Debates of Feb. 15th, 2017

This is page numbers 1655 – 1698 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 2nd 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 going.

Topics

Oral Questions

Prayer

Pan-Territorial On-The-Land Summit

Basic 911 Implementation

Addressing Social Challenges In Downtown Yellowknife

Youth Sexual Health Workshops In The Deh Cho Region

Developing Tourism Opportunities In The Deh Cho Region

Long-Term Care Programs

Aurora College Teacher Education Program

Programs For Sahtu Youth

Northern-Based Addictions Treatment Centre

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

Public Housing Rent Assessments

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Acknowledgment 17-18(2): Male Soccer Players On U16 North American Indigenous Games Soccer Team

Acknowledgment 18-18(2): Passing Of Jean Piro

Acknowledgment 19-18(2): Passing Of Albert Bohnet

Social Service Facilities In Downtown Yellowknife

Aurora College Teacher Education Program

Mental And Sexual Health Programs For Youth

Northern-Based Addictions Treatment Centre

Public Housing Rent Assessments

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

Deline Self-Government Agreement

Developing Tourism Opportunities In The Deh Cho Region

Long-Term Care Funding

Public Housing Rent Assessments

Aurora College Teacher Education Program

Tabled Document 279-18(2): Follow-Up Letter For Oral Question 484-18(2): Kam Lake Environmental Assessment

Tabled Document 280-18(2): 'the Hill Times' Article - Divide And Conquer: How The Feds Split The Provinces In Health Talks

Tabled Document 284-18(2): Minister Of Families, Children And Social Development Mandate Letter To Minister Duclos

Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act

Bill 18: An Act To Amend The Social Services Profession Act

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Health And Social Services, Deferral Of Further Consideration Of The Estimates For The Department Of Health And Social Services

Tabled Document 261-28(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Industry, Tourism And Investment, Deferral Of Economic Diversification And Business Support Activity

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

Committee Motion 49-18(2): Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Health And Social Services, Deferral Of Further Consideration Of The Estimates For The Department Of Health And Social Services, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So we won't see anything until the summertime. Potentially, if it takes a while for the department to look over it, it could be the fall time. So when will the Minister commit that this report will be tabled in this House? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Let's make it quite clear. They can't go forward with their corporate plan until the budget is passed in the Legislative Assembly for this next fiscal year, so that is tied to that. Once it is done and I approve it, then, whenever the next sitting is after the spring session, that is when we will be tabling it. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for informing us that they can't do anything until this budget is passed. Well, we understand that, so now we are going through the business here.

When it comes down to the SEED program, and we are talking about that, is the department developing an evaluation? You are talking about looking at it, but, if you are going to look at it, there should be an evaluation put forth so we can actually make an informed decision in seeing what is out there. Is the department going to develop an evaluation program? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I have said, we are doing a review of this right now. We are having a look at it internally. I have directed the department to see, like I said, best value for money and if we are targeting the right stuff. If something comes forward that is a red flag for us, we will definitely be sharing it with committee and deciding what we are going to do moving forward and if we are going to do a full-blown review. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for his answer. Unfortunately, it is internal. It should be a review. It should be an evaluation process. We need to have informed information to make informed decisions. If we are looking at the SEED program to make it more efficient to do that, you need to do an evaluation. So will the Minister work with the department to come up with an evaluation process that will actually look at the program, and not just do it internally but have an evaluation program to it? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I just said, we are going to do what I said we are going to do. I have directed the department to have a look at it and, if there are some red flags, we will bring it forward and decide if we are going to do a review.

To get back to the earlier question that I got on this department earlier, grants and contributions has a number of initiatives and information on where this money, what sectors it is being spent on. My concern, as I said, is: are we doing this in an effective manner? This is the early stage of this. I am not saying that I would not do a full review of it, but, as the Minister, I want to have a look at it, just because I feel that we could be targeting certain sectors and different communities, maybe, or regions in a different manner than we are. Once, if I find something that is a red flag for me, that we need to do, we will bring it forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We could be going back and forth. I disagree with the Minister. If we are going to look at a program, we should be evaluating it so we can make informed decisions. I will leave it at that. Going forth, when they are talking about this agricultural strategy, have they worked with the Department of Lands as they move forward with this strategy? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I said in my earlier comments, we are working with not just Lands, but we are working with Health and Social Services and ENR on this whole issue. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for his answer. However, we have heard in some issues out there that Lands -- especially from my riding, I have heard from a number of people wishing to develop this -- Lands is a big issue. The biggest challenge going, it is not ITI, it is not Health and Social Services, but it is Lands. So I guess my question is: will the department work with Lands, because that seems to be the biggest challenge, to address these issues that are out there? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I have said, we are working with all departments, cross-departmental, on how to move this initiative forward. Agricultural strategy is only getting tabled here. Hopefully in this session we are going to bring that forward and table that. It is part of our portfolio to diversify the economy of the Northwest Territories, and we believe that there is valid investment into it.

It has hit a roadblock on the Lands issue. We are going to work on that to try to get that alleviated so the people who want to go into super-large commercial farming in the Northwest Territories will be able to do that, but this is the government of the territory, and some of this stuff takes time to work its way through. We will continue to do that so the people who want to tackle agriculture as an industry and help the Northwest Territories move forward with this initiative, well, we will all work together to do that. That is what we intend to do. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Actually, I am very happy to hear that answer. That is potential for moving forward. In regards to this program, was there any money left over, left at the table, since this is a federal and a territorial combination? Is there money left over on the table? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This was a five-year initiative by the federal government, the territorial government. We are on our last remaining year, and we are working with the federal government on Growing Forward 3, and how we are going to try to access as much money as we can through another issue through cross-departmental initiatives to see what fits within Growing Forward 3 with the federal government to leverage the most dollars we can for the residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

February 14th, 2017

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess I just have to come back to the question. I understand it's the last year, but is there any money left at the table? We left at the table with this program. Has it just been implemented? Have all the funds been utilized, or has it been left at the table? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of Feb. 15th, 2017

Topics

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