Bill Braden

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to item 7. Thank you.

Then in that business planning process, Mr. Speaker, what is going to be the ability of us as MLAs to work with our constituents, to represent our people and have a real tangible impact and effect on how that business plan is going to roll out and affect their families, their futures and their careers? I’m asking for some meaningful input here and I don’t know that I’m going to get it. I’m really hearing done deal. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions this afternoon are for the Minister of Health and Social Services on the issue of the decision to relocate the Territorial Treatment Centre from Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, the process of taking ideas or proposals from concept or potential into reality is normally quite an extensive and sometimes an even prolonged process in this Assembly. That’s one of the strengths, sometimes one of the weaknesses of consensus. But this is not a partisan House, Mr. Speaker, this is a consensus House where the minority government has to work with the majority of Members...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Part of our work here requires that we make tough decisions. Along with that responsibility and expectation, Mr. Speaker, comes the essential, the absolutely essential need in this House that we also have tough consultations to help make those decisions good ones that we can all accept and can all work with.

Mr. Speaker, in the matter of the relocation, the government now says done deal to move the Territorial Treatment Centre from Yellowknife to Hay River. We were denied that essential, that very essential expectation of coming to us and talking to us and helping us...

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

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In this Year of the Veteran, it is a great honour to recognize two constituents who are veterans: Tom Eagle and Jan Stirling. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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