Kent Driscoll
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 22/05) - Workers and politicians fighting a government $3.2 million plan to move the Territorial Treatment Centre from Yellowknife to Hay River are taking their case to the people.

"It's a lot of political payback. Hay River needs something from the government, but this isn't the way to do it," said Jim Kipling, a team leader at the centre and an author of a petition to keep the facility in Yellowknife.

The territorial government plans to spend $3.2 million on renovating the former Dene K'onia young offenders facility in Hay River as a new home for the treatment centre.

Yellowknife MLAs Sandy Lee, Bill Braden, Robert Hawkins and Dave Ramsay are supporting the employee petition.

"It's political motivation, it's a part of decentralization. This is absolutely irresponsible in our consensus system," said Braden.

Lee argues that the centre uses Yellowknife professionals who are not available in Hay River, like psychiatrists and pediatricians.

"These professionals aren't luxuries. These kids need highly specialized care," said Lee.

Kern Von Hagen, superintendent of the Yellowknife Catholic school board, which supplies the centre with a teacher and classroom assistant, was critical of the planned move to Hay River.

"We've not been contacted or consulted about this. It's vital, it's the only way they're are going to get their education," said Von Hagen.

Employees of the centre do not want to move to Hay River, Kipling said.

"People are angry. Take a professional group of people and move them for no reason, they are going to be upset," said Kipling.

Kipling tries to "work with each family as well as the kids, to teach parenting skills." In Hay River, that close contact will not be likely.

The move will cut the children off from their families and some have indicated "they wouldn't be involved if we moved," he said.

Laura Johns has been the administrator at the centre for 12 years and is the first voice the children hear when they check in.

"When a kid leaves, if they need to talk or feel unsafe, they will call. We get a lot of contact from former clients. What's going to happen to these people, they consider this home," said Johns.

Kipling predicts problems in recruiting people to work in Hay River, but Health and Social Services Minister Michael Miltenberger thinks the town can manage. "I don't think it will be that hard to recruit. Hay River has it's own attributes and they have run child care facilities in the past," said Miltenberger.

Bosco Homes operates the centre and is treading lightly around the issue.

"It's an awkward situation and it's not a place for us to comment. Our employees and their families have a right to express their views," said Dr Gus Rozycki, the executive director of Bosco Homes.

Bosco's contract for the centre ran out in March 2005 and was extended for one year.

Bosco also operates the Trail Cross Treatment Centre in Fort Smith and have provided childcare services in the territories for 12 years. Bosco would be considered frontrunners for any new contract.