Glen Abernethy

As indicated in my statement, there’s a lot of uncertainty out there. People don’t know what’s happening. So my question for the Minister is: How does the Minister intend to relieve some of this continued confusion and uncertainty that continues to exist within the public as residents wait for something to happen?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services and are in follow-up to my Member’s statement from earlier today. As I indicated earlier, it’s been 106 days, almost four months, since the Minister indicated that she would be meeting with the Social Programs committee to provide them with a timeline and outline the framework for the review of the Supplementary Health Program. To date there has been no briefing or no briefing has been conducted. Could the Minister please give me an update on where the Department of Health and Social...

Mr. Speaker, during the February-March 2009 session of this Legislative Assembly, I put forward a motion asking Cabinet to defer the implementation of the changes they are proposing to the supplemental health benefits currently being offered by this government. The motion passed with all 11 Regular Members supporting the motion and Cabinet abstaining.

After the motion passed, the Minister of Health and Social Services indicated that the government would not be moving forward with their implementation. Rather, in Committee of the Whole on February 10, 2009, according to the unedited Hansard of...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that we report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Committee wishes to proceed with Tabled Document 25-16(3), Supplementary Appropriation No. 1 (Infrastructure Expenditures) 2009-2010, and then Bills 5 and 9, if there’s time, in that order. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Justice in response to his Minister’s statement on improving family law services. I’m quite pleased to hear the announcement that they’re going to be moving or setting up a new mediation project with a roster of five mediators. I know that a number of Members in this House, both in the House and in the back hall, have been encouraging the department to go in this direction of setting up a mediation process.

My first question is just a question for clarity to the Minister responsible. Is this mediation going to be mandatory or is...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that consideration of Tabled Document 25-16(3), Supplementary Appropriation No. 1 (Infrastructure Expenditures) 2009-2010 now be concluded and that Tabled Document 25-16(3) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in a formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I’d like to thank the Minister for that. I think it’s a great program. I’m really happy to hear that they’re looking to going mandatory. I’ve done some research on this as well, and everything that I’ve seen has suggested that mandatory will save us a lot of money. To the Minister, how long do you think it will be until we can make some sort of decision as to whether or not we are going to make this mandatory for the sake of the children?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to highlight the contributions of the John Howard Society to the criminal justice system in the Northwest Territories. Incorporated in 1992 as a member of the John Howard Society of Canada, the John Howard Society based in Yellowknife is a volunteer organization that promotes just, effective, and humane responses to the causes and consequences of crime.

Volunteers at the John Howard Society take an active role in community justice initiatives by offering three core programs. Fine options and community services give youth and adults the options of settling...

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Next on my list, Mr. Krutko.