Statements in Debates
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't think any of us here would like to see a carbon tax implemented in our territory as we have the highest cost of living in this country, alone. Mr. Speaker, I know that some of the Members are not supporting this. Like the Member from the Sahtu, I would like to see this proceed. This initiative, the federal government actually, I believe, sees that the territory has a small footprint on the carbon in our country, and they are willing to work with us. What is being presented is a far better deal than what will actually be imposed on us if we do not support this...
It is good that the communities took on this responsibility, but we are talking in the neighbourhood of $200,000, for example, to do a community the size of Fort McPherson. That is competing with capital projects. What is ENR's estimate of the cost to cut firebreaks around the three communities in the Mackenzie Delta?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a few questions for the Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources. I would like to ask the Minister: what is the department doing to make sure that communities can implement and fund their Wildland Fire Protection Plans? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
This leaves communities scrambling for dollars through funding proposals to various outside governments. This is a haphazard, high-risk approach to protecting lives and property, Mr. Speaker, and I will have questions for the Minister later today. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a couple of questions. I know the Minister had brought this issue up a couple of times, and the department has actually acted on it. The issue is landscaping around our housing units, mainly the driveways. A lot of these units, there's been absolutely no landscaping done since they actually built the units, which is sometimes 20, 30 years plus. Over time, there's been erosion to units, and it actually damages. Water and sewer trucks that have to deliver water, there are big pot holes, especially in communities like Aklavik, Fort McPherson, Tsiigehtchic. Especially in...
Will the Minister work with the housing Minister to hire staff to work in our elders' homes as a start?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our elders in the Mackenzie Delta are growing old gracefully. There is a high number of elders in our region, many of whom still live in their own communities. I would like nothing more than to have our elders reside at home in their elderly age, be taken care of, and have homecare when needed.
Mr. Speaker, we all know that there is a waiting list at the Inuvik long-term care. I can name many, many of our people who have gone there and suffered loneliness. Being away from their own home takes a toll on life. We need to have our own elders' care facilities in our...
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a big list here.
---Laughter
No, that's good news, Mr. Chair. There are a number of units that come to mind, but moving forward, I will be sure to work with the department and get the ones that need it the most done, hopefully this spring. Thank you for that.
The other thing was, just under electrical, I know it has gone down quite a bit. I'm sure it's because of some solar power in cases like the Joe Greenland Centre, and I'd like to thank the department because our elders had to use heating, ceramic heaters, and any way to warm up that unit. I'd like to thank them...
That's good news. We are also looking forward to the opening of the elders' home in Fort McPherson, but we need a commitment. Will the Minister cost share with both ECE and Housing to ensure that we have a level of care on a daily basis in our elders' homes?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In follow-up to my Member's statement, I have a few questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. This issue is between many departments, and I think that it's time that we put all of our resources under one department. My constituents want to know why we can't have long-term care facilities in our smaller communities like we did in Aklavik at the old Joe Greenland Centre. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.