David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to assure the Minister that that is indeed the case at Stanton, where, as I mentioned in my Member’s statement, a lady went back to school, had been an LPN for 20 years and now she’s an RN, and there are LPNs at Stanton earning more than she is as a registered nurse, Mr. Speaker. What steps are being taken to ensure that nurses who are working and getting paid in the specialty areas have the skills, knowledge and abilities to be there, Mr. Speaker? Can the Minister answer that question? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. McLeod.

Could you please repeat the question?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that is all fine and good. However, I am just wondering at what value the Government of the Northwest Territories places on education and certification of nurses. From what the Minister said, there really is not a value on education and certification. That is how it is done in other jurisdictions, Mr. Speaker. I am just wondering, to the Minister, what value he places on education and certification for nursing professionals. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I guess the CATSA segment of the expenditure for the bomb detection equipment, that is one thing, Mr. Chairman. I think the public could accept the fact that that was going to happen and we would need to spend a little bit of money. In the grand scheme of things, what’s happening at the Yellowknife airport, from the information that I have, is a full blown expansion, both to the apron, both to the terminal building itself and we are adding an annex. We have seen them at the Edmonton International Airport. They are ATCO trailers. They are just an add-on, Mr. Chairman...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am just wondering, through you to the Minister, how, under the definition that I have been supplied by the department, does a float nurse, who is required to have the skills, knowledge and ability to work in various specialty areas, not earn as much as a nurse in a specialty area. That does not make sense to me, Mr. Speaker. I am just wondering if the Minister had an answer for that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have spoken at length about this and I will try to keep this short. I wonder how the government can spend in this special warrant, what amounts to $3.4 million. Cumulatively, over three years, it was $6.6 million without any public debate or stakeholder consultation taking place for this expenditure. It boggles my mind, Mr. Chairman, how this can happen. In a city the size of Yellowknife with our airport being the hub of the North – sorry, Jane, Mrs. Groenewegen – the airport serves a vital function here in Yellowknife. For the government not to consult with the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Nurses need our support in trying to correct what has happened at Stanton. It doesn’t happen in Hay River. It doesn’t happen in Inuvik and, as a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, it doesn’t happen anywhere else in the country. Why would a government, in good conscious, set out to drive a wedge between our nursing staff at Stanton? Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time on today’s order paper, I will have questions for the Minister. Thank you.