009 Hansard

Whitehorse, Yukon

Thursday, December 7, 2006 -- 1:00 p.m.

 

Speaker:  I will now call the House to order. We will proceed at this time with prayers.

Prayers 

DAILY ROUTINE

Speaker:   We will proceed with the Order Paper.

Are there any tributes?

TRIBUTES

In recognition of International Human Rights Day

Hon. Ms. Horne:   Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to International Human Rights Day. This day is celebrated on December 10 of every year. The theme of Human Rights Day 2006 is "Fighting poverty: a matter of obligation, not charity." In setting this theme, the United Nations has issued a challenge to each of us. It reminds us that human rights play a critical role in people becoming fully contributing members of society.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, a fellow Canadian, has spoken eloquently about the importance of economic resources to promoting and defending human rights.

Commissioner Arbour commented that poverty is both a cause and a product of human rights violations. People whose rights are denied are more likely to be poor. Generally they find it harder or impossible to participate in the labour market and have little or no access to basic services and resources. As a result, they cannot enjoy their rights to education, health and housing simply because they cannot afford them.

Low incomes can prevent people from accessing education and economic and social rights, which in turn inhibits their participation in public life -- a civil and political right -- and their ability to influence policies affecting them. Having served as the chief prosecutor for the international criminal tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, this is a point that Commissioner Arbour understands clearly.

This year's theme reminds us of the importance of educating today for jobs tomorrow. It challenges us to provide the environment in which people can achieve a better quality of life. I would like to thank our local Human Rights Commission for their contribution to Yukon. I appreciate the good work they do.

Thank you.

 

Mr. Inverarity:   I rise on behalf of the official opposition to join my colleagues in the Legislature in paying tribute to International Human Rights Day. On Human Rights Day, it is celebrated around the world that human beings are born with equal and inalienable rights and fundamental freedoms. In 1987, members of the Yukon Legislative Assembly passed a Yukon Human Rights Act. The objects of the act were to promote human rights in the territory, recognizing freedom, equality and the dignity of Yukon residents, and to discourage and eliminate discrimination.

To carry out these goals, the act established a Yukon Human Rights Commission. The act protects Yukon residents against discrimination in several areas of public life. Discrimination is not allowed in providing goods and services to the public, employment or applications for employment, membership in trade unions or other related associations and in public contracts.

For the celebration of Human Rights Day in the Yukon, the Human Rights Commission will be participating in the Disability Expo, taking place at the Elijah Smith Building on Friday, December 8, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Human Rights Commissioner will be speaking in tribute to International Human Rights Day at the Elijah Smith Building at noon. All are welcome.

The Yukon Employees Union will be holding their open house at their union hall on Friday, December 8 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., also in celebration of Human Rights Day.

Finally, Amnesty International is sponsoring a Write for Rights event, which will be held December 10 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Whitehorse Public Library.

Human Rights Day reminds us of persistent human rights problems in our communities and in the world and of the enormous effort still required to make human rights a reality for all. I encourage all Yukoners to recognize the work of the Human Rights Commission and pay tribute to them on this day.

Human rights are our common heritage and their realization depends on the contributions each and every one of us is willing to make, individually and collectively, now and in the future.

 

Mr. Cardiff:   I rise on behalf of the third party to recognize International Human Rights Day, December 10. Canada has a proud history of promoting and protecting human rights around the world. The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights was drafted by a Canadian. We are also justly proud of Canadian Louise Arbour, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, who has fought tirelessly to have that office revitalized.

We note with dismay that human rights are violated not only in other parts of the world, but the human rights of many Canadians are being eroded by the current desire for international security. The cases of Maher Arar and other Arab Canadians should shock us and make us more diligent in evaluating how even democratic systems can be used against us. Not only high-profile cases with international intrigue should alarm us, however. There are many Canadians whose daily lives are lived without human rights. For instance, we should be disturbed by the lack of human rights of children in poverty in Canada. The 2006 report card on child and family poverty in Canada shows that one child in six in Canada still lives in poverty. That figure does not include the shameful situation for First Nations' communities where one in every four children grows up in poverty.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child was ratified by Canada and all provincial legislatures in 1999. It recognized an inadequate standard of living for children, and we have yet to reach that standard in one of the richest countries in the world.

The ideal of human beings born free and equal in dignity and rights recognizes that we are all endowed with reason and conscience. That idea demands that we should act toward one another with compassion and support.

Human rights are not just theories or ideals; they are a way of life that must be defended and upheld whenever we see them being breached -- especially for those who are unable to do that for themselves.

 

Speaker:   Are there any further tributes?

Introduction of visitors.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

 Hon. Ms. Taylor:    Mr. Speaker, I would ask all members of the Legislature to join with me in welcoming Rod Taylor, the president of the Tourism Industry Association of the Yukon, and Darielle Talarico,who is with him.

Applause

 

Mr. McRobb:   It gives me pleasure to introduce a very long-time citizen of the Kluane area and respected elder, Fred Brown, Sr.

 

Speaker:   Are there any further introductions of visitors?

Returns or documents for tabling.

Reports of committees.

Are there any petitions?

Are there any bills to be introduced?

Are there any notices of motion?

NOTICES OF MOTION

Mr. Nordick:     I give notice of the following motion:

THAT this House urge the Government of Yukon to work with First Nations to implement the corrections actions plan that includes measures to address

(1) the construction of a new corrections facility or facilities to replace the Whitehorse Correctional Centre;

(2) programs, services, treatment and case management;

(3) human resource development training and support;

(4) community capacity development;

(5) Victim and Family Services;

(6) information and communications; and

(7) legislation and policies.

 

Speaker:   Is there a ministerial statement?

This then brings us to Question Period.

QUESTION PERIOD

Question re:   Education reform

Mr. Mitchell:    First Nations are genuinely concerned about the education achievement levels attained by their children. Year after year, the overall test scores of the Yukon achievement test show First Nation test scores are lower than the Yukon average. First Nation parents, like any parent, are concerned. They have spent years, and even decades, trying to have their concerns addressed; now they are saying, "Enough."

We have several First Nations speaking publicly about drawing down education or forming their own school boards. Their frustration is clear, understandable and real.

The Premier should comprehend the gravity of this situation and the potential impact on the entire Yukon education system. Will he respect all parents and students and give his undertaking to deal expeditiously with the education reform project report, or will he wait until the entire system sinks into a black hole?

Hon. Mr. Rouble:   As the Education minister, I certainly share many of the concerns that the leader of the official opposition has raised. He has brought forward valid concerns, and they have been brought forward in the past. These are issues that are before our education reform group right now.

As I said in this Assembly last week, we have made a commitment to work in the best interests of all Yukoners, especially for Yukon people of First Nation ancestry, to improve the quality, calibre and content of education. Our education review process is underway. We are seeing tangible results and will see more results down the road.

Mr. Mitchell:    I do appreciate the positive words from the Education minister, but I think that time is of the essence. This week, the Chief of the Kwanlin Dun First Nation was very clear, very sincere and very frustrated. He said he was fed up with being ignored. He said that Kwanlin Dun was proceeding with its own school.

Mr. Speaker, lack of consultation and cooperation and a lack of respect for First Nation needs have taken their toll. The relations with First Nations are on a downward spiral. Does the Premier comprehend what these decisions will extract from the Yukon education system? What, if anything, does he propose to do about it?

Hon. Mr. Fentie:   Mr. Speaker, obviously this is a matter of opinion. To claim in this House that the relations with the First Nations are on a downward spiral flies in the face of all the evidence. The Yukon forum is a joint process to develop legislation giving force and effect to the relationship, which is the Co-operation in Governance Act, finalizing three agreements under our last mandate, the establishment of such processes through the forum as joint investment with the northern strategy, joint investment for the northern housing trust and the correction action plan. This is one of the best work ever done in the public domain in this territory to reform our corrections system. There is also a partnership in education reform with joint shares with First Nations. That's hardly a downward spiral. It is definitely an upward trend in improving relations with Yukon First Nation governments.

Mr. Mitchell:    Well, Mr. Speaker, I hear the Premier, and it's clear that he does not comprehend this. Yukon finds itself in this position because his government has not respected agreements and has paid only lip service to the idea of consultation while ordering up more studies and reviews. One can understand, Mr. Speaker, why "schools" has not been a popular term in First Nation vocabularies.

Mr. Speaker, we understand that the Yukon Teachers Association already has a draft copy of the education reform project report. Will the Premier now table a copy of that report so we can begin the process of addressing the many concerns facing not only First Nation parents but all Yukon parents?

Hon. Mr. Fentie:   You know, Mr. Speaker, it's hard to figure out where the leader of the official opposition actually wants the government to go. Moments ago it's all about being expeditious and consulting and doing all the hard work, and moments later it's all about "we want information immediately".

Well, the government is going to go and do its work. It's going to live up to its obligations to consult, which the member just criticized the government for, and once all that work is done and all the input has been consolidated and we are at the stage of coming forward with new policy, possible amendments to the Education Act, and other matters with respect to Yukon's education system and its improvement, we will do so. We will table it in this House.

Question re:   Outfitters land tenure

Mr. Mitchell:    Mr. Speaker, I have another question for the Premier. There has been public outcry. There was frustration by First Nations, and there is a failure on the part of government to adequately consult the Yukon First Nations on the controversial lands policy for outfitters. By that I mean the big game outfitters land tenure policy.

The government and this Premier have received extensive feedback on this issue, and numerous requests to rescind this policy. As recently as October 24 of this year, CBC news reported that even government land officials say there is too much public interest to make quick decisions. Does the Premier recognize that First Nation culture includes a deeply held commitment to stewardship of the land and, if so, will the Premier respect the First Nations' request to rescind the big games outfitters land tenure policy until adequate public consultation has been completed?

Hon. Mr. Fentie:   According to the files transferred vis-à-vis devolution, consultation has been ongoing with respect to this policy and hundreds of other files in this territory, in some cases for decades. Again the member is incorrect.

The policy is very important, however. In the preceding days of this House, there have been many questions from the official opposition with respect to a certain activity on the Yukon land base with respect to a hunting concession. That's without the policy. Today's policy will ensure there are parameters for what happens on the land base. What's even more important is that each and every application can be scrutinized and positions submitted with respect to First Nations and their traditional territories and beyond.

We've improved the situation by providing the tools to those individuals in government responsible for managing Yukon's land base.

Mr. Mitchell:    The Premier is referring to consultation that occurred prior to devolution with the Government of Canada. First Nations are asking for this Premier's government to consult with them on this policy.

I would like to file a letter sent to the Premier on May 23, 2006, from the Council of Yukon First Nations. CYFN is adamantly opposed to this outfitter policy and maintains that the government is failing in its duties to consult with Yukon First Nations. CYFN has further stated that it will support any First Nations that use any lawful means necessary to resist any infringement on their aboriginal and treaty rights.

The government has received fierce opposition to the big game outfitters land tenure policy. The message is: do not open the floodgates, allowing big game outfitters to grab land in traditional territories. Will the Premier trust that First Nation governments possess the knowledge and experience and have the right to challenge any government policy that erodes the First Nations' land base, denies First Nation citizens access to prime real estate within their traditional territory and gives a few select outfitters a monopoly on Yukon's wilderness tourism?

Hon. Mr. Fentie:   I am aghast, Mr. Speaker. That dissertation by the leader of the official opposition simply is out of touch with reality. This policy does not allow for access to new land base; it has nothing to do with wilderness tourism; it has everything to do with pre-existing sites on existing concessions. What is even more important is that any lease that may be applied for and delivered upon with respect to a hunting concession is tied to the concession licence. The member opposite is so out of touch, Mr. Speaker. I would encourage him to go back and do some homework on this matter. For example, read the policy.

Mr. Mitchell:    By definition, outfitting concessions are areas in which limited rights are granted to outfitters to provide guide services for the purposes of harvesting big game. Under the big game outfitters land tenure policy, the lease and licences will ultimately limit and infringe on aboriginal treaty rights of Yukon First Nation citizens. Under this policy land tenure applications can avoid an environmental assessment.

Mr. Speaker, under this policy the government can give away land within First Nation traditional territory without ever consulting the affected First Nation.

Does the Premier understand the impact on First Nations and all Yukoners of supporting a land tenure policy that gives more rights to foreigners and outfitters than to First Nation citizens who have lived here in Yukon for countless generations?

Hon. Mr. Fentie:   This is actually a serious matter. The member opposite is interjecting into debate his opinion on areas that obviously the member has very little knowledge of.

I must point out that the policy speaks to pre-existing sites, and there are parameters even around the size of land base that this would impact. What is even more disturbing is that the member has just stood up and conveniently ignored the law in the Yukon. It is called YESAA, and all through this territory, when activity is being applied for on various levels -- a litany of levels -- there are all kinds of thresholds and triggers in Yukon law today that ensure the correct processes, consultation and input is going to be part of any decision. It is very convenient to criticize based on little knowledge of the facts, but it has no bearing on the issue at hand.

Let me be clear: we are not rescinding the policy; in fact we are going to ensure the policy is applied in the appropriate manner and in the intent for which it was developed. We are going to get a handle on what is going on in the Yukon land base to ensure that the issues that his member just put on the floor of the Assembly do not happen.

Question re:   Addictions treatment centres

Mr. Edzerza:   This government is fond of using the substance abuse action plan to show that it is doing something about the Yukon's severe addictions problems. Part of that plan outlines a Yukon community court to deal with offenders with drug or alcohol addictions, symptoms of FASD and/or mental health issues. The substance abuse action plan states that the court will provide "a comprehensive treatment plan that will include judicial supervision, substance abuse treatment, random and frequent drug testing, incentives and sanctions, clinical case management, and social services support." It says that the court will provide a treatment plan. It doesn't say who is to activate the plan or what services will support plans made by the court.

With offenders already going through this court, will the Minister of Health and Social Services explain what services his department has established to meet the treatment plans for clients of the court in Whitehorse and the community?

Hon. Mr. Cathers:   I would point out to the member opposite that, first, I would have to express gratitude that at least he's actually reading the corrections action plan now. It's a pleasure to see. The Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Justice have jointly implemented the Domestic Violence Treatment Option Court. The lead on this, of course, is the Department of Justice. The Department of Health and Social Services plays a supporting role, and we are very committed to moving forward on our platform commitments to implementing our platform commitments to improve the treatment services that are currently available within Yukon and to implement the direction laid out under the substance abuse action plan.

Mr. Edzerza:   I won't follow the previous speaker. I will not personalize anything here.

One of the objectives in the substance abuse action plan is to work with First Nation governments, NGOs and other stakeholders to develop more treatment centres and programs throughout the territory in order to support the operations of the community court. The last time I looked, there had been no changes at all in the number of treatment centres or programs, particularly land-based treatment facilities, another promise made by this government. Offenders coming from this court need something to happen with their plans.

In my experience, building up client expectations and not coming through with substantial support can lead to relapse, violence or even suicide. When does the minister intend to follow through on his government's commitments and provide real support and funding for community treatment centres? If not immediately, will it be in the spring budget?

Hon. Mr. Cathers:   I have to remind the Member for McIntyre-Takhini of the Domestic Violence Treatment Option Court. We are very proud of it. It's a collaborative initiative with the Department of Justice as the lead, supported by the Department of Health and Social Services. It was implemented in the summer of this year. The substance abuse action plan work has been ongoing for the last few years. The steps underneath it have been rolling out one piece at a time, as we have to do with government processes.

The Minister of Justice has recently announced the implementation of the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, which is an important component under our substance abuse action plan. I have announced our support, along with the minister responsible for the Women's Directorate, for the Outreach van and other important components of the substance abuse action plan. Treatment centres are a key priority under our substance abuse action plan. We will be moving forward on that. We will be working with First Nations and others in determining the exact mechanics of where and how it will work. We will move forward on this as expeditiously as possible, but we are going to get it right.

Mr. Edzerza:   Well, I'm pleased to hear that the minister is intending to get it right, because it certainly needs to happen. The need for substance abuse and FASD services has been ongoing in this territory for decades, but there really hasn't been much action. There has to be. One of the crying needs is for Yukon-based certified addictions counsellors. A few years ago this was nearly a reality, until this government fired the person who had done the planning for training and was prepared to act on that plan.

Will the minister demonstrate that he is committed to a long-term investment in Yukon people who work with our substance abuse problems and immediately reactivate plans to provide local opportunities for Yukoners who want to be trained in addictions counselling? Will the minister do that?

Hon. Mr. Cathers:   The member is simply not reflecting the facts of what this government has done. We are very proud of the steps we have taken and, of course, we recognize that more work needs to be done, but the work we have done in moving forward on our five-step FASD action plan, working with groups such as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Society Yukon -- which, I would note, has been commended by national experts, one just on the radio as recently as this morning, referring to the groundbreaking work the Yukon has done in this area.

As members of the Canada Western FASD Partnership, which is composed of the western provinces and the northern territories, we have been one of the leading forces, as a jurisdiction, in moving forward on new steps to deal with the problem of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. In terms of treatment, we are the government that reopened the Sarah Steele Building with the 28-day treatment for alcohol, which was cancelled by a previous government.

The plan the member is referring to -- I think he's referring to the work done by a previous government in attempting to recover from their ill-fated decision to shut down Crossroads.

We replaced it, we have stepped forward, we're going to do more but we are very proud of what we've done to date and will continue moving forward.

Question re:   Canada Winter Games, athletes village

Mr. Cardiff:   The minister responsible for the Yukon Housing Corporation has apparently added a new refrain to his song and dance about the zoning requirements for the athletes village buildings. The corporation will inherit those buildings after the Canada Winter Games.

According to a newspaper report yesterday, the minister is still insisting that rezoning isn't needed because it's a government building on government property, but now the minister is using the building permit to support that claim. He even resorted to an offensive and abrasive question about city officials. I quote: "Who in their right mind issues the building permit without the zoning?"

The municipal people are in their right minds. They issued the permit for two buildings to be used for an athletes village. Will the minister now apologize for the second cheap shot he has taken in less than a week at municipal employees who are simply doing their jobs?

Unparliamentary language

 Speaker:    Before the honourable minister answers the question, Member for Mount Lorne, describing debate in this Legislature as "song and dance" is not appropriate. I would ask the honourable member to respect this Assembly and not use that, please.

You have the floor, Minister of Economic Development.

 

Hon. Mr. Kenyon:   Again, for the member opposite, the zoning is clearly on the building permits and they were properly issued. Discussions are continuing between city officials and the Yukon Housing Corporation.

The application for a permit to erect, alter, et cetera, a building clearly shows the use as residential, clearly identifies the 24-unit building and the 48-unit building and is clearly zoned for public service. There appears to be some debate between the city and Yukon Housing Corporation in terms of the appropriateness of that, and I leave that to the discussions at the officials level.

The city is a partner in this project to the tune of about $8 million. This government is committed to make the Canada Winter Games a resounding success. I invite those members opposite to join us in those efforts.

Mr. Cardiff:   Well, the minister doesn't get it. It doesn't matter if it's the Yukon government or the Hell's Angels who own the building, the law is the law. It is what the building is going to be used for that determines what zoning is needed. The minister can't just simply command the city to do his bidding. The city understands what the zoning requirements are and his officials understand that but the minister doesn't seem to understand that.

Unless he wants a repeat of the Dawson City fiasco, he has to recognize that the city has the authority over zoning. Will the minister now admit that he has been wrong on this question and that the building might require a change in zoning, depending on what the Housing Corporation finally decides to do with it?

Hon. Mr. Kenyon:   I hope the member opposite isn't implying that a different group owns the building -- particularly the Hell's Angels. We are working as we speak between Yukon Housing Corporation and other departments within the Yukon government and with the city officials to clarify exactly what is the status of this as there is additional work such as kitchen islands, refrigerators, removing privacy barriers, modifying the hot water systems because of the large number of showers that will be needed, et cetera, et cetera. It will be a number of months before the buildings are there and in use and occupied.

The Yukon Housing Corporation Board of Directors meets regularly. They are considering their options on that. Again, the building went up very quickly; we are very proud of the project team and what they managed to do with that. Anyone who has been through the building I think would agree that it has been an incredible project. This government is committed to making the games a resounding success and to provide affordable housing. Again, I invite the member opposite to join us in that desire.

Mr. Cardiff:   You are right. It is an incredible project. The other thing that is incredible is that the minister doesn't understand what is going on. I am staggered that he doesn't even seem to be concerned about how this is playing out. Yukon Housing Corporation has known for two years that it would be getting this building. Millions and millions of taxpayers' dollars have gone into this piece of real estate, and yet the Housing Corporation, after two years, still doesn't know what to do with it. The latest speculation is that it will be used for seniors, in spite of the fact that it is miles away from services like grocery stores and medical facilities; it is miles away from the seniors drop-in centre. There is a major issue with the lack of public transportation. Not least, there was a study done of seniors who said that they wanted to be downtown. What study or other documentation can the minister provide to support the notion that this would be a good location for a seniors facility when there is ample reason to believe that it wouldn't be and that seniors won't even be interested in moving there.

Hon. Mr. Kenyon:   The Yukon Council on Aging either has gone through or is going through today.

The member opposite refers to a one-page questionnaire that was in a newsletter some time ago that asked seniors where they wanted to be. There was a wide selection. The misinterpretation that the member opposite is making is that, while the larger group wanted to be downtown -- in looking at the actual statistics of whether downtown was the majority -- clearly in that questionnaire, in a newsletter, distributed to a limited number of people throughout Yukon, the majority did not cite downtown as their first choice.

There are flaws in both directions, and both of us are entitled, I think, to that interpretation. The necessity, of course, is to do a proper consultation, and that's exactly what the board of directors has requested of staff of the Yukon Housing Corporation. We will be doing those consultations. We will be doing a proper study, not just a one-pager in a newsletter with limited distribution, and we will look at the options on that.

Again, Mr. Speaker, the long-term investment on this, of 30, 40, or 50 years, is a major, major legacy coming out of these games, and with a major partner of that being the city, we will be looking at transportation and other issues.

Question re:   Outfitters land tenure

Mr. McRobb:   Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that another unauthorized outfitting cabin has been constructed. This one is on Ittlemit Lake in the Kluane region. It is in the traditional territory of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, and it is also on a trapline owned by a local trapper who is present in the gallery today.

Mr. Speaker, First Nations across the territory are upset by the way this government seems to be allowing outfitters to do whatever they want. Buildings are being constructed with no permits, no discussion with First Nations, no discussion with people who already have an interest in the land, including trappers, and no discussions with others who use the land. What's clear is that the outfitters don't seem to be following the rules, and it's time to shed light on this. The public wants to know who is giving the outfitters the thumbs-up and how many more of these intrusions is the government aware of that the public hasn't yet been told about?

Hon. Mr. Fentie:   Mr. Speaker, I am glad that the Member for Kluane brought this question forward. Obviously, the member has not been engaged to any great degree in the previous debate.

A complaint has been laid with one specific issue that the government is aware of. That complaint has been acted upon. There has been a demand by the government that the outfitter provide legal documentation that would prove legal standing for occupancy. If none is forthcoming by December 15, the government will be seeking a court-ordered removal. If there are other instances out on the land base of similar context, I would assume that the same process will apply. No one can go out on the land base and just do what they want. There has to be some sort of legal instrument that allows that to happen.

I will close by suggesting to the Member for Kluane that it is a stretch to be telling this House that anyone in government has told anyone in the outfitting industry that they can do something. What we have told the outfitting industry is that there are parameters to the policy and what they are. They need to apply, and these are the goalposts within which they need to work.

Unparliamentary language

Speaker:   Order please. Before you further answer the question, the Hon. Premier, characterizing a question as a "stretch" is implying that there may be an intention that is not necessarily honourable. I would ask the Hon. Premier not to do that.

Withdrawal of remark

Hon. Mr. Fentie:   I will retract that, Mr. Speaker, and instead characterize it as "flexible".

 

Speaker:   I appreciate that.

Question re:   Outfitters land tenure

 Mr. Fairclough:   My question is for the Premier.

Mr. Speaker, a comprehensive land claims initiative for the big game outfitter is well on its way under the Yukon Party government. The first up for negotiations is Lone Wolf Outfitters. The deal was done behind closed doors, with no public input, and then rubber-stamped by the minister. Next up is Bonnet Plume Outfitters for pre-negotiations. All that is needed, apparently, is verbal approval by this government. When will the Premier do the right thing and rescind the big game outfitters land tenure policy and take it to the public for proper consultation?

Hon. Mr. Fentie:   A few moments ago we were doing too much consultation, because the education reform process was not expeditious enough. Here we have a file that the federal government was working on for almost 20 years, consulting and consulting. It was a file transferred to the Yukon government. We did go out on this matter; policy has been developed.

The suggestion here that this is, in any way, shape or form, a land claim -- I'm shocked that the Member for Mayo-Tatchun would diminish the spirit and intent of the land claims and self-government agreements in this territory, which are leading edge in the country. The Yukon is a leader in the claims process.

Surely the Member for Mayo-Tatchun recognizes the error of his ways.

Mr. Fairclough:   By no means am I ever going to diminish the land claims agreement. I'm trying to enhance it. Hopefully the government will respect it the way it's written.

The big game outfitter land tenure policy is flawed and it's very flawed. Let me make a few points to the Premier in regard to the Bonnet Plume case.

First of all, permission to proceed on a half-million dollar project was verbally given by persons unknown. No building permits were ever applied for, nor were there occupancy permits issued. This is a business serving the public. There is no fire marshal inspection; no inspection by the health department; no inspection of the food preparation area; no YESAA assessment, although it's built on the banks of a heritage river. The evidence is there.

So I'll ask the Premier again: will he rescind the policy and take it out to the public to do proper consultation, which it hasn't had as yet?

Hon. Mr. Fentie:   We have to add, "No research by the official opposition."

What does the policy have to do with Bonnet Plume? I have already stated numerous times in this House that a complaint was registered with the government -- in this case, the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources and its lands branch. The complaint has been acted on, Mr. Speaker. I repeat for the Member for Mayo-Tatchun: it has been acted on. That complaint has now progressed to where the government has demanded that the outfitter in question provide documentation of legal standing for occupancy. If none is forthcoming by December 15 of this year -- not next year -- then the government, through legal services branch and the lands branch, will seek a court-ordered removal. I don't know how I could be any clearer than that other than maybe spend some time with the Member for Mayo-Tatchun and go over this whole issue one step at a time.

Mr. Fairclough:   Apparently, that's our job -- to make the Premier's vision on this very clear. The only public consultation the department was able to produce was minutes of a meeting -- an information session at the Heritage Hall in Carmacks. That was all. The minister ought to know that.

Let me go on and take the minister through this one. Under LARC, the Land Application Review Committee, , applicants had to first identify the land of interest and then go through a process that included assessment of the land and public input about the proposed use. Applications were denied if no planning was in place.

Now, under the big game land tenure policy, YESAA is not triggered -- contrary to what the member was saying. The department then makes a final decision and there is no public input. First Nations don't even have input at the internal review.

Again, out of respect for the public and the First Nations, will the Premier rescind the policy, as he was asked to by CYFN and other First Nations around the territory?

Hon. Mr. Fentie:   The member opposite, in referring to these issues and processes like LARC, has to recognize that YESAA is implemented. It is the law of the land. It replaced LARC. What is even more important is that the member should understand that all through YESAA and its regulatory package, which is very extensive, there are triggers that ensure that assessments take place. One of those triggers includes square footage -- that is point number one.

Second, this particular issue about the Bonnet Plume has got nothing to do with what the member is articulating, and the government has taken action on this issue. If we do not have legal documentation of legal standing for occupancy, a court-ordered removal will be sought. The government has even gone further in discussions with the Grand Chief in recognizing that there are going to be situations in the territory when it comes to access to land that may fall outside the parameters of YESAA. We are in discussions about how we can set in place a mechanism that will ensure that we can deal with those matters also. The government is doing its work, Mr. Speaker.

Finally, no, we are not going to rescind the policy.

 

Speaker:   The time for Question Period has now elapsed.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

Mr. Elias:  I ask that all members join me in recognizing the presence of my mother and former Vuntut Gwitchin MLA, Norma Kassi, in the gallery today.

Applause

 

Speaker:   We will proceed to Orders of the Day.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

Hon. Mr. Cathers:   I move that the Speaker do now leave the Chair and that the House resolve into Committee of the Whole.

Speaker:   It has been moved by the government House leader that the Speaker do now leave the Chair and that the House resolve into Committee of the Whole.

Motion agreed to

 

Speaker leaves the Chair

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

Chair:   Order please. Committee of the Whole will now come to order.

Motion re appearance of witnesses

Hon. Mr. Cathers:   I move

THAT Craig Tuton, chair of the Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board, and Valerie Royle, president of the Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board, appear as witnesses before Committee of the Whole, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday, December 11, 2006, to discuss matters relating to the Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board.

Chair:   It has been moved by Mr. Cathers

THAT Craig Tuton, chair of the Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board, and Valerie Royle, president of the Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board, appear as witnesses before Committee of the Whole, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday, December 11, 2006, to discuss matters relating to the Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board.

Is there any debate?

Mr. McRobb:   We the official opposition will support this motion; however, given the shortage of time remaining in this sitting and the importance of applying time to scrutinize the supplementary budget, we will support this budget only with the understanding that if it completes early -- and I believe it will -- we will resume debate on the supplementary budget late afternoon on Monday.

Mr. Cardiff:   Just for expediency, I would echo what the official opposition House leader said. We support the motion and we look forward to having them here, but if it does end early, we would like to go back to the budget so that we can complete the business of the House.

Hon. Mr. Cathers:   Certainly the government would be happy, if the appearance of the witnesses ends early, to move back into business regarding the budget.

I would point out and remind member opposite that the reason we brought forward the motion with the appearance times of 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. was at the request of the House leaders from both opposition parties. The appearance of the witnesses is one-half hour earlier than normal to accommodate the fact that the House now adjourns, by Standing Order, at 5:30 p.m.

Chair:   Is there any further debate?

Motion agreed to

 

Chair:   We will be discussing Bill No. 3, Second Appropriation Act, 2006-07, Vote 11, Women's Directorate. Would the Committee like to recess for 15 minutes?

Some Hon. Members:   Agreed.

Chair:   We will recess for 15 minutes.

Recess

Chair:   Order please. Committee of the Whole will now come to order.

Bill No. 3 -- Second Appropriation Act, 2006-07 -- continued

Women's Directorate -- continued

Chair:   The matter before the Committee is Bill No. 3, Second Appropriation Act, 2006-07, Vote 11, Women's Directorate.

Hon. Ms. Taylor:    I am pleased to add to the remarks that I was commenting on yesterday with respect to questions surrounding community consultations with women's organizations and women particularly in rural Yukon. As I seem to recall, I made reference to the Yukon Advisory Council on Women's Issues, or YAKWI, which has been in place for a number of years. It is a legislated body. It's the advisory council to the minister responsible for the Women's Directorate and its job is to keep me and other ministers apprised on emerging women's issues in all Yukon communities.

I've had the privilege of being able to work with this particular group, and it's made up of eight members, comprising women of the Yukon, including rural and urban First Nation as well as non-First Nation women. The council meets four times throughout the year, and it does a great job.

Over the last three years, we have been very supportive of their work, and we have provided additional monies for an annual Yukon women's forum to occur, based on a number of different priorities, but most importantly coming from the recommendations made by YACWI.

In fact, earlier this year, I believe it was back in March, YACWI successfully hosted in collaboration and in conjunction with the Women's Directorate the second annual women's forum in March, and that was on women and health. So we were able to help facilitate this forum and, as I seem to recall, it happened over a two-day spread and enabled over 100 women from all over the Yukon to come in and discuss issues of importance surrounding women and health.

Other topics of interest that YACWI has been able to successfully raise over the last couple of years have been on violence in our communities, violence prevention, and looking at priority housing -- working with the Yukon Housing Corporation to facilitate a very comprehensive policy to address those women and children in particular who are fleeing from abusive relationships in order to see that they receive the appropriate housing that they require on a timely basis.

They have also been able to raise awareness about public education initiatives on violence prevention and women's equality, to name but a few.

So YACWI has been very much engaged with me as the minister responsible over the last number of years. As I mentioned yesterday, they made recommendations to go to each of our communities over the next period of time rather than hosting an annual women's forum to take place next spring. In part, one of the driving forces was the fact that the Canada Winter Games will be taking place around the same time. We all know how very busy each of us will be when we are engaged with the Canada Winter Games.

Most important is the opportunity for members of our Women's Directorate and members of the Yukon Advisory Council on Women's Issues to go to each of the communities and sit down with women in the communities to hear the issues of priority and then report back as to what interests, needs and priorities are identified within each community. As we all know, each of our communities hosts a number of different challenges as well as opportunities, so it's therefore critical to keep that dialogue open. I look forward to hearing the feedback garnered from those consultations over the next few months with YACWI.

I had spoken a bit to some of the accomplishments garnered by the Women's Directorate over the last number of years, but I did want to speak to a couple in particular. I know there has been a great degree of discussion in this Legislature and in the communities on violence prevention in particular.

One of the core mandates of the Women's Directorate is to strive and work with women's organizations and women in the territory to enable the full participation of women in Yukon's social, economic and public life -- including politics, about which we have had a great debate over the last number of years in this particular institution.

Violence, as you are very familiar with, is a dire problem. It has been a problem particularly in the north where women are subjected to far greater rates of abuse, spousal assault and violence in many different forms versus other women and other groups of Canadians in the rest of our country. We have heard time and time again throughout our communities and through our many different forums over the years that public education and raising awareness about what a healthy relationship is are of utmost importance to our communities.

There is an opportunity to provide tools to support women who are in need of assistance and are suffering from abusive relationships and to provide different support mechanisms, such as safety kits. The Women's Directorate has been able to work with agencies such as Yukon Family Services Association and other stakeholder groups. These initiatives have worked very well over the last number of years. That said, we are also in the second year of a long-term public education campaign on violence prevention. We have focused on a number of different target areas over the last number of years. This particular year, we have been focusing on the prevention of sexualized assault against young women.

Yesterday, in our tribute to the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, we made reference to a photojournalism exhibit that will be showcased and officially launched next Wednesday at the Elijah Smith Building. I very much look forward to the exhibit and seeing it in place over the next week or so. This initiative was a collaboration of different organizations, including the Department of Health and Social Services, the Yukon Family Services Association and many others, especially the nine youth who offered their participation in this very important exhibit. I think that it is incumbent upon all of us to support youth to have the opportunity to speak out about violence and to oppose sexualized assault in our communities. So it is venues, different creative ways and innovative mechanisms for reaching out to different target groups and raising awareness about this very dire situation.

In addition to public education and raising awareness, there are many front-line services that continue to be delivered by our Department of Justice as well as the Department of Health and Social Services. We have been able to garner success with respect to the continued implementation of the domestic violence treatment option. We're about to launch the community court, which is an alternative, therapeutic court that will make provisions for offenders with mental illnesses, FASD and addictions. It will provide perpetrators of crime with the resources they need to make substantive changes in their lives and return to our communities.

We have also been able to work on the 1-800 toll-free crisis line, VictimLINK. The Women's Directorate has worked very actively to raise awareness of this. As I understand, it has been very successful over the last year as a result of these communication efforts.

In addition, we as a government continue to provide resources and have increased resources to the family violence prevention unit, providing additional training to front-line workers and also members of the M Division of the RCMP so that they are fully informed and fully aware of the provisions outlined in legislation such as the  Family Violence Prevention Act. We were very pleased to provide tougher penalties within this particular act, including penalties for the perpetrators as well as the expansion of the definition of "family violence" to include emotional abuse.

All these various tools are so critical. As well, it is working in collaboration with the Department of Health and Social Services to provide enhanced resources to the existing women's shelters throughout our communities. As I relayed to members opposite yesterday, it's also continuing that dialogue with our respective communities and finding creative ways to ensure there are safe places to go within the community and, if that should not be the case or the desire of the community, then ensuring that we have space available here in the City of Whitehorse or other places where there are existing spaces.

I'm very pleased with efforts taken to date. We have a very ambitious agenda in terms of the Women's Directorate and the continuation of fulfilling its mandate.

In addition, we continue to work with women's organizations. I referenced for the very first time that we are offering funding to each of seven women's organizations in the territory to do strategic planning to identify what they wish to focus on and deliver as their priorities, such as violence prevention, further women's equality work, and so forth. The purpose of making funding available for the completion of strategic planning would be to facilitate applications for long-term funding, which we also plan on making available in the upcoming budget.

This is something that has been referenced for many years. With respect to making long-term funding available to women's organizations that is consistent and stable, it has been identified within CEDAW -- the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women -- and that is part of our response to CEDAW's recommendations, which I believe we have already submitted to the Government of Canada as Yukon's participation in this process.

We continue to work on delivering gender-inclusive analyses within our policy work across the government, and I believe this is important work. In fact, I am very pleased to be able to report that we also have been able to successfully deliver a gender studies course for grade 10s and grade 11s. We have managed to accredit these particular courses in our Yukon schools.

We have been working with the Department of Education, Yukon Status of Women Council and Yukon College women's studies program and we hope to complete the course -- first as a pilot -- in the upcoming school season next year. Depending on the success of the pilot, we hope to actually be able to fully deliver it in all Yukon schools.

We continue to work with aboriginal women's organizations. I made reference yesterday, I believe, to the aboriginal women's violence prevention initiatives. It is $100,000 in new funding that, through the good work of our Premier's previous minister responsible, we have provided funding and continue to provide funding to women's organizations throughout the Yukon -- again, providing dollars available for projects to address violence in their communities.

This year, five projects focused on the prevention of sexualized violence against aboriginal women, again keeping with the theme of our public education campaign. One project was "Young women regaining their power". That was provided through Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation education department. Through the Ta'an Kwäch'än Council's health department, they provided women's craft healing circle. "It's okay to tell" was delivered by Kwanlin Dun First Nation justice program. "Healing through participation" was delivered through White River First Nation, as well as "Aboriginal young men and women against sexualized violence" was another project delivered by Skookum Jim Friendship Centre.

We also have engaged with a number of women's organizations with respect to land claims training for women. This was in response to requests made by aboriginal women. Again it focuses on women's roles in the land claims negotiation process and the implementation of self-governance in their respective communities.

We have also worked with aboriginal women to provide leadership initiatives. I mentioned that was through land claims training but also just raising awareness of aboriginal women as leaders in their respective communities.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, for giving me the opportunity to outline some of the very important strategic priorities.

Chair:   Is there any further general debate?

Seeing none, we will proceed with line-by-line consideration.

Mr. Edzerza:   I request the unanimous consent of Committee of the Whole to deem all lines in Vote 11, Women’s Directorate, cleared or carried, as required.

Unanimous consent re deeming all lines in Vote 11, Women’s Directorate, cleared or carried

Chair:   Mr. Edzerza has requested the unanimous consent of Committee of the Whole to deem all lines in Vote 11, Women’s Directorate, cleared or carried, as required. Are you agreed?

All Hon. Members:   Agreed.

Chair:   Unanimous consent has been granted.

On Operation and Maintenance Expenditures

Total Operation and Maintenance Expenditures in the amount of $50,000 agreed to

Women’s Directorate agreed to

 

Public Service Commission

Chair:   We will continue with the Public Service Commission.

Hon. Mr. Hart:   I am pleased to have this opportunity to speak about the Public Service Commission's budget for 2006-07. This is an opportunity to provide an update on the work being carried out by the Public Service Commission.

One initiative that falls to the Public Service Commission is investing in the public service serving Yukon people, which was first introduced in 2005-06. This initiative was created with a budget of $1.38 million and it has provided funding for six new training programs focused on succession planning and employment development to the best position in the public service to deal with our aging workforce and emerge as an employer of choice. 

The Public Service Commission has established a new unit to promote safe and healthy workplaces, including a plan to improve return-to-work processes for employees who have experienced disabling conditions. Awarding people for excellence -- APEX -- an employee award and recognition framework, was officially announced in June 2005. The APEX framework is the basis for the Premier's award of excellence and a department employee recognition program. The third Premier's award of excellence process has begun and awards will be announced in June 2007. The Public Service Commission employees are an integral part of the success of this award. Communication with employees has been enhanced by the creation of a new position working on promoting corporate and Public Service Commission initiatives. A new electronic newsletter -- The Sluice II -- is published regularly with news and information from across the organization.

Other communication initiatives involve work on information for employees about benefits, annual reports and employee-related programs. The Public Service Commission is requesting additional funding amounting to $4,867,000 in support of five initiatives. One is a contribution to the construction of a permanent workers memorial. Number two is the document shredding and recycling project. The third is a grad corps internship funding, brought forward from last year. The fourth is the position transfer from the Department of Finance. The fifth is an increase to the employee future benefits liabilities.

First, $50,000 is requested to support the Yukon Federation of Labour's initiative to construct a workers memorial. A model of the memorial was unveiled on April 28 during this year's day of mourning ceremonies in the Yukon government main administration building foyer. The permanent bronze memorial, it is hoped, will be placed on display in the Whitehorse waterfront area. Second, the document shredding and recycling project is a one-year pilot project that addresses a number of issues. The budget request involves the cost to purchase the required equipment and set up the facility, $35,000 for O&M and $25,000 for capital. This program employs people with disabilities, whose job it is to safely destroy and recycle outdated materials. Raven Recycling receives the shredded material for recycling.

The third request is for the grad corps funding of $82,000 not spent in 2005-06 to be moved to this fiscal year. Grad corps is an internship program established under the investing in the public service serving Yukon people. It provides placements for recent Yukon post-secondary graduates with little or no work experience in their field of study. This funding supports salaries for these graduates to return home to work to gain the experience they need as they begin their careers. We can report, and we are proud to report, that of the eight interim assignments, six individuals have been successfully rehired into similar positions within the Yukon government.

The fourth request addresses a position that has been transferred to the Public Service Commission from the Department of Finance. The budget addition of $71,000 to Public Service Commission has been deducted from the Department of Finance budget base. This position works on human resource information systems, providing the support for human resource reporting needs, including staffing and payroll. The system support group is resident in the Public Service Commission, and it makes sense to have the position in the commission as well.

Finally, the last request for funds, $4.629 million, is for the employee future benefits. The addition arises as a result of the actuary's most recent evaluation of the employee leave and termination benefits. The good news is that this results from an employee base that has chosen to stay within the Yukon government, providing experience and public service knowledge. The cost is an accounting estimate of the liability required to pay out vacation and severance benefits to all current employees if and when they terminate and/or retire. This increase reflects the requirement to amortize recognized increases to this future liability, based on the estimated remaining service life of active employees, which is 10.6 years. The Public Service Commission has no choice but to record this liability, as it is a requirement of the Public Sector Accounting Board.

Mr. Chair, thank you for the opportunity to provide details on the first supplementary, and I look forward to questions.

Mr. Fairclough:   We're going to let the minister off the hook this time. We are satisfied with the minister's explanation of the department's expenditure and have no further questions.

Chair:   Is there any further general debate? Seeing none, we'll proceed to line-by-line debate of Vote 10, Public Service Commission.

Mr. Edzerza:   I request unanimous consent of Committee of the Whole to deem all lines in Vote 10, Public Service Commission, cleared or carried, as required.

Unanimous consent re deeming all lines in Vote 10, Public Service Commission, cleared or carried

Chair:   Mr. Edzerza has requested the unanimous consent of Committee of the Whole to deem all lines in Vote 10, Public Service Commission, cleared or carried, as required. Are you agreed?

All Hon. Members:   Agreed.

Chair:   Unanimous consent has been granted.

On Operation and Maintenance Expenditures

Total Operation and Maintenance Expenditures in the amount of $4,867,000 agreed to

On Capital Expenditures

Total Capital Expenditures in the amount of $25,000 agreed to

Public Service Commission agreed to

 

Chair:  Next is Community and Transportation Services.

Hon. Mr. Lang:   Mr. Chair, my people will be a few minutes.

Chair:   Do members wish to have a brief recess? Five minutes?

Some Hon. Members:   Agreed.

Chair:   We'll recess for five minutes.

Recess

Chair:   Committee of the Whole will now come to order.

 

Department of Highways and Public Works

Chair:   The matter now before the Committee is Bill No. 3, Second Appropriation Act, 2006-07, Vote 55, Department of Highways and Public Works.

Hon. Mr. Lang:   It is my pleasure to present a supplementary budget from the Department of Highways and Public Works. This department spends one of the largest budgets within this government. With that budget comes the responsibility of ensuring that the objects set contribute to the continued development of the Yukon. Many of the items outlined in this supplementary budget are items to consider for revote, including approximately $9 million in capital. A net amount of $46,000 in operation and maintenance funds is requested. There are also new monies that our tabled supplementary budget will outline in the amount of $9.2 million in capital spending, which is fully recoverable from the Government of Canada.

Mr. Chair, while I will table a complete supplementary budget for the benefit of the House and the members opposite, I wish to now present a brief summary of some of the supplementary's capital budget highlights. There is $60,000 to be used for work to be developed under the Canadian geospatial infrastructure project. This project is designed to make geological, forestry, mining, oil and gas, and environmental geography information available on the government public Web site. Such items as Web-based maps of bedrock geology, logging roads, mining district boundaries, game management areas and oil and gas wells will be more readily available to the public via the Web.

I will also note that the monies expended for this project are 100-percent recoverable from the Government of Canada.

Mr. Chair, $9 million will be used for the reconstruction of the Donjek River bridge and the Silver City highway reconstruction project from kilometre 1692 to 1702 on the Alaska Highway. These multi-year projects, the cost of which is 100-percent recoverable through our agreement with the Government of Canada and the United States, are ahead of the original schedules. Furthermore, Mr. Chair, Shakwak projects will also continue to expend funds and create further development well into the 2007-08 year.

These projects represent continued investment in our critical transportation links, and we are working very closely with our partners in the United States to ensure that long-term funding is maintained for this key artery that links the Lower 48, southern Canada, the Yukon and, of course, Alaska.

I am very pleased to announce that this government has accessed over $145,000 from the federal airports capital assistance program, ACAP, to install air-side directional and control signs for the Whitehorse International Airport. These air-side signs are installed adjacent to aircraft manoeuvring areas at airports in order to properly convey instructions and information to pilots. These signs are installed in accordance with Transport Canada's certification standards and will bring a greater degree of safety for the pilots who use our facilities each day.

The airports that unite us with the outside world and bring the world to us are managed through my department and a capital revote amount of $3.8 million is requested to continue this work. At the Old Crow Airport, $2.6 million was needed for the completion of a number of projects started last year.

At the Whitehorse International Airport, $1 million is designated for projects such as airport parking improvements and airport terminal building expansion. With our ever-growing tourism industry becoming more and more of a reality every year, significant investment is needed to maintain and develop this critical aviation infrastructure. Mr. Chair, each of these projects ensures that Yukon airports are effectively maintained for all stakeholders.

The Yukon continues to excel in the development and sustainability of the information and communication technology sector. This growth, managed in part by the information and communication technology -- ICT -- branch of this department, plays a vital role in the advancement of information technology for the Yukon and all people. It is with this in mind that I announce capital revotes in the amount of $284,000 to be used to continue systems development projects and bring better capacity for our telecommunication and information access.

Mr. Chair, over $4 million of revote funds will be used for major highway and road reconstruction and several bridge rehabilitation projects other than Shakwak. A special initiative in my department that I would like to highlight is the work being done with intelligent transportation systems. $345,000 will be used for the installation of three environmental sensor system stations in the Whitehorse area. The installation of these road weather information systems will provide information to transport maintenance managers, enabling them to respond to weather conditions affecting the Alaska Highway at three key sites on a more timely and accurate basis.

Data from the sites is also provided to the national weather information system operated by Environment Canada, who will use the information in preparing local weather forecasts. This work is jointly funded by the Yukon government and Transport Canada on an equal share basis, making 50 percent of the expenditures on this project recoverable.

Mr. Chair, I would like to remind members opposite of the critical role the Department of Highways and Public Works plays in the work we all do, as well as the activities that are taking place every day across this great territory.

Many of us who came to this Chamber today drove on the roads and highways engineered and maintained by this department, local contractors and others. Our children go to excellent schools across Yukon on roads that are maintained and upgraded by this department. The information technology connections and systems link our schools, office buildings, emergency personnel across the Yukon. Technology coordinated by my department supports court proceedings and ensures that social support cheques and drivers' licences are issued.

The Department of Highways and Public Works looks after the government's key assets, including this very building the government uses to conduct business. These buildings are valuable assets for our people and our culture. This department ensures that necessary investments are made to guarantee their sustainable strength and longevity.

My staff prints in Canada's two official languages the documents we use here in this House, resources that are used in the courthouse, as well as materials needed throughout our education system. They also procure the fleet vehicles that are used by government staff to travel in our communities and throughout Yukon.

Through significant investment in our roads, airports, buildings, vehicles and information technology systems, we are revitalizing the Yukon's economy and creating an infrastructure that will open the door to new investment and opportunity in the future.

I would be pleased to answer any questions the members opposite may have on the Highways and Public Works supplementary budget.

Mr. McRobb:   We in the official opposition intend to be very expeditious with this department and have only two or three questions. We anticipate clearing all the lines together.

The first question I have pertains to the Auditor General's investigation into the department and contending with allegations of political interference and favouritism in contracting. Can the minister give us the timelines of this investigation? When we can expect to see some of the results become public?

Hon. Mr. Lang:   I find the question worded in an odd way. There is no Auditor General investigation going on at this time in the department. Audits do happen on a regular basis in all of government. We have routine audits in the department. Like all departments do in government, we audit our department: the work that's being done, the value of the dollars being spent and capital programs, property management project delivery.

In answering the member opposite, there's no overview of the whole department from the Auditor General's point of view, so I can't deliver anything on that. I can tell the member opposite that there is a regular process in place for auditing all parts of the Department of Highways and Public Works. Remember that this is a very large department; I think it's the second largest expenditure of taxpayers' dollars in the Government of Yukon.

Without audits on a regular basis, I don't think the management team could do what they're doing today to make sure the taxpayers of Yukon are getting proper value for the money expended. Audits go on on a regular basis; audits will proceed no matter what government is in place. There is a process; it's ongoing and it's part of how the department is managed internally.

Mr. McRobb:   Well, Mr. Chair, I'm not referring to any kind of normal audit. This is not business as usual. This audit interviewed a number of employees and homed in on the political interference in terms of contracting and value for money expended in terms of a lot of different areas.

The minister is not prepared to 'fess up to this, so we will tackle it in a different way. Maybe I will just go down to the access to information office and get things rolling on this. In the spirit of getting things rolling, I want to ask about another area.

It has been brought to my attention that there was some kind of survey done recently with personnel in the department on their views on the efficiency of departmental command and operations. It was explained to me that the results of this survey showed that morale in the department was extremely low and efficiency was also extremely low. There were a number of concerns identified.

The minister has not given us any information about this exercise. I would like to ask him what information he can provide to us now.

Hon. Mr. Lang:   In answering the member opposite, I would like to correct the statements that have been made about audits and the reason we have audits. I guess that the member opposite can hand pick different conversations with different individuals, but I would remind the member opposite that audits are done on a regular basis. I imagine, although I don't do it myself, that the department interviews staff to see if departments can be run better and more efficiently and if we, as the employer, are doing right by our employees. That's part of the tools of how this department runs internally. So as far as insinuating that somehow the Auditor General is doing something that isn't normal in the department, the member opposite is wrong on that. It is a process. The process moves ahead, and all departments in the government are answerable to the Auditor General of Canada, our accounting firm.

So there is a process, and they come and they audit our books. That's what they do, and that's because this is a government. We utilize the Auditor General because the Auditor General is a very high-calibre, internal federal government agency that we get access to, and we can utilize it as a tool to critique financially how our departments are doing or how our government is doing, and also answer some of the questions that arise when you're employing one of the largest groups of individuals in the government.

The Department of Highways and Public Works is a very large employer. I'm sure if you went through the Department of Public Works, you would find somebody in the Department of Highways and Public Works who wasn't happy, and it's just the nature of the business we do. But to not ask him questions and not have these discussions, I think, at the end of the day does not make the department a better place to work but rather it makes it more productive at the end of the day for the government, because the government is charged in the Department of Highways and Public Works to do just what it's charged to do, and that's to keep our roads maintained and do the other things that we are in charge of -- airports, all the issues that are out there.

So to cherry-pick and decide in a conversation that there is an Auditor General out there who is doing something that is not normal, I say to the member opposite that that is wrong. These reviews go on, on a continual basis, not only in the Department of Highways and Public Works, but in all government departments. We have been doing that in years past, and we'll continue to do that in years forward. That, again, is a part of a management tool.

Without the Auditor General, without these kinds of critiques, you could not run a department with the number of employees that the Department of Highways and Public Works works with on a daily basis. The daily basis is that we go to work every day as a department and make sure that our roads are open to the general public. We have four seasons to work with; we have airports to work with; we have public buildings to maintain and to keep up to a certain standard. It is important that when we have these assets on the ground, these public buildings, they are well maintained and they have a shelf life that is acceptable for the investment in them. This all takes individuals and those individuals are part of a team that works for the Department of Highways and Public Works.

By having conversations with them or putting out questionnaires about how we as a government can work better and more efficiently, I don't think that is negative in the department; I think that is a plus. We should compliment the department for doing that kind of overview -- getting down to the grassroots and looking at the ideas that individuals have who work for the department. This department has maintenance camps throughout the Yukon: you know, Tuchitua, Eagle Plains, all of these places -- Drury Creek -- that are communities within themselves. Tuchitua is a camp that maintains a section of the Campbell Highway and it is stand alone. It has all the responsibility of maintaining it that you would have in a small community. We have water; we have sewer; we have buildings; we have accommodations; we have caterers to accommodate the food end, and Drury Creek and all the other camps. To not involve those individuals and to think that, just because there is a questionnaire out there, there would be a question of some kind of intrigue to it -- I think that we have to do those kinds of things because it is important that we as a government or we as managers listen to the people in middle management as well as the actual workers on the ground. I think these questionnaires will come back to us and I hope they will be critiqued and that we act on them if we find merit to act upon.

The Auditor General is a tool that this government uses in the department. There is a routine audit of this department -- whether it's an IT department or a public works department. He mentioned the bidding process -- all that is audited by the Auditor General who comes up to make sure we are following the proper process when we are dealing with taxpayers' money.

Mr. McRobb:   As I listened to the minister's speech, it dawned on me that maybe he is living in some kind of dreamland because this was not a regular audit. Furthermore, perhaps those employees on the ground would have something more to say if whistle-blower protection had been in place. But because the employees would put their jobs at risk by speaking out publicly under this Yukon Party government, we are not getting --

Some Hon. Member:   Point of order.

Point of order

Chair:   Mr. Cathers, on a point of order.

Hon. Mr. Cathers:   The Member for Kluane is making very serious allegations. To suggest that employees would be at any threat of losing their jobs for professing a private opinion is an absolutely unfounded accusation. I would suggest to you that it is certainly in contradiction of Standing Order 19(g), imputing false or unavowed motives to another member. I would ask you to direct him to retract it.

Chair:   Mr. McRobb, on the point of order.

Mr. McRobb:   On the point of order, Mr. Chair, Standing Order 19(g) applies when one member accuses another member of motives. That clearly was not the case.

Chair's statement

Chair:   The Chair will take the point of order under advisement and will return at a later date, if necessary, with a ruling.

 

Mr. McRobb:   Thank you, Mr. Chair, for that ruling.

Now, given the lack of whistle-blower protection and the lack of the minister agreeing to provide the documentation about the survey and given the minister's lack of awareness of this special investigation by the Auditor General, it really makes me wonder how well connected this minister really is to what is going on in the department.

Mr. Chair, as mentioned at the outset, we intend to be brief. If there was more time, believe me, we feel that this matter is very deserving of pursuing to get to the bottom of it. Unfortunately, today is not the opportunity to do so. Perhaps it is better dealt with in the Public Accounts Committee or some other instrument of this Assembly.

I want to ask one more question that deals with the disappearance of the highway lodges, because this government doesn't make available the means for them to afford the high cost of infrastructure upgrades or replacements in order to meet this government's own regulations. Now, in my riding, this winter there won't be any services open between Destruction Bay and Beaver Creek once the Burwash Landing Resort deal is concluded. I understand that it is ready to close. That's a long distance. That road is full of a lot of heaves and I have seen a lot of breakdowns on that highway. This past summer, I saw countless vehicles pulling trailers and the trailers had broken away. They had become completely disconnected from the towing vehicle. From some reports, there were up to 15 vehicles in tow behind motorhomes that had broken away. In a lot of those cases, the drivers of the motorhomes weren't even aware that the vehicle had broken away. In one case in particular, the owners of the motorhome doubled back to the Customs station in Beaver Creek and reviewed hours of video until they saw their unit come in so that they could establish that the tow vehicle was connected when they entered Canada through Customs. They went back and eventually found their Lincoln Navigator hidden among the trees just this side of the Kluane Village at Mile 1118.

There were other cases too. This is a hazard. Obviously, the standard specification for tow hitches is simply inadequate given the heaves, jolts and twists that are experienced on the north Alaska Highway on the Shakwak revisions. This wasn't my original question. This is another question. I want to ask the minister: what is he prepared to do to ensure that vehicles on the road are safe and don't present a hazard to other vehicles on the road, especially in terms of breakaways of tow vehicles? What is he prepared to do?

Hon. Mr. Cathers:   It is incumbent upon me to enter into the debate at this point. The matters that the member is raising with regard to highway lodges are a matter that the government side is very concerned about. I would caution the member to recognize the facts of the issues. The issues related to water quality are creating some level of problem for many businesses, from coast to coast. The events in Walkerton brought very clearly into the public mind and into the minds of government the need to ensure that water quality standards are appropriate and are indeed enforced. The environmental health branch within the Department of Health and Social Services makes every effort to work with the owners of lodges and other businesses in providing them with timelines and with reasonable steps to make necessary improvements and ensure water quality and provide them with examples of mitigatory measures such as, in some cases, the use of bottled water for certain elements of running their businesses, when possible, to provide them with time to address costs and improvements. Efforts have been made, as well, in terms of assisting businesses with accessing the needed land, in terms of licences of occupation and other steps to provide them with the ability to install septic systems.

However, at the end of the day, the Yukon government cannot and will not politically interfere with environmental health officers doing their job and enforcing the public safety standards, which have been in place for many years. I would remind the Member for Kluane of that and I would suggest he take a look at the effective date of those regulations.

I must also point out with regard to the previous conversation that I would urge the Member for Kluane be a little more cautious in the debate he brings forward and the suggestions he makes on the floor of the House with regard to matters he claims are taking place. To suggest there is, in some way, some impropriety going on within the Department of Highways and Public Works is unfounded. The member should be well aware of the fact that the Auditor General, as a matter of course, reviews departments and agencies on a rotational basis, paying greater attention with greater regularity to large departments and areas, such as the Department of Highways and Public Works, that fulfill the role of a line department as well as an agency for other departments, in terms of contracting.

Each and every one of our departments, the finance branches and the Department of Finance, work together with the Auditor General on a very cooperative basis in performing these reviews. I would remind the member that the Auditor General herself has expressed great satisfaction with the steps the Yukon government has taken -- that our government has taken under our watch -- to comply with the Public Sector Accounting Board standards, to improve the financial accounting in terms of full disclosure through full accrual accounting, and under our watch the Auditor General has given us unqualified approval of our audits, contrary to the situation under previous governments and, particularly, I would point out to the member's new party, the Liberals.

In fact, in our last term, we had to take significant steps in cleaning up the mess left under the Liberal watch. We had to call in the Auditor General and request a review of the Mayo-Dawson transmission line. We had to call for a forensic audit into the actions with the City of Dawson and the involvement by the political level and other levels from the former Liberal government in dealing with putting Dawson City far beyond the pale in terms of financial mess, far beyond what they could dig out from themselves. We are the clean-up crew.

We have worked very carefully with the Auditor General and we have an excellent working relationship with the Auditor General. We lay our books open for the Auditor General to review any matter. For the member to stand up here and engage in these criticisms is simply unfounded and I would urge him to be a little more temperate in the comments he brings forward in the House.

In past days, we have seen him stand up and attack businesses. It is inappropriate for him to engage in this level of debate, particularly when he and his leader make claims about raising the --

Chair's statement

Chair:   Order please. I would like to remind members that we are not to personalize debate.

 

Mr. McRobb:   Exactly, Mr. Chair. The only salvation I can glean from that type of speech is that it becomes obvious to everybody, including our listeners, that when the government ministers start their personal attacks instead of simply conveying information, we know what is really going on -- we hit a nerve.

We certainly hit a nerve with the Health minister and he is way off base. Water quality regulations are not the issue. Affordability for these people is the issue. The government has done nothing to help them.

Here we go, the minister responsible for the Yukon Housing Corporation now has been flagged by the Health and Social Services minister to stand up and give a 20-minute rant about what programs --

Unparliamentary language

Chair:   Order please.

Withdrawal of remark

Mr. McRobb:   Pardon me, I withdraw that.

Chair's statement

Chair:   Order. I would like to remind all members that we are in the process of discussing Vote 55, Department of Highways and Public Works and, in the past, it has been ruled out of order to refer to members' speeches as "rants".

 

Mr. McRobb:   Thank you for that statement, Mr. Chair.

We also believe there is no need to interfere with the environmental health officers doing their job. Again, affordability is the issue there.

I would respond to the Auditor General discussion, Mr. Chair, but in the interests of staying on topic within this department, I again want to repeat my question to the minister that was interrupted and sidetracked.

What is the Minister of Highways and Public Works prepared to do to ensure the safety of all travellers on Yukon highways, especially on the north Alaska Highway, given the excessive twisting and turning of the road and the breakaway vehicles?

Hon. Mr. Lang:   I find it interesting that we would get a bit off the subject here.

Going back, I don't want to talk about the Auditor General any more. I think we straightened out the fact that the Auditor General in rotation looks at all the books in the territorial government -- has done in the past and will do it in the future. So it's not unusual to have the Auditor General asking questions.

The second thing is about the question about questionnaires and how we glean information from our employees. We do that through a private company. The private company has a contract to do exactly that. Then the private company takes back all the information and consolidates it and brings back a summary of what he found out through the questions and issues that employees have. It is all done in a very professional way, Mr. Chair.

As far as highways and cars breaking away and 15 cars being towed over the road, I've never seen that in my 50 years in the Yukon, but obviously it has happened on the Kluane section, or so the member says.

What are we doing? I think we should look at the resources we are putting into the north highway, in conjunction with the Canadian government and the American government. There were millions of dollars spent on that highway to make it better.

There are issues as to when we spend the money. The issue is that, because of the winter season, all the work -- 90 percent of the work that we do on the Alaska Highway -- has to be done in a very short window. There is traffic interference during the summer, of course, but we should look at the end result. The end result is a highway system that is getting better by the year.

By the way, most of that money is spent in the Member for Kluane's riding. If there is a car safety issue, we might have to look at the safety of the car itself.

In answering the question about what I'm doing as Minister of Highways and Public Works, I am spending the resources that we have in place to make the highways better.

Mr. McRobb:   Well, with all due respect, that response is grossly inadequate to the situation described. I will give the minister an opportunity to redeem himself.

On the same section of highway, due to the closure of these lodges between Destruction Bay and Beaver Creek and given the severity of the climate in that region, particularly in winter, what is the government going to do to ensure the safety of all travellers between both points? It is in excess of 180 kilometres in distance.

Hon. Mr. Lang:   We are certainly aware of the issues and the distances between gas stations. We have signs up notifying people when there is going to be a large gap between gas stations to remind people that they should get topped up. We have issues on the south highway; it is not just the north highway. The number of lodges that have closed between here and Watson Lake has been quite dramatic over the last 20 years. What we try to do is make our roads better. In doing that, a lot of the lodges find themselves in a crunch because, due to the better vehicles these days and the distances we travel in a day and the hundreds of millions of dollars we have spent on the highway system in the Yukon -- in some cases, some of the lodges on the south highway are no longer necessary.

That is just the nature of better roads, better vehicles, and the north highway is certainly probably going through that transition too.

Mr. McRobb:   The minister did not answer the question, so it too is grossly inadequate. I don't see much point in continuing this game. We will conclude with a question from the Member for Vuntut Gwitchin.

Hon. Mr. Lang:   The Member for Kluane has left it on that note, and as minister I think it should be clarified. Highways and Public Works does a fine job of communicating road conditions, distance between gas facilities and eating places to the traveller. We certainly are aware that if there is an incident on the back highway between the Campbell Highway, between Ross River and Watson Lake, it is an issue, but we have maintenance crews out there on a regular basis. People have to keep in mind that, if an incident happens on the Campbell Highway between Ross River and Watson Lake, the distance there is quite extensive. Of course we also have issues with the appropriate dress and other things -- to make sure that people have the resources to spend five or six hours in a situation before one of our vehicles or the travelling public can get there.

This isn't a perfect world. We have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on upgrading the highways, and we certainly are spending it on the north highway. The monster part of the resources for contracting in Highways and Public Works has gone to the Kluane riding. We spend $10 million to $20 million a year with our partners to upgrade the highways and make sure that the Alaska Highway is at a standard that will enable Americans to get to the Lower 48; in other words they have a road system that will facilitate travelling between Alaska and the Lower 48.

You only have to go -- I don't know, Mr. Chair, if you've gone between Dawson City and Inuvik, and you leave the Yukon highway system and get into the Northwest Territories system. You only have to understand the different conditions of those highways.

I say to you, standing up here as the minister, that we have one of the best transportation corridors in Canada. We only have to talk to our neighbours in the Northwest Territories. One of the biggest predicaments they have is transportation. How do you move from community to community and how do you move products from community to community? How do you get to a place like Arctic Red River or Fort McPherson? They have periods in their year where they are inaccessible, Mr. Chair. All the fresh food items either have to be flown in, which adds that cost to it, or you go without.

In this community -- the only community we have in that situation in the Yukon is Old Crow, which is a remote community, the most northern community in the Yukon. Again, this government has been very conscious of that and we've put money into expanding and making the airport a better facility to get their member out and in this House on a regular basis. This government worked on building the air terminal, building the communications, expanding the airport, resurfacing the airport. We did that, and we did that because we understand remoteness. You have to be able to get to Old Crow, whether it's an emergency -- it could be a health issue or other issues. It has to be open 99 percent of the time, and this government does that.

I'm glad the Member for Kluane asked us for the list, because I think the list is very important for him to get. We were looking toward a Yukon-wide electricity grid so that we could complement the Liberals' line from Mayo to Dawson, and we can tie in Carmacks and Stewart, and we can manage the electric grid north and south. So that's very important. Of course, we have the Top of the World Highway, and, Mr. Chair, you understand how important that corridor is for six months of the year. This government is going to upgrade that road and make it more and more accessible to the tourists and to the people of Dawson. It will enable them to get some of the oil and things that they buy out of Alaska. This government is going to do that.

He wants to talk about the Shakwak project. This government, over the next five years, is going to complete the Shakwak and north Alaska Highway project. Building the brid