This is page numbers 6849 - 6882 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 6th 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 safety.

Topics

Resolute Bay Tragedy
Members’ Statements

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to follow up on the statement made by my colleague Mr. Bromley.

I was disappointed last week when Mr. Bromley shared the GNWT results of the Safe Advantage program with me. For the 2010-2011 year, the GNWT received a penalty of $243,583.37. I understand that this is the largest penalty issued by the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission during the 2010-2011 fiscal year. In fact, it may be the largest penalty issued in the life of the Safe Advantage program.

According to the Safe Advantage program guidelines that I found on the WSCC website,

prevention programs are essential in creating a safe workplace. Further, it is important that both the employer and workers support and follow procedures outlined in the program and work to keep those programs up to date.

The penalties occur when claim costs are above experience-incentive ranges. Claim costs include all of the costs directed to an employer, such as medical aid, compensation, vocational rehabilitation, and pensions. Experience-incentive ranges are based on average assessments of individual employers. So, basically, penalties occur when the costs of workplace injuries to an employer is higher than the average cost of similar costs throughout the Northwest Territories. In short, this current penalty suggests that the GNWT has a worse than average record of workplace safety and prevention.

The Safe Advantage program has only existed for four years. In that time, as Mr. Bromley indicated in his statement, the GNWT has experienced a total claim cost in excess of $2 million. This is embarrassing. It’s my understanding that the Department of Human Resources is working to address the requirements set out in the Safe Advantage program. To this end, the Department of Human Resources is apparently working on a government-wide Occupational Health and Safety Program which will help to meet the legislative requirements set out in the Safety Act. Yet a review of the GNWT phone directory shows the only occupational health and safety position in the GNWT is at Stanton Territorial Health Authority. After four years, only one position.

There are also five health and wellness positions at the Department of Human Resources. One is a consultant and four are officers. I’m assuming the consultant is the one position in the GNWT working on the government-wide health and safety programs.

The GNWT must lead by example. We must strive for the safest workplaces in the Northwest Territories. We must stop being assessed these significant fines.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

All the Members in this House have talked about using public money wisely. Having to pay these fines is not wise use of money.

Workplace incidents are completely avoidable. As leaders we must promote behavioural changes within the GNWT that will increase workplace safety and incident prevention, and work with our injured staff to encourage early and safe return to work.

Let’s stop paying these unnecessary and avoidable fines and let’s use our money to provide quality

services and programs for our residents, programs that help our residents, Mr. Speaker. Thank you so much.

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’d like to speak to the need for mandatory regular performance audits on territorial corporations owned by the GNWT, like the NWT Housing Corporation, the NWT Power Corporation, and the Business Development and Investment Corporation. This is an issue I have raised many times before in this House, Mr. Speaker, in this Assembly and certainly in the last.

As we all know, these corporations are, of course, subject to annual financial audits by the Auditor General’s office, which examines the books and ensures the financial reporting practices are in accordance with recognized accounting principles. Mr. Speaker, while this is a very important accountable mechanism that the work is being done there, it does not do the needed added steps which gives the corporations and the directors or shareholders, that is, which are ultimately the residents of the NWT, an indication as to how effectively and efficiently these corporations are operating. This is something that should happen, Mr. Speaker, over the course of every five years, not unlike what the federal government does, and the Auditor General makes sure the federal corporations are acting and operating healthy.

I have said this before: we need to catch up with other jurisdictions that are already doing this, and by bringing our own legislation that ensures the corporations are not only following the rules but are also working as effectively as possible.

As I understand it, the review of the Financial Administration Act will very likely be on the agenda of the 17

Assembly. This would be an ideal

opportunity to bring the needed amendments, and I would strongly encourage the Minister of Finance to instruct his staff to undertake the background work so that this option can be available and considered for the next committee and government that reviews the update of the Financial Administration Act.

This is a critical piece of work that needs to be done, and it proves to the citizens of the Northwest Territories that our corporations are working efficiently and effectively, and I think it shows demonstrated proof, Mr. Speaker, that we’re getting the best dollar out of corporations as possible.

I will have questions for the Minister of Finance later today when the time comes. As well, Mr. Speaker, I will be tabling, at the appropriate time, a letter from the Auditor General of Canada who supports this initiative. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to lend my voice again today to the plight of the 1,100 residents of Northland Trailer Park located here in Yellowknife. In March I last spoke of this issue as residents were faced with intermittent water services for weeks at a time, sometimes without water for a week, because of the aging infrastructure that continues to spring leaks because it should have been replaced over 15 years ago.

Of the 1,100 residents of Northland, there are approximately 600 children, there are day homes, there are elderly persons, persons with disabilities. Mr. Speaker, they cannot endure another winter of broken lines and intermittent water service. On top of it all, Mr. Speaker, is that residents can’t go anywhere. Why is that? Because CMHC has stopped insuring mortgage loans for homes in the park for over 18 months now. They’re prisoners in their own home. To add insult to injury, residents continue to pay property tax to the City of Yellowknife. Well, what is the assessed value of a property you can’t sell, Mr. Speaker?

Again in March I warned this government that if something was not done to replace the infrastructure this summer season, that with a new winter, routine line breaks would occur with much more frequency and, ultimately, would result in a catastrophic line break for the residents of that trailer park. The Government of the Northwest Territories might like to say it’s not our problem, but when that catastrophic water or sewer line failure happens, we will have over 1,100 people, 600 children, being displaced from their homes. It will be our problem, Mr. Speaker. We’ll have no one to blame but ourselves.

As far as residents and Members of this House are concerned, the file has been on a Minister’s desk in Ottawa for 15 months. How is this possible? Yes, there was an election a few months ago, but really, who is in charge of ensuring this file gets the attention that it deserves?

The situation is reaching the brink, Mr. Speaker, the brink of disaster. We can’t afford to let this issue just sit there. We need to take action and we need to find a solution to this problem, Mr. Speaker. Residents in Northland need to have some hope

that someday someone will listen, and that someday they may be able to actually sell their homes and not live everyday in fear of a catastrophic line break that will lead them to having to leave their homes, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, over the past four years I have made many Member’s statements in this House on the subject of youth and the need to invest in our youth. Mr. Speaker, our youth are our biggest and our most important resource. The youth are our future leaders, and by investing in them, we begin to teach and instil in them this fact from a very young age. This government must realize that in order to set the path so that our youth are one day able to take over from us, this government must make it a priority to invest in such a possibility with the youth.

I think this government has put some of the pieces of the puzzle together; however, much, much more must be done. One day one of the government’s goals should be to set goals for the youth, along with a vision on what they want to see in the future. The youth of today will one day run the various governments across the Northwest Territories and must be supported. Mr. Speaker, in order for the youth to succeed in a healthy and balanced lifestyle along with their educational successes, we need to make it a priority to invest in the youth in every way possible.

We all know that youth across every community in the Northwest Territories is in dire need of a youth centre. With the youth centres that we invest in, we must make it a mandate to also invest in qualified youth workers and programming for the youth. We should have youth conferences to ensure that the next government recognizes that the youth are our future.

I believe the current government knows that the youth is one investment that returns the greatest dividends. The government needs to make it a priority in the next transitional planning. I believe that if we make a concentrated effort to invest in our youth, we will produce great and successful leaders. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It was a real honour and privilege to be attending the awards ceremony this afternoon by the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment in regard to the different cultural groups in the Northwest Territories, and more importantly, the Aklavik Dancers and Drummers.

The Aklavik Dancers and Drummers have been performing for some 30 years throughout the Northwest Territories and around the world. Mr. Speaker, without mentioning the people that really deserve the mention, it’s the elders who took the time to revitalize their language, their culture, their songs, their dances. In regard to the late Alex and Hope Gordon, old Mrs. Hansen, and the late Mr. Paul, formed by those elders who felt the importance of revitalizing the culture and language and the dancing and singing of the Inuvialuit people.

But, Mr. Speaker, it’s hard work, and dedication, and commitment, and practice that made the Aklavik drummers what they are today. It’s a real honour and privilege to watch the Aklavik dancers perform, especially with the young children that they have now taught the dancing and the singing, and seeing them perform at such a young age. It’s a real sparkle in the eye of those people performing.

Mr. Speaker, without resurrection of the language, the culture, and more importantly, the dances and the drumming, and the songs, and understanding exactly what is being mentioned and also what’s being performed, it’s something that has to be cherished not only for the Inuvialuit but for other cultures in the Northwest Territories.

It can’t be spoken about without mentioning the loss of one of their performers: Philip Elanik. Again, a performer that basically made you sit and listen, and watch him perform. He had so much energy and so much intensity, and more importantly, his performance and the way he yelled out the different songs and the energy that he carried was so important to watch, especially for those people who had an opportunity to see Philip perform.

Mr. Speaker, he will be sadly missed by the community of Aklavik, the Aklavik Drummers and Dancers, but more importantly, all those who knew him.

Mr. Speaker, again, I would like to have this opportunity to thank the Aklavik Drummers and Dancers for performing, and more importantly, being ambassadors for the Northwest Territories. Mahsi, thank you very much.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of

visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize those individuals that are in the gallery and organizations, the Minister’s Cultural Circle inductees are here with us today. First, in the youth category here with us: Evan Tordiff, along with his mother, Sylvie, and sister Lauren; Abel Tingmiak, elder category that’s here with us with his wife, Marcy Jane Tingmiak, that are here with us; Ben Nind of the individual category here with Natalie Labossiere; also here with us are the Aklavik Delta Drummers, the group category, Andrew Gordon, Eva Gordon, Alexander Gordon and Mary Ruth Meyook; also, just identifying one of our key staff players in this, Ashley Green is here with us. Also, I’d like to recognize my chiefs that are here with us: Grand Chief Eddie Erasmus and also chief of Whati, Alphonse Nitsiza. Welcome. Mahsi.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also would like to welcome Mr. Frank Pokiak from my home community of Tuktoyaktuk. Frank is the chairman of the Inuvialuit Game Council. Welcome to the House, Frank.

I’d also like to welcome Larry and Yvonne Carpenter, constituents from Sachs Harbour. Larry is the chair of the Wildlife Management Advisory Council for the Northwest Territories.

Also, Mr. Speaker, I’d like to welcome Andrew, Eva, Alex, and Mary Ruth to the House. Thank you.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize two constituents in the gallery: recent recipient of the cultural award and, most importantly, my uncle, Abel and Marcy. Welcome to the gallery. I’d also like to welcome the good folks from Never Say Die. Welcome.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to also recognize a couple of constituents from Weledeh, and we have Ben Nind, who was the inductee for the Minister’s Cultural Circle this morning in the individual category. Congratulations to Ben. I’d also like to recognize Chief Edward Sangris of Dettah, and drummer extraordinaire. I heard him performing this morning. Mahsi.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Along with the recognition of a few others that have already been recognized here, I’d like to welcome the chair of the Inuvialuit Game Council, Mr. Frank Pokiak, and Larry and Yvonne Carpenter as well. We have some other folks from the Inuvialuit Game Council; Steven Baryluk, Jennifer Lam and Bruce Hanbidge. As well, I’d like to extend our welcome to the grand chief of the Tlicho and the chiefs as well that have joined us. Thank you.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll be remiss if I don’t recognize the Aklavik Drummers and Dancers, who have already been recognized. So, welcome to the House.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. If we’ve missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to the Chamber. I hope you’re enjoying the proceedings.

Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister of Education some questions with regard to capital planning in the communities of Trout Lake and Nahanni Butte. As I said in my Member’s statement, time and time again I’ve stood up here and I’ve asked the Minister to look at Trout Lake and their need for a school, a new stand-alone school, and I’d like to ask the Minister what he has done to date and what kind of planning is happening with regard to the community of Trout Lake and a new school. Thank you.