This is page numbers 4545 – 4588 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 services.

Topics

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Mr. Yakeleya.

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

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also want to recognize the Hall of Fame inductees who were honoured today. I want to recognize Mr.

George Cleary from the original workplace of ice hockey in Canada.

---Laughter

Also, Mr. Cleary being one of the architects of the Sahtu Dene-Metis Land Claim negotiations along with my cousin and his wife, Doreen. And also the other inductees, thank you very much for your hard contribution to education for the people of the North.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Bromley.

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

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to, as we begin Seniors Month, recognize the NWT and Yellowknife seniors, in particular a couple of Weledeh residents, starting with my mother, Barb Bromley; Barb Hood, president of the NWT Seniors; and I would like to join my colleagues in recognizing all the inductees of the Education Hall of Fame today. I listened to their comments and their commendations, astounding dedication and service on behalf of the people, especially the wee people of the Northwest Territories, which I know the seniors will appreciate too.

Could I just mention Val Carter? It was great to see her – I haven’t seen her for a long time – and her number one teaching assistant, of course, John Carter. Mahsi.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Mr. Menicoche.

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

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to welcome Martina Norwegian to the gallery and congratulations on your induction into the Education Hall of Fame. Hopefully, you will see the test run of the Lafferty ferry this summer. Thank you.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Hawkins.

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

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have been given a long list of seniors torecognize, so I will go through them quite quickly and I will even re-recognize a few. We’ll make sure we get them all. I’ve got Barb Hood, NWT Seniors; Kim Doyle, YK Seniors; Yvonne Quick and Carol Robinson; Mrs. Esther Braden; Dawn Lacey; Martha McLellan; Barb Bromley; Patricia Jasper; and, finally, I would like to make special mention to Mrs. Marlowe and Mrs. Carter for their educational contributions. I would also like to recognize George and Doreen Cleary, who I know. The first thing Lorna Storr said to me this afternoon was she is still scarred from the jigging contest I did with her in Tuk a few years ago. Martina Norwegian from Fort Simpson and Liz Baile, who’s not only a friend but a constituent and a neighbour in Yellowknife Centre. Congratulations to one and all. Thank you very much.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. I would like to welcome all our elders here today. It’s

always good to see Mrs. Bromley in the House. Come watch your boy, Mrs. Bromley.

---Laughter

I would really like to congratulate all our hall of famers for teaching. You have done so much for the Northwest Territories. Thank you so much for the contributions you’ve made for our youth. They are so precious with regard to their learning. Keep up what you’re doing. Keep up the good work.

Lorna Storr, congratulations. You are one of the best coaches. I took a lot of her coaching style, which is a winning style, of course.

---Laughter

Thank you so much for what you’ve done for everybody in the Beaufort-Delta. You are still going to be coaching. You’re not going to get away from us.

I’d also like to welcome into the House today, I was happy to have Kaydence Storr, the granddaughter of my uncle, Vince Steen. If you could stand up. Let’s welcome her into the House.

I’d like to welcome everybody here today. Thank you for taking an interest in the proceedings here today in the House.

Item 6, acknowledgements. Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to acknowledge Mr. George Cleary, originally from Deline. Today George received a 2014 Education Hall of Fame Award.

George began his career as an educator in his early years of life. Although he moved to other professions, George continues to support educating his people in leadership roles and the importance of self-reliance and self-responsibilities.

Congratulations to George and his family on this worthwhile award.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In follow-up to my Member’s statement today, my questions are for the Minister of Public Works and Services.

Can the Minister confirm that a recent competition was held to attract and recruit an electrical inspector for Hay River? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I can confirm that that competition was held.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

As a result of that competition, can the Minister confirm for me that the position of electrical inspector with Public Works and Services will continue in Hay River as it has been for many years? Thank you.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

As the Member indicated, there was a competition held. We had offered the position to an individual who was in another community. The individual had requested a desire to remain in their community. We had looked at the numbers to see if something was possible for the individual to remain in the community. Initial numbers we had looked at indicate that the position would be best to remain in Hay River. Thank you.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

So, in response to the constituents who have raised a concern to us as MLAs about the availability of an electrical inspector in Hay River, and back to my question in my Member’s statement about what shall we tell them, can today we tell them that the electrical inspector’s position will continue to be located in Hay River? Thank you.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Mr. Speaker, the position of electrical inspector will remain in Hay River.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This past weekend marked the end of an era of the territorial Dene Ko Day Shelter located in Yellowknife. Yes, Mr. Speaker, I said territorial day shelter because that is exactly what this shelter provided: a home, a refuge and a place to feel human for over 300 homeless people from all over the territory.

Sadly, this era has come to a close with little information from the Department of Health and Social Services nor its Minister as to its return. Before I ask my questions to the Minister, I would like to take this moment to recognize the long-standing operators of the John Howard Society for their tireless efforts and, of course, to the temporary contractors of the NWT Disabilities Council that hung in there.

The debate of lack of funding for the shelter has been, for many years, a baseline of discussion in this House. Now that it is officially closed and our

downtown streets are once again facing the rigors of homelessness and poverty, we have heard absolutely nothing from the Minister on this subject.

Can the Minister indicate to the House what he is doing about this? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Abernethy.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the winter session I think I clearly articulated that we are intending to open the shelter in September. But before we do that, we have a significant amount of work to do.

The shelter just about closed down earlier this year, and we worked really hard with Yellowknife Health and Social Services to find a provider to keep it open until May. That provider has provided us with some additional data that’s going to help us figure out the best course of action for the day shelter.

A couple of things: the building that the day shelter was located in has shut down and it will be torn down, so we have to find a new location and we have to look at the model, but these are all things that I said in the winter session. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Mr. Speaker, the Minister is right; it was discussed in the winter session, but we don’t know where to find a lot of this communication. It was just mentioned in Hansard.

Communication is key to transparency and accountability. As of this date we’ve heard or seen little in the way of communication since the winter session.

Can the Minister shed some light on what form of communication we can expect to see as we anticipate the reopening of the shelter? Thank you.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, I’ve been talking to the chair of the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority and the CEO, and I’ve asked them to find a solution to the upcoming September. They are working very closely with a number of NGOs in town, trying to find alternate providers, alternative locations.

When we are closer to having a decision with respect to where that location might be and who the provider will be, we’ll be advertising that information throughout Yellowknife and the Northwest Territories,. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

I appreciate the Minister’s response. Homelessness, poverty, mental health and addictions, all these programs require significant investment. As my grandfather always said, talk is cheap, whiskey costs money.

Can the Minister indicate to the House what level of funding his department is willing to invest to properly find a suitable operator and facilitator for the shelter once it is open? Thank you.