This is page numbers 6517 – 6558 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 need.

Topics

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

As I said, the youth of the Northwest Territories spoke up about this four years ago. I brought it and I asked questions in the House and we’re still trying to battle to get some really good support service

and recovery programs. We’ve got

to listen to the youth; we’ve got to listen to our elders who we heard in the communities and our residents of the Northwest Territories. This is more about whether or not we have enough people to have a treatment centre in the Northwest Territories. This is about people’s lives.

I will have questions for the Minister later on today. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

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

Hearing Aids For Children
Members’ Statements

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The first few years of a child’s life are crucial to learning and development and much of what they could learn

depends upon being able to hear. Forming neuropathways

during

brain

development,

language skills, the soothing voice of their mothers when they fall, shouted warnings to avoid injuries, and lullabies before they sleep all require the ability to hear, and hear well.

For families with babies hard of hearing, however, hearing aids are expensive and not every family with a young child in need of them is able to afford to give their child the lifeline to the world that a hearing aid represents. Fortunately, we have coverage for Aboriginal babies, but unfortunately, we do not currently have a universal hearing aid program to ensure coverage for all needy children.

Closing the gap and covering these children in their crucial first years of life would require a very modest

change

to

the

current

GNWT

supplementary health benefits as it does not fit under the current policy. While the 16th Assembly

failed to address this policy void, resolution of the need for additional hearing aid coverage for children in the NWT is long overdue.

While only a few babies a year need this support, the impacts are desperately large for each of these few individuals who suffer because of our lack of action. Filling in this gap is critical, yet it is inexpensive. A decision paper started in 2010 and delivered in 2012, after considerable research by audiology experts breaking down all costs associated with providing a comprehensive hearing aid program, found that the cost of a hearing aid program for children not covered by another plan for their first 18 years was only $14,500 per child with an annual cost for the total NWT program a meager $22,000 per year. Costs to government, let alone families of affected individuals of not providing hearing aids to these children were found to be much greater than the costs of providing them because of education and other issues that arose without this support. Shame on us for not getting this done long ago.

Such costs are covered for our seniors. Every province with a respectable hearing support program provides coverage for all children. We screen all newborns for hearing impairment and we know that hearing impaired children need hearing aids by age six months, yet we are leaving some vulnerable children without the tools they need to learn, grow and prosper. Again, I say, shame.

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

---Unanimous consent granted

Hearing Aids For Children
Members’ Statements

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

The policy gap has been identified, the cost calculated to be minimal, while the positive effects on those in need can be huge. I urge the Minister of Health and Social Services to find 20 or 30 K in his annual budget of over $300 million to address this developmental necessity.

Dealing with issues identified in early childhood must be a priority, and providing hearing aids for all of the children in need of them is certainly one that we can and must achieve. I say to the Minister, get this shameful gap filled now within the life of this Assembly. Mahsi.

Hearing Aids For Children
Members’ Statements

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

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

Palliative Care In Deline
Members’ Statements

September 29th, 2015

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The people want their loved ones to live out their last days at home, not in Yellowknife or Inuvik or anywhere else.

People in Deline want to know why it’s so difficult to get palliative care beds in that community. I’ve been working with the community of Deline and have brought this issue to three Ministers so far. My last hope is with this Minister.

I have questioned the Minister on February 23, 2015, seven months ago, regarding the Deline palliative care study. This summer both the Minister and I met with the Deline leadership and we were advised at that time the health staff were planning to travel to Deline this summer, 2015, to assess the suitability. What happened there?

Last week the Sahtu Secretariat met with the Premier and the Ministers. An item that was discussed was the request for palliative care beds in Deline. Prior to that meeting, Chief Leonard Kennedy wrote to the Minister, carbon copied to me, stating, where is the Deline care beds study and stating why they need it. What happened to the commitment he made to the people and I in Deline.

I want to know why does this community request to have palliative care beds in their community have to take an SSI meeting with the Premier, and now we’ve been told that this study will be done in two weeks. October 9th , by the way, Mr. Speaker. The

department doesn’t get the need, doesn’t get the urgency to make this happen. I want to know why the Minister is dragging his feet on this request. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Palliative Care In Deline
Members’ Statements

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Sometimes you have to challenge government; sometimes you have to commend them, so that’s what I’m going to do today.

On September 15, 2015, I had the honour to celebrate the opening of the newly built John Tsetso Memorial Library in Fort Simpson. It was my

pleasure to join the Honourable Jackson Lafferty, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment; Dehcho First Nations Grand Chief Herb Norwegian; Liidlii Kue Chief Gerry Antoine; Mayor Sean Whelly and the residents of Fort Simpson to celebrate this long awaited and very special event.

A library is the heart of a community. It is a place where our children can nourish their imaginations and learn important life skills while having fun. The John Tsetso Memorial Library has been an important part of Fort Simpson for many, many years, providing a range of popular programs and services promoting literacy.

Mr. Speaker, as you and my colleagues in this House are well aware, I have expressed my concerns many times over the years about the condition of the library. Since the closure of the Deh Cho Hall in about 2004/2005, the library has struggled to manage its collection and meet the community’s need in a less than ideal space. Now, in addition to the new space, the library has expanded its collection, added iPads with a digital language app loaded on them, DVDs and new furniture for the patrons.

It took a long time

– over eight years – and a great

deal of urging to get the funding for the new library facility in the GNWT’s capital budget process. I would like to thank my colleagues for their support, who toured the small resource centre some seven years ago during the 16th Assembly. I also wanted

to thank the Minister for his contribution to this important project and thank the Village of Fort Simpson for their involvement in the management of the project.

The new John Tsetso Memorial Library has room for an expanded collection, better spacing for library programming, public access computers, iPads and an awesome northern collection of books by NWT authors and about local history in the Fort Simpson area.

I am excited for the people of Fort Simpson, the Aboriginal users who will benefit from this new facility. I also want to encourage people to get out, renew their library cards and use this wonderful resource. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Blake.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I need to raise the urgent concerns of the community of Aklavik. Gasoline and heating fuel prices are putting extreme pressures on my constituents. There are also potential power rate increases. Prices have increased by 35 percent. That means gas that cost $1.60 per litre in August now costs $1.90 per litre today, just one month later.

The people of Aklavik had no warning that this was going to happen. When Beaufort-Delta Petroleum took over fuel delivery, the company did not meet with the hamlet council. They didn’t let their clients know of a rate change in advance and rates weren’t increase gradually. The change was sudden and substantial.

In communities that depend on diesel, fuel prices already make up 47 percent in the retail for electricity, the largest cost component. In the GNWT’s response to the 2014 Energy Charrette, the government plans to improve their data on community fuel use and to use renewables to reduce our consumption, but urgent action is also needed here today.

This afternoon I will be tabling a petition, signed by Aklavik’s homeowners, hunters and trappers, community

government

representatives,

recreational vehicle users and many other residents. In the petition the people of Aklavik raise very serious and legitimate concerns about high costs of gasoline and heating fuel, and they support a call for proposals for a new distributor for fuel and gas products in Aklavik. The hamlet will be looking for companies that can provide fuel to the community at a more reasonable rate. I hope that the GNWT will support the community.

I will have questions for the Minister of Public Works and Services about next steps later today.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Blake. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Yakeleya.

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

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I once again rise to recognize a wise elder, Mr. Andrew John Kenny from the Deline First Nation government.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Ms. Bisaro.

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

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my

pleasure today to recognize a couple of Pages from the riding of Frame Lake. They will be working for us this week. I’m not sure about next week. I’d like to recognize Jordan Balsillie and Princess Duculan. Welcome, and thanks for the work you’re doing for us.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Mr. Abernethy.

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

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a constituent of the Great Slave riding, Mr. Kieron Testart.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Welcome to all the visitors in the gallery. Thank you for taking an interest in our proceedings here today.

Item 6, acknowledgements. Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, today we would like to acknowledge a well-respected lady from Radihili Koe, Mrs. Lucy Jackson.

Mrs. Jackson will receive the Order of the Northwest Territories on Wednesday, October 7, 2015, at the Great Hall of the Legislative Assembly along with other recipients.

Mrs. Jackson is a lady with strong traditional knowledge, along with her supporting husband who is a full-time trapper.

Mrs. Jackson is known for her North Slavey translation in the Sahtu region and across the NWT. She is also a layperson at her local Roman Catholic Church.

On behalf of the Sahtu region, we would like to congratulate Mrs. Lucy Jackson for keeping traditional knowledge alive through her many skills and strong language.

Mrs. Jackson is truly an inspiring lady to the people in the Sahtu, her community and her family. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Item 7, oral questions.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

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

The Department of Public Works and Services has a mandate to provide expert support and innovative leadership in community fuel provision.

How will the department help Aklavik to address their urgent concerns about the price of gasoline and heating fuel?

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Blake. The Minister of Public Works, Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Public Works fuels services division is responsible for the communities that are considered to be non-market communities. Aklavik is a market community. In Aklavik the fuel and the gasoline have been distributed by a private company up until this year, and the private company is continuing with a change of ownership again this year. However, we are having discussions with them as a result of the concerns from the community and the petition that was sent out.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

The petroleum products division m

anages fuel supplies for communities that aren’t

served by the private sector.

When will the department step in to help a new community, one like Aklavik where residents are experiencing severe rate shock?

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

We are currently engaging with the new private company that is providing fuel to the community of Aklavik. We have been having discussions right up until yesterday, perhaps even today, especially with them. We, too, have a concern with the cost of fuel for operating the power plant in Aklavik, who we are continuing to have discussions with them currently. Thank you.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

I’d like to ask the Minister, how long

would it take Public Works and Services to provide fuel and gasoline to Aklavik? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.