Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize the former Member for Mackenzie Delta Mr. David Krutko, and also the former Member for Range Lake Mrs. Sandy Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to acknowledge Winnie Elanik, a well-respected elder who passed away in Aklavik October 30, 2012. Winnie, in her lifetime, has done tremendous work for her community and has helped numerous families overcome hardship. She was always reminding her children and their families of the importance of having God in all our lives, and to always be kind and mindful of others.

In her lifetime she did sewing for her family, always making sure her children were dressed warm, and later on taking care of her grandchildren. Sewing traditional parkas, mukluks and mitts, she...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister tell me when he would expect construction to commence on the replacement of the Joe Greenland Centre? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, it is good to hear that the NWT Housing Corporation is examining the cost-benefit analysis of new construction versus renovating the existing facility.

Can the Minister tell me whether the Housing Corporation plans to engage with the community of Aklavik on the location of a new facility and just what should be included in such a facility? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Fellow colleagues, as we gather this month with our families and friends, let’s thank each other for the support given on a daily basis and during the National Addictions Awareness Week, November 18th to 24th.

We acknowledge this week to recognize and overcome the addictions that we face on a daily basis. It’s through community support, community leaders and community wellness workers that we can enjoy this week without addictions in our lives. Our communities in the Northwest Territories are very unique. Our very own people have proven that we can live...

As Members heard from proponents, the central Mackenzie Valley resource play is considered “frontier” not only because it is remote with little infrastructure to support development, but because specific drilling and production conditions for this shale formation are still largely unknown. The technical considerations and impacts of hydraulic fracturing vary from one shale play to another, depending on a wide range of environmental and geological factors. The success of an operation relies on sound knowledge of local geology and finely tuned engineering and drilling expertise. The committee...

It’s good to hear that the community will be consulted on any new facility.

The existing Joe Greenland Centre has a common area and a specialized bathing room that allows the Aklavik disabled seniors the opportunity to look after their personal hygiene in a safe manner, with assistance from the home care workers.

Can the Minister tell me whether a new facility would have the same features in this plan? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, my questions will be directed to the Minister of Housing today. When I asked questions about the Joe Greenland Centre in our June session, the Minister indicated that work on renovating the long-term care wing into independent living units would be underway by now. Earlier in this session, the Minister indicated that a tender would be issued shortly.

Can the Minister tell this Assembly why the renovations to the Joe Greenland Centre have been delayed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for that assurance. I’d also like to ask the Minister if he will provide adequate funding to Fort McPherson, Aklavik, and Tsiigehtchic to provide ambulance services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the Mackenzie Delta we have 300 kilometres of highways with only one ambulance service in Inuvik. Many times we have had major accidents on the highway, at which time members of the public have had to act to save lives.

In this day and age, we should have trained personnel in our communities. For example, Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic could provide ambulance services. This would help keep our communities and our highway system safe and also provide many jobs in our communities.

I’ll have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services later today. Thank you...