Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to keep the Minister of Health and Social Services hopping today. I’m sure he will get a break eventually.

Earlier in our June session, I asked the Minister questions on the status of efforts to reduce pharmaceutical costs. I did get some follow-up response from the Minister after the session, in which he indicated that work is underway to create a pharmaceutical strategy for the Northwest Territories. I would like to begin by asking the Minister what the current status of that work towards a strategy is. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to follow your lead and remember some of the people across the Northwest Territories that are no longer with us. Today I’d specifically like to recognize the passing of a remarkable northern pioneer and long-time Weledeh resident, Adolph Duesterhus.

Adolph came to Canada from Germany after enduring the terrible experiences of war on the Russian front and internment in a Soviet prisoner of war camp. He arrived in Canada April 25, 1953, with eight dollars and a train ticket to Edmonton. Arriving in Edmonton, he answered a Giant Mine job ad, and was in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Obviously, this is very disappointing and a real lack of progress in an area that committee has identified as important. So I just want to express my great disappointment there, and ask when we will see a draft strategy and if the Minister will table the ABC report in the House. Mahsi.

I know that that report had been completed sometime before June. I am wondering what the recommendations say. Can the Minister say what the recommendations were and what progress is being made to develop the strategy with those recommendations? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to welcome, as you did earlier, Mr. Anthony Whitford. Welcome again, Tony.

I know Michael McLeod, a former colleague, is here somewhere up there.

I may have missed others that I can’t see behind me. I know Sheila Bassi-Kellett, a Weledeh resident, was here earlier, as well as Amanda Mallon and Penny Ballantyne.

If I could mention the class that was here earlier, the Grade 6 class from Weledeh School, Jenny Reid and class. Good to see them in the House.

That, indeed, is a surprise. Members and committee have highlighted this as an issue, and we’re not aware, certainly I was not aware that this has been put on hold. So I’m wondering, the Minister, I believe, was going to take the ABC report out for consultation with, for example, the NWT Pharmacy Association, other stakeholders. Has that happened and what has been their input? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that this committee recommends that this Legislative Assembly approve the implementation of an ongoing electronic petitions service to operate in conjunction with traditional petitions, and that the electronic site be operational for the fall 2012 sitting of the Legislative Assembly. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I also will support this motion and appreciate the committee bringing this forward. I certainly agree on the inspection side of things. The law calls for an inspection every 12 months. As my colleague mentioned, we seem to be in the order of 14 to 20 months.

The findings are very straightforward to correct: clearing a fire exit, storing chemicals properly, plugging something into the electrical socket so it can’t be accessed by small children. Those are very easily done sorts of things. I am not convinced that it is a manpower issue as much as just making sure direction...

WHEREAS rates of mental illness in the Northwest Territories are disproportionately high in comparison with other Canadian jurisdictions and a high proportion of persons involved in police incidents suffer from mental illnesses;

AND WHEREAS implementation of the federal Safe Streets and Communities Act will dramatically increase the costs of policing, courts and corrections services;

AND WHEREAS introduction in other Canadian jurisdictions of mental health courts as diversion programs from the criminal justice system are proving successful in improving illness treatment success rates and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also would like to recognize the Status of Women folks here today, Lorraine Phaneuf, Annemieke Mulders; Jean Basil, Lydia Bardak and Gail Cyr, a resident of Weledeh.

Also, Mr. Speaker, I’d particularly like to recognize Majors Jo and Dale Sobool of the Salvation Army. Both of them will be leaving Yellowknife on Sunday to take their new posting with the Salvation Army in Penticton, BC. In addition to their ministerial responsibilities, the Sobools have, through the Salvation Army, managed the Bailey House, the men’s transition home, withdrawal management services, the...