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December 11, 2003 - New Cabinet Ministers Chosen
Members of the 15th Legislative Assembly have elected six new Cabinet Ministers.
The Cabinet Ministers were chosen in a secret ballot election in the Chamber of the Legislative Assembly. The six Ministers were selected on the first ballot.
The following Members, once formally sworn in at 4 p.m. on Thursday, December 11th, will join Premier-elect Joseph (Joe) Handley on Cabinet:
Brendan Bell, MLA, Yellowknife South
Charles Dent, MLA, Frame Lake
Floyd Roland, MLA, Inuvik Boot Lake
Henry Zoe, MLA, North Slave
Michael McLeod, MLA, Deh Cho
J. Michael Miltenberger, MLA, Thebacha
As per the format agreed to by all 19 Members of the Legislative Assembly, two Ministers were elected from constituencies north of Great Slave Lake, two from south of Great Slave Lake and two from the Yellowknife region.
A formal motion in the House is required for Members to officially become Cabinet Ministers. The Premier-elect will assign Cabinet portfolios at a later date.
Contact:
Pamela Colquhoun
Public Affairs and Communications Advisor
Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories
Phone: (867) 669-2230 or Toll Free: 1(800) 661-0784
Fax: (867) 920-4735
Pamela_Colquhoun@gov.nt.ca
December 11, 2003 - Joseph L. Handley Chosen as Premier of the Northwest Territories
Weledeh MLA, Joseph (Joe) Handley, has been elected as the eighth Premier of the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Handley was first elected as the Member for Weledeh in the 14th Legislative Assembly on December 6th, 1999 after serving as a Deputy Minister for the Government of the Northwest Territories for more than 14 years.
In January 2000, Mr. Handley was appointed Minister of Finance, Chairman of the Financial Management Board and Minister Responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board. In November 2001, Mr. Handley was appointed Minister of Transportation and Minister Responsible for the NWT Power Corporation.
Born on August 9, 1943 in Meadowlake, Saskatchewan, Mr. Handley moved to the Northwest Territories in 1985 to assume the position of Deputy Minister of Education with the Government of the Northwest Territories. He has also served as the Deputy Minister for the Departments of Renewable Resources, Transportation and Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development as well as the President of the NWT Housing Corporation.
Prior to moving north, Mr. Handley was the official trustee and superintendent of the Frontier School Division in Manitoba for nine years. He was an Assistant Professor at both the University of British Columbia and the University of Manitoba.
He served for two years as a lecturer at the Cape Coast University and Winneba Teacher Training College in Ghana, West Africa and was a teacher and vice-principal at schools in Saskatchewan.
Mr. Handley and his wife Theresa have two children Michael and Michelle and four grandchildren who all live in Yellowknife.
Contact:
Pamela Colquhoun
Public Affairs and Communications Advisor
Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories
Phone: (867) 669-2230 or Toll Free: 1(800) 661-0784
Fax: (867) 920-4735
Pamela_Colquhoun@gov.nt.ca
December 11, 2003 - David Krutko Elected as Speaker of 15th Assembly
Mackenzie Delta MLA, David Krutko has been elected as the Speaker of the 15th Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. Mr. Krutko had the full support of the Members as he was acclaimed.
This will be Mr. Krutko's third term in office as he was first elected in 1995 to the 13th Assembly and re-elected in 1999 to the 14th Assembly.
As a Member of the 13th Assembly, Mr. Krutko served as the chairman and member of a number of Standing and Special Committees. During the 14th Assembly, Mr. Krutko held the position of Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committee of the Whole. He also served as Deputy Chair of the Rules of Committee.
Mr. Krutko has worked as a negotiator on the Dene Metis Land Claim Agreement and was a senior negotiator on the Gwich'in and the Sahtu Agreements. Mr. Krutko has served as the Vice-President of the Metis Nation of the Northwest Territories, Vice- President of the Mackenzie Delta Tribal Council (now the Gwich'in Tribal Council), President of the Fort McPherson Metis Local, President of the Fort McPherson Hunters and Trappers Association, Councillor for the Fort McPherson Indian Band (now the Tetlit Gwich'in Council), Councillor for the Hamlet of Fort McPherson, Director of the Mackenzie Delta-Beaufort Sea Regional Planning Commission, member of the Gwich'in Land and Water Board, member of the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board, Director of the Metis Development Corporation and co-chairman of the Northwest Territories Tourism Training Group. Mr. Krutko also worked in the oil and gas industry in the Beaufort Sea and in Norman Wells in the 70s and 80s.
Mr. Krutko has four children: Gordie, Laura, Joanne, and Michelle.
Contact:
Pamela Colquhoun
Public Affairs and Communications Advisor
Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories
Phone: (867) 669-2230 or Toll Free: 1(800) 661-0784
Fax: (867) 920-4735
Pamela_Colquhoun@gov.nt.ca
October 14, 2003 - Who wants to be the next NWT Premier? Voters deserve to know!
Yellowknife, NT [October 14, 2003] - Candidates who want to be the NWT's next Premier should declare their interest during the upcoming election campaign, says Bill Braden, MLA Great Slave.
"That would get voters talking about leadership options," said Braden in a speech during the last day of the Legislative Assembly. "This kind of leadership dialogue has never happened before during a Territorial election campaign."
The NWT's consensus system involves all MLAs being elected as political independents. Then, in a closed process, they choose leaders from among themselves. The voter is thus denied the benefit of knowing a would-be Premier's policies or platform.
"The gap between the voters and the NWT's leadership is a major factor in accountability, confidence and trust in government," said Braden. "That's because voters are excluded from knowing the ideas and priorities of contenders for the Premier's job."
Braden argues that by declaring for Premier during the election campaign, those contenders will give voters and other MLA candidates the chance to debate their merits, values and visions as prospective leaders.
For more information, contact:
Bill Braden
MLA Great Slave
Tel: [867] 669-2276
E-mail: Bill_Braden@gov.nt.ca
October 6, 2003 - BUSINESS INCENTIVE POLICY WILL NOT CHANGE
The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight today expressed relief that the Government will keep the existing Business Incentive Policy (BIP) instead of going ahead with a revised policy.
Members are very pleased that Cabinet responded in the spirit of consensus and decided to rescind the revised BIP. A cost benefit analysis will allow further consideration to be given before any changes are implemented.
Contact:
Charles Dent
Chair
Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight
Phone: (867) 669-2296
Toll Free: 1(800) 661-0784
September 17, 2003 - TONY WHITFORD WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION
Anthony (Tony) Whitford, MLA for Kam Lake and Speaker of the 14th Legislative Assembly has announced that he will not be seeking another term in the upcoming election.
Mr. Whitford has said that his time in public service as MLA for Kam Lake and as the Speaker of the 14th Assembly has been among the most fulfilling and enjoyable times of his political career. "I have an enormous respect and passion for both this system of Government and the people it serves, I expect I will continue to follow that passion in other ways," said Mr. Whitford. Mr. Whitford intends to focus on future endeavours here in Yellowknife.
At the conclusion of this Assembly, Mr. Whitford will have served three terms. During this time he served as a Regular Member, Cabinet Minister, Committee Chair and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. Additionally, he served, as the Executive Assistant to NWT Commissioners Parker and Maksagak and between 1996 and 1998 he was the Sergeant at Arms. Mr. Whitford also holds a degree in Social Work.
"I have been blessed with more than one opportunity to serve the people of the Northwest Territories. It has been my pleasure and privilege to not only represent the residents of Kam Lake, but also the NWT nationally and abroad. It's been a wonderful career, and I feel extremely lucky," concluded Mr. Whitford.
Contact:
Anthony (Tony) Whitford
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
Phone: (867) 669-2234
Toll Free: 1(800) 661-0784
Fax: (867) 873-0273
e-mail: tony_whitford@gov.nt.ca
September 15, 2003 - LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY MOVES TO IMPLEMENT THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT
The Board of Management of the Legislative Assembly is moving forward with the implementation of the new Human Rights Act. The act was passed in October 2002. The Board has targeted July 1, 2004 for the official opening of the commission's office in Yellowknife.
The Legislative Assembly through a public process will be seeking interested candidates for the five-member Human Rights Commission in the late fall. Shortly thereafter a Director of Human Rights shall be recruited.
The proposed plan will ensure a timely implementation of the Human Rights Act during the 15th Legislative Assembly.
For further information please contact:
David Hamilton
Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
Phone: (867) 669-2299
Toll Free: 1(800) 661-0784
e-mail: david_hamilton@gov.nt.ca
August 22, 2003 - Range Lake MLA asks for Yellowknife's help in McLeod cause
Range Lake MLA, Sandy Lee, is asking all Yellowknifers to support an Aug. 23rd fundraising effort to help cancer victim, Leroy McLeod.
The next big fundraiser is a garage sale, which takes place this Saturday, Aug. 23 at the Church of Christ. The sale runs from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. and Ms. Lee hopes for even bigger turnout than the last one two weeks ago. "That is why I'm asking our residents to drop by the garage sale and support this cause," said Ms. Lee.
"Yellowknife has a reputation as a city that helps people in need," says Ms. Lee. "Mr. McLeod is facing a very serious medical situation but he is without the health insurance benefits we enjoy as Canadians." Ms. Lee adds the support from the community so far has been incredible. "We need to keep and increase the support to raise the money necessary to ensure Leroy receives treatment for his life threatening illness."
Mr. McLeod is from Jamaica and is an albino. He has been diagnosed with skin cancer. The sunny and hot climate of his home country is believed to have caused the disease.
He came to Yellowknife in May to visit his sister, long-time Yellowknifer, Charmaine McLeod, and is applying for permanent resident status under humanitarian and compassionate grounds. He is hoping Yellowknife's cooler climate will improve his health just as it has for his sister, who has the same genetic condition.
Mr. McLeod will undergo surgery and radiation treatment soon. His doctors believe with immediate attention, his cancer treatment will be successful. But he has no medical insurance and his medical bills will likely cost over $60,000. Northern Outreach Rescue Ministries (NORM) is leading the drive to raise money to help pay those bills. Ms. Lee and Frame Lake MLA Charles Dent are helping out as well.
Anyone who wishes to make donations to help Leroy can do so, c/o of NORM at the Yellowknife Branch of the TD Bank.
For more information:
Sandy Lee
MLA, Range Lake
www.SandyLeeMLA.com
Phone: (867) 669-2290
Toll Free: 1(800) 661-0784
Fax: (867) 873-0276
August 15, 2003 - AOC SURPRISED BY CHANGES TO BIP
Members of the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight were extremely dismayed to learn that the Government decided to proceed with revisions to the Business Incentive Policy (BIP) without addressing concerns raised by the Committee and stakeholders.
The Committee had understood from statements made in the House by the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, that the Government would delay changes to the BIP until it had gathered information on the costs and benefits of the existing policy to businesses, northern residents and Government.
The Government made this change of direction absent any consultation with the Committee.
For more information contact:
Charles Dent, MLA
Chair, Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight
Phone: (867) 669-2296
Toll Free: 1(800) 661-0784
August 13, 2003 - Congratulations to Candace Ciboci
Roger Allen, MLA - Twin Lakes is pleased to recognize the academic accomplishments of constituent Candace Ciboci. The Minister presented Ms. Ciboci with a plaque commemorating her recent successes during a constituency meeting on Monday, August 11th.
"Candace's academic accomplishments are a source of pride for the entire Inuvik community," Mr. Allen noted. I hope that her dedication and perseverance can serve as a model and inspiration for other young people in our region."
Ms. Candace Ciboci has several citations to her credit:
Recipient of The Governor General's Academic Bronze Medal for Academic Excellence 2001 - 2002
Shell Canada Limited
Honorable Mention Life Sciences
Canada Wide Science Fair - Kingston, Ontario 2001
Outstanding Achievement
Samuel Hearne Secondary School
Format Mathematics Contest
Received highest score in Grade 11
Honour Roll
Samuel Hearne Secondary School
Senior High 2001
For further information contact:
Hon. Roger T. Allen
MLA, Inuvik Twin Lake
Phone: (867) 669-2399
Toll Free: 1 800 661-0784
July 25, 2003 - Wars, SARS, Mad Cow taking huge toll on NWT Tourism, says MLA Bill Braden
The NWT Government needs to put more effort into countering threats to the territory's valuable hunting and Japanese Aurora tourism markets, says Bill Braden, MLA for Great Slave.
"These markets, especially the Japanese trade, are facing continuing drastic losses in volumes due to the SARS and Mad Cow problems, and the war in Iraq" said Braden. "We've got to take aggressive action soon to keep our share of this valuable business."
A recent GNWT assessment says NWT tourism operators, airlines and other services lost $20 million in expected revenues due to the combined impact of the September 11 bombings, SARS, Mad Cow and the war in Iraq.
After a strong recovery from the impacts of September 11, 2001, Japanese aurora visits in the 2002/03 spring season took a 50% hit due to SARS and the war in Iraq, and bookings may be down a further 20% for the coming year.
And while the American ban in importing wild game meat has so far resulted in few cancellations, hunting outfitters in the NWT are still at a loss to advise their clients -- each of them worth at least $10,000 -- whether they'll be able to bring their meat home. The lucrative big game hunting industry is worth an estimated $20 million a year in NWT. Southern Canadian outfitters are already registering major losses due to the meat ban.
Braden acknowledges efforts by the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development Minister Jim Antoine, who's been working at the territorial and federal political levels on the big game, and Japanese markets.
"We need certainty on the meat import question, and concentrated marketing efforts in Japan, to turn these threats around before it's too late," said Braden.
For more information:
Bill Braden
MLA Great Slave
Work Phone: (867) 669 2276
Home Phone: (867) 873 6906
July 25, 2003 - MLA for Inuvik Twin Lakes Launches Website
MLA, Roger T. Allen has announced that his Inuvik Twin Lakes constituents, can now contact him and get updated information on his new website: www.rogertallen.ca
Mr. Allen has reported that his new website will feature up to date information for both his constituents and the general public in his role as Minister. Visitors to www.rogertallen.ca will be able to view clips of Minister Allen, have access to information on proceedings during session, and get updates on current issues.
"There will be information useful to a wide variety of internet users, including those that visit our photo gallery," said Mr. Allen.
Constituents can expect a newsletter in August which will include some of the same information found on the website. Mr. Allen is looking forward to receiving the comments of his constituents.
For further information please contact:
Hon. Roger T. Allen
MLA, Inuvik Twin Lake
Phone: (867) 669-2399
Toll Free: 1 800 661-0784
July 24, 2003 - MLA Sahtu, Stephen Kakfwi Monitors Norman Wells Fire
MLA Sahtu, Stephen Kakfwi is in the community of Fort Good Hope monitoring the forest fire northwest of the Town of Norman Wells. Stephen Kakfwi is in contact with regional Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development (RWED) Superintendent Celina Stroeder. Caterpillars and fire crews have established a firebreak and will tentatively begin the burnout July 25. The burnout will provide protection now and in the future. Fire suppression crews have been applying lessons learned from the 1995 fire in Tulita.
Stephen Kakfwi is also pleased to see the community and the mayor working together to combat the fire and ensure that people at risk from smoke have been evacuated. Stephen Kakfwi will be in Norman wells to monitor progress July 25.
Residents in the Sahtu are reminded to report any forest fires at 1 800 661 0800.
For additional information:
Stephen Kakfwi
MLA Sahtu
Phone: (867) 598 2130
Fax: (867) 598 2024
July 23, 2003 - MLA Nahendeh, Jim Antoine on Housing Tour in Constituency
MLA Nahendeh, Jim Antoine, is taking the Minister Responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Roger Allen, to visit all 6 communities in the Nahendeh constituency this week. Mr. Allen is also the Minister of Justice
"Housing is a critical issue that has been raised consistently during my tenure as MLA" says Mr. Antoine.
Travelling with Mr. Antoine and Minister Allen are the President of the NWT Housing Corporation, Tom Beaulieu, and Assistant Deputy Minister of Justice, Shirley Kemeys-Jones.
The delegation met with Fort Simpson residents on July 21 and Wrigley and Fort Liard on July 22. On July 23, they travel to Nahanni Butte and overnight in Trout Lake. The tour will finish in Jean Marie River on July 24.
For additional information:
Jim Antoine
MLA Nahendeh
Phone: (867) 695-3403
Fax: (867) 695-3805
June 24, 2003 - Tim Mercer, Clerk Designate
The Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories has announced that Tim Mercer will assume the position of Clerk this fall.
Mr. Mercer is presently the Director of Corporate Services with the City of Yellowknife and formerly held the position of City Clerk. Mr. Mercer will assume his new role upon the retirement of the present Clerk, David Hamilton.
"The Legislative Assembly would like to extend a warm welcome to Mr. Mercer as our Clerk designate. The Board of Management believes that Mr. Mercer has the experience and skills required to assume this important responsibility," said the Hon. Anthony (Tony) Whitford, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories.
For more information please see the attached biography or contact:
Hon. Anthony (Tony) Whitford
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the NWT
Toll Free: 1(800) 661-0784
Phone: (867) 669-2234
e-mail: tony_whitford@gov.nt.ca
Bio of Tim Mercer
June 17, 2003
Tim Mercer moved to the Northwest Territories in 1997 when he was recruited by the City of Yellowknife to the position of City Clerk. As City Clerk he initiated a comprehensive redraft of the City's Rules of Procedure and Committee structure and was appointed by Council to perform the duties of the City Administrator in his absence. Mr. Mercer was an active member of a committee of municipal administrators providing expert advice and input on the Municipal Statutes Replacement Act, which is currently before the Legislative Assembly for consideration.
In 2000 he was appointed to lead the City's newly formed Corporate Services Department. As Director of Corporate Services, Mr. Mercer was responsible for the provision of professional support services to City Council including legislative support, policy and research, corporate communications, legal services, information technology, labour relations, human resources and records management. During this time, Mr. Mercer successfully renegotiated collective agreements with the City's civic employee and fire fighter unions and drafted a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding between the City and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. On September 11, 2001, Mr. Mercer chaired a multi-jurisdictional emergency management committee in response to the diversion of aircraft to Yellowknife following the closure of North American airspace on that day.
Prior to moving North, Mr. Mercer served as Municipal Advisor to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for the Province of Nova Scotia and as a project manager with the Canada / Nova Scotia Cooperation Agreement.
Mr. Mercer holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Honours) in Political Science from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and a Masters in Public Administration from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He has published articles in the Government Finance Officer's Review, and Canadian Business Economics and has instructed university level courses in government, economics and communications.
Tim is married to Debbie Meade. They are expecting their first child in October.
June 17, 2003 - Groenewegen Pleased With Revised Medical Travel Policy
(HAY RIVER) Jane Groenewegen, MLA for Hay River South is pleased with Minister Miltenberger's announcement to revise medical travel co-payments.
In a recent announcement the Minister of Health and Social Services has confirmed changes to the medical travel policy to reduce travel costs for NWT patients who do not have third party insurance coverage. Northerners that are required to travel outside of their home community for medical treatment have been waiting for this change.
"Following many months of raising the medical travel co-payment issue in the house and in correspondence to the Minister representing numerous constituents, I am pleased that my colleague, Mr. Miltenberger, Minister of Health and Social Services, has come forward with a plan that will assist northerners with medical travel and associated expenses to receive the medical attention they need," said Ms. Groenewegen.
Effective immediately - if a patient's family income is less than $80,000 per annum, the medical travel co-payment will not be collected and this patient will be provided the same benefits for accommodation and meals as is currently offered for indigent patients.
A patient with a family income of more that $80,000 per annum will receive an accommodation allowance of $50.00 per day and a meal allowance of $18.00 per day.
"As we are experiencing challenges in the recruitment of professionals and the temporary unavailability of Core Health Services in Hay River, these changes will be helpful to the many residents who have no alternative but to travel for their medical needs. Hopefully these improvements will alleviate some of the financial burden these patients experience with medical travel," concluded, Ms. Groenewegen.
For more information please contact:
Wendy Morgan
Constituency Assistant
Phone: (867) 874-6141
Fax: (867) 874-6143
Jane_gronewegen@gov.nt.ca
June 6, 2003 - Affordable Rental Housing: Braden Rejects Petition Response
Minister Roger Allen's response to the 500 signature petition seeking some way to address high rent is totally inadequate, says Great Slave MLA Bill Braden.
Rather than face the issue of double-digit rent increases, the Minister chose to divert attention to the non-issue of rent controls.
In the Assembly today, Braden reiterated his position that he does not support rent controls. "What I am in favour of is some mechanism, as in other jurisdictions, by which landlords and renters can address concerns around high, sustained rent increases and other bothersome issues."
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporations Spring Market Report shows 2002 apartment vacancies rising from 0.3 percent to only 1.5 percent in 2003. It also predicts rent increases will exceed other inflation indexes.
"This means business, government and industry will continue to feel the pressure of attracting and keeping workers in Yellowknife," said Braden.
Braden obtained a commitment from the Minister to come forward with amendments to residential tenancy legislation, but this will not happen until the next Session.
For additional information:
Bill Braden
MLA Great Slave
Phone: (867) 669-2276
E-Mail: Bill_Braden@gov.nt.ca
June 6, 2003 - Special Committee Tables 14 Recommendations
The Special Committee on the Implementation of Self-Government and the Sunset Clause tabled its Final Report yesterday in the Legislative Assembly.
The report entitled, 'The Circle of Self-government' sets out 14 recommendations for preparing the Legislative Assembly and Government of the Northwest Territories for the changes that will flow from the implementation of self-government.
"The recommendations we have put forward will provide the necessary tools for future Assembly's to assist with the smooth implementation of self-government agreements," said Ms. Lee, Committee Co-Chair.
The Committee recommended that an existing government department, ministry or agency be designated as the sole point of accountability for developing a comprehensive action plan for implementation of self-government. Additionally, the Committee has recommended that the next government take a coordinated approach in dealing with the issues that arise from self-government.
It is also suggested that the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures be given an expanded mandate to help the Legislative Assembly prepare for changes to its internal processes and procedures. The overall theme of the Report stresses the importance of maintaining good relations with NWT residents and among all levels of government.
"The future of all NWT communities will be linked together even more closely than they are today. The new relationships that will develop among our northern governments will depend on our attitudes, and our relationships with each other," said Mr. Antoine, Committee Co-Chair.
For further information, please contact:
Sandy Lee
Co-Chair
Phone: (867) 669-2290
Toll Free: 1(800) 661-0784
June 5, 2003 - Special Joint Committee Presents Final Report to the Legislature
The Special Joint Committee on Non-Tax-Based Community Affairs presented its final report to the Legislature on Strengthening GNWT Support to Smaller Communities today.
The report reaffirms the thirteen recommendations of the Committee's Interim Report released in October 2002 and makes an additional recommendation for the establishment of a Standing Committee on Small Communities in the 15th Assembly.
"We feel it is critical that the next Legislature establish a mechanism for this work to be continued," said Committee Chair, Michael McLeod, MLA for Deh Cho. "Much of what we have recommended is only the beginning. Still more has to be done in the areas of education, property taxation, housing, and funding methodologies, just to name a few."
"We were very disappointed by the lack of any real commitment in the government's response to the recommendations in our interim report," stated David Krutko, Deputy Chair of the Committee. "Quite obviously, support to our small communities will have to become a greater priority in the next Legislature, and we feel that the establishment of a Standing Committee for that purpose is the way to hold the government accountable."
Under the terms of its establishment, the mandate of the Special Joint Committee on Non-Tax-Based Community Affairs concludes with the presentation of its final report to the House.
Other Committee Members were the Hon. Vince Steen, MLA for Nunakput, North Slave MLA, Leon Lafferty, and Tu Nedhe MLA, Steve Nitah.
Contact:
Michael McLeod
MLA, Deh Cho
(867) 669-2285
Toll Free: 1(800)661-0784
David Krutko
MLA, MacKenzie Delta
(867) 669-2268
June 4, 2003 - Range Lake MLA Urges Northerners to get involved in specialist crisis debate
Range Lake MLA, Sandy Lee, is calling on the people of the North to voice their views on the breakdown in contract negotiations between the NWT government and its specialist physicians.
The two sides failed to come to an agreement after three days of negotiations last week. Specialist physicians have been without a contract since March of 2002 and 12 of the 15 have resigned. They say they will leave their jobs on July 1 if a new contract is not reached.
Ms. Lee is urging the health minister, the Hon. Michael Miltenberger, and the territorial government to negotiate a settlement. To help get the people of the North involved she released her position on this issue today and urges all Northerners to be involved in resolving this issue.
"The cost of not reaching a settlement is much bigger than the Minister is stating," says Ms. Lee. "The contingency plan the minister has in place if the specialists leave will pose a danger to the public. Northerners need to be engaged in this debate."
Ms. Lee is asking the public to call, e-mail or fax their MLA's, Minister Miltenberger, and NWT Premier, Stephen Kakfwi, and let them know how they feel about this issue.
"The people have a stake in this," says Ms. Lee. "I hope they stand up and take their rightful place in this debate."
A copy of Ms. Lee's position on the specialist physicians contract negotiations issue has been included with this press release.
For more information, please contact:
Sandy Lee, MLA
Range Lake
Phone: (867) 669-2290
Toll Free: 1(800) 661-0784
Dear Constituents and friends:
So our health minister, the Hon. Michael Miltenberger, has gone public with information regarding the government's negotiations with the NWT's 15 specialist physicians. He says they want a 57 per cent raise and 66 days of paid leave. Hearing this news, maybe you're not feeling too sympathetic towards the doctors. How much is a doctor's service worth? I will let you debate that question at your leisure. But Minister Miltenberger's ill-considered campaign to boil down the issues of these contract negotiations to this level of debate is leading us dangerously astray from understanding and acting on what is really at stake.
The real question should be this: Do we want to have specialist services in the NWT? And if so, how much are we willing to pay for it from the public purse? Where should this spending priority rank in the government's almost $1-billion annual budget? Based on what I'm hearing on the street, this is on top of everyone's list.
I will put it another way. What are the short and long term costs of not settling and having the specialist doctors at Stanton Territorial Hospital walk out the door as 12 of them will do by July 1 if no settlement is reached? And how does that compare to the short-term cost of settling it?
Commitment to health care? What we should be aware of is that the NWT spends a lot less on physician services than other jurisdictions. We spend a little over 10 per cent of our overall health care spending on doctors whereas Alberta spends up to 35 per cent.
The fact is, given the geographical area and the population it serves, the NWT should have somewhere between 35 to 40 specialists. We only have 18 permanent and three interim funded specialist positions at Stanton Territorial Hospital. Out of those 21 positions, seven have been vacant for up to two years. That is a full one-third of the 21 positions. Why? Because our compensation package for these specialists have not kept pace with the rest of the country to stay competitive and attractive.
We are currently short of one obstetrics/gynecologist (delivers babies), one orthopedic surgeon (bone doctor), one psychiatrist (mental health doctor), one internal medicine specialist (organs and cancer diagnosis) and one general surgeon. Most of these specialists and others which only have one permanent position to start with, including our ophthalmologist (eye doctor), radiologist (x-ray and CT scan) and pediatrician (doctor for children), fly solo with no back up, except with locum doctor services when they are available.
This skeleton number of specialists and the unique practice of medicine in the North poses a whole set of challenges not found elsewhere. It warrants a different consideration in a compensation package. All of our specialists travel and take care of patients in every corner of the NWT and parts of Nunavut. Yet, all of their efforts to make the government understand their working conditions and ways to improve the recruitment and retention situations for the last number of years have failed.
Where are we now?
What we know is that 18 months of negotiations have not resulted in a settlement. The specialists have been without a contract since March of 2002. So they have taken the drastic action of mass resignation. I appreciate that many do not agree with this approach. But there has to be an end date to this protracted negotiation. The resignation letters by specialists were submitted back in March. But the government did not come to the table until the end of May, 2003.
Now Minister Miltenberger and the GNWT are waging a public relations war against the specialist doctors. And the public is going to pay the price of the fall out. It should have never come to this. And I am not prepared to sit idle while Minister Miltenberger and this government threatens to systematically dismantle our Stanton Territorial Hospital and destroy our health care delivery system in the process. The network of specialists services we have at Stanton have been built up over many years. It is fragile and it can be destroyed over night by one bad government decision. But it will take years to rebuild.
Before it is too late, the people of Yellowknife and the NWT need to voice their opinions about how the Minister and the government should end this brinkmanship and resolve this perilous situation.
What you need to know
What would it mean not to have the set of specialists we've got? Listed below is part of what I know.
In the short term:
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Contrary to the Minister's claim, the GP's (family doctors) cannot step in the place of specialists. In fact, their ability to do their job (like delivering babies) would be drastically reduced and hampered by doing this.
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Unless we have a locum specialists in place, all pregnant mothers will have to travel south at 36 weeks to deliver their babies unless a full contingent of locums is available. Family doctors need the back up of specialists (obstetrics/gynecologist and pediatrician) to deliver babies safely.
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All elective surgery will be cancelled and only emergency surgeries could be performed and many of them will still have to be medivaced. Every case - from a broken finger to a heart attack - will potentially be flown south unless there are locums.
In the long term:
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The Minister assures us that the level of services at Stanton Hospital will be maintained by the use of locums in the short term and that in the long run, new specialists will be recruited to replace any specialists that resign on July 1st.
I have a question for the minister. If we have not been able to recruit specialists for seven vacant positions for months and in some cases, years, what makes him think we can do this now?
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In my opinion, there is a real danger the NWT will be blacklisted as a place where specialists don't want to work. The professional medical community is small in Canada and a labour negotiation breakdown here will not go unnoticed. As a result, it will become more difficult for us to recruit new specialists.
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Many other health care professionals (e.g. nurses) would not want to practice in a hospital without specialist services. The training program for newly graduating nurses would be affected.
They need to be trained in a health facility with diverse services being provided.
This is not fear-mongering. It's a simple cost and benefits analysis. The cost of settling with the doctors has to be compared with the costs of not settling. And the costs of not having specialists extend far and wide. It includes extra costs of recruiting specialists, hiring locums essential to provide basic services, costs of medical travel, costs of fees for service we would have to pay to other jurisdictions for providing services to us and the cost of losing fees for service we get from Nunavut. The list goes on and on.
This does not include the costs each individual resident has to face when they have to fly south for services that they used to be able to get in the North. This cost is not just in dollars but in time, loss of pay, extra costs and loss of family support. And God forbid, what if there was a cost in human life due to lack of essential specialist services in the North?
I ask Minister Miltenberger; is not the cost of all this a hundred times more than the cost of reaching a negotiated contract with the specialists?
I believe that the most of the doctors want to stay in the North. They have indicated their willingness to continue to negotiate. I believe there is room for movement between what the government has offered and what the doctors have put forward. The government must go back and work on negotiating a settlement.
If this does not work, the government has already suggested arbitration. The doctors have rejected this for many reasons. They want this process to end by July 1. Any process involving arbitration could not finish in that time frame.
So, how much is a doctor's service worth? I don't know. What I will say is this - it is a fact of life that some people make more money than others. This should not be a debate about that. It should be about how much we value our health care services and what level of services we want to have in the North. How much are we willing to pay for it? And how much are we willing to fight to keep them and improve them?
What can you do? Ask your doctors or anyone else who might give you more information on this. Call, email or fax your MLA, the health minister and the Premier and let them know how you feel about this issue. You have a stake in this. Stand up and take your rightful place in this debate.
Thank you,
Sandy Lee
MLA, Range Lake
May 30, 2003 - Fourth Annual Justicia Awards for Excellence in Journalism
I am pleased to forward the attached Press Release on behalf of the Federal Department of Justice. The Department is seeking nominations for the Fourth Annual Justicia Awards for Excellence in Journalism. The deadline for entries is June 16, 2003.
Journalism and Media personnel in the Northwest Territories are encouraged to submit nominations to ensure the Northwest Territories will be well represented at the 2003 Justicia Awards.
For more information on how to submit nominations, and a detailed brochure on the Justicia Awards, please contact Pamela Colquhoun.
Pamela Colquhoun
Public Affairs and Communication Advisor
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
Phone: (867) 669-2230
Toll Free: (800) 661-0784
Fax: (867) 920-4735
Email: Pamela_Colquhoun@gov.nt.ca
May 28, 2003 - Range Lake MLA pleased with petition numbers
It's 898 and counting. That is the number of signatures Range Lake MLA Sandy Lee and constituent Sharon Low have gathered since they launched a petition on May 17th encouraging the NWT government to settle a contract with the specialist doctors.
Their contract ended on April 1, 2002 and 12 of the NWT's 15 specialists have handed in their resignations to the territorial government. They say they will leave if a new contract is not settled by July 1, 2003.
"Response from residents and businesses have been overwhelming. I believe this speaks to the desire of Yellowknifers to see the government and the doctors reach an agreement that would keep the existing specialists at Stanton Territorial Hospital," said Ms. Lee.
Ms. Lee and Ms. Low will continue the petition drive and the results will be tabled in the House during the June Session of the Legislative Assembly. Session starts June 4th.
The petition and supporting documents can be downloaded from Sandy's website at www.SandyLeeMLA.com. You can print the petition, sign and return it to Ms. Lee's office at the Legislative Assembly. Petitions are also available to sign at the following Yellowknife businesses: Home Hardware, Canadian Tire, Yellowknife Co-op, Clear Arctic Spring, Guarderie Plein Soleil, Weaver and Devore and Wolverine Sports Shop and Northern Supplies.
For more information please contact:
Darren Campbell
Constituency Assistant
To Sandy Lee
MLA, Range Lake
Phone: (867) 669-2289
Fax: (867) 873-0276
e-mail: Darren_Campbell@gov.nt.ca
April 1, 2003 - MLAs favour underground freezing for Giant arsenic
Yellowknife NT -- Four Yellowknife MLAs say Giant Mine's toxic arsenic byproducts should be left where they are, and frozen in underground blocks to prevent future migration into the watershed of Great Slave Lake.
The MLAs told the Giant Mine Remediation Project today that any option regarding digging the material out and processing it on surface should be rejected because it creates too many unnecessary hazards for workers and the environment.
"As much as we would like to absolutely eliminate the problem, the science and engineering options available just don't provide safe answers, at any cost," say the MLAs. In a three-page submission, they also point out that Giant Mine will require perpetual dewatering and monitoring to minimize arsenic pollution from other parts of the mine.
The Remediation Project wants to take a recommendation on technical options and community input to DIAND by this summer.
The MLAs asked the panel to impress on the Government of Canada that it has a duty to properly manage the Giant site. Further steps -- including filing a major technical and environmental plan with two boards, followed by actual implementation -- will take time and more money. The priority for Giant must not be deferred, say MLAs.
More Information:
Sandy Lee, MLA Range Lake 669 2290
Brendan Bell, MLA Yellowknife South 669 2293
Charles Dent, MLA Frame Lake 669 2296
Bill Braden, MLA Great Slave 669 2276
Arsenic Management Options - Giant Mine
Presentation by Yellowknife MLAs
May 26, 2003
The legacy of 60 years of gold mining in the Yellowknife region is, in many ways, a remarkable story of how a frontier region of Canada was developed and the foundation built for today's modern city.
Sadly, that legacy is also one of neglect of the environment, and of the long term health of the residents and the whole ecosystem of the region. Now, we are faced with the responsibility of how to manage a deadly leftover: 230,000 tonnes of arsenic trioxide buried in shallow vaults only a few kilometers from the city, and a few minutes walk from Great Slave Lake.
The Government of Canada, as stewards of the NWT's mineral resources and waterways, has assumed responsibility for managing and resolving this enormous problem. It has invested considerable time and money in the researching and communicating the issue, and the options available. It has assembled a team to deliver a recommendation for the next step -- choosing the best option, then preparing a detailed and comprehensive technical plan. This plan will then go before an environmental regulator for an exhaustive public review and approval process. Only then will any implementation begin.
As Members of the Legislative Assembly, we place the safety of our people, and the security of our environment, as our Number One and Two priorities. We trust that our statement, along with the voices of many others concerned about this issue, will be given the fullest consideration by your panel, and by the decision makers in Ottawa.
The Review and Consultation Process
Your Panel's biggest challenge was to conduct its research, review and communication in a manner that would ensure public confidence in the outcome. If your process was deemed to be flawed or casual, any decision or recommendation would soon disintegrate in the eyes of a doubting public.
In our view, the panel has done a very satisfactory job in process. Your approach to the science and technical aspects of the problem, as well as the communication and consultation measures offered to the community, was well conducted. The efforts of the Community Alliance, while they got of to a rocky start, are back on track, and we compliment the willing volunteers from the community, and DIAND, for their commitment to full community participation.
We know that this is only the first of what may be a two, or even three-stage public review process. Concerned citizens, and other credible experts, will have ample opportunity to further challenge findings and decisions as the process continues.
Our Position
Your panel made presentations to Yellowknife MLAs on two occasions, and some MLAs also attended open public sessions held in the community over the past winter. We have tracked the work of other arsenic-related projects, including independent research on the impacts of arsenic on the local food chain, and of the Yellowknife Arsenic Soil Remediation Committee's work on levels of arsenic contamination for land use purposes. We have also discussed the merits of the options with GNWT environmental and mining professionals.
Clearly, we are not experts in any particular field, but we are reasonably well informed of the issues and in regular contact with constituents.
Your panel decided to ask the community a two-stage question: whether to manage the arsenic above ground, or below ground. Then, to consider the best technical option for each.
From the start, many Yellowknifers believed that because this problem was created by our generation, we should be fully responsible for solving it. That meant, for some of us, digging the stuff up, rendering it harmless through some kind of process, and putting away the residue so no future generation would ever have to deal with it again.
In the course of your work and presentations, you have changed at least some minds. You have shown that virtually any handling of the arsenic will add significant new risk of exposure to workers, environmental health and containment problems, as well as cost.
Our position is that we reject any surface treatment/management option for the arsenic, and that only an underground method of containment can be acted on.
We are, with the information presented to date, relatively confident in the underground freezing option. We urge that the door remain open for further evaluation of other alternatives, and we do not want to stand in the way of further work. But we temper this with the concern that we are engaged in a perpetual research project. The science, risk, cost and feasibility outlines that your panel has developed give us reasonable assurance that freezing in place is the most responsible and viable approach to recommend to The Government of Canada.
It's most attractive aspects are that no additional handling or exposure to workers or the environment is involved, and the science indicates that when fully encased is a frozen block, the arsenic vaults become impermeable and can remain so even in the event of decades of abandonment.
One other aspect of the problem deserves highlighting.
We are convinced that there cannot be a final "fix" or remedy that will absolutely eliminate the problem of arsenic a Giant Mine. In fact, your work has shown that the entire underground workings of the mine -- some 50 kilometres -- will continue to be the source of contaminated groundwater far into the future.
With this realization, our City, and the federal government, must acknowledge that we have a perpetual management issue. We understand this to mean that people and money will have to be in place permanently to monitor the site, keep the pumps going and ensure a safe operation.
Timing and Certainty
The issue of priorities at the federal government level should not be ignored, even in the face of a problem as large and obvious as tonnes of toxic arsenic. After all, the people of Sydney, Nova Scotia can point to decades of political boomerangs surrounding their infamous tar ponds problem.
Your panel has suggested in meetings with us, that if we stall, or do not send a clear strong signal of our preference, Ottawa may allow other pressing environmental issues to overtake this one. We should be mindful of this. The arsenic is, after all, not an immediate threat to our health. It is buried and therefore out of sight, out of mind.
However, as we look at the political environment in Ottawa, especially with the leadership transition coming up, we need certainty that this issue will continue to hold its current priority status with DIAND and the Government of Canada -- even if your recommendation involves further study.
In this context, we request that you impress on Canada that we are continuing to rely on its commitments to see this problem through to an effective resolution. It appears we have, or are in reach of, an approach that could be acceptable to the community. We need our federal government's commitment to follow through.
Sandy Lee
MLA, Range Lake
Brendan Bell
MLA Yellowknife South
Charles Dent
MLA Frame Lake
Bill Braden
MLA Great Slave
April 1, 2003 - SANDY LEE TO OBSERVE ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA
Ms. Sandy Lee, MLA for Range Lake is a part of a 14 member Elections Observer Group that was established by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt. Hon. Donald C. McKinnon. The Group will travel to Nigeria later this week to prepare and observe the National Assembly Election on April 12, and the Presidential Election on April 19, 2003.
The Observer Group includes serving and former parliamentarians and election officials from Commonwealth nations. Ms. Lee is one of two Canadians in the Group, and will be joined by the representatives from Australia, South Africa, Sierra Leone, United Kingdom, Kenya, Zambia, Grenada and Bangladesh. The Group will be headed by the former Prime Minister of Tanzania, Mr. Salim Ahmed Salim.
"I was honored to receive the invitation from the Secretary General and I am excited about the important work ahead of us. This is a very significant election for this young democracy and the people of Nigeria," said Ms. Lee.
The Observer Group was established by the Secretary-General at the request of the Government of Nigeria. Ms. Lee, along with her fellow members have been tasked with observing relevant aspects of the organization and the conduct of the National Assembly and Presidential Elections in accordance with the laws of Nigeria. At the completion of the election process the Group is to submit a report to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, who will forward it to the Government of Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the leadership of the political parties taking part in the elections and thereafter to all Commonwealth Governments.
"As a mature democracy, Canada has a proud tradition of being a neutral and objective observer in elections around the world. We are truly respected for this important role and I will do my best to carry on that tradition," said Ms. Lee.
Please contact:
Mr. Doug Schauerte
Deputy Clerk
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
Phone: (867) 669-2277
Toll Free: (800) 661-0784
e-mail: doug_schauerte@gov.nt.ca
March 13, 2003 - Progress Report: Self-Government Committee
A Special Committee on the Implementation of Self-Government has identified five sets of broad trends and issues that appear to be emerging from self-government negotiations and agreements in the NWT.
The Report is intended to contribute to a better understanding of the evolving systems of governance in the NWT, provide a basis for broad base discussion, and promote a positive approach to the shared future of the people of the Northwest Territories.
"We want to understand these agreements so that we have a sense of how things will change for the Legislative Assembly and GNWT, but more importantly, so we can have a territory-wide conversation about what all NWT residents can expect in the future," said Ms. Sandy Lee, Co-Chair of the Special Committee.
The Report is an overview of framework agreements, interim measures and other that are available to the public. The broad trends and issues are identified as the 5 C's:
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Communities: New Status and Powers
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Concurrency: Overlapping Law-Making Powers
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Consultation: Formal Requirements
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Coordination: Carrying Out Shared Responsibilities
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Cooperation: The Needs for Positive Relationships
"It is important to recognize that the NWT is a small place and the new governance arrangements that we make will guide how our communities and people relate to each other over the long term," said the Honourable Jim Antoine, Co-Chair of the Special Committee.
Following consultations with interested stakeholders in March, April and May, the Special Committee will make recommendations to the Legislative Assembly in its final report to the House in June 2003.
For a copy of the Interim Report or to get more information on the work of the Committee to date, please contact:
Ms. Sandy Lee
Co-Chair
1 800 661-0784
1 867 669-2290
Hon. Jim Antoine
Co-chair
1 800 661-0784
1 867 669-2388
March 12, 2003 - Harmonization Halted
Members have voted to halt the harmonization strategy until a working committee has had the opportunity to further study the impact of this plan on the clients of public housing and income support.
"I am glad to see our Consensus style of government work," said Leon Lafferty, North Slave MLA. He added that he was pleased to see Members from the larger centres support the motion and the government react to concerns that were raised.
"The passing of this motion will allow outstanding questions from the public to be answered," said Mr. McLeod who seconded Mr. Lafferty's motion. It has been proposed that a working committee be formed within the next few days to thoroughly evaluate concerns and to determine if more work is required before such a strategy is accepted and implemented.
Harmonization has been deferred until March 2004 when the government plans to streamline income support and housing. "With the delay in the implementation date, we now have an opportunity to ensure that single parents, Seniors and students are not penalized by dramatic rent increases," said, David Krutko MLA for Mackenzie Delta.
Steven Nitah, MLA for Tu Nedhe expressed relief that the government recognized that there were problems with the harmonization strategy but indicated that he would continue to monitor the issue. "Although the battle is won, the war is still in progress," concluded, Mr. Nitah.
For further information contact:
Steven Nitah
MLA, Tu Nedhe
1-800-661-0784
1-867-669-2287
Leon Lafferty
MLA, North Slave
1-800-661-0784
1-867-669-2279
Michael McLeod
MLA, Deh Cho
1-800-661-0784
1-867-669-2285
David Krutko MLA, Mackenzie Delta 1-800-661-0784 1-867-669-2268
March 5, 2003- 405 Sign Affordable Housing Petition: Braden
Today in the Legislative Assembly, Great Slave MLA Bill Braden tabled an affordable housing petition with more than 400 signatures. The petition calls on government to find better ways to help tenants resolve the skyrocketing costs of rent.
Two Yellowknife business people, Mark Zimmer and Barry Newman, renters themselves, initiated the petition as a result of concerns over rapidly rising housing costs in Yellowknife. "I was pleased that Barry Newman and Mark Zimmer accepted my offer to help, and today I will have the privilege of tabling a petition with the signatures of 405 Yellowknifers who agree with them," said Braden.
The dramatic pressure on housing availability and affordability is one of the pronounced problems across the NWT.
"What used to be an affordable and available housing market is non existent. It has played havoc with the lives and pocketbooks especially of low and middle income earners, single families, young people starting out and the elderly looking forward to retirement," said Braden.
Braden hopes the 405 signatures will get the government's attention and recognize that our 15 year old landlord and tenant legislation doesn't work in this superheated economy."
For more information, contact:
Bill Braden
MLA Great Slave
Phone: (867) 669-2276
Toll Free: (800) 661-0784
E-mail: Bill_Braden@gov.nt.ca
March 3, 2003 - SWEEPING CHANGES FOR OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
The Special Committee on the Review of the Official Languages Act presented its final report One Land - Many Voices, in the Legislative Assembly today. The report made 65 recommendations that included a framework for implementation and a draft Bill to amend the Official Languages Act of the NWT.
"The recommendations in our final report provide a roadmap that leads to a strong and vibrant future for each of our 11 languages," said Mr. Steven Nitah, Chair of the Special Committee.
Among the highlights of the report:
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Designation of a Minister to be responsible for the Official Languages Act
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Creation of an Aboriginal Languages Board that will advise the Minister
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Improving the delivery of services in the Official Languages
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Development of a comprehensive Aboriginal language arts curriculum
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Creation of an evaluation/accountability framework for official languages in the NWT
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Establishment of a one-window French Service Centre in Yellowknife
"With the release of this report, the Special Committee urges all NWT citizens to open their hearts and their minds to reflect on the value of our languages and the cultures in which they are rooted. We must continue to invest in our languages as a means to building a healthy, sustainable society," said Mr. Nitah.
The final report represents the conclusion of a 2-year process to review the Official Languages Act, after ten years of operation, as required by legislation.
For more information, please contact:
Benoît Boutin
Committee Coordinator
(867) 920-6929
benoit_boutin@gov.nt.ca
CHANGEMENTS EN PROFONDEUR POUR LES LANGUES OFFICIELLES
Le Comité spécial sur la révision de la Loi sur les langues officielles a présenté aujourd'hui son rapport final, Un territoire aux voix multiples, à l'Assemblée législative. Le rapport contient 65 recommandations, ainsi qu'un cadre de mise en Ïuvre et un avant-projet de loi pour modifier la Loi sur les langues officielles des Territoires du Nord-Ouest.
"Les recommandations comprises dans notre rapport final établissent un plan qui assurera un avenir dynamique et solide à chacune de nos onze langues officielles", a déclaré M. Steven Nitah, président du Comité spécial.
Parmi les points saillants du rapport, on trouve:
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la désignation d'un ministre responsable de la Loi sur les langues officielles;
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la création d'un conseil des langues autochtones qui aura pour mandat de conseiller le ministre;
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l'amélioration de la prestation des services dans les langues officielles;
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l'élaboration d'un programme complet d'enseignement des langues autochtones;
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la création d'un cadre d'évaluation et de reddition de comptes pour les langues officielles des Territoires du Nord-Ouest;
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l'établissement d'un centre de services à guichet unique pour le français à Yellowknife.
"Avec la publication de ce rapport, le Comité spécial invite tous les citoyens des Territoires du Nord-Ouest à ouvrir leur cÏur et leur esprit pour réfléchir à la valeur de nos langues et des cultures dans lesquelles elles sont enracinées. Nous devons continuer d'investir dans nos langues pour construire une société saine et durable", a affirmé M. Nitah.
Le rapport final sur la révision de la Loi sur les langues officielles représente l'aboutissement de deux ans de travail. La Loi exigeait une telle révision, dix ans après son adoption.
Pour de plus amples renseignements, veuillez communiquer avec:
Benoît Boutin
Coordonnateur du Comité
(867) 920-6929
benoit_boutin@gov.nt.ca
February 24, 2003 - Handbell Choir At LA
The Diamond Jenness Handbell Choir will be performing for Members and staff in the Great Hall of the Legislative Assembly Building on Thursday, February 27, 2003. They will be ringing their bells to some famous tunes from 12:45pm - 1:15pm.
The DJ Handbell Choir is a group of seven very talented northern students from Diamond Jenness Secondary School in Hay River. This extraordinary choir began in 1997 and is the only one of its kind in the Northwest Territories.
Through the dedication of Diamond Jenness teachers, and community sponsors and contributors, they have purchased an assortment of musical handbells and have spent many evenings practicing for their performances. They have entertained at numerous events for the enjoyment of people in their community.
Anyone interested in hearing this unique choir and enjoying its music is welcome to attend this performance.
For additional information contact:
Wendy Morgan
Constituency Assistant to Jane Groenewegen
MLA, Hay River South
(867) 874-6141
February 17, 2003 - AOC Questions the Government's Capital Planning Process
The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight wants the process of how capital projects are included in the budget to be more transparent. MLA's say details of the ranking process should be shared with Standing Committees so that the Capital spending plans of the government can be properly assessed.
In 2002/2003 The Government of the Northwest Territories adopted a new Corporate Capital Planning Process. The new process allocates available capital funding on a government-wide basis. Previously, a capital budget target was allocated to each department. Recently all three Standing Committees expressed concerns in their tabled reports on the Review of the Draft 2003 2004 Main Estimates.
"We are concerned about the process used to identify and rate projects," said Charles Dent, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight. "Projects just seemed to spring into the plan or get moved ahead without adequate explanation in the Budget this year," said Floyd Roland, Deputy Chair of the Committee.
Regular Members say the Government has not made enough information available to convince them that the ranking of projects is equitable or responsive to the needs of all, particularly the smaller communities.
For more information, please contact:
Charles Dent
Chair, Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight
Phone: (867) 669-2296
Toll Free: 1 (800) 661-0784
e-mail: Charles_Dent@gov.nt.ca
Or
Floyd Roland
Deputy Chair, Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight
Phone: (867) 669-2265
Toll Free: 1(800) 661-0784
e-mail: Floyd_Roland@gov.nt.ca
February 17, 2003 - MLA's Back Northern Premiers on Health Care
The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight supports NWT Premier Stephen Kakfwi's lobby with Premier Okalik and Premier Fentie to continue to pressure the Federal government for more money for health care in the North. The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight is comprised of all 11 Regular Members.
"If the Premiers are successful in getting more money it will help us to address the lack of health services and infrastructure in the remote and small northern communities," said Leon Lafferty MLA for North Slave.
"The Federal government has put our Premiers in a difficult position. They would like to be able to work with the Federal government, but the needs of their constituents must be addressed. I applaud the work of our Premiers and the leadership that they are showing on the need for a different funding arrangement to meet the health care needs in the north," said Jane Groenewegen MLA for Hay River South.
The three Premiers refused to accept the Health Accord that was reached at the First Ministers' Meeting earlier this month. The Accord funding does not cover one week of the existing health care costs in the three territories, nor does it address the unique challenges of health care north of sixty.
For more information, please contact:
Charles Dent
Chair, Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight
Phone: (867) 669-2296
Toll Free: 1 (800) 661-0784
e-mail: Charles_Dent@gov.nt.ca
Or
Floyd Roland
Deputy Chair, Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight
Phone: (867) 669-2265
Toll Free: 1(800) 661-0784
e-mail: Floyd_Roland@gov.nt.ca
February 14, 2003 - Braden Applauds New Housing Loan Conditions
Yellowknife [February 14]-Bill Braden, MLA Great Slave today praised the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation for its improved support for housing developers through changes to the Corporations interim financing program.
Minister Roger Allen confirmed the reduction of the NWTHCs equity requirements and premiums for loan guarantee fees as one way to encourage and support companies in the development of additional housing projects.
"This will help small and medium developers put more housing on the market at lower cost. It could be a step in building more affordable housing across the north" said Braden.
Braden also complimented David McPherson, Yellowknife businessman and President of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, and other Yellowknife MLAs who supported these changes.
In acknowledging Minister Allen's action, Braden said "This is an excellent example of a Minister working with community interests and MLAs. Its how consensus government should work."
For additional information contact:
Bill Braden
MLA Great Slave
Tel: 669-2276
E-mail: Bill_Braden@gov.nt.ca
February 6, 2003 - Range Lake MLA Sandy Lee figures Prime Minister Jean Chretien just doesn't get it.
Her feelings come in the wake of the three territorial premiers turning down a new health care deal on Feb. 6 offered by the federal government because they felt it failed to address the pressing needs of Northerners. Under the new deal, the NWT would have taken home $15.6-million over three years. But Ms. Lee feels the deal was woefully inadequate and shows the Prime Minister continues to ignore the North's needs.
"Either the Prime Minister doesn't get it or doesn't care about the pressing needs and realities of the North," says Ms. Lee. "All of our efforts to get the Prime Minister to be our partner and an ally in the development and growth of the North have been ignored, whether it be a plea for additional infrastructure funding or health care funding. And I applaud the Premiers for saying this is no longer acceptable."
Ms. Lee is now calling on northern and aboriginal leaders to get behind NWT Premier Stephen Kakfwi, Nunavut Premier Paul Okalik and Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie in their stand to challenge the Prime Minister to do more to address the health care funding needs of all Northerners.
"Ensuring a viable health care system in the North has been foremost on the minds of every one in my constituency," says Ms. Lee. "The amount of money the Prime Minister has offered amounts to $5 million per year over the next 3 years. This is so miniscule, it is an insult and speaks to the lack of understanding of the North on the part of the Prime Minister."
Ms. Lee noted it costs over $50 million a year to operate Stanton Territorial Hospital, the only acute health care facility in a territory bigger than any province. She says the lack of funding has caused closures of units in this hospital in the past year. Also, a lack of competitive compensation packages continues to make it difficult for the NWT to attract health care professionals to deliver essential health care services to Northerners. Ms. Lee believes all Canadians are entitled to the same basic health care services.
"I pledge to do everything I can to support the Premiers in their stance," says Ms. Lee. "I urge all leaders and residents of the North to stand united on this very important issue."
For more information, contact
Sandy Lee
(867) 669-2289
sandy_lee@gov.nt.ca
www.SandyLeeMLA.com
February 6, 2003 - NWT MLAs back Northern Premiers in Health Care Stand-off
Yellowknife -- (February 6, 2003) -- NWT legislators say Premiers Fentie, Kakfwi and Okalik are doing the right thing by backing away from Ottawa's inadequate funding deal for health care.
Members were heartened in late January when all Canadian premiers agreed that conventional per capita funding arrangements did not recognize Northern realities. However, yesterday's outcome with the Prime Minister proved Ottawa still does not recognize the needs in Canada's vast north and aboriginal communities.
Rapid development in the NWT, coupled with health standards that are far below the Canadian norm, compels Ottawa to deliver on the package supported by the Premiers.
For further comment: