David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, will be supporting the motion. I feel, for one, that this is a critical program to not only include supporting our students, but more importantly, developing our communities so we do have healthy, vibrant communities and help the most vulnerable residents in our communities, which are the young students and young children in our communities, so that they are able to grow healthy lives and be a positive role model in our communities.

Mr. Speaker, this program is more than just having a breakfast program in the school. It builds relationships between the teachers...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, a plebiscite is to get feedback from the general public in regard to how they perceive a particular issue such as devolution. I know we’re spending $16,000 on radio announcements, we’re spending a lot of money on full-page ads. We’re doing all the advertising out there so how do we get the feedback from the public in regard to how do they see a particular issues? Do they support it? Don’t they? I’d like to ask the Premier, in order to allow the public to give us that feedback, would you consider an option such as a plebiscite?

Again, we do have a Plebiscite Act in the Northwest Territories and it is being administered by the Chief Electoral Officer who is in charge of the election which will take place this fall. By having these two events taking place simultaneously, I think it’s important that we do get feedback from the general public on this important policy and political issue in the Northwest Territories. I think it’s important that we do allow the public to give us a sense of exactly where they stand on this issue. I know as politicians sometimes the only time we seem to get direction is during an election. I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the fundamental principles of a free, transparent government is the ability for our residents to vote freely with regard to expressing their views on particular issues, voting people into public office and voting for things such as the division of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, there was a plebiscite held in 1992 to divide the Northwest Territories. At that time it was done through a plebiscite with the simple wording, “do you think the Northwest Territories should be divided.” Mr. Speaker, since that time, division has come and gone. Yet, Mr. Speaker...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also would like to respond to the amendments made to the Executive Council Act. I think that you have to be realistic in most cases, that the North is a small place where everybody knows each other. A lot of times people who got into politics were in politics one way or another, such as myself where I was involved in Aboriginal politics and the consultant business. I think we also have to be realistic that there is a close-knit tie between the Aboriginal leadership and municipal leadership and those organizations, that we’ll probably end up being employed at in the...

Mr. Speaker, in regards to any type of transition or change of a program, residents do have problems trying to adapt to it. Can the Minister give me some assurance that her department will continue to work closely with the family members in the communities, the elders in the communities and the community leadership to basically work through this transitional period and basically have an open dialogue and try to have as much openness as we can so that people are aware that this transition is happening but include them in the discussions that are taking place? Can I get that commitment from the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are directed to the Minister of Health and Social Services in regard to improving the quality of health services to our seniors, and more importantly, providing them more independent service and also meeting their needs in regard to our aging population.

Mr. Speaker, my question is in regard to the situation we’re running into in Aklavik with the closure of the long-term care program at Joe Greenland. People are concerned about what’s going to happen to the elders that have moved out of there. What’s going to happen to the remaining elders in the community...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I would like to thank the Minister and department. Again, I have to encourage her that we do have to go back to the public. I know we had a public meeting in Aklavik. We had over 100 people in attendance. Can we basically host another public meeting, say in mid-April, to ensure the transition has taken place smoothly and we basically continue the dialogue with our community with the Minister and myself? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the concerns are more coming from the family members who have had residents in the Joe Greenland Centre who are now being asked to either move out or be taken care of in a home setting. Those individuals, the reason they were in the Joe Greenland Centre is because they need that specialized care. What are we doing in regards to the area such as respite care and ensuring that those people with disabilities, either visual disabilities or physical disabilities, are going to be taken care of in the community of Aklavik and ensuring that the health care side of this program will...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the last couple of weeks I have raised issues in regards to the Joe Greenland Centre, the closure of the long-term care side of the facility. Mr. Speaker, I am still getting calls from a lot of the residents of Aklavik and especially concerns of their loved ones, and more importantly, the elders, and also what is going to happen to them.

Mr. Speaker, I think it is important as government that we relay the message that there is a transition taking place, but more importantly, what is going to change.

Mr. Speaker, we have to improve the quality of life for our seniors...