David Ramsay

My understanding is that in the provinces and territories the Attorney General or deputy minister of Justice must give consent to an application. I’d like to ask the Minister of Justice if under his watch that status has ever been given to an offender here in the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve got questions today for the Minister of Justice. Recently and over the last few years there’s been some high-profile cases of repeat violent offenders getting light sentences even after 16, 17, 18 violent crimes. I’d like to ask the Minister of Justice if he’s aware of what constitutes becoming or getting the status of a dangerous offender.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve got some more questions today for the Minister of Health and Social Services getting back to my Member’s statement where I was talking about the sterilization of surgical equipment at Stanton Hospital. Again my main concern here is the public that are out there waiting for surgeries and residents who have gotten post-operative infections being upset and concerned over how this has all played itself out. I’d like to ask the Minister when exactly the decision was made to cancel elective surgeries at Stanton.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll try this question, I guess. Does the Minister have a date or a time frame in mind when things will be back to normal procedures and operations at Stanton when it comes to elective surgeries at that hospital? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I find it hard to believe that the Minister, even after questions yesterday, wouldn’t come to the House today fully prepared and briefed on this situation and on the issue at Stanton and be able to answer some questions. Specifically, a date when elective surgeries were delayed or cancelled, began to be delayed or cancelled. She’s got to know that date, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask her again was it the first week of January, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It doesn’t get much more vague than they’re just waiting for a part. I’d asked the Minister a specific question: what part are they waiting for and why is it taking so long?

Based on that information that they need to be serviced and maintained -- and I’m speaking about the equipment -- can the Minister give me a date that would coincide with a decision being made to delay or cancel elective surgeries at that hospital? I’m looking for a date from the Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to again speak today about the issue of sterilization equipment at Stanton Hospital. It is not my intention to cause undue alarm as the Minister stated yesterday, I just want to ensure that I get the right information out there for the public. The information I’m after for residents, and as if having a procedure such as a hip replacement is not a traumatic enough experience, can you imagine what it would feel like to get an infection which requires the massive wound to be reopened, cleaned and then closed up again? This is what I’m questioning.

When were...

She’s not answering it for the second time. That’s the problem. Again, I’d like to understand and get a better understanding, I guess, of when that date is, because if it’s not three weeks and it’s six weeks, Mr. Speaker, that’s a bigger issue. If surgeries have been cancelled, they’re delayed for a period of six weeks and the Minister doesn’t know what the parts are, when they were ordered or when they’re going to show up, that’s another issue, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister when she might know what exactly these parts are and when they’re going to show up and when the surgeries at...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wanted to continue to question the Minister of Health and Social Services on some of the answers or non-answers that she provided to me earlier. I guess I’ll try it again.

I have mentioned the fact that I initially thought it was three weeks, but some of the other numbers I’ve heard are this goes back to the beginning of January. I was asking the Minister to provide me a date when elective surgeries were beginning to be delayed or cancelled. Can the Minister confirm or deny it was the first week of January? Thank you.