David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wanted to ask some questions, too, about the consolidated primary care clinic in Yellowknife. It’s something I’ve been looking forward to for a number of years now, and I’m glad to see it is finally going to materialize.

I just wanted to ask some questions and make sure it’s going to be in a location that’s accessible, that there’s going to be parking. I want to know whether or not a lease has been signed. I want to know where it is and when we might expect it to happen.

I guess the first question I have is: has a lease been signed with anybody to get this primary care...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m glad that the Minister understands the intricacies and the complexity of this issue. It sounds like he will be willing to work with Regular Members to move this along.

I guess the last question I’d have, Mr. Speaker, is in terms of a timeline. Obviously, this is something we’re going to want to try to get done by the end of the life of this government. Can he share with us a timeline on the implementation of this?

I thank the Minister for that. I do look forward to working with him on the Refocusing Government committee when the time does come. I guess what I’m seeking today is just reassurance. It sounds like the Minister is understanding the intricacies of the various regions across the territory.

I wanted to ask: before any implementation is undertaken on the board reform, will the Minister convey all the concerns that have been expressed to him and his staff? They’re going out and shopping this around. There are going to be concerns out there from stakeholders. Will those concerns in their entirety...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to speak today about board reform and initiatives of the government to move this large piece of refocusing government forward. During the life of the last government I was a big supporter of the agencies and boards review that began in 2004 but unfortunately was shelved in 2005 by the previous government.

Under the Refocusing Government Strategic Initiatives Committee the current government is moving ahead with board reform in our territory, and I still am a supporter of this being examined and analyzed.

There are currently 70 GNWT boards involved in governance for...

I thank the Minister for that. There is probably a tremendous amount of equipment if you look at the three clinics that are currently in operation. If the new clinic can’t use it, I have been to a number of health centres in small communities that are in desperate need of any equipment. We should put that equipment to the best use possible. It shouldn’t just end up being thrown out or end up at a government surplus facility. If it can be used in the small communities and it has some usefulness, it should be sent there as soon as it can be.

Again, if we signed the lease three months ago, I am...

I thank the Minister of Finance for that. Maybe the Minister of Health would have that level of detail with her today.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under what authority was a lease signed that would commit the government to spending dollars on leasehold improvements? I’m not privy to the contract that was signed or the lease that was signed.

Obviously, when you look at a contract or a lease that’s been signed, it has provisions to say what the government would be responsible for in terms of leasehold improvements, what the rate of the lease would be per month or per year, however that’s worked out. So, yeah, that’s a question: under what authority was that lease signed?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee wishes to continue on with the Northwest Territories Capital Estimates, 2009–2010.

Again, I thank the Minister for that. In the decision-making process, from a public standpoint, the public wants to have some reassurances as well that their concerns are going to be addressed — the board Chair in Yellowknife and even outside of Yellowknife. I just wanted to ask the Minister again: in the decision-making process, what is he doing to base a go/no-go decision on in terms of board reform, and are we going to be able to debate the pros and cons of such an initiative publicly, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister responsible for the Strategic Initiative Committee on Refocusing Government. That’s Minister Miltenberger.

In my Member’s statement from earlier I spoke of my support for this initiative if done properly and if thoroughly examined and analyzed. I think there is room for improvement. However, I do have some concerns about the process that is currently at play. I’m just wondering if the Minister could comment on the intent to use the one size fits all approach with boards across the territory.