Floyd Roland

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since taking on this activity and putting human resources into one area, dealing with the backlog files, a number of things I’ve put in place to monitor the work that has been going forward. One, it is on the pay side of the equation on our backlog what gets done. The second piece, and becomes more critical, is the benefit side and the backlog there. In both sides, pre-September 2005, and post-September 2005, because that is when we really started pulling things together within the department to try and smooth them out and get the flow working. We do...

As I stated earlier, once I get up to speed in the area of particular programs in the drug and alcohol area, if we are working on that initiative, I would gladly sit down with the Member and look at what options are there, what plans may come up, and work with the Social Programs committee in this area as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The issue of drug and alcohol treatment programs in the Northwest Territories is one that has concerned us for quite some time. As long as I have been a Member of the Legislative Assembly, the issue has come up time and again. The Department of Health and Social Services, over a number of years, has tried to adjust its programming to fit the criteria for northern families and individuals. In this situation I know the department has undergone a review of how it provides programs and, with the previous efforts of the previous Minister, things are in the works to change...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Wednesday, October 25th, 2006, I will move that Bill 20, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t think it’s accurate to say that as a government we’ve left the Sahtu out to dry. In fact, over the last few years this government has substantially invested in the Sahtu and its people. For example, with the health board, with the education board, human resources centre established there and hopefully, in fact, within a year a new office space to help that situation out. So we’ve invested in there and are doing the best we can with the available resources. Within FMBS itself, as I stated, we don’t have the available dollars to expand beyond the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm not a trained doctor and I don't understand that profession well enough, and I'm sure the Member across will be in the same category. I'm willing to sit down, work with the Member on this and go and do some historical data, go through the process that we've used to date. At this point that's what I will commit to, is to sit down with the Member, review this file. But beyond that, again, we're relying on the professional expertise of the caretakers out there. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, throughout Canada, the issue of wait times has been important; in fact, to the level where it's being addressed nationally through the federal government and provinces and territories to deal with that issue of wait times within the field of health and social services. In this particular case, we have worked with other jurisdictions, other doctors, and many referrals to try and come up with a solution here. Unfortunately, we haven't been able and we're waiting for the next opportunity. Again, if the services are available within our jurisdiction, that's...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe the plans are almost completed as we go through this process, but, as I stated earlier, I need to meet with the departments and get some indication as to where they are with the work. At that point, we would be prepared to sit down with Members. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the Member’s statement he made a number of comments on the issue we face in the Northwest Territories and what we need to do as a government; provide the tools. Ultimately, Mr. Speaker, in this area of programming -- and I can speak from experience -- it starts at home with the individual. If you want real change, it has to start at that level. As a government, we have to have the necessary tools in place to ensure that people can deal with the issues that are before them. In this specific case, I would have to get up to speed as to where the department...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gives me pleasure today to introduce in the gallery, my constituency assistant, Ms. Jennifer Debastien, down for orientation at the Assembly. Thank you.

---Applause