Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am wondering if I could have Ms. Gardiner answer that question. Thank you.
Debates of May 31st, 2017
This is page numbers 2459 – 2512 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 program.
Topics
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
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Gardiner
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The contract with the John Howard Society doesn't explicitly lay out what additional requirements for training on top of the minimum requirements to meet, as we have done with the pilot program, and as was made clear on the RFP document is the level of cooperation with our department to make sure that any opportunities available for professional development are met and there's a requirement in the contract that counsellors do maintain a minimum level of professional development hours. It's our intention as we've done previously to work with the contractor to make sure that those opportunities -- and from our division, for example, we have many opportunities with our community justice coordinators providing training for those coordinators and victim services workers, as well as upcoming through the family information liaison office -- that training opportunities that are appropriate for many of these service providers and they would be included in that. Our intention is to continue that and provide whatever support we can to make sure that the counsellors are receiving the support they need as well as of course as the requirement for the clinical supervision. It still exists for this program which would provide additional support in that way as well. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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Kieron Testart Kam Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Does that mean that additional training spaces will be opened up for these counsellors or will they be competing with existing public service employees? I say this because I know some of these training opportunities are quite limited and I'd like the Minister to give a commitment then that the department will make these opportunities available and provide additional resources if required. Thank you.
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Goldney
Thank you for your answer to at least a portion of that question. Thank you.
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Goldney
I'd ask Ms. Gardiner to answer that question.
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Gardiner
Thank you, Mr. Chair. There will no competition for spots. The training needs are similar and we will be including those opportunities for all of those service providers that we're connected to, so it will not be a competition. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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Kieron Testart Kam Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that response. The Minister acknowledged the community partners that the honourable Member for Hay River North brought up in his line of questions and further recognizes the hard work done by the clients to heal themselves, but at the same time we know that the RFP was not taken up; that it was a rejection of that by those community partners and that as much as we, the Minister, has given kudos to these individuals who have worked hard to rehabilitate themselves is the recognition that only a small number of men. The message is a bit confusing, but does the Minister, does this new deal, is this new deal going to take those considerations into account? How are we going to be continuing to work with community partners and ensure they have input in the future. I want to make sure we're not just paying lip service, political lip service, to people who are benefiting from this program and we're actually showing real support and we are listening to our grass roots when they deliver things. I know this question has already somewhat been posed, I'd like if the Minister can answer this rather than the department officials. I think they've already well explained the department's position, but I'd like to know how the Minister is going to ensure that the viewpoints of clients and of these groups are well connected to this program on an ongoing basis. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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The Chair R.J. Simpson
Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister. The Member requested that you answer. Of course, you are under no obligation. Minister Sebert.
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Louis Sebert Thebacha
Mr. Chair, of course, we are always hoping to work with community organizations. We are, of course, always interested in hearing what the clients have to say. The whole point of this exercise is to review the, the very expensive review, that took place, that was tabled in the House in November was to the effect that not that the program was broken in any way but that it could be improved. Ultimately, that improvement is for the clients. We're hoping as we move forward the program having become more flexible that we will be able to better serve those clients that wish to avail themselves to the A New Day Program and that we're optimistic that will take place. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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Kieron Testart Kam Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm not sure if the Minister addressed my concerns about working with the community service providers, but I'll leave that alone for now. My final question is the concerns from the department about this program have always been on an administrative basis. I appreciate the program is more flexible, but these admin, and we just heard that the John Howard Society will be administering the program but not actually operating it. They'll be doing that through subcontractors. Why is it the GNWT then not just subcontractors are handling the administration itself? Why do we need that third party step? Thank you.
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Goldney
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Certainly, as the program evolves, we do anticipate and do hope that there will be opportunities to build capacities with other facilitators. The reason the John Howard Society and an NGO was selected was because we did recognize there is some value and we have heard this from NGOs of having a bit of distance from government and having an independent storefront-type scenario available to make it less onerous or less intimidating for prospective clients. We did hear that concern. Moving forward though, we might look at other options that might see the government taking more of a direct role. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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May 30th, 2017
Kieron Testart Kam Lake
On that point the intention of this move is to have that separation with government to create a more client-friendly atmosphere. The previous operators of this program had very good relationships with our many, many clients. I may not have heard the response to this question that has been asked, but what is being done to retain their expertise for the nationally recognized program they developed? Thank you.
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Goldney
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Well, the previous providers were not interested in bidding or continuing with the contract, so that was their choice to take that path. It was necessary for us to look to other NGOs. I can't advise, however, that there will be, of course, government observation and monitoring of this and also the coordinator will be in-house in the government. Thank you.