Bill Braden

Mr. Speaker, I have a written question for the Minister of Finance regarding the federal contributions to the NWT.

A number of potential new federal initiatives have been proposed for the NWT, such as gas tax revenue, Northern Strategy, infrastructure investment, for this fiscal year. Most if not all of these measures are contingent on the federal budget passing.

Could the Minister provide a detailed list of potential sources of new federal investments for the NWT this fiscal year?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and colleagues, for indulging my request. There is something that was brought to our attention earlier today that really demands a review and it should start today. My question is for the Minister of Finance, Mr. Speaker. It regards the message that we received this afternoon in his statement of a $36 million clawback from Ottawa as a result of a corporate tax change some five years ago. I am wondering on this one, Mr. Speaker, do we call 911? Do we call a forensic accountant? What is going on here? This is a considerable turnaround in our financial fortunes here...

Mr. Speaker, one of the aspects that have been brought to light about this potential move -- and this is not a slight at all against the good people of Hay River -- are certain levels of support and treatment and professional care that are not established in Hay River. Is this business plan going to address the needs that these children have for as full a spectrum as possible of care, and how is that going to be established? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Then if something has been learned, how, Mr. Speaker, has that been manifested in this lightning-quick decision to move the treatment centre without bringing, as my colleague yesterday, the Member for Kam Lake, Dave Ramsay, said, where is the business plan? How are we to know what is going to be the effect on workers and on staff and on families? If the government has learned something, we’re not seeing it here, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to welcome all the youngsters and their parents and teachers from Hay River and hope that Yellowknife’s hospitality stands up to the test. Like my colleague from Kam Lake, I’d like to recognize the president of the NWT Teachers’ Association, Amanda Mallon. Welcome.

---Applause

Okay, thanks. I think we will need an engineer, scientist at least, to help us connect all the dots. The explanation shows one of the frustrations that we deal with here, which is the complexity of our relationship with Ottawa, Mr. Speaker, I guess to the point of how does this impact or is this going to impact this year or in the near term, Mr. Speaker. Is this $36 million clawback going to impact our ability to continue our program spending or capital investment? Are we going to get hit on that side of our programs? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, thank you. Following on the heels of my colleague’s statement, I, too, want to address the matter of the proposal to relocate the Territorial Treatment Centre to Hay River.

For many years the NWT’s only care facility, I believe, for young children with these severe behaviour problems has been the TTC facility here in Yellowknife.

For several months the idea has been in play to relocate this centre to Hay River. The proposal is based on some very expensive renovations to an existing old building with limited capacity, compared with putting those dollars into the now vacant Dene K...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to continue to work on aspects of this that can help keep families and their children connected at least if not across the lake, here in our own community. If a family has a youngster in TTC right now in residential care, is this the best option for them? When TTC closes, are there any other options available in Yellowknife for continuing that kind of service for families who are based here? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to get some sense of the demand or need for this kind of service. Right now, the Minister has advised that there are some eight being looked after. Is there indeed a waiting list? Do we have a capacity issue with this kind of facility and is there potential for utilizing the Dene K’onia centre as well as perhaps retaining some kind of service here in Yellowknife? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister advise what considerations or options have been included in this plan for future employment options for the Bosco Homes' employees currently employed here in Yellowknife? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.