Floyd Roland

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the acceptable wait times and reducing wait times is an issue that all jurisdictions are facing; in fact, working together with the other jurisdictions and the federal government to try to come up with a program that would reduce wait times people face throughout our systems. As for the Northwest Territories, I don’t have the specifics and I’d have to get some detail on that, then I can provide that to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The tax policy area is quite I wouldn't want to say convoluted, but it is a difficult one to understand how it actually works from one bracket to another. So for that level of detail, I'll have Ms. Melhorn provide some detail.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a number of options were looked at for this facility. Ultimately it still comes down to the fact that even if we enter into a leasing arrangement we have to account for those dollars in the leasing agreement and build that into the plan. Because it is a very specified facility for a very specific group of individuals and people and how that would be served, we would look at that as being a facility that we would rather own than lease. So I know it’s been worked about, discussed. I have directed the department to contact the organization to look at the plan...

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department has worked cooperatively with the Yellowknife Association for Concerned Citizens for Seniors and we will continue to do so. The department has met with them on a number of occasions, has worked and provided money for the planning, have received a plan for a new facility which is far and above the initial discussions that were put in place. The department has been in contact with them since the news was initially given by the previous Minister regarding the facility itself. As our capital plan works, as we put our plans forward, it is reviewed...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are in the process of developing that policy. In fact, in my Minister’s statement here I’d provided sort of a framework as to where we’re going and some of the questions we have to ask and some of the partners that we need to work with; for example, our community leaders and aboriginal leaders, as well as our business leaders. In fact, in November as we’re going out to start this leg of the work, going to meet with those groups to begin to put the framework together. Of course we’re always ready to meet with Members and go through that process as well...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, as with most legislation that flows through this House, as the Member stated, the bill itself, the law that gets put in place follows with regulation being worked on. I understand that they're aiming for April, but Ms. Kennedy can provide more detail, as well, on that.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the idea of the macroeconomic policy unit has been discussed by previous governments that we should take this direction. Ultimately the final direction came from FMBS prior to this year’s budget we’re in now. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Internet pharmacy issue that's been out there in Canada is something that this bill doesn't deal with particularly. It doesn't deal with that section of it. That more falls into the actual physicians' side of the equation and how they deal with that. So that part of it is not covered in this act. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we have in the past, in this scenario we’ve worked cooperatively with the union and staff and any changes that are about to occur, as we have in the past, we will protect individuals and positions. But I haven’t seen the full layout of the plan. I’m aware that we are putting it in place to address the concerns that are there today. Thank you.