognizes that the Minister is not asking them to change status, but it’s asking for provisions into the NWT Act to accommodate them. Will the Minister commit to keeping me informed and the community when these discussions are to be taking place, so I can also keep the community abreast of the most recent things that are occurring in these discussions?

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

The NWT Act is a federal act that we don’t change. The bands are governed by the Indian Act, so we’re working with the band to try to get them to form an interim corporation so the money can go to them. But I will commit to working very closely with the Member and seeing if we can get the message to the leadership in Lutselk’e that this is a step that they should look at taking for the benefit of getting capital land gas tax dollars into their community. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask a few more questions of the Minister of Health and Social Services relative to the supplementary health benefits proposed changes. I did ask about the timeline for consultation and implementation and mentioned the implantation date. I will try my question again and ask the Minister on what is the implementation date of September 1st based. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Minister of Health and Social Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member is aware, this policy was changed by the last government in 2007. My job was to implement those changes. The first time out, the public and the Members wanted us to review the changes. We are now ready to go back with some

of the hard facts about the program: what it does, how does it work, what is it for, how is it different from the Canada Health Act. So we are going back to the public to have that discussion. Originally this was scheduled to be implemented in April 2009 and it’s been delayed to September this year, so that’s the date. I believe the Member is aware of all that historical background. Thank you.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

I thank the Minister. I am aware. I thank her for the short history lesson. My question was more to the amount of time that’s required for implementation. How much time is being allocated for consultation? How much time is needed for implementation? That was why I asked for the basis for September 1st .

To the Minister: once a decision is made on whatever these changes are going to be, how soon does she and the department expect the changes could be implemented?

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Minister of Health and Social Services

As I stated earlier, these changes are to be implemented September 1, 2010.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

I’ll try to be a little more definite. If a decision were made tomorrow, how much time is required for the department to put in place implementation? There’s got to be changes, I would imagine, within the bureaucracy that are going to be required to put in place whatever changes are determined to get them into effect. How much time is required from when a decision is made to when things can be immediately implemented after that? How many months? How many days? How many years?

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Minister of Health and Social Services

I will have to speculate a little bit. I’m not going to speculate. I can tell the Member -- and I think that’s what the Member is getting at -- I believe the department is prepared to implement with any changes of the policy within three months. So for September 1st implementation, by June they

will be ready to implement it in September.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Final supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Minister for that specific information. She mentioned, when I asked earlier, that there’s no need at this point for cost information, but I’d like to ask the Minister this question -- and I exaggerate these dollars totally -- if it’s going to cost $100 million to cover the end of our working spectrum who are not currently covered, if it’s going to cost $100 million to do that, that’s going to have a huge impact on what I determine to do with the “high-end” earners or where I’m going to get the revenue from to offset that expense. I’d like to ask the Minister again how she believes that we can make a decision without knowing the costs involved.

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Minister of Health and Social Services

We could do that because this is not about cost cutting and this is not offsetting.

The Member knows that this is not a reduction of extended health benefits. This is about having a dialogue with our residents about what extended health benefits are as opposed to insured core health service that everybody is entitled to. Every Canadian, every NWT resident is entitled to doctor services and hospital services and some other procedures. Extended health benefits are extra benefits that each government does and they are different all across Canada. The conversation we are having is we are going to talk to the people about how it works now. And we’re not talking about the basket of services. We’re not talking about reducing. This is not a cost-saving measure. This is not a cost-cutting measure. This is about sustainability and making this program more fair and accessible to people who need it the most. Right now people get it if they’re over 60 or if they have a specific condition. We’re looking to see how the access could be more fair and equitable based on need, and income being one of the factors.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. David Ramsay on February 23, 2010, regarding the rationale for contract to facilitate a basic accounting course.

In 2008 the government was in the initial stages of implementing its new financial information system. It became apparent that financial staff across the GNWT would need an increased level of understanding of basic accounting concepts to operate the new system. A review of various basic entry-level accounting training programs and services being offered, particularly in the North, was conducted. This included offerings from the School of Community Government and Aurora College.

It was determined that the offering from the School of Community Government was the best match for the identified needs. The course has a northern focus and was designed for northern accounting staff. The curriculum needed some minor modifications to provide relevant examples for GNWT staff and highlight expected changes between the old financial accounting system and the new system.

As MacKay LLP were the original developers of the training materials for the School of Community Government, they were contracted on a sole-source basis to make the necessary modifications

to their original material and provide “train the trainer” courses. The decision to award the contract on a sole-source basis was made by the previous deputy minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat on the advice of the FIS Project Deputy Minister Steering Committee.

However, the contract had not been formally signed before a change in deputy ministers occurred. Because deputy ministers may not enter into contracts with immediate family members unless authorized by the ethics counsellor, the current deputy minister sought and received the authorization of the ethics counsellor before the contract was executed. Arrangements were made as recommended by the ethics counsellor, to ensure that contract administration and dispute resolution, if required, excluded the deputy minister.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Clerk.

Tim Mercer Clerk Of The House

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to Written Question 19-16(4) asked by Mr. David Krutko on February 10, 2010, regarding details on Northwest Territories Housing Corporation’s applications.

It should be noted that the Housing Choices programs were introduced in 2007, so the information provided here is for the years 2007-2009 and includes information for the 2009-2010 program intake.

The NWTHC offers three homeownership and repair programs through Housing Choices:

Contributing Assistance for Repairs and

Enhancements (CARE);

Homeownership Entry Level Program (HELP); and

Providing Assistance for Territorial Homeownership (PATH).

During the period in question, the NWTHC received a total of 316 applications for these programs in the communities of Aklavik, Fort McPherson, and Tsiigehtchic. Of these applications, 161 were approved program assistance while 131 applications were declined as the applicants did not meet program criteria. In addition, 16 applications were withdrawn by the applicants. Nine applications from the 2009-2010 intake period are still pending approval at this time.

In addition to CARE, HELP, and PATH, the NWTHC also offers educational programming to prospective homeowners through the Solutions to Educate People Program. During the years in question, the total attendance at STEP courses in these communities was 155.

In addition to Housing Choices, the NWTHC also delivers repair programs in the NWT on behalf of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. During the year in question, an additional 28 applications were received for these programs, 21 of which were approved. Four applications for the 2009-2010 intake period are still pending while three applicants for these programs were declined as the applicants did not meet program criteria.

Return To Written Question 21-16(4): Barrier-Free Housing
Returns to Written Questions

February 25th, 2010

Tim Mercer Clerk Of The House

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to Written Question 21-16(4) asked by Mr. Robert Hawkins on February 12, 2010, regarding barrier-free housing.

Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Design Guidelines for units incorporating barrier-free/visitable design features, as well as a listing of public housing units that incorporate barrier-free features in the NWTHC inventory. As specific data on the number of bedrooms is still being compiled, I will provide this information to the Member prior to the next sitting of the Legislative Assembly.

The NWTHC considers a unit to be barrier free or visitable if it provides a basic level of accessibility and independent access for everyone, including people with limited mobility or those with disabilities. While the modifications that may be made to a unit are unique to the personal situation of the resident who requires these modifications, they can include items such as a one-level no-step entry, wider doorways, a wheelchair accessible bathroom on the main floor, reinforced bathroom walls, levered door handles, raised electrical outlets, and lowered climate controls and light switches.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Item 10, petitions. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

---Unanimous consent granted.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Return to item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to acknowledge the work of a constituent who is working here as a Page, Mr. Tommy Jorge. As well, I’d like to thank the rest of the Pages for all the hard work they’ve done for Members this past week and for their service to this House.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Northwest Territories Tourism 2010-2011 Marketing Plan.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.