Frederick Blake Jr.

Mr. Speaker, Minister Abernethy stated in this House that he has been told that one of the major concerns in remote communities is emergency response. He also stated, and he just mentioned, that the department is in the midst of rolling out Med-Response, which will have a direct positive impact on the service delivery in places like Tsiigehtchic.

Can the Minister inform this House when residents of Tsiigehtchic will have access to Med-Response and how can they access it after hours? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government is supposed to provide high-quality health care to the NWT residents no matter where they live. Yet, in the smallest communities, places like Tsiigehtchic, people don’t have year-round access to a nurse.

I’ve raised this concern many times. It’s a stressful situation. Residents are scared that something terrible may happen and they won’t have backup when they need it most. The idea for a full-time nurse made it into the Health and Social Services 2010-11 Business Plan, but the Minister of the day reneged on that commitment.

On February 7, 2013, another...

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.

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 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.