Bob Bromley

Thank you. Again, I appreciate those comments from the Minister and I do think it is worthwhile to consider doing this work in consideration through the Capital Area Development Plan. What this section of highway really needs is a safe walking path that’s appropriately lit and an appropriate crossing place. So I would ask that the Minister do work through the Capital Area Development Plan and consider myself a resource if he needs assistance working with the City in coming up with a plan to finally take care of that section of road that’s our problem. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just can’t leave it hanging like that. I think this is too big a question. I think, you know, I’m not disagreeing with anything that I heard from the Minister. I think there was solid agreement amongst everybody that we figure out a way to cover people who were not covered now, be that a universal plan or defining the working poor. That came through in the Joint Working Group principles. I guess I would just say we need to have that debate and we need to decide which way we’re going to go on that one.

I just want to say in response to the Minister’s remarks that if...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Transportation and I’d like to start by expressing appreciation for his adjustment of the speed limit on the highway from the Explorer Hotel to Niven Lake area, a part of Weledeh where we have safety issues. Those safety issues do remain, though, and what I’d like to request of the Minister is would he consider or put in place lighting that would take care of that safety issue. As the Minister knows, during a large part of our year it’s dark there. It’s very unsafe for people walking along there and we have families walking there...

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the Minister’s comments. I assume from that, that obviously she is a participant on that committee and that she would express that sentiment strongly that we would fight. I always think it is progressive to the Minister on my recommendation to the Minister to take it or leave it, would be to write and be on the record right now of the Prime Minister and whoever the Minister is dealing with on these negotiations.

My next question is on the specific issue of macular degeneration. It is an issue that leads to blindness in people. It has come up amongst my constituents. I...

Thank you Mr. Chairman. My other question, my second question, is, I think that the working group and Members agreed to a number of principles and high amongst those principles is making sure that everybody is under the fold somehow to get coverage. What is the plan going forward for providing coverage to those who don’t have coverage now and is that going to be part of the 2011-2012 activity and budget? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just suggested the wording needs correction there because it says very explicitly for primary, secondary and emergency care provided by physicians, and now I am understanding that is for other operating costs and nurses. If that is correct and the Minister can agree to that, I am clarified. Thank you.

Maybe is there a figure that we can point to as our costs for physician services in the budget here? Is that the physicians inside the NWT/outside the NWT?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’d just like to quickly follow up. As the component the Minister just recognized, one of the largest of the health and Social Services delivery costs, that’s physician salaries and benefits. I’d like to request of the Minister what are physician salaries and benefits in comparison of that with other jurisdictions in Canada, by category, of course. I think that’s information that we’ve expressed an interest in for some time now. I appreciate that we’re managing this talent better and making some good advance on how we’re able to maximize their contributions to really...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will keep it short here. This is my last question. I guess I would ask the Minister to be prepared to give the Standing Committee on Social Programs, perhaps, a briefing on how the department is fulfilling that obligation the Minister made to Members. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciated the Minister of Health and Social Services’ commitment almost a year ago when we passed our resolution on the Anti-Poverty Strategy for her department to play a key role in an NWT-wide Anti-Poverty Strategy. I realize the Department of the Executive is the lead, but I am wondering how the Minister is directing her department to play a key role on this strategy and what sort of work is happening towards that. Mahsi.