David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve got a few questions for the Minister of Transportation related to the Deh Cho Bridge Project. I’m wondering if the Minister could advise the House whether or not any steel has shown up at Fort Providence for the construction of that bridge. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the fact of the matter is that funding was supposed to extend until 2012. There was funding. This government had the funding to see the respite program continue to 2012, Mr. Speaker. That is the bottom line. We shouldn’t have been talking about this program and in the next year we should have been coming up with a plan to fund that program. However, Mr. Speaker, the Minister and this government has decided to cut the program, take the $250,000 and put it somewhere else. Mr. Speaker, what I would like to know is where is that $250,000 going. The Minister didn’t know it the other...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve got questions today for the Minister of Health and Social Services getting back to my Member’s statement from earlier today and the one I had previously during this sitting of the House. It gets back to the respite care program and the decision to cut $250,000 out of that program.

Now, the Minister, and I find it really hard to believe, who was so supportive of this program coming into existence… I worked alongside of her here with other Members in this House on getting this program established. It’s been running now for four years, and somebody made a decision to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before the construction begins on the superstructure, I hope that the construction audit is concluded and distributed to Members so we can see what is included in the construction audit. As well, the Auditor General’s review of the project, when is that scheduled to be concluded and presented to the House? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Minister if he could provide the House with the answer on when all the steel will show up in Fort Providence and construction of the superstructure will begin in earnest. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for the lesson in semantics. Listen. The bottom line is the money was there. It is not there. The Minister didn’t answer my question again, Mr. Speaker. Where is the $250,000? If it is not being spent in respite care, where is the Minister proposing that that $250,000 be spent? Thank you.

The Minister didn’t really answer my questions. She can stand up in the House, but, obviously, I’m talking about some responsibility and accountability. Somebody made the decision to cut the $250,000. I want to know who it was so we can direct our questions to them. If it’s not the Minister, can the Minister please tell me who it was? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to follow up with a statement I made earlier this session on the continuance of the respite program for the 29 families that currently utilize the service from the Yellowknife Association for Community Living.

Mr. Speaker, first off, the mere suggestion that this government is cutting this critical service is unconscionable. The Minister could not even tell me the other day where the $250,000 was going. Mr. Speaker, the federal funding through THAF would have enabled the program to be funded until 2012. Someone has made the decision to move the money and the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS Tabled Document 103-16(5) has been tabled in this House;

AND WHEREAS the Government of the Northwest Territories Contracts Over $5,000 Report, Year-to-Date of the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2010, requires detailed consideration;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded the honourable Member for Weledeh, that Tabled Document 103-16(5), Government of the Northwest Territories Contracts Over $5,000 Report, Year-to-Date of the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2010, be referred to Committee of the Whole for consideration.

Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Minister, if the construction audit that was performed on the Deh Cho Bridge is concluded, when might it get in front of committee for purview. Thank you.