David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m just wondering if the Minister and his department have a strategy to perhaps come up with a program that is tailored to the residents of the Northwest Territories that they can seek some programming help while at home and not have to journey south, away from friends and family, to seek the help that they need. I’m just wondering if the department has any plans to try to put together some type of program tailor made to our situation here in the North. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I guess I will start off with asking the question why a new hospital that was twice the size of the old hospital was using a budget based on 2002-03 actuals of the old hospital. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Residents are often sent south to get help far away from friends and family to support and encourage them. Money seems to be the biggest hurdle to overcome in making this happen. I would like to comment that during last fall's election campaign, many residents felt that a dedicated treatment centre was necessary and much needed. As a government, we need to prioritize the needs of our residents, with health and welfare being at the top of that list.

Why do we continue to operate a young offenders' facility in Inuvik with no clients, or a hospital in Fort Smith with...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will stop here. I just would like to know who did the budgeting for the new hospital in Inuvik in terms of what it would cost for utilities and maintenance. Was it an outside firm or was it Public Works? Someone really dropped the ball on this to miss this budget by what amounts to $1 million a year. If it’s one of our employees, they should be looking for a new job, Mr. Chairman.

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Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So to the Minister, if an employee of one of these health authorities committed a crime against a patient or another client of whatever service delivery that they’re doing, would this insurance cover us against liability, Mr. Chairman, on the behaviour of one of our employees or an employee of the health authority? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m just wondering if the Minister could describe for us the types of liability and crime insurance coverage that this type of insurance covers. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My written question today is for the Minister of Justice, Mr. Charles Dent.

How much has it cost the Department of Justice to date to correct wrongful dismissal suits at the North Slave Correctional Centre? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. From what I gather from the Minister, it's all about money. I guess the question I would have for the Minister is when are we going to try to find some money to get a dedicated treatment centre, whether or not it's in Yellowknife. That's a perfect piece of government infrastructure that isn't being used and that could house a treatment centre, Mr. Speaker. We cry the blues that we have no money, but we always seem to find money for this and that, and I think the health and the well-being of our citizens should be our number one priority, Mr. Speaker, and I can think...

Clause 7.

Clause 8.