Inuvik Boot Lake

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do appreciate the challenges that we face. We do have an action plan here, and the action plan says we need action. How is he going to address this shortfall in funding so that we don’t continue to take care and treatment, rather that we can start making preventative measures sooner than later?

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 2)

There are so many different areas from the budget address and what we’ve discussed in the past here, but the Minister did mention Yellowknife and Inuvik. With all the services that Yellowknife does have, even though it is a growing problem here in Yellowknife – and I appreciate that – I’d like to make a recommendation that we have one detox or two detox beds in the north and two in the south where we also have a lot of issues and concerns but don’t have the resources. Will the Minister commit to putting those detox beds, one or two detox beds in the north and one or two detox beds in the south...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 2)

I appreciate that, Mr. Speaker. I didn’t have the eyes in the back of my head so I didn’t recognize the mayor of Tuk and president of the NWT Association of Communities, Mr. Mervin Gruben. He’s been a very strong advocate for some of our big infrastructure projects that we are looking at going forward with this fiscal year.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Along the same lines as my colleague for Hay River North here, I would like to make comments on the budget address today.

For the public that really doesn’t want to know how we got here today and the message that was delivered, at the beginning of the Assembly, we created priorities. We’ve had a lot of dialogue since the Assembly started. Specifically with this 2013-14 fiscal budget, it started back in September and looking at how we can look at our priorities, and making healthy, educated people away from poverty, increasing our economic development strategies; those...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 2)

It was really good news to hear that we did get the $1.15 million and the commitment, as well, into mental health and addictions, and it says that the money is going to be supported in the initiatives with the shared plan towards wellness. Was this $1.15 million allocated to this action plan in the initial budget before the budget dialogue process happened? Was that $1.15 million allocated in the initial budget?

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are also for the Minister of Health and Social Services. In the Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan: A Shared Path Towards Wellness, it states that the Department of Health and Social Services spends $9 million each year to support mental health and addictions, yet there are 11 service gaps that are presented.

I’d like to quote the Minister of Health and Social Services during the TLC, where he states, “When I speak to community health providers, there is a need for alcohol counselling, there is a need for treatment to be close to the people where...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to welcome the following constituents to the Legislative Assembly and the House: Lisa and Jozef Carnogurski, welcome. I’d also like to recognize Topsy Cockney and Caroline Blake. Welcome. I did some good work with them over the last little while. I’d also like to make a special recognition of the NWT Tourism crew that did a great job with Spectacular NWT and the NWT Gala for NWT Days.

Mr. Brian Desjardins, Mr. Ron Ostrom, Ms. Jenni Bruce, and I’d also make one special recognition to Ms. Jackie Frederick, who has been working with communities such as Hay River...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 1)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As many of us know, there is a shortage of foster parents and foster families in the Northwest Territories. When we have a challenge where a family needs help, and they’re travelling out of territory where services need to be provided, I find that very discouraging. We need to get more work and more programs to help these families out and look into it further.

I’d just like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services specifically what his strategy is to increase and recruit more foster families in the Northwest Territories.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 1)

Just to clarify, I’m not asking for what programs to train these parents to become foster parents. I’m asking what programs are in place to help the foster families whose homes are being affected by the youth that they’re taking in, whether it’s because they’re being overburdened, a lot of stress, and it’s affecting their home life and their work. I want to know what programs are in place right now in the Northwest Territories for these families to get help and build that foundation in the home.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 1)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Member’s statement earlier, I’d like to recognize the hardworking and dedicated staff for the sport, recreation and youth division within MACA. I’d like to recognize Shane Thompson; a fellow colleague, Donald Kuptana; Peter Daniels; and new staff within the division Colinda Blondin, who I am sure she is going to do a great job with the Youth Ambassador Program and youth and volunteer sector. Welcome to the Assembly. Thank you.