Frederick Blake Jr.

I don’t think the Minister knows some of the situations that the community goes through. Many times a lot of these emergencies are during the evening, even after midnight sometimes.

What can the community do in situations like this? Many times when people phone these numbers for assistance, they are asked to give basically the diagnostics of what the patient is going through. Many of the people that are responding don’t have this medical training. You almost have to be a doctor to get help in our small communities.

What can our communities do in cases like this? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As it stands, the service delivery model does not authorize funding for a full-time nurse in Tsiigehtchic. Last October Minister Abernethy told the House that his department is looking into best practices in other remote areas in Canada and around the world. The purpose, he said, is to access our service delivery model and examine models from other jurisdictions to see how, if at all, they can be applied here in the Northwest Territories.

Minister Abernethy further stated that, “A review of the Integrated Service Delivery Model, medical travel, community health work...

We actually have five places along the Dempster that have overflow over the winter months. As I travel through the Yukon, close to Dawson City I saw where they have heat trace lines. Where we have flooding, all they have to do is put a generator there and plug it in and that thaws out the culvert.

Will the Minister ensure that this is in place as we fix the culvert? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since the spring of 2013, we’ve had a number of issues come up with disaster compensation claims that were put in in the Mackenzie Delta. With that, 13 people have filed claims, and over the last almost a year and a half now, only one has been approved. But over the last month, I got the latest update from the department and 10 out of 13 were approved. On behalf of my constituents, I’d like to thank the Minister and the Department. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to ask the Minister what is the department’s plan to address the flooding that happens every year at Georgetown. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of Transportation a few questions about the flooding of Georgetown, as it’s known, across from Tsiigehtchic at kilometre 140. Over the last 15 to 20 years, we’ve had flooding there almost every year.

Will the Minister ensure that the culvert is replaced over this summer and have a heat trace line in place? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I also mentioned that within our budget we have budgeted $1.6 million for 75 units, which will be an agreement entered with lease agreements in Inuvik, Hay River and Yellowknife.

Will the Minister consider this as a possible solution in my riding as a short-term solution? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my statement is on the need for increasing housing units within my riding in the Mackenzie Delta, especially in Aklavik and Fort McPherson which have a waiting list of up to three years.

As I mentioned in our last session, this government has done a great job over the last number of years replacing units, although we now need to shift our attention to adding units that are needed in our small communities, as I mentioned.

Our goal is to increase the population in our territory by 2,000 people over the next few years, yet our smaller communities have a shortage of...

I don’t think the Minister really answered the question. Will he consider that as a solution? Yes or no.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a few questions for the Minister of Housing, leading from my Member’s statement. As I mentioned, I have a shortage of housing units in my riding. In Aklavik and Fort McPherson, we have a waiting list of up to three years.

What is the plan to address the housing shortage in Aklavik, McPherson and Tsiigehtchic, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.