Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, follow-up to my Member's statement earlier today: As I mentioned, many of my constituents in the Mackenzie Delta would like more on-the-land healing programs to be held within our riding. I'd like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services, when will the first on-the-land healing program be held at the Gwich’in Wellness Centre? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, I do, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 74(2) and have Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, moved into Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

That sounds great. I'd like to ask the Minister if he knows how often will programs be available, and will there be a schedule available to my constituents.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during my last constituency tour I held in the communities, one of my constituents wanted me to bring forward the need for more on-the-land healing programs in our region. I know a couple years back there was some programs held in Beaufort-Delta, but my constituents would like to see more happening within our riding. With the report that was done, I believe it was about a year and a half ago, under the Mental Health Act, our residents wanted more on-the-land healing programs. I know the department has been working with the Gwich’in Tribal Council. He gave...

Mr. Speaker, it's actually two --

---Laughter

From what I understand. I'm not sure if it's divided between the north and south, that's what I wanted to ask. How does the department choose which community will use the crushers, and how does it establish the priority?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker. During my last constituency tour in my riding, the community of Aklavik would like to request from the Department of Transportation to have the crusher that's owned by the department to be located in the community, whether it's a season or for the full year. I do realize that this crusher is now located, I believe, in Fort Good Hope, and it may take some time to ship this unit up to Aklavik, most likely over the summer, but the community's looking forward to some work to be done on their roads. As you may know, during the spring flood, many times the roads...

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act be read for the first time.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in follow-up to my earlier questions on the crusher for Aklavik, it's quite clear there's a lack of representation of small communities on the Cabinet side. Otherwise, they would know the challenges we have in our small communities. Just to say, “Oh, just go to the private sector.” It's not that easy for these communities. From what I understand these crushers are in the department for communities such as this, so I'd like to ask the Minister: Will the Minister be willing to work with the community, which is trying to come up with a training plan for...

That’s what I wanted to get at. Will the Minister be willing to work with the community of Aklavik to start the process, and to ship the unit to Aklavik hopefully over the summer, not too late because the water usually drops quite a bit by the second barge, from what I understand, and start preparations for the next year, next budget, so the community could build up the roads, as I mentioned earlier. A lot of challenges with the roads in our community.