David Krutko

Mr. Speaker, I just got off the phone with the individual. The individual told me herself that she likes working in Tsiigehtchic; she likes the people there; she’s willing to stay longer if that’s the point. Why is it that arrangements can’t be accommodated with a person who’s willing and committed to that community to serve that community? Why is it there are still roadblocks in the way by way of not offering that person a full time contract to work in that community rather than simply as and when?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We had a meeting that we attended in Tsiigehtchic, along with the Minister of Health and the Minister of Justice, in which the issue came up about nursing. The community made it clear to the Minister at that meeting that there was a nurse in the community who’s served there several years. She’s usually there during breakup and freeze-up — six weeks here, six weeks there. She’s presently working up in Holman and also in Tuktoyaktuk.

The community asked her to follow up on that by way of checking with the individual to see if she’s willing to spend more time in the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s been six years since the community of Tsiigehtchic has had a nurse in that community. Six years. If you pulled that off anywhere in Yellowknife — shut down one of their clinics for a week — you’d have a protest on your hands. It’s been six years since a nurse has been based in that community for any long period of time. For me, that is the issue we’re dealing with here today.

I’d like to ask the Minister: do you have any idea when they can physically see a nurse in the community of Tsiigehtchic, since they’ve been waiting six years?

Does committee agree the Minister brings in his witnesses?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will not be supporting the motion. I believe this motion is going a little too far, especially with the impact it’s going to have on our small communities where we depend on the good old pickup trucks to get around. Those are our work trucks; they’re not just a luxury item. In most cases we do have potholes. We don’t have just a few speed bumps on the way. Most of our highways are gravel and rough. I think someone with a hybrid trying to operate under that condition, or even a Lexus for that matter, will have a real problem in navigating themselves on the roads we...

We’ll move to deal with Bill 16, Write-off of Debts Act, 2008–2009. We’ll move to page 3, Schedule, Debts Written-off, Total: $424,708.95.

Bill 16, Schedule, Total Debts Written-off: $424,708.95, approved.

At this time I’d like to ask the standing committee that reviewed the bill if they have any opening comments. Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also would like to ask the Minister: are there any cultural enhancement programs put in place for new employees, non-aboriginal employees, in the Inuvik region so that they can understand the Gwich’in and Inuvialuit culture and the people that they have to serve and not to basically assume things without understanding the culture of the people in that region? I would like to ask the Minister: do they provide cultural enhancement programs to new employees in regard to the culture of the people that they’re serving?

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Welcome, witnesses. At this time I’d like general comments in regard to Bill 16.

Interjection.

Bill 17 is now ready for third reading.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Thank you, witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, could you escort the witnesses out.

As we agreed, per the schedule, we have Minister’s Statement 80-16(2), sessional statement. Mr. Abernethy.