David Ramsay

Mr. Speaker, that is what scares me. I am not sure why the Minister can’t stand up today and articulate what exactly the government is going to do to address the fact that spousal assault in the Northwest Territories has increased 107 percent under their watch. What are you going to do about that matter, Minister? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

One of the reasons I ask that question is because we have gone to a four-year degree program with our northern nursing students now and one of the concerns that I’ve heard is that there aren’t the jobs, the jobs aren’t posted. Even though we’ve got locums and we’re relying on agency nurses, the jobs aren’t being posted. They’re not out there. For new grads coming into the work scene, it’s a pretty scary sight when you’re graduating from a four-year Northern Nursing Program and there are no jobs to be had on paper. Then you see all these locum nurses and agency nurses working in the Northwest...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have some questions today for the Minister of Health and Social Services, getting back to my Member’s statement. In 2005 the Legislative Assembly brought in the Protection Against Family Violence Act, an act the Minister is well aware of. Also, we have developed a Framework for Action Against Family Violence. That is going into the second stage of that. I would like to ask the Minister why the incidents of spousal assault have gone up 107 percent increase in the last four years, from 309 to 640. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Chairman, I look forward to more information on that. Again, I don’t know how we have come this far since the federal government devolved responsibility for health here in the Northwest Territories. We still don’t have that work all concluded. It is troublesome, I guess, to put it in a word.

I also wanted to, while I have a minute and 28 seconds left, comment on my colleague Mr. Yakeleya’s concern over the lack of a social worker in Tulita. I think that is appalling that there is not a social worker there and there hasn’t been one there for three and a half years. All the Minister can say...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to speak today about a very significant and disturbing issue here in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, family violence continues to plague our Territory. In 2010 there were 640 reported incidents of spousal assault. This is 20 percent higher than last year and, incredibly, 107 percent higher under this government’s watch than it was four years earlier, in 2006.

A parliamentary committee recently visited the Northwest Territories to discuss abuse against Aboriginal women. The root causes of abuse should come as no surprise to Members of this House: poverty...

Mr. Chairman, if I am to understand correctly, if we are still working on proper scope of practice for health professionals in the Northwest Territories and we don’t have those concluded or done to a certain extent, I am just wondering, doesn’t that open the Government of the Northwest Territories and the department up to liability. I am thinking malpractice. I am thinking something goes wrong and when you are dealing with health care, there are a lot of things that can go wrong. I would think that this is a huge risk for us not having this work done. I am just wondering if we have any time...

What I’d be looking for is written communication from the department to the authorities, especially the authorities that are in deficit situations. I’d like to get a better idea of what the department is telling the authorities in written communication between the department and the authorities. That’s what I’m looking for. Specific to deficits and financial management at the authority level, and that’s communication coming directly from the department to the authorities. I don’t know if I can make it much more clear than that, Mr. Chairman. That’s what I’m looking for. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to ask the Minister to what extent is the department involved in giving financial advice to the authorities and I’d like to know what shape that advice takes. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My issue is not with the Norman Wells Land Corporation acquiring the land; I guess it’s the precedent this sets. I’d like to ask the Minister: are there currently any other negotiations going on around the Territory to sell any additional Commissioner’s land? Thank you.

I’d like to ask the Minister: is there not a policy or protocol that would have the Minister, the department and/or Cabinet inform Regular Members of such a land acquisition or deal like the one in Norman Wells?