Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services
Hay River (Jun 22/01) - After two days of talk, As the territorial government's Social Agenda Conference wound down Wednesday, the cabinet minister most closely associated with it said more discussion is needed.
"We're going to be having the same kind of discussions with a broader audience," said Health Minister Jane Groenewegen.
Earlier in the week, the minister dubbed the conference "the first step" in developing a social agenda for the territory.
The second step of that process appears to rest with Groenewegen's recently formed Council of Grandmothers. As the conference wound down and delegates prepared to board charter flights back to their communities, debate focused on how to proceed.
The Council of Grandmothers was created last month by Groenewegen. It consists of 15 respected women from across NWT, who are to regularly consult with the minister on social issues.
"There was some discussion about what would be the next step, and the mechanism for taking that step," said Sheila Bassi, a spokesperson for Groenewegen.
About 20 people stayed behind with Groenewegen and Premier Stephen Kakfwi. Bassi said it was decided that the Council of Grandmothers was the best mechanism to determine what the next step should be.
Dolly Ablitt, currently with the Public Service Alliance of Canada, acted as a facilitator for the conference. Ablitt said delegates issued a list of recommendations near the end of the conference.
Ablitt said some of the recommendations included consulting all communities by September, that any recommendations be received by a group with the authority to implement recommendations, and that each community develop a vision of social services that could be compiled into a territorial vision.
Other recommendations included changing legislation on family violence within six months, and ensuring that proposed territorial human rights legislation is at least as strong as the Canadian Human Rights Code.
One front-line worker suggested that the government has been playing for time.
"Every time we've told the government that we need something, we've been told, 'wait until after the conference,' said the worker, who requested anonymity.
Organizers billed the conference as an opportunity to "provide the foundation for a Social Agenda for the NWT." It brought together territorial and aboriginal leaders, front-line workers, community activists, and other interested parties.
Ablitt, a registered nurse, said there was a "poor showing" of front-line health care workers at the conference.
"There were no front-line (health-care) workers from Hay River, only two from Stanton (Regional Health Board) and one from the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Board," said Ablitt.
According to the territorial government's supplementary appropriations documents, the conference cost $225,000 to "plan, prepare and host."
"It's money well spent if the government acts on the recommendations," said Ablitt.
The consultant charged with compiling the recommendations said she expects a rough draft to be completed by the end of the month.
Social problems
During a panel session on the problems facing communities in the NWT, participants were told by the NWT Bureau of Statistics that:
- The average number of "heavy drinkers" and users of marijuana are roughly double the average in the rest of Canada.
- The rate of suicides, accidental deaths and homicides is roughly twice as high as the Canadian average.
- The rate of violent crime is five times higher than the Canadian average.
- The teen birth rate is roughly double the Canadian average.
