Good afternoon, colleagues. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Beaulieu.

Mr. Speaker, in my travels across the Northwest Territories, meeting with communities, attending assemblies and numerous board meetings, I have heard one constant theme: Addictions are destroying our families and communities.

This government spends millions of dollars on addictions services, but our people are still drinking in large numbers.

Almost every family in the NWT is touched by alcohol addiction. I will not deny that drugs and pharmaceutical abuse is an issue, but alcohol is the drug that is breaking apart families, keeping young people from doing well in school and preventing many people from getting and keeping good jobs. This is not news to anyone in this House.

Mr. Speaker, we offer addictions counseling through community wellness workers, mental health workers, detox programs and a Territorial Treatment Centre. We support communities and NGOs to provide community-based programs and send people to southern Canada to attend treatment programs, but we have seen little change as a result of this investment.

Mr. Speaker, we need to stop and ask ourselves not whether we are doing enough but whether we are doing the right things. What works? What makes a person want to get sober and stay sober? There are people in the Northwest Territories who know the answers to these questions.

In order get these questions answered, I have established the Minister’s Forum on Addictions. The forum will convene tomorrow in Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, the forum will hold discussions in every region and will make recommendations on future directions for community-based addiction programs in the NWT. The focus will be on what works for our people and our communities. We will talk to people who are sober, people who are struggling with addictions, family members who experience firsthand what living with alcohol addiction is like. I want to know what will make people stop drinking and want to live a healthy, happy life.

It’s a simple question with complicated answers.

Mr. Speaker, the forum will be chaired by Mr. Paul Andrew and will consist of community members with direct experience. Forum members will meet with community leaders, NGOs and community members. I expect to have their recommendations by March 2013. The final report will provide advice about community-based addictions programs.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister’s Forum on Addictions is an important first step in the implementation of our mental health and addictions action plan, A Shared Path Towards Wellness. This is a critical early step in making best use of our resources by helping us identify priorities for investment through the business planning process. I look forward to reporting its results to this Assembly. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation, Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Speaker, over the last few sessions I have been reporting on work the Northwest Territories Power Corporation has been doing to ensure that its structure and operations are aligned with government’s goal to keep electricity costs as low as possible. As owners of NTPC, Northerners have a vested interest in making sure the corporation achieves this objective. I believe NTPC is up to the job.

The corporation has been called upon to play a large role in supporting this government’s goal of reducing dependence on high-priced, environmentally harmful fossil fuels. NTPC has led many initiatives to develop new, clean alternative

energy resources such as wind, solar, geothermal and biomass. We have a new 60 kW solar energy project in Fort Simpson, the largest of its kind in the North. It can generate enough energy for 10 homes, with another 40 kW on the way. We undertook projects in Inuvik and Fort McPherson to use residual heat from diesel power plants to heat community water and nearby buildings. We initiated a territory-wide program to replace high-pressure sodium streetlights with long-lasting LED lights as they expire. We’re using state-of-the-art filtration technology to extend equipment life, reduce maintenance and extend the time between oil changes, and we’re investigating wind potential in Inuvik area.

NTPC is also working closely with the GNWT, community and Aboriginal governments and organizations to examine opportunities to generate more electricity from hydro developments. Developing the NWT’s energy resources to meet our needs today and into the future is a high priority.

Finding and developing the human resources needed to accomplish our goals remains a significant challenge, particularly when faced with stiff competition for skilled workers from high-growth areas such as Alberta and Saskatchewan. Traditional recruitment methods haven’t been successful in meeting the demand, so the corporation has refocused and concentrated its efforts into a Northern Talent Development Strategy. As part of its revised approach, NTPC is offering scholarships and apprenticeships to young Northerners.

In the current fiscal year, NTPC has filled four apprenticeship positions and plans to recruit the same number next year. This year the corporation used the Apprenticeship Program to hire two power linespersons in Fort Simpson and Inuvik, an electrician in Fort Smith and a mechanic in Fort Simpson.

A reliable, affordable supply of electricity is fundamental to an enhanced sustainable economy. We are working toward a vision of a connected North and South Slave hydro system. This will minimize diesel backup requirements and capitalize on the hydro potential of both regions while improving reliability and providing a secure, affordable source of energy. When we do that, everyone in the NWT will benefit.

In the meantime, Mr. Speaker, there have been pressing matters at hand regarding community energy supplies. NTPC has been working on solutions for both Norman Wells and Inuvik with the community governments, local producers and suppliers and GNWT departments. While residents in Norman Wells are considering various options to replace natural gas as their primary heating source, Imperial Oil will continue to supply the electricity for

the town in the near to medium term. NTPC has contingency plans in place to relocate temporary diesel generation in the event supply issues do develop.

In Inuvik, Mr. Speaker, NTPC has been working to assess the medium and long-term energy solutions for the town. These options include liquefied natural gas and a variety of renewable energy options such as the significant wind potential that exists in the region.

Reliability is the cornerstone of any power system. That’s why the corporation invested in a new dam at the Bluefish Hydro site to replace the aging structure that was in danger of failing. I’m pleased to report that the project will be completed this month.

Outages on the Yellowknife system have increased this year. The corporation is addressing the problem with a comprehensive series of improvement initiatives and a commitment to significantly increase reliability over the next three years. NTPC has already acted on a number of initiatives such as clearing brush along the Bluefish line, upgrading animal deterrents and thoroughly examining its transmission system for damage or weaknesses that could result in outages. It has also brought in experts to ensure its generation and transmission systems operate in a stable and reliable manner. Over the next three years, controls will be upgraded, fault detection equipment will be replaced and lightning protection will be improved.

I will be monitoring progress to ensure NTPC delivers on its commitment.

NTPC is a key part of the government’s energy planning and strategy. There is a lot of work ahead, with many areas that require attention and improvement. They are committed to working with all Northerners to improve service. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Beaulieu.

Mr. Speaker, November is National Adoptions Awareness Month. It’s an opportunity to recognize families in the Northwest Territories who provide a remarkable service to children.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud that the NWT has been a world leader in recognizing Aboriginal customs and culture when children need a family. Our legislation recognizes that our people take care of our children within their families, extended families and the community.

Mr. Speaker, adopting a child is a very rewarding experience for families, but most importantly, it brings joy and stability to the child. It brings life and fulfillment into people’s lives.

We have many options for residents who wish to adopt. We offer the options of permanent care adoptions, private adoptions and international adoptions. We do whatever we can to find a family for every child.

These options all provide an opportunity for children to stay connected to their extended families, home communities and culture. In all adoption cases, we make every effort to keep children in their own cultures and environment.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the many adoptive families we have throughout the NWT for providing the necessary supports for children who need a home.

For anyone considering adoption, I urge you to contact your local health and social services office for more information. There are children of all ages in need of a family. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Deputy Premier, Mr. Lafferty.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Bob McLeod will be absent from the House for today and tomorrow to attend the National Aboriginal Women’s Summit F/P/T in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. November is Diabetes Awareness Month and today, being the 1st of November, I would like to

dedicate my statement to this topic. I would like to, as part of my statement, canvass the situation here in the Northwest Territories.

Diabetes is a lifelong condition when the body does not produce enough insulin or cannot use the insulin it produces. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney failure, stroke, heart attack and, ultimately, early death. The latest available statistics for the Northwest Territories are several years old, but it is safe to say that at least 2,000 people have been diagnosed with diabetes

and more than 200 new cases are diagnosed every year.

Among NWT seniors aged 60 and up, the rate of diabetes is over 20 percent. In 2007-2008 the NWT rate of diabetes was actually lower than Canada’s but, unfortunately, we are catching up.

There are some reasons for this. As a population, we are eating less vegetables and fruit than we used to. The decline is documented from 2003 to 2008 at the same time that Canadians, on the whole, are eating more fruits and vegetables.

Our lifestyle is changing. NWT residents are also exercising less. According to the Health department, in 2009 only 41 percent of our population exercised enough to maintain or improve their health. Exercise is a great help in controlling diabetes. I only say this to underline that knowledge is the key to manage diabetes.

I am very happy that there is a lot being done in Hay River on that front. We recently had the Hay River Adult Health Fair and another will soon take place at the Chief Lamalice complex at the K’atlodeeche Reserve. There will also be a full day workshop on the reserve on the 14th focusing on

healthy practices, medication and ways to prevent diabetes.

In town the Centennial Library is hosting a video night on November 27th showing Sweet Success

with Diabetes: Laugh and Learn with Mrs. Pudding. It will be followed by an information session.

Hay River schools always encourage healthy eating for our students and there will be information booths in our two main food stores on November 17th and 24th .

Many thanks to all the organizations and volunteers who are promoting a healthy lifestyle and teaching us how to live in a way that prevents diabetes.

I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services during question period.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today marks the first day of Movember and its annual month-long event involving the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces during the month of November. In Canada and around the world, men with their mos – in other words, moustaches – raise awareness for prostate cancer and male mental health initiatives.

I stand before you today a clean-shaven man. I have registered at Movember.com on my iPhone

app and I encourage all my mo-bros and my mo-sistas, like mo-sista Bisaro and mo-sista Groenewegen, and all my mo-supporters throughout the NWT to do the same. Let’s raise awareness and funds for our mo-growing efforts.

Social media is playing a huge factor again this year locally and around Yellowknife. People like Eli Purchase have created a Facebook group you can join. You don’t have to go far to see how much this phenomenon will affect everyone around us.

As I indicated, this is a global movement and since its humble beginnings in Melbourne, Australia, in 2004, Movember has grown to more than 1.9 million mo-supporters. In the end, no matter which country or city, Movember continues to change the habits and attitudes men have about their health. It helps educate men about their health risk, all the while increasing the chances of early detection, diagnosis and effective treatment.

Movember raised $125.7 million globally in the 2011 campaign, with an increase of $48.9 million over the prior year. Canada raised $41.9 million alone, which placed our country as the largest contributor of any nation. Administration costs to fund this campaign are at 8 percent globally and 5.9 percent in Canada of raised monies, which are both well below international standards of fundraising.

Campaigns like this clearly help take big steps forward in changing attitudes by sparking conversation, all via the moustache, and having an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health. Mr. Speaker, colleagues here in the House, and NWT residents abroad, I want to wish everyone a very “stache-tastic” Movember.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last night Yellowknife had another successful Halloween Spook-a-Rama. Today I want to acknowledge the sponsorship of this event, Yellowknife’s longest standing Halloween tradition.

Spook-a-Rama has been put on by the Yellowknife Lion’s Club for the last 45 years. As long-time Lion’s Club member and organizer Don Finnamore told me, we are now getting third-generation spooks.

Spook-a-Rama was started in response to Halloween vandalism in downtown Yellowknife. Members of the Yellowknife Lion’s Club came up with the idea for a teen dance on Halloween. It would give the youth something to do in a safe environment and would cut down on vandalism Halloween night.

The event was, and still is, a partnership between Yellowknife businesses and the Lion’s Club. Originally organized by an RCMP officer who was also a Lion’s Club member, the effort to keep the kids off the streets on Halloween night is still a joint effort between the RCMP, the Lion’s Club, and DND, the Department of National Defence, funded by Yellowknife businesses.

For as long as anyone can remember, Spook-a-Rama has been held at the DND 440 Squadron/RCMP hangar at the airport. It’s for youth 13 to 18 years of age and no matter the day, it is always held on Halloween night. The event is free, and free bus service to and from is provided throughout the city. Everyone who attends is searched at the door to keep the event safe. Even if the kids go outside, they are searched when they come back in. Any adults that come in to speak with their son or daughter are escorted while they’re in the building; again for safety.

Food is always served, lots of food, I’m told, and music throughout the evening and there are prizes. The main prize is a trip for two to Edmonton provided by First Air or Canadian North. The door prizes are one of the drawing cards to get the kids to the dance. I’m told good prizes means the youth will attend.

It costs about $7,000 to put on Spook-a-Rama. That’s the cost for soft drinks, pizza, busses, advertising, DJ services and door prizes. In the mid-2000s it was touch and go whether or not enough money would be raised to hold the event, but like most northern communities, when it really counts, the community comes together and contributes what is needed, and in this case Spook-a-Rama happened one more time. Year after year Spook-a-Rama has achieved its purpose to reduce vandalism on Halloween night.

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

---Unanimous consent granted

In 2000 the Lion’s Club president said, “According to the RCMP, while we’ve been having this dance, acts of vandalism by youth 13 to 18 years old has been zero percent.” The same holds true today. To quote Mr. Finnamore one more time, “Since the Lion’s Club has been doing the event, vandalism at Halloween is almost nonexistent.”

I want to say thank you to the YK Lion’s Club for their service to our city. Congratulations on another successful Spook-a-Rama. May you have many more.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s good to know that our government has income assistance programs to help low-income residents. The employment rate for Yellowknife is around 80 percent, while in smaller communities it averages about 60 percent. Many people in my riding hunt, trap or produce crafts to help put food on their table, but some families don’t have enough money to take part in traditional activities, or even to cover their basic needs.

Income assistance provides money to meet people’s needs for food, shelter and utilities. The program can also pay for clothing and furniture, disability, educational supports, supports to seniors and child care costs. People who receive income assistance are encouraged to plan for their future and make productive choices. In 2011-2012 more than 3,000 individuals and families in the NWT in total received income assistance. We spent about $15 million income assistance in the NWT in 2010.

I like to think that income assistance in the Northwest Territories reflects our traditional values of caring, sharing, respect and self-reliance. When people apply for income assistance, they should be treated with respect and consideration. The program should take into account the community economy and the local culture.

Later today I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on this important program.

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It can be very difficult for people in small communities to renew their prescriptions for various drugs. Of course, there are no drug stores and no doctors in most Nahendeh communities.

In some ways our medical system makes the process more difficult than is really necessary. For example, when an elder has a prescription for a medication, why does it need to be renewed every few months? That means a doctor’s appointment that is not always easy to get. And if you run short of a prescription and the doctor isn’t coming to town for another month or so, it could mean ending up with a trip to Fort Simpson. This causes both inconvenience and expense to people who are often on a limited budget, and it’s just not fair to people living in small communities. I’m sure it also costs the health system money that could be spent on other priorities.

It seems that some prescriptions have to be renewed biannually but require an appointment with a doctor in Yellowknife. Again, that is a real expensive way of doing things. I know the Health Minister understands life in small communities and I hope he will do something about this. No one living in the larger centres faces this sort of inconvenience and extra costs.

A better way of managing this is to allow continuous prescriptions. This may help reduce costs across our territory, because I wonder how much of a doctor’s time and money we waste on appointments for extending necessary ongoing prescriptions.

Half the battle in designing a good health system is thinking about what will happen at the community level. We should always ask, if we do this, what it will mean for patients out there. If we take that approach, I think we can improve the system quite a bit.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One objective of this 17th Legislative Assembly is to be

accountable and informative. That means getting information of our public programs and services out to the communities and the residents. One way of doing that is using media; specifically, the Native Communications Society, which broadcasts to 32 different communities across the Northwest Territories and the three diamond mines. As well, during those programs, they were offering them in five different Aboriginal languages.

In February 2011, the Native Communications Society and the GNWT began producing a 10-minute radio program that aired every Friday at noon on CKLB Radio. The show was entitled “On the Air.” While the GNWT utilized CKLB’s recording facilities, the territorial government was to be solely responsible for providing content for this show.

Chronicling government initiatives and programs, the show is extremely informative and constructive. Because of this, the program quickly became extremely popular with the people of the Northwest Territories and particularly with GNWT employees. Due to the show’s popularity and effectiveness, the GNWT renewed the program, signing a contract that would keep the program on air until March of 2013.

Since December 2011, only five months into a 20-month agreement, the GNWT has ceased producing shows due to the inability to find a host for the program. The previous host moved to another position within the government and the

GNWT Executive has yet to hire a replacement. Thus the show has been off the air for 10 months.

Earlier in October, Native Communications Society sent a proposal to the press secretary of the Legislative Assembly, outlining a plan to return the program to the air within a month. As the GNWT was not able to find an appropriate replacement host, NCS proposed to take over staffing of the position. While this person would be a member of NCS staff, the position’s salary would be paid through the GNWT through a contribution agreement. This would allow the information to be sent out to residents of the NWT and the host would work closely with territorial government staff to produce a product that reflects the communications needs and goals of the NWT.

We have to use the media and CKLB to get the programs and services that we run out to residents of the Northwest Territories.

I will have questions today for the Deputy Premier. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In June I received a response to my written and other questions to the Ministers responsible for the WSCC and Human Resources. They revealed the extent of penalties we pay for failed safety programs and claims payments, but they also reveal core management issues that need to be addressed.

In July we paid over $500,000 in penalties for exceptional claims and safety management practices last year, with another large penalty expected this year. Looking at the departmental safety and claims records over the past four years, improvements in positive trends are evident for almost all departments.

In contrast to the Health and Social Services department, which declined from 39 percent to less than 1 percent in claims, we have seen no improvements whatsoever in five of our six health authorities. The Sahtu Health and Social Services Authority has remained at a very low level of claims experience. The high claims and lack of progress in this area for health authorities are alarming. For example, the proportion of claims experience at Stanton Territorial Health Authority rose from 1 percent in 2008-09 to 20 percent of our claims in 2011-12; Fort Smith authority from 1 percent to 15 percent over the same period; the Yellowknife Health and Social Services from .1 percent to 7 percent; Beaufort-Delta from 2 to 10 percent, and the Deh Cho from less than 1 percent to 7 percent. It is a small wonder that penalties are increasing.

Who is responsible for managing this situation, or is that, in fact, the essence of the problem here? What I am getting at is the vital issue of control and accountability for a safer GNWT workplace, particularly within our health system. Unlike all departments – almost all departments – our regional authorities are failing to reduce claims experience costs. Does the Minister of Health not have clear lines of authority and control here? If the responsibility of the authorities is the authorities, where is the authority for ministerial oversight required?

Our various departments have had spotty records meeting the legal requirements for health and safety committees. The Minister responsible for cross-government human resources development can provide guidelines to departments, but delivery is the responsibility of each department. Meanwhile, penalty costs continue to mount.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Mahsi.

---Unanimous consent granted

We pay penalties as one government, but clearly regional health authorities’ failure to deliver safety programs and manage claims is generating these penalties now.

I’ll have questions for the Minister of Health regarding management of claims for performance by regional authorities. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m reminded by one of our great leaders from the United States, Chief Sitting Bull, he said, at one of his council meetings to his chiefs, “Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children.” I was reminded of that a couple of days ago when I had a meeting with the elders in Fort Good Hope, who sat around the table one morning and they were very, very concerned about our youth today.

Mrs. Groenewegen spoke a little bit about what the elders were talking about: the diet in the younger people with pop and chips and chocolate bars and fast food. Their diet is changing and we’re seeing more youth sickness in the communities. The elders are very, very concerned about the youth and what type of life we’re setting for them, because there aren’t very many elders in the Northwest Territories.

The elders were talking about our close connection to the land and how our land provides for us, but somehow as people in the communities we’re

missing the point of teaching our youth about life. They’re even concerned that youth at 12, 13 years old are drinking now in our communities. That’s going to cause a lot of concern. So our elders were saying that we have to do something.

Even our land is changing, our land is telling us something. There are lots of issues around their concerns about the pollutants in the land and the chemicals that are going into the water. If we don’t do anything, our people are going to have a hard time in the future. It has been prophesized by the elders in Deline, Tulita and right down the Mackenzie Valley. Elders are talking about how different our world is going to be if we don’t smarten up.

So I want to ask the Minister responsible for Seniors as to what type of programs or what types of things can be done to bring our elders together to talk to us and have a meeting with the youth, and to look at ways that we can help ourselves, such as the addictions forums that he’s going to look at in the next year. So I will ask those questions of the Minister. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The Member for Hay River North, Mr. Bouchard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The 17th Assembly has set a goal to promote healthy

living for the people of the Northwest Territories. We’re seeing the costs of health care increasing and we are seeing increases in obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes throughout the northern territories. My colleague from Hay River South indicated Diabetes Month is November. I believe that we need to take steps to implement the goals of healthy living.

I would like to speak to an issue that is close to my heart, or should I say closer to my stomach? For years I was largely overweight. I had high blood pressures and I am a diabetic. On May 6, 2011, I paid to insert a weight loss band on the top of my stomach. The band has been successful for me. I have lost 200 pounds.

---Applause

At this time I would like to thank my family and friends for helping me out with that. My blood pressure is in the normal ranges now, and after six months I was able to get off of insulin. The high cost of weight loss bands is not being covered under any government programming and it is preventing people from helping themselves with their weight conditions.

The Department of Health has to strengthen the weight loss program in the Northwest Territories. We need to assist the cost of these weight loss

bands. The cost of the bands will be returned to the government very quickly. The lack of need for insulin, medication and chronic health care will be seen very quickly over the many, many years. I myself believe that I will not be on a chronic system in the government for an additional 10 years. I will not be on insulin, hopefully, for a very long time to see.

We need to follow other jurisdictions, and we have to have a strong weight loss program and fund weight loss bands. If we want people to have healthy lives, we need to give them the tools and the help to do so.

I will have questions for the Minister of Health when it comes time.

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

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [Statement delivered in an Aboriginal language and then in English.]

Today I would like to pay tribute to the late Beatrice Dawson, originally from Rocher River. Beatrice and her late husband, Fred, moved to Fort Resolution, like many other families, in the late ‘50s when the school in Rocher River burned down.

Beatrice and Fred had no children of their own but helped raise six kids. Two of the six passed away years ago. They were Shirley Overvold-King and the late Phillip “Wagee” King. Beatrice helped raise her step-daughter Jackie Pascal from Fort McPherson, adopted Delores from birth, and adopted Tendah and Bradley while they were very young when their mother, Shirley, had passed away. Beatrice’s compassion and love for family and children showed through her willingness to raise and adopt children.

Beatrice was born September 14, 1931, and passed away October 26, 2012, at the age of 81. Beatrice was detected with cancer in November 2011. She was hospitalized in Edmonton for one month before returning home. At the time the doctor told Beatrice that she would not live beyond March. The doctor could not believe it when he examined her in March to find out she was still alive and well. The doctor said Beatrice was a very strong woman.

Beatrice almost left us in March, as the doctor predicted, but she heard her family gathering around, crying out for her, and she came back. She later told her family that the next time she is ready to go, just to let her go. The love of Beatrice’s family kept her alive for an additional seven months. Beatrice passed away peacefully in the Hay River hospital after a gradual decline in her health.

Beatrice is survived by four of those children that she raised: Dolores, Tendah, Bradley and Jackie; 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Beatrice is also survived by her brother Henri King and Vitaline Lafferty here from Yellowknife, and numerous nieces and nephews. My condolences go out to Beatrice’s children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brother, sister, numerous nieces and nephews and many friends. Beatrice meant the world to them and to all I’m sure she will remain in their hearts.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Item 4, reports of standing and special committees. Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Linnea Stephenson today, a Page from Weledeh.

I’d also like to recognize the work of all of our Pages and express my thanks to them. Linnea I’m sure can be found at the Snow Show at the Yellowknife Ski Club this Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a couple of traditional healers. Dean Green is still there and Besha Blondin.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize a couple of Pages who have been working very hard for us for about the last three weeks now and one more week to go. Chris Yurris from Frame Lake and Raya Laframboise from Frame Lake are working with us here today.

I also would like to recognize a good friend and old friend – not old in age, of course – Besha Blondin. Welcome to the House.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize two legislative Pages that have been here for about a week from my riding. From K'atlodeeche Chief Sunrise School, Talia Martel, who is 12 years old and in Grade 8. Her favourite school subjects are English, math and science. Her hobbies are reading, listening to music, and visiting with family and friends. Talia’s education goals are to graduate and go to university and get her Bachelor of Science, get into a medical field and become a doctor.

Brooklyn Cayen is 13 years old, in Grade 8, and was born and raised on the Hay River Reserve. She loves math and algebra, reading and writing, and likes experimenting with science. Her hobbies are reading, cooking, skateboarding and listening to music with friends. Brooklyn is also interested in getting a Bachelor of Science degree and becoming a doctor.

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize a couple of hardworking Pages that have been here with us from my riding in Inuvik, Faith Rogers and Keenan Jacobson. They have been doing a really great job and I’m really glad that they had this experience here in the Legislative Assembly.

Thank you, Mr. Moses. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a friend of our family, Mr. Jeremy Bird, who works for CKLB, a resident of Yellowknife. Not in my riding, but welcome, Jeremy.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize my cousin Besha Blondin. It’s good to see family sitting above me.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. You said it so well; it’s good to see family here in the House. I have former MLA Mr. Vince Steen’s daughter here, Shannon Steen, my cousin from Tuktoyaktuk. It’s good to see Shannon in the House today.

I have Loretta Elias accompanying Shannon here today. Welcome to the House.

I’d like to welcome the Page for this week, one of my little cousins there, Keenan Jacobson. He’s doing a real good job here this week. Thank you so much. Ms. Rogers, as well. Thank you.

Item 7, acknowledgements. Item 8, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In follow-up to my Member’s statement, the Auditor General has noted that Health and Social Services did not have a territory-wide strategy to manage and prevent diabetes. That is part of the Chronic

Disease Management Model which was due to be implemented this year. I’d like to ask the Minister has that happened and, if not, when will this be implemented.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Beaulieu.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. The department is working with the health authorities to run a couple of pilot projects. We’re running a pilot project here, a pilot project in the Sahtu on diabetes, and we’re hoping that from reviewing the results of the pilot project, we’re going to be able to expand diabetes programs across the territory.

I thank the Minister for that. I’ll be interested to hear the results of those pilot projects. There are clinical practice guidelines for diabetes. How do we monitor whether health authorities are following these guidelines and how do we know if our efforts to control diabetes are working? What kind of monitoring do we have?

As the Member indicated, clinical practice guidelines are used to determine how we are treating diabetes. I don’t have the monitoring information here with me, but I do know that we get information on where the diabetes is across the Territories, the prevalence of diabetes from region to region.

Managing and preventing chronic diseases is a major issue for our health system. Diabetes is only one of our problems. What still needs to be done before a full Chronic Disease Management Model is ruled out and what are the obstacles to that rollout?

In 2011-2012 the department worked on the Home Care Enhancement and Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative. We spent $77,500 on that initiative to develop a Chronic Disease Strategy, and diabetes is a part of the overall Chronic Disease Strategy which includes cardiovascular and cancer.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

That’s okay. Thank you.

The honourable Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The weather is getting colder outside and I think it’s only prudent that we take a look at all our emergency actions both in-house and community and as a territory. For that, today my questions will be for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs on the theme of emergency preparedness.

My first question is: Back in April of 2012 while we were doing the business plans and main estimates, the Minister of MACA reported that seven community governments had completed their fire assessments and that at March 31st of this year that

number increased to 24. Through a series of questions, we were given some direction that there would be a potential completion of all 33 communities. So my question to the Minister is: Where are we at with respect to the fire assessments?

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As of September 21st we’ve had 28 of the

33 communities that have updated their fire assessment plans and we’re trying to work with the other five to have their assessment done as quickly as possible.

It’s pleasing to see that we’re getting to the completion of all 33 communities in what is very, very important here. Leading to my second question on the subject of hazard assessments, these are basically high-level scenarios in terms of where we have communities at risk. Can the Minister indicate as to if all hazard assessments have been performed in all 33 communities?

As part of working with the communities on their emergency preparedness plan, hazards would be identified and we’d work closely with those communities to try and see how we can work around those and have them best prepared to handle any emergencies that might come about. We’ve got about 12 communities that have fully updated their emergency plans. We have 18 that need a little bit of updating, we’re working with them. We still have three communities that are without emergency plans and we have to work very closely with them to ensure that they get plans put into place.

The Minister is kind of leading into my third question, which is the overarching complement of what’s called your Emergency Action Plans. The Minister did give the number, I believe, of 18.

Can the Minister indicate to me as to who is actually doing those Emergency Action Plan assessments? Is it the communities themselves or is it the fire marshals or a designate from the government who are doing those?

The fire assessments are done by our assistant fire marshals that are out in every region. They go into the communities and work with the communities to identify their needs and training opportunities. As far as emergency planning goes, we go in and work with communities

to assist them in putting together their emergency plans. As far as the emergency plan goes, the community usually is the lead on that and MACA is support.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It does appear that we’re actually moving in the right direction with respect to the safety of our communities and proper emergency action plans.

Can the Minister indicate in his crystal ball of items to be completed during the term of the 17th Assembly, when we would be able to see the completion of these so-called emergency action plans throughout the territory?

It is our goals, and I think we’re starting to see the effects of different types of emergency today that some communities may have not seen in the past. As I pointed out before, we have 12 communities that have updated plans and we have to work very closely with those 18 communities to update their plans. They do have plans, but we just need to update them. The three without, I mean, we’ll have to basically get on their case to make sure that they ask us to come in and help them work out their emergency plans.

It would be our desire by this time next year to have all 33 communities with a concrete plan.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are addressed to the Minister of Health and Social Services. I found it very timely that he chose to make his Minister’s statement today on the Minister’s Forum on Addictions. I have some questions in that regard.

I’ve been listening to the Minister over the last few weeks. He’s made some comments and he’s referenced a number of times consultations around mental health and addictions programs and the strategic plan. He’s spoken of a group that is out for consultations and it’s clear to me now, although it wasn’t before, that he meant the Minister’s Forum on Addictions.

The forum has been referenced in the Mental Health and Addictions Plan, but there’s little other info that’s out there relative to the Minister’s Forum on Addictions.

My first question to the Minister would be whether or not there are terms of reference for the forum, and if so, are they available to the public.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we have terms of reference and, yes, they are available to the public.

That will teach me to ask a yes or a no question. It would be very helpful if the Minister could advise the House and advise the general public how they could access these terms of reference which are available to them.

The other point I wanted to make is that over the years, certainly my few years here but in many years prior, the shelves of government offices are filled with reports, with consultations, results of talking to people, et cetera, et cetera. Certainly, I know that Health and Social Services, that department has done many studies and looked into, and they have many reports on mental health and addictions.

I’d like to know from the Minister why we now need a Minister’s Forum on Addictions. We have lots of studies out there. Why can we not use the information we’ve previously gathered? Have we not already asked and answered the questions this forum is going to ask?

I’m not sure that we’ve asked the right questions. As I indicated in my Member’s statement, I think we needed to go back out to the communities. At the very beginning of my position as Health and Social Services Minister, I travelled to, I think, 12 or 13 communities with an attempt to try to travel to all the communities in the North, and a common theme was developing in the communities, and the communities were indicating that they need to find a solution for their addiction issues in their communities. With that in mind, we’ve developed this forum to go back out to those people to see if they do have the solutions, and they’re going to provide that information to the forums.

I appreciate that maybe we haven’t asked the right questions, but I guess I have to go back to the information that we already have. Has the Minister done an analysis of all the reports which have been done over, say, the last 10 years, which would be full of answers to probably very similar questions? It makes me wonder what is so different about this particular forum, about the questions that we’re answering right now. Do we know that we have not asked these specific questions before?

I guess there are various ways that a department can go about collecting information and the most recent information in the field of addictions, things do change. There are up and down issues and trends on addictions and so on.

The main thing that we want to focus in on is alcohol. This is an alcohol forum. There is no indication to me from the Department of Health and Social Services that we had reports specific to the state of alcohol in the communities. We felt that right now is a good time to go out there and gather that information and see what the people have to say about how they wish to work in this area. There was no indication that the people were asked in the past on what they would do to combat the issue of alcohol in their communities.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final, short supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I struggle with the fact that we’re going to go and ask people. The Minister says that we don’t really know the state of alcohol. I think we know all too well the state of alcohol in our communities. I think that we need to actually start doing something. I’d like to know from the Minister, come March 2013, when he’s got all these answers, what is he going to do in March 2013 to actually implement and start acting on our addictions problem.

When we get the information back from the communities, when the communities tell us that this is the solution, then we’re going to assume that those are going to be the solutions. One of the best ways that I found in my past to come up with a solution is to go ask where the problem is. This is what we’re doing. We’re going back to the communities and we’re asking them to come up with a solution. I think it’s worked in the past when this type of thing has been requested of the communities and the communities want to come up with the solutions. Once the recommendations, I guess we’ll call it at this time, are before us, then we’re going to take a look at reshuffling some of our budget.

Right now we’re spending $6 million in community counselling, we’re spending $2.2 million in a treatment centre that has a capacity under 50 percent. What we’re doing so far doesn’t seem to be really panning out for the people. Addictions are not changing. Addictions are, I think, increasing. Now we want to say, well, you give us a solution, you give us a recommendation, we’ll try to develop a solution together to bring that addictions issue down.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I spoke about the value of income assistance programs in the Northwest Territories. My question is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

In terms of where people are at in terms of trying to get the income assistance, asking for help is a big decision for people to make and whatever people might have is to try and maintain their pride. My question is: How does the department ensure that its employees treat income assistance clients with respect and consideration?

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank the Member for that particular question, because it has been addressed to my attention as the Minister responsible for the income security framework how the clients are treated by income security officers, client service officers. Due to that fact, we’ve initiated training for client services officers. I believe that’s coming up either this month or early next month on how to professionally deal with the clientele. We are very serious about our satisfaction of how we service those individuals, the clients, and we’ll make every effort to deal with that matter. If there are any issues from the clientele, please inform our department. We are following through with that. I am glad the Member is raising that issue. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister for giving me reassurance that people will be respected and dealt with at least in a respectful manner. Not every community has large industrial-type resource development projects. How does the department ensure the local economy and culture are taken into account in the delivery of income assistance? Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, we are fully aware, especially in those small, isolated communities, that there is not much of an economy in the community, whether it would be a wage economy or business contracts. Those are areas that we have regional representatives, also client service officers focusing on the productive choices. The Labour Market Agreement that we have in place is for those individuals that do not qualify for EI and that require training in specific areas, as well as the Small Community Employment Program that we initiated onto the communities. Those are just some of the program areas that offset the cost of those individuals that want to be trained so they can enter the workforce or labour market. We want to prepare them. Those are just some of the areas that we continue to invest in. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It’s encouraging to see that the department is very responsive in terms of meeting the needs of people. This is my last question. It’s just a difference between wage economy and also traditional economies of communities and trying to

distinguish the difference between the circumstances of communities.

Do productive choices have to involve training for the wage economy or can the program support people’s choices to hunt and trap? Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, it is a mixture where productive choices consist of the wage economy and also we are moving into more of a traditional economy as well. We have individuals that go out trapping. We have assisted them over the two or three months while they are in the bush. We have done so. We will continue to do that, even those individuals that may be on the land hunting and other sources to bring in some harvesting, as well, for the family and netting fish as well. Those are areas that we are embarking on. I for one like to pursue that even further, how we can engage those clientele so they can make those productive choices. Those are areas that we continue to explore. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to follow up on my Member’s statement and ask the Minister of Health and Social Services some questions about the idea of continuous prescriptions. What policies do doctors follow right now in determining how long a prescription will last and how it should be renewed? Is that policy the same under all health authorities no matter how they operate? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department is currently working on the development of a pharmaceutical strategy. It is not moving as quickly as we want. Included in that strategy is the management of pharmaceuticals.

As far as actual policy that the doctors use or any of the health authorities use to dispense or prescribe medicine or drugs to individuals, it should be a standard process right across from the Beaufort-Delta down to Fort Smith.

The Minister mentioned the pharmaceutical strategy. I’m glad that at least they are evaluating it, but will the Minister review the prescription renewal system and make some changes that work better for smaller communities across the Northwest Territories? Do we have to wait for that pharmaceutical strategy? I think it would be implemented far sooner than the whole strategy. Thank you.

If this is an issue, and I believe it is – the Member is bringing this up and we don’t want that to continue – I will talk to the department and we will relay the message to the authorities that we need to make some changes so that this type of thing, where an elder has to leave a community to go get a prescription drug, is a common thing that is renewed all of the time. Making them jump through some hoops in order to get a prescription is not necessary. We will address that issue. Thank you.

I’m glad the Minister is understanding of the issue that is impacting my constituents.

Has the Department of Health and Social Services taken the time to look at the way other jurisdictions handle continuous prescriptions? I believe there will be some useful lessons there. Thank you.

The Member may know that our drugs are handled by Alberta Blue Cross. We have gone to them, looked at them and they’re a large organization that we deal with. They have made recommendations to the Department of Health and Social Services on how to improve our systems, recommendations that will go into the overall pharmaceutical strategy. I’m not sure if that work included a look on their initial recommendations. They looked at the best practices across the country. For sure, when we develop the pharmaceutical strategy, we are going to look at best practices across the country. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was just wondering if our legislation provides for nurse practitioners to also dispense medical prescriptions. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I realize that in the health centres, the health centres can dispense drugs but not prescribe. I think one of the things that nurse practitioners can do is prescribe drugs. I don’t know the details of that right now. I’m a little bit mixed up on the dispensing and prescribing. My understanding is what I have heard from the health centres is that they can dispense from the health centre, but only a nurse practitioner or a doctor can prescribe. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m going to follow up on my Member’s statement today. My questions today are for the Deputy Premier. I would

like to go back and talk about the show entitled “On the Air” that the government had produced with CKLB.

First of all, why are we defaulting on an agreement? We had a 20-month agreement with CKLB and we have only worked with them for five months. Why have we defaulted on that agreement? Is the government committed to getting this program back up on the air? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Moses. The honourable Deputy Premier, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. CKLB, the Aboriginal broadcasting, is very important to this GNWT, more specifically when we have to reach out to the most isolated communities. There have been other partners as well. There is ECE and also federal contribution towards this. We feel that we need to invest in this area.

With respect to advertising and also the air time, we have contributed approximately $3,400 a month towards broadcasting. We did continue to do so until March. Unfortunately, due to the reorganization and the Executive communications staffing vacancies, it was discontinued. But we are in the process of reviewing that again. Within the next two or three months we want to start that up again because we feel that it is important for us. Mahsi.

I’m not sure, maybe the Minister can correct me if I’m wrong here, but in terms of 20-month agreements – and there hasn’t been anything on for the last 10 months except for five months in agreement – that must mean we’re five months left into the agreement. So can the Minister confirm with me that we’re still in an agreement and that we don’t have to renew another one in two to three months? Can he confirm if we’re still in the same agreement with CKLB or not? Because if we have a contract with them for $3,400 a month and we’re not doing the programs, they’re losing out on funding for their own organization when they rely a lot on other funding. Can he confirm if we’re still in the old agreement? Thank you.

Mahsi. That detailed information I will need to get for the Members. I don’t have that specific agreement, whether it be a year or two, due to the fact that there’s been a vacancy, there’s been a reshuffle within the Executive department. So we have to postpone that until such time as the next couple months. But it has been up to March 5, 2012. So it’s been a few months that we were without broadcasting, but we are committed to returning that with CKLB broadcasting. So we’re committed. Mahsi.

I believe the program, or the GNWT renewed program had a contract that was supposed to keep the program on air up until March

2013. I’d like to ask the Minister if he would look into that and get the contracts in there to get the program on the air as soon as possible, because our residents of the Northwest Territories need to know what we’re doing within our government.

Can I ask the Deputy Premier if he’d be willing to renew the contract to translate the government programs in the five Aboriginal languages so that those communities that speak their own language and listen to their own language are able to benefit from the program as well? Thank you.

Mahsi. We’ll do what we can to expedite the process. As I stated, there hasn’t been a committed individual to take on the broadcasting as we have done in the past, but we are focused in those areas, and with reshuffle of the Executive communication area now, we need to identify an individual that can take on the task again. So we are committing to that.

With respect to the five Aboriginal languages, we need to work with CKLB on what could be delivered in that time frame and also in that area. We have done so, successfully, in the past. Obviously, we want to reach out to our communities too. So it’s very important, especially in the most isolated communities where they don’t have the broadcasting of television, that there’s radio broadcasting in all communities. So, definitely, that will be our approach. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that Cabinet did receive a letter and a proposal from NCS looking at, in the interim, while they’re waiting for someone to take on the host position and host the radio program, that an NCS staff would host the program, working very closely with employees of the GNWT to get these programs and services out to the community.

Would the Deputy Premier look at that option until a suitable candidate from the GNWT is able to take that on? Will he look at that possibility and that proposal and get this show back on the air? The sooner the better, for not this government but for residents of the NWT. Thank you.

Mahsi. Within the Executive department, the communication and services, there is a proposal that has been submitted, along with others that are out there with various programs. With respect to this particular proposal submission, it is being reviewed by the department. Again, what the Member is referring to will be taken into consideration and I will be speaking to the Premier, as well, upon his return, to see if we can expedite this process. Once we identify the individual as the interim, what can we do. So those are questions that we need to address with our Executive department. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to follow up from my Member’s statement today with questions to the Minister of Health and Social Services. In my statement I pointed out the almost universal improvement in departmental claims experience, including the Department of Health and Social Services which dropped from 39 percent of claims down to less than 1 percent, but with the prominent exception of our health authorities, including Yellowknife and Stanton and with the exception of the Sahtu, which has stayed very low.

Is the Minister aware of this situation and is it being treated as a priority concern of his department? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I am aware of the situation. We are doing what we can to address the situation with the extra costs and so on, recognizing that providing health care service in an environment like a hospital is a lot different than maybe other departments that are operating from 8:30 to 5:00. Thank you.

Thank you. Actually, the hospital is relatively low compared to those authorities that don’t have hospitals, but the Department of Health may not exercise individual operational control of the health authority, but perhaps they do. However, ultimately we must hold the Minister responsible for their funding and oversight. So, obviously, the substantial failures here in reducing claims experience have a negative consequence of large penalties that the GNWT must pay.

Can the Minister confirm that helping the authorities control these costs is not only in the interest of but ultimately the responsibility of Health and Social Services? Mahsi.

Thank you. Working with the health authorities and the department, there are many strategies in place to mitigate the risk including training staff programs to return to work for injured staff, and also putting in the occupational health and safety committees in all of the authorities to try to address this issue. Thank you.

Thanks to the Minister for those comments. The essence of the problem here is that the Minister’s department has made an exceptional turnaround in the claims experience and yet the authorities are not. I’d like to ask, is this a confusion of lines of authority here? What are the lines of authority to deal with this issue? Thank you.