Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Minister of Health and Social Services, has any thought been given to removing some of the administrative functions from the hospital itself? I often wonder if the need for finance, if they actually need to be in the building; and they actually do take up a fair amount of space within the building. Do they need to be located there? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the last couple of months I have had the opportunity to speak to a number of my constituents as well as residents of Yellowknife and the North. A recurring theme and an area of concern which has been raised is the limited space available at the Stanton Territorial Hospital and how it affects both staff and patients. The cramped conditions are clearly felt by both hard-working and dedicated staff, as well as the patients who are receiving assessment, treatment, and ongoing care within the building.

A large number of staff in tight quarters, such as in the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I acknowledge the difficulties in doing those types of surveys and how often individuals who are upset or have poor morale may not be willing to respond to them because they don't feel that it will do any good. I encourage the Minister to get out there and have people get out and actually meet with staff, and go out and meet with those staff and encourage them to actively respond to those surveys under the understanding that they are confidential. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll try not to forget my question halfway through this time.

---Laughter

My question is to the Minister of Human Resources. I’d like to start off by thanking him for his statement on human resource efforts and acknowledge all of the hard work that the staff at the Department of Human Resources have put in. Now, listening to the statement, something strikes me as being missing and that’s there was no mention of poor morale in the public service.

Through conversations with my constituents, it’s obvious that there are pockets of poor morale within this government. There are...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. In my Member’s statement, I mentioned the space issues at Stanton and the fact that there’s limited space which affects both patient care and staff morale. Have they pursued any opportunities to find space for the staff at Stanton? Have they taken any direction to resolve some of the space issues at Stanton Territorial Hospital?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This question is for the Premier. Given that the voluntary sector is diverse and provides support to all areas of a community, there is merit in having the mandate for supporting the voluntary sector transfer to the Executive. Currently with MACA, the mandate is for sport, recreation and youth, and does not give them the knowledge, expertise and whatnot to reach out and address issues of voluntary groups such as justice and arts and whatnot. As Premier, would you commit to supporting the voluntary sector creating a clear and logical singular point of contact and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In 2005, the 15th Assembly released a declaration on volunteering which demonstrated the government’s commitment to work with organizations that represent the diversity of the voluntary sector and support the voluntary sector through active partnerships and leadership on such programs as the NWT Volunteer Support Initiative, which is the VSI, and the related finance action group.

Volunteering in organizations within the voluntary sector supports community wellness and helps all northerners build the kind of communities that we all want to live in, for both families and...

WHEREAS Rule 85 requires that Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures:

Ms. Wendy Bisaro, the Member for Frame Lake;

Mrs. Jane Groenewegen, the Member for Hay River South;

Mr. Kevin Menicoche, the Member for Nahendeh;

Mr. Robert Hawkins, the Member for Yellowknife Centre;

Hon. Bob McLeod, the Member for Yellowknife South;

AND FURTHER, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, November 29, 2007, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures: Ms. Wendy Bisaro, the Member for Frame Lake; Mrs. Jane Groenewegen, the Member for Hay River South; Mr. Kevin Menicoche, the Member for Nahendeh; Mr. Robert Hawkins, the Member for Yellowknife Centre; Hon. Bob McLeod, the Member for Yellowknife South; and further that the following Members be appointed to the Standing...