This is page numbers 4437 – 4466 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 5th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was communities.

Topics

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Minister of Human Resources

Yes, Mr. Speaker, we can look in the Human Resource Manual to review all of the provisions for individuals such as these two groups and other important volunteers that do work for the people of the Territories. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Ms. Langlois.

Clerk Of The House (Ms. Langlois)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am in receipt of a return to written question from the Honourable Glen Abernethy, Minister of Health and Social Services, asked by Mr. Dolynny on February 24, 2014, regarding the prevalence of “superbug” bacterial infections.

Rates are reported for cases of antibiotic resistant organisms (AROs) for the entire NWT population (per population) and not limited to hospitalized patients. Due to small figures, rates are reported per 1,000 population as the denominator rather than 10,000 population. Additionally, a regional breakdown of the number of cases is provided only for MRSA. This is because the incidence of the other AROs was too low for the rates to be presented per authority.

Note that there have not been any reported cases of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter, or Pseudomonas for the years in question. It should also be noted that Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase are primarily E. coli organisms but also include selected Klebsiella and Enterobacter species.

Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table a document titled “Prevalence of Superbug Bacterial Infections” outlining the total number of cases per 1,000 patients for AROs from 2005-2013 and the regional breakdown for the number of cases of MRSA per 1,000 patients from 2005-2013.

Clerk Of The House (Ms. Langlois)

Mr. Speaker, I am in receipt of a return to written question from the Honourable Glen Abernethy, Minister of Health and Social Services, to Mr. Dolynny, a question asked February 24, 2014, regarding housekeeping cleaning budgets in NWT health care facilities.

Housekeeping budgets are tracked by each health and social services authority (HSSA) per fiscal year and are not broken down by facility or patient room. As such, budgets encompass the individual HSSA as a whole, which includes all regional health care facilities as well as administrative and office space. Please note that Stanton Territorial Health Authority (STHA) and the Beaufort-Delta HSSA (BDHSSA) have some housekeeping services privately contracted. This is reflected in their budget calculations. Additionally, the budgets for the Yellowknife, Sahtu and Dehcho HSSAs and the Tlicho Community Services Agency (TCSA) only reflect housekeeping supplies.

Housekeeping cleaning dollars per in-patient visit cannot be accurately calculated as the budgets are not broken down by facility or in-patient visit.

Furthermore, health care facility cleaning time is not tracked by in-patient visits, as cleaning of the entire facility is ongoing throughout the day.

Staff turnover rates are tracked by HSSA, not by facility. Furthermore, staff turnover rates are only available from 2009-10. Rates for STHA are not available, as all housekeeping services are contracted. Rates for BDHSSA only reflect those for in-house housekeeping.

Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table a document titled “Housekeeping Cleaning Budgets in the NWT Health Care Facilities” outlining the total dollar amount for HSSA housekeeping cleaning expenditures from 2005-06 through 2013-14 and staff turnover rates in housekeeping for each HSSA from 2009-10 through 2013-14.

Clerk Of The House (Ms. Langlois)

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question from the Honourable Glen Abernethy, Minister of Health and Social Services, to a question asked by Mr. Dolynny on February 25, 2014, regarding the Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan.

Beginning in 2014-15 the Department of Health and Social Services will access the $900,000 in new funding for on-the-land programming. The $900,000 will be combined with new funding received in 2013-14 for a total budget of $1.2 million. Based on the evaluation of three pilot projects implemented in partnership with Aboriginal groups, in 2013-14 final program design will be completed. Funds will be allocated to interested Aboriginal governments to support partnerships for on-the-land healing programs.

Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table the document titled “Mental Health and Addictions Financial Summary” containing the information requested for residents who have or are receiving addictions treatment at Poundmaker’s, Aventa, Fresh Start and Edgewood, in addition to the complete investment breakdown in support of the Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan in 2014-15.

Clerk Of The House (Ms. Langlois)

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question from the Honourable Jackson Lafferty, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, to a question asked by Mr. Bromley on March 12, 2014, regarding compliance with income support guidelines.

Mr. Bromley asked the first question of five as follows: “What is current ECE policy regarding income support clients who fail to comply with ECE guidelines? Specifically, what is the policy around “cutting off” income support to clients as a way to enforce compliance?”

Under Section 16 of the Income Assistance Regulations, there are nine reasons where a client services officer (CSO) shall terminate income assistance (IA). The IA Regulations state that:

16. (1) Every officer shall terminate assistance to a recipient and in the case of a family of recipients for which one application was filled under section 3, the officer shall terminate assistance to all other recipients in that family

(a) the recipient has the means available to maintain himself or herself and his or her dependents adequately;

(a.1) the recipient refuses or neglects to utilize all the financial resources that he or she may access including but not limited to employment, unemployment or disability benefits or, subject to subsection (1.1), pension benefits;

(b) the recipient refuses or ceases to participate in an activity or program recommended by an officer under section 13.1 unless exempted under subsection 13.1(5);

(c) the recipient refuses or neglects to provide the officer with any information that is required in order to determine the financial resources and other circumstances of the recipient that may affect the amount of assistance provided to the recipient;

(d) the recipient obtains employment resulting in earnings adequate to meet the needs of himself or herself and his or her family, but assistance may be continued until receipt of his or her first paycheque;

(d.1) the director is satisfied that the recipient has made a false or misleading statement for the purpose of obtaining assistance for himself or herself or any other person;

(d.2) the recipient voluntarily leaves employment without just cause as set out in paragraph 29(c) of the Employment Insurance Act (Canada);

(d.3) the recipient’s employment is terminated by his or her employer for just cause; or

(e) subject to subsection (2), the recipient leaves the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Bromley’s second question is as follows: “In the last three years, how many income support clients have been cut off from income support, for how long and for what reasons?”

Mr. Speaker, to answer this question, later today, at the appropriate time, I will table “Income Assistance Refusal Reasons by Fiscal Year,” which details the number of IA recipients who were issued a refusal of benefits, the reason and length of refusal over the three previous fiscal years.

The third question that Mr. Bromley asked is as follows: “In the last three years, how many income support clients who were cut off had children in their care?”

Mr. Speaker, in the 2011-12 fiscal year, the department received 19,365 applications for IA. Of those applications, 1,825 refusals were issued. Of those refusals, 738 or 4 percent of the total applications for IA were issued to clients who had children in their care.

In the 2012-13 fiscal year, the department receive 19,050 applications for IA. Of those applications, 1,585 refusals were issued. Of those refusals, 644 or 3 percent of the total applications for IA were issued to clients who had children in their care.

In the 2013-14 fiscal year, the department receive 19,376 applications for IA. Of those applications, 1,414 refusals were issued. Of those refusals, 578 or 3 percent of the total applications for IA were issued to clients who had children in their care.

For his fourth question, Mr. Bromley asked the following: “In the last three years, how many single parents were cut off from income support for failing to take their ex-partner to court to seek child support payments?

Mr. Speaker, in the 2011-12 fiscal year, a total of 19,365 applications for IA were received. Of those applications, 1,825 refusals were issued. Of those refusals, two were refused for failing to seek child support payments.

In the 2012-13 fiscal year, a total of 1,050 applications for IA were received. Of those applications, 1,585 refusals were issued. Of those refusals, two were refused for failing to seek child support payments.

In the 2013-14 fiscal year, a total of 19,376 applications for IA were received. Of those applications, 1,414 refusals were issued. Of those refusals, none were refused for failing to seek child support payments.

And finally, Mr. Speaker, for his last question Mr. Bromley asked the following: “For comparison, in the last three years how many clients of income support have managed to rise far enough out of poverty that they no longer required income support for at least one year?”

To address this question I must point out that when an individual no longer receives IA they are no longer clients of the IA Program and the department thus does not track there post-IA income or personal economic situation. Individuals may no longer be receiving IA for a variety of reasons including better employment or because they have left the territory and so on.

We do encourage clients to make productive choices when they are on IA. Productive choices are a key component of the IA Program and are intended to empower northern residents to participate in opportunities in their community, such as education or training programs, or the wage economy.

Clerk Of The House (Ms. Langlois)

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to a written question from the Honourable Robert McLeod, Premier, to a question asked by Mr. Hawkins on March 12, 2014, regarding direct appointments. Mr. Hawkins asked for a list of all direct appointments made by the Cabinet of the 17th Assembly, noting the employee’s name, position, community, date of appointment and employing departments.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to advise this House that the Cabinet of the 17th Assembly has recommended 250 individual direct appointments from the beginning of this term to the date of the Member’s question.

Of the 250 recommended appointees, 89 percent of the candidates qualified as affirmative action candidates under the Affirmative Action Policy.

Twenty-one of the direct appointments are term appointments to positions in the Ministers’ offices which will expire after the next general election. Ten of the 250 appointments were to deputy minister of associate deputy minister positions and six were to administrative positions supporting specific deputy ministers.

Mr. Speaker, later today, at the appropriate time, I will table information on the remaining 213 appointments. Information on these appointments is organized by department and indicates the factors considered, as per the publicly released Executive Council Guidelines for Submissions Recommending Direct Appointments for each appointment. However, Mr. Speaker, the information will not identify the appointees by name, position or community. The government has determined that disclosing the names of individuals recommended for appointment, or information that could easily be used to identify those individuals would constitute unreasonable invasion to privacy under our Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Item 10, replies to opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Mr. Moses.

Bill 24: An Act To Amend The Student Financial Assistance Act
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Social Programs has completed its review of Bill 24, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act. The committee wishes to report that Bill 24 is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 24: An Act To Amend The Student Financial Assistance Act
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Moses. Item 14, tabling of documents. Mr. Abernethy.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, further to my Return to Written Questions 11-17(5), 12-17(5) and 14-17(5) I wish to table the following three documents, entitled “Prevalence of “Superbug” Bacterial Infections,” “Housekeeping in NWT Health Facilities,” and “Mental Health and Addictions Financial Summary.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Mr. Lafferty.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Return to Written Question 15-17(5) I wish to table the following document, entitled “Income Assistance Refusal Reasons by Fiscal Year.” Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, further to my Return to Written Question 16-17(5) I wish to table the following document, entitled “Other Direct Appointments Prior to March 12, 2014.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Pursuant to Section 35.1(3) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, I hereby table the 2014 review of Members’ compensation and benefits prepared by the independent commission to review Members’ compensation and benefits, dated March 31, 2014.

Ms. Langlois.

Clerk Of The House (Ms. Langlois)

Mr. Speaker, I would like to table a response to petition provided by the Honourable David Ramsay, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, in response to a petition tabled by Mr. Robert Hawkins on March 7, 2014.

I would like to table a response to petition provided by the Honourable J. Michael Miltenberger, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, in response to a petition tabled by Mr. Bob Bromley on March 7, 2014.

I would like to table a response to petition provided by the Honourable J. Michael Miltenberger, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, in response to a petition tabled by Mr. Bob Bromley on March 12, 2014. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, I request unanimous consent to return to item 5.

---Unanimous consent granted

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

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize two members of the best negotiating team for transboundary water negotiations in the country: the lead negotiator, Merrell-Ann Phare; and one of the best scientists in the country, Dr. Erin Kelly, who works for the Government of the Northwest Territories and just concluded some negotiations with BC today. They are part of the best team, so I’d like to welcome them to the House.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Ramsay.

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

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d also like to welcome Mr. Darrell Beaulieu, the chair of the Business Development Investment Corporation. Thank you.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.

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

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Trevor Teed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Mr. Bouchard.