Notes from the legislative assembly
Electricity costs spark debate
Kirsten Fenn
Northern News Services
Monday, February 20, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A Yellowknife MLA questioned the confidence of the Minister Responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation on Feb. 14 after stated Hay River could soon see lower power rates.
When asked during question period about the status of NTPC's take-over of power distribution in Hay River from Northland Utilities, Minister Louis Sebert said the issue has gone to arbitration.
"Assuming a reasonable valuation of the assets comes in," Sebert said he expects "the price of power in Hay River will decline."
But Vanthuyne questioned how the minister could "so confidently" say so when costs in Yellowknife are expected to increase "by a compounded rate of 40 per cent over six years."
He added it's the responsibility of the independent Public Utilities Board to set power rates and that the minister seems to be "pre-empting" the board's work. Sebert reiterated his confidence that rates will fall once the board looks at things, perhaps by as much as 30 per cent, he said.
"I'm considering now moving to Hay River, quite frankly," Vanthuyne joked. "They've got a good golf course there, too."
911 wait continues
Implementing a basic 911 service across the NWT could take another year and a half, according to Caroline Cochrane, minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
"Our goal is to implement the system in all communities as quickly as possible," she said Feb. 15. "While our road map does not recommend a phased-in approach, careful consideration will be given to that possibility if it makes sense."
Cochrane said she plans to discuss a draft implementation plan for 911 with the Standing Committee on Government Operations in the next few weeks. The Yellowknife Fire Division remains a likely option for the location of a 911 call centre, she said, although the GNWT will still reach out to other communities before making that decision. New territorial legislation will have to be implemented to manage the system, which will operate on a cost-recovery basis, Cochrane said.
"This means monthly fees to fund the ongoing operations of 911 after implementation will appear on the phone bills of our residents," she said.
Hay River MLA rehashes ambulance issues, again
The GNWT will develop an action plan to support ground ambulance services in some NWT communities, Municipal and Community Affairs Minister Caroline Cochrane announced Feb. 15.
"The Government of the Northwest Territories recognizes that it is an issue," Cochrane said. "We don't want to leave people stranded and we want to make health and safety our priority."
She said the plan is expected to get underway this spring and will focus on the five tax-based communities: Yellowknife, Hay River, Inuvik, Fort Simpson and Fort Smith.
"Usually I hate to hear that the government is doing another action plan, but in this case it is better than what has been going on," said Hay River North MLA RJ Simpson, who raised the issue - again.
"It has become a tradition of mine to make statements in this House about the government's lack of support for ground ambulance and highway rescue services," Simpson said. "Today the tradition continues."
He said while it wasn't in his plans to speak about it, he changed his mind after discovering a decade-old document hashing out the same problem.
JK a "learning experience" says minister
MLAs lambasted the education minister Friday for poorly communicating departmental initiatives like junior kindergarten and a proposed reduction in class time to the public and members of the assembly.
In the opening remarks of the Education, Culture and Employment budget review, MLAs sharply criticized Minister Alfred Moses for making decisions without informing them and for providing information to the media before members. Moses admitted he felt the junior kindergarten funding announcements could have been rolled out better.
"We are working on our communications," Moses said of his department. "We take it as a learning experience."
MLAs are also concerned about cuts at Aurora College, aboriginal language funding and the Aboriginal Head Start program. Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh MLA Tom Beaulieu on Friday called the lack of inclusive schooling funding included in junior kindergarten "a real mess."
Last week, members deferred both the Health and Social Services and Industry, Tourism and Investment budgets. On Feb. 15, MLA Julie Green said regular MLAs had hoped to see another $2.5 million invested in things like mental health, homecare and anti-poverty, although Health and Social Services Minister Glen Abernethy said those things should wait until the next budget. The Education, Culture and Employment review continues Monday.
Aurora College fight continues
Concerned MLAs continued to question last week how cuts to Aurora College's social work and education programs jive with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's recommendations to improve aboriginal education.
"If we are going to build our territory, we must invest in the North and keep our education programs and infrastructure strong," said Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh MLA Tom Beaulieu, who suggested Wednesday the programs be fixed instead of terminated.
"Sending our students and education resources south ... is a step backwards into the darker days of the last century," Beaulieu said.
Education, Culture and Employment Minister Alfred Moses said the cuts were "evidence-based," and that students in K-12 do receive cultural education.
"There are times that we have to make hard decisions based on the fiscal situation that we're currently in," he said.
Nahendeh MLA Shane Thompson also tabled a letter from Dehcho First Nations Grand Chief Herb Norwegian on Feb. 14, showing support for the programs
"Many of our people have attended these over the years with much success," Norwegian said. "We ask all MLAs of the Legislative Assembly to reconsider your decision and have Aurora College continue to deliver these programs."
