This is page numbers 5255 - 5298 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 3rd 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 housing. View the webstream of the day's session.

Topics

Mangilaluk School Trip
Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nahendeh.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

March 7th, 2019

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize Renata Bullock and Grace Berikoff attending our session here today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a couple of Pages from Inuvik Twin Lakes. We've got Angelina Jerome, who has been here with us all week, as well as Joyce-Rowena Conley. I'd like to thank them and all the Pages in the Assembly for all the work they do. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we missed anyone in the gallery, thanks for being here with us. It's always great to have an audience as part of our proceedings. Masi. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I talked about in my Member's statement, concerns have been brought to my attention by employees of the GNWT regarding what type of leave they may access while travelling and attending their counselling sessions to the federally funded Indian Residential School Resolution Health Support Program. Can the Minister of Finance please provide or confirm what type of leave is available to GNWT employees when accessing this vital service? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Finance.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The GNWT, we fully support our employees in their efforts to access support services, so they can safely address the broad spectrum of mental wellness issues related to the impacts of residential school, but by doing so, we are bound by the lead provisions in our collective agreement. For example, for employees accessing counselling services in Yellowknife, they may access up to two hours of casual leave with pay to attend the counselling session. When accessing a recurring counselling session, there is a possibility of accessing up to a maximum of a one day of casual leave with pay. However, a maximum of one day may be insufficient for many employees, depending on the required travel time and schedule to and from their home community to Yellowknife. Where that is the case, we also have the ability to grant up to three days of leave with pay, which is not charged to any leave bank where an employee applies who qualifies for medical travel assistance. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

As I understand it, the federal government covers the cost associated with the counselling services, including the cost of travel, accommodations, and meals. They are costs normally covered by medical travel assistance, making this different than most other travel associated with medical appointments. I am concerned that some employees may end up unnecessarily using their annual leave time when having to go through this medical travel process, which seems unnecessary. Can the Minister please explain why most employees who require more than one day of leave go through the medical travel process?

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

I do take the Member's point and acknowledge that having to apply for medical leave assistance when the costs associated are covered by the federal government in order to access up to three days of leave of absence with pay may be an unnecessary burden to some employees. However, we do have to apply the terms of the collective agreement in providing access to this leave. I have asked my officials to reach out to the unions to discuss whether we could agree to a different process for employees attending counselling sessions through this federally funded program.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

I would like to thank the Minister for that commitment. I very much hope a less cumbersome process can be arranged. Could I also receive a commitment that both the current and any new process be consistently applied across all the departments and regions?

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Our officials will ensure that the process is clearly and consistently communicated across all the GNWT departments and all regions of the NWT.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I greatly appreciate the Minister's answers. I have one last question here, however. I am currently dealing with a number of situations where constituents have been advised that they still need to take sick leave to attend these appointments, including one day. I have been advised that employees approved access to federal residential school survivor programs and counselling services in Yellowknife, they may seek approval for sick leave, provided the person has a medical note. This seems to be contrary to what I am understanding the process to be. Will the Minister have his staff reach out to the regional staff to ensure the process we discuss here today is followed properly? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Here in the Northwest Territories, we fully understand and respect the effects that residential schools have had on a number of our people in the Northwest Territories, and we try to work with them. I can commit to the Member that we will reach out, we will work with people, and if the Member or Members have any specific cases where folks are having trouble navigating through the system, I would encourage them to bring that to my attention so we can deal with it in a fair and timely manner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You never know what will capture the nation's attention. Unfortunately, this week, it was outhouses. The questions I asked two days ago about the state of the GNWT-owned outhouses at the border have generated more comments on social media and more news articles than anything I have ever said in this House before. I have even had an interview request from a national news program, so because of that, it is time for round number two of questions.

From all the comments I have seen on social media, two things have become clear: first, I owe an apology to truckers. I don't blame truckers for the state of the bathroom. The problem is obviously a lack of maintenance during a spike in usage, but I see how people could have taken my statements that way, so I apologize.

Second, residents are not happy with this issue coming up year after year with no resolution, so I have some questions for the Minister of ITI. The first question is: was that state of that outhouse acceptable to the Minister? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I like how the Member is trying to spin his Facebook problems back on to the department, but the answer is no.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

I agree 100 percent. Everyone agrees that is not acceptable, so because the Minister has admitted it is not acceptable, can I get a guarantee from the Minister that this is the last winter where we are going to see toilet paper breaking the plane of that toilet during the winter months? Can I get a guarantee that we are never going to see this outhouse in this state of repair ever again?

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

No, I can't guarantee that. As I said in the House the other day when the Member asked me these questions, this is a very challenging situation for us, and I might not even be the Minister of ITI after September 1st. Who knows who is going to be here trying to deal with this situation, but I said we are doing our winter strategy review and we are having to look at the situation and trying to come up with a solution to deal with this. As I said before, if the Members across the House want to get behind me and they ask for more money for this initiative, please do so.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

I recall that the Minister the other day said that the Member should get behind him and request some more money. The Minister knows full well that the Members on this side of the House don't control the money. It is the Cabinet that controls the money and Cabinet has to put forward money bills, so I am sure that we can get Members on this side of the House behind the Minister if he puts forward a supplementary appropriation to take care of this problem this winter. Will the Minister put forward a supplementary appropriation to take care of this problem once and for all?

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

I think the Member is getting a little ahead of himself here. As I have said, we are trying to find a solution to this. Money is not just going to clean up the border, I will tell you that. I told this House there is no power out there. That is the first big challenge around this whole issue in the middle of winter. We are looking for solutions and we will continue to work with that and, if Members want to work closely with me on this issue, I will be glad to take their input.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand that this is a challenging issue. There is no power out there, but this isn't a new issue. People have gone to the bathroom since the beginning of time. It has been winter, you know, every year for us since the beginning of time, so there must be a solution out there. I am not even sure what else I can ask the Minister. He is unwilling to put money forward. He is unwilling to commit to anything. Will the Minister commit to this, then? Will he commit to coming back at the next sitting with a concrete plan to get this issue dealt with once and for all? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.