Bill Braden

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will these reforms enable families who are able to tap into our support system and provide that kind of long-term support in their homes as opposed to having to look perhaps only at institutions as their only real options? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, my questions this afternoon are for Mr. Dent, the Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities. Mr. Speaker, it’s long been recognized that our disabilities and income support policies can prevent some significant barriers to families wishing to care for long-term disabled family members in their homes. We have had two initiatives underway for quite some time; several years, Mr. Speaker. These include the disabilities framework and the government-wide income security reform review. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister advise whether either of these initiatives will address the...

Mr. Speaker, the committee looked into the area of child and family services committees in communities. It is a sad commentary that only the community of Fort McPherson has taken advantage of provisions of the Child and Family Services Act, that allow for the community agreements and the formation of a child and family services committee.

A community agreement allows a community corporation to establish their own community standards, which, as long as they meet the minimum standards set out in the regulations, reflect the realities of life in the community and the standard of care for...

A bit of the context to this, Madam Chair. Of course, parental break-up is prevalent everywhere. In the event that a child is removed from the parent that does have custody, we heard in our travels that, in some cases, the other parent, while they may be sort of separated and out of the household, could still be a very viable and a safe place for the apprehended child to go. I guess what we want to do is ask the Minister to clear the way. I think there are some barriers in place now that may prevent childcare workers from going to the separated non-custodial parent. We think that there is...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. During my two terms here as MLA, I have been approached on many occasions by constituents dealing with disability challenges in their families. This can range from parents dealing with dementia, adults with housing accessibility issues, children suffering from mental capacity issues, and caregivers desperate for financial and program support as they cope with their family’s disability.

Mr. Speaker, most disabled persons don’t want to be wards of the state. They want to remain free and independent. They are very proud of being on their own. In most instances, this also...

Mr. Speaker. I am not going to support this motion. I do believe though in putting it forward, my colleague Mr. Ramsay and those who are supporting it, were putting something constructive on the floor here, Mr. Speaker. That is that the information requested in the motion is nothing more than four years ago in the debate. Okay, I’m getting there. The government should be very forthcoming in saying we will present the revised analysis. We will present the revised risk situations, the revised traffic numbers. Here is what we are willing to put in front of people. That has to be something that...

Thank you very much.

---Laughter

…in the financing proposals. They are ideas, they aren’t nailed down yet but they are ideas that have been put out there that will indeed enable Ottawa to come to the table for this project.

I asked the question a little while ago and my colleague Ms. Lee referenced the other visionary transportation projects that are before us now. One is a port and road project that would come down from the North that would, in effect, bypass the infrastructure we already have here. What would be seriously threatened if the signal that went up from this Assembly is we don’t...

Why should we go ahead? If we don’t stop saying, as my colleague here -- maybe that didn’t pick up on the mic -- Mr. Miltenberger said. the little engine that can. We are. If we don’t believe we’re the little engine that can, then what are we doing here?

--Applause

We’ve got to get this one going. Mr. Speaker, the colours that I wear federally are no secret to this House, but I must say that I have got....

---Interjection

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So what I'm hearing is we're going to take a neutral stand on these projects; we're not going to evaluate them for their relative merits and then seek out one that we can support. So I guess my question is, are we going to be standing on the sidelines as the two projects develop, Mr. Speaker?

Mr. Speaker, thank you. My questions this afternoon are for Mr. Menicoche, the Minister for Transportation. Mr. Speaker, there are two visionary projects in play right now to open up the diamond fields and other mineral areas north and east of Yellowknife to more secure transportation. The Bathurst Inlet port and road proposal, which would bring things in via the Arctic Ocean marine route, and, of course, the Tibbet to Contwoyto seasonal winter road project. Both have significant ramifications for our economy; both will require significant public and/or private investment. It is likely...