Glen Abernethy

I’m happy to hear that. I was wondering if the Minister could tell me when she might actually have an opportunity to meet on this particular issue about finding ways to reduce wait times for colon cancer screening in the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s good to be back. I read with interest a Northern News Services story on colon cancer prevention several weeks ago. I was pleased to hear, given the high rate of colon cancer in the Northwest Territories, that the Department of Health and Social Services is taking a proactive position and directing family physicians and other health care providers to encourage residents over 50 to get screened every one or two years.

Although I support this direction, I do have one concern. I have talked to a number of people on the list for screening, as well as a couple of the...

Once again I’d like to thank the Minister for that. I hear what the Minister is saying, but at the same time there are a large number of residents in Yellowknife, a large number of people who are going through or scheduled on the waiting list, waiting 12 months or 18 months or often longer for colon cancer screening in the Northwest Territories. The foundation has an opportunity to help raise money, not cost the government money but help the government raise money to actually facilitate some of this screening. I’d like to hear the Minister tell me today that she is going to meet with the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Soon some of the staff at Stanton will be vacating the hospital to move to a new mall here in Yellowknife. This may free up some space that can be modified to allow for additional colon cancer screening. This may be a great opportunity for Stanton and the Stanton Foundation to mobilize to raise funds for increased screening which may help reduce wait times in the Northwest Territories.

Would the Minister of Health and Social Services commit to meeting with representatives from the Stanton Foundation and work with them to help address these challenges, specifically space...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to take this opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of a person who has devoted much to improving the lives and situations of people of the North. This January marks the 40th anniversary of Lena Pedersen’s election to the Legislative Assembly.

---Applause

This anniversary is especially noteworthy, because in 1970 Lena was the first woman to be elected to the Assembly, then called the Territorial Council.

Born and raised in Greenland and upon coming to the Northwest Territories in 1959, Lena has lived and worked throughout the North in communities from...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Lena Pedersen, a former Member of the Legislature and a constituent of the Great Slave riding.

Once again I’d like to thank the Minister for that. I look forward to seeing that document when it comes forward.

As we move forward...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources and are in follow-up to my Member’s statement from earlier today.

In December, the Minister responsible for ENR and the Premier will be attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference. This is a significant conference, with potential to keep the 2012 Kyoto protocols, which are to prevent climate change and global warming, on line and possibly develop new more reasonable climate protocols. In light of this, will the GNWT lead by example and establish more aggressive targets for...

I have talked to some constituents and other interested parties who have suggested that the GNWT’s target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its own operations by 10 percent below the 2001 levels by 2011 lacks some ambition. That we’ve pretty much actually attained these reductions and suggests that the lack of ambition reductions -- which, you know, ambitious reductions I mean challenging reductions -- limit the long-term value of the Greenhouse Strategy itself. Would the Minister commit to review the internal reductions targets that we currently have and establish more ambitious...

I’d like to thank the Minister for that response. In my statement I did mention that in many ways we are leading by example. Currently the GNWT has placed a 10 percent reduction on greenhouse gas emissions for internal operations, yet the GNWT does not have emission reduction targets for the NWT as a whole. There is some reference to controlling emissions, but without significant measurable reduction targets, there is no incentive for non-government interest to meet any targets. Would the Minister commit to updating the existing Greenhouse Gas Strategy and establish strong science-based...