This is page numbers 1515 - 1542 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 3rd 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 health.

Topics

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

---Prayer

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

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

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Minister of Health and Social Services

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.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

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

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

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.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

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

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Minister of Health and Social Services

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.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

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

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

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.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

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

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

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.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

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

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

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.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

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

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

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

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

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.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

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

Income Assistance Program
Members’ Statements

Michael Nadli

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

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.

Income Assistance Program
Members’ Statements

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

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

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

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.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

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

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

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.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

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

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

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