This is page numbers 4889 - 4926 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 million.

Topics

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are addressed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Over the last, probably, year, I think, the department has been doing or has been starting and has been engaged in a facilities needs study for the city of Yellowknife. I know we referenced it, Members referenced it in our October 2009 discussions of the capital plan and we also talked about it in February when we discussed business plans for 2010-2011. There are renovations that are needed by several Yellowknife YK 1 schools and there also needs to be a permanent home for Aurora College; it’s badly needed.

In the deliberations, in October and February the Minister stated, I believe, that the report would be expected at the end of this fiscal year, which to me means the 31st of March 2010. We’re some six weeks beyond that. I’d like to ask the Minister if the study has been completed and when we can see the results.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The study has been completed. We are in consultation with the YK 1 school board and the college. We just need to consult with them on possibly proposed changes. We need to keep in mind that the college campus, the expiry date of 2012 at Northern United Place is a pressing issue that we need to deal with. Overall, the Yellowknife education facilities have been reviewed and there have been some proposed options that we have presented to the board and also to Yellowknife MLAs for their consideration. We’re still waiting for feedback by one of the school boards and then we can certainly share that information with the general public.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

I would like to thank the Minister for his comments. The Minister mentions that there are a number of options. I do appreciate that there are options. He also mentions that they are in consultation with YK 1 and the college, then he stated they are waiting for one of the school boards. My understanding is that YK 1 has indicated their approval of one of the options, and if he is waiting for the Catholic system, then I guess I would ask them to hurry up.

I understand, as the Minister said, he’s confirmed to me my understanding is that the Aurora College lease expires in 2012. I’d like to ask the Minister if the option that is, or one of the options that is currently out there is not acceptable to somebody and these options are not approved, what plans does the Minister have for a permanent home for the YK Aurora College campus in the near future?

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

That is one of the options that we are discussing with YK 1 as well. Alternatives on the options. The decision that needs to come down and the recommendation to me as well, then make a final decision before the capital planning process begins. That’s why we’ve initiated this consultation and we are now on the verge of a final decision by the board to give us a green light to say we’re fine with the option that they are favouring. We’re just waiting for that response from the board.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

I guess I’d like to thank the Minister again for his comments. Part of the facilities plan and the options that were presented, the work that was being done by the consultant to look into things was renovations, to complete the renovations, I should say, at Mildred Hall School and to do a very large and significant renovation of J.H. Sissons School. So I’d like to ask the Minister, are there plans being considered for those two renovation projects?

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Throughout the consultation and also the Yellowknife educational facilities review, there has been undertaking of renovations. The renovations that have been highlighted has already been undertaken by our department and identified as a capital planning project on a long-term basis. Those facilities that need upgrade and major retrofit have been highlighted through our consultation with the school boards. Yes, the majority of the schools that require upgrade will definitely be part of the capital planning process.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. Final supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister again. I guess I’d just like to confirm or have the Minister confirm for me, he talks about these renovations being part of the capital plan process. I would like to ask the Minister, does he mean that Aurora College renovations, Sissons renovations and Mildred Hall School renovations will be part of the 2011-2012 Capital Plan?

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

The minor renovations and major renovations that have been highlighted by our department on the capital planning process will continue as we move along. The Member is referring to certain facilities such as the Aurora College campus. The decision has to be made on options first, before we can proceed with the capital planning process. That is in the works and they are at the final stages.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I spoke about the water tanks that need replacing in Wrigley. I believe it’s reaching a critical stage. About six weeks ago the community health representative tested about six houses and their water tanks and deemed two of them not potable, meaning that they cannot use it for household use. It’s really impacting the families there. I’m not too sure who to ask this question to. We’ve got several departments responsible for water in the community. Perhaps I can start with or ask the Minister of Health and Social Services.

What I’m looking for is that the NWT Housing Corporation had said no to replacing these water tanks, but these tanks need replacing. If they cannot access programming, then our government’s going to have to find a solution around addressing this very, very important health need. I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services if we have existing programs to help a situation like this.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In terms of a program available in Health and Social Services in this regard, we have produced promotional material and videos on the health promotion side to inform and educate people in our communities about how to keep their water tanks safe.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

I’m aware of the rules for the House, so if it was up to me, I’d keep asking each Minister individually until I reach the right one. What I’m actually after is that federally, in the eastern provinces they recently announced a Water Tank Maintenance Program in fact to replace some water tanks on a reserve. It is really getting to a crisis stage in Wrigley. They’ve got many, many homes and their water tanks are in very poor condition. They’re in arrears with the Housing Corporation. They can’t get programming to replace the tanks, so we’re going to have to look at a unique and different program for this community, Mr. Speaker.

I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services, once again: given these circumstances, is there a way to assist the community of Wrigley in replacing these water tanks? Maybe she can confer with her colleagues, as well. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Because it does affect a number of departments, the Department of Health and Social Services does do the testing. The maintenance or repairs from that point on depends again on if it is public housing, then the Housing Corporation is directly involved. If it’s a private homeowner, the homeowner then would be required to do that maintenance. They can qualify for support through the Housing Corporation, but that, again, depends on the program criteria and if they’re eligible and if they’d had support previously on other initiatives. So depending on the scenario, a number of potential outcomes apply. Thank you.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

I’m well aware of our policy and guidelines when it comes to arrears and what it means is that the government is saying no to replace these water tanks. But it is getting to the critical stage, Mr. Speaker. It is getting to a crisis situation. In fact, it can be deemed an emergency that these tanks need replacing in these communities and the residents need assistance with that. So I’m calling upon the government to come up with a strategy for the community of Wrigley and let’s address all these homes that are badly in need of replacing these water tanks. Thank you.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Mr. Speaker, there are a number of avenues that can be undertaken by individuals and, again, it would be a case-by-case scenario. If there is, for example, private homes, the Housing Corporation could be of assistance, depending on the situation. As the Member pointed out, if there are arrears that come into play, then individuals can sign a prepayment plan that may be able to make them eligible for applying again, but I’d have to further confer with the Minister of the Housing Corporation on the specifics.

I would say that maybe here’s an opportunity that we can put the Member and the Minister together to see if there are specific initiatives that could be looked at that would apply to a number of areas. For example, Mr. Speaker, if the tanks are poly, there’s a cleaning procedure that is acceptable that would bring it back to the proper standards. So, again, we’d have to get more details and see what initiatives can be looked at. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Your final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. That’s an avenue I wasn’t told about. When a couple families called me, their first line was, of course, to see the Housing Corporation and they were denied immediately. That’s exactly what it was there, Mr. Speaker, there was just an outright no. There were no alternative solutions provided to them. Hence, I’m raising it in the House and I’m glad that at least there’s one avenue that the Premier had indicated. I would like to ask the Premier if there are any other routes or avenues that we can address this critical situation of the water tanks in Wrigley. Thank you.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

I probably should have referred it to the Minister of the Housing Corporation so he can give the actual program detail, but in this case I’ll confer with the Minister of the Housing Corporation to see what initiatives may be undertaken when it comes to dealing with folks on arrears, if it’s a pre-payment plan or does it have to be paid off in full. The issue, again, becomes more specific to the unit. If it is a matter of cleaning, then that falls under the homeowner’s responsibility, and, as Minister Lee pointed out, there is a process to make that water system safe again. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, given my Member’s statement today, given all across the Territory community government organizations are saying the same thing, that communities’ number one problem is not enough counselling support, will this government commit to a long-term, small, fully functional, around-the-clock, fully equipped addictions centre? We have the nurses but, Mr. Speaker, we don’t have the counsellors in every community. Thank you.