David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Programs and services are essential services for all our communities in the Northwest Territories. Throughout the NWT, from education programs to health care services and health centres to hospitals, we all depend on the programs and services that assist our residents to improve the quality of life, the well-being of our communities, and the health of our residents. From mental health positions in our communities to alcohol and drug programs to social workers, they do make a difference in our communities.

The goal of this Assembly is healthy, vibrant communities. The...

Mr. Speaker, your committee would like to report progress. Mr. Speaker, I move the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

Thank you. I’d like to ask the Minister if he can tell me exactly when is the new water treatment plant going to be up and operational so the people in Aklavik can get some safe drinking water from the new water treatment plant.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Municipal and Community affairs and it’s in regard to the new water treatment plant that’s being installed in Aklavik. There is a problem with the contracting and contractors in regard to payments that have been outstanding to subcontractors and also even the community Hamlet of Aklavik who has provided a lot of gravel to this source, yet there seems to be a problem with payment. I’d like to ask the Minister in regard to what, if any, holdbacks have been in place and does he know if the contractors and the Hamlet of Aklavik...

I would also ask the Minister if he could inform the communities that this is going to take place. I believe the community of Sachs Harbour does not have an income support worker now. They used to have an income support worker but do not have one now and they have to bring someone in from Inuvik. Same thing for Tsiigehtchic, they have to bring someone in either from Fort McPherson or Inuvik. If they can find a way to work with these communities that are facing this challenge where the people are being charged economic rent and the problem is that hopefully we won’t have to evict anybody...

In most of our programs we do allow for some sort of income testing, regardless if it’s the Fuel Subsidy Program in regard to the seniors maintenance repair program. So we do that already in existing programs. I’d just like to know if we’re also going to be looking at the whole area of looking at income testing and, more importantly, so that they all conform with other programs we have which are income tested.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to speak regarding the Supplementary Health Program. I have to agree with my colleague from the Sahtu that we do have to have some limitations on what we provide here. I know a lot of people talk about the different programs, but I think we have to have programs that are consistent across the board. We have the NIHB for aboriginal health care and we have the Metis Health Benefits Program. But I think we have to ensure that whatever they’re prescribed for in those different programs, we have consistency in how it’s being delivered.

I would like to ask...

Can we have some order in the House? I asked a question of the Minister and I’m having problems hearing her answer.

Next question to the Minister: is there is a prescribed list that Health Canada has regarding NIHB benefits? I’d like to know if we are going to have a prescribed list for supplementary health so that we have consistency in regard to what programs are going to be offered, who is getting the program, and making sure we have a fair process. I think that’s what I’d like to ask the Minister, but more about ensuring that we have consistency in these programs.

I have to agree with you...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize some 45 athletes who will be travelling to the Arctic Winter Games from my riding...

---Applause

...Mr. Speaker. That includes cultural events such as dancers, such as the Gwich’in Dancers from Aklavik who are led by Annie Buckle, as well as the people who are participating in the Dene Games. We also have Stephanie Charlie who is going to be participating in hockey, which is again breaking the ice to get the athletes from the smaller communities to be involved in the larger teams.

One of the big achievements we had this year was with...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with regard to the whole program and service area, we also have to realize that we do have an aging infrastructure. The older these houses get, the more it’s going to cost to repair. My colleague Mr. Beaulieu mentioned that we have to look at the area of “if we don’t do anything now, it’s going to cost us more in the future.” So wherever possible, we should try to do what we can to keep residents in their own homes and offer them repair programs to keep their houses over a certain level. I just want to ask the Minister if he could make an effort to try to...