Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my Member’s statement is on the project management and community centre construction in Sachs Harbour.

Sachs Harbour heard their funding was confirmed for the construction of the community centre. There was hope and optimism in the air. When the construction started and finished last December, the community was very excited. One year later it is problem after problem and the project keeps the doors closed for the community.

When the NWT fire marshal inspected the facility, he gave it a failing grade and he did not approve it for general public use. Last December...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my Member’s statement was on the H1N1 flu vaccinations in the communities. I didn’t really have any questions, but got thinking about the issues and the dates that I was reading out. Health Canada said that the flu vaccinations will be given to our communities first, Mr. Speaker, and on the schedule I have here, Tuk is 10 days away, Sachs Harbour is 12, Paulatuk is 13, Ulukhaktok is 14 days away and 15 days away. Mr. Speaker, why is there such a holdup in the flu vaccinations? Why are they doing Yellowknife, Diavik Diamond Mine and the southern communities first...

I am really happy to hear what the deputy minister had to say. Regarding the contractors, in any of our contracts that are given out to the communities across this Territory, you know, priority should be given to local businesses, and through the RFP I hope that is going to happen and how, with the flow-through of the funding, just make sure that everything is utilized with northern businesses. That is more of a comment. I have more questions on the page by page. So thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Health Canada said that the flu shot should have been given to our communities first and that should have been the way it should have been properly handled, but I do commend the Minister for the work that she’s been doing so far. I look forward to bringing her to the communities and seeing it firsthand. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well, it just shows that the Minister’s categorizing us again in regard to putting us on the backburner here in regard to our dates for our communities. So the Minister also told me, Mr. Speaker, that if I was to phone my health centres in my communities that I represent, they would say they have vaccine on hand.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to have my Member’s statement on the H1N1 flu vaccines in Nunakput. I wanted to talk about the importance of getting your flu shot. I urge all residents in the Nunakput communities of Tuk, Ulukhaktok, Sachs Harbour and Paulatuk to go to their health centre and get their flu vaccinations. The flu shot is for everyone, for the children, our elders, our health care workers and for teachers. For people with other illnesses and people who are even healthy, Mr. Speaker, the flu shot will help keep the community residents healthy and safe, and our doctors and...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’m happy to see the new air terminal buildings going up in three of my communities of Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour and Tuktoyaktuk, but how are the timelines of getting the materials into the communities? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Speaker, what are the plans if there’s a big outbreak of the flu in our communities? What plans are there in place? Do communities know how to deal with this situation? How is it being dealt with by the local community governments?

As I mentioned in my Member’s statement, community leaders are identifying the lack of professional and social support as one of the most serious issues in the communities. People are very passionate about this issue; they have a lot to say. As a government, we must listen. We must act so that the government is to review the current territorial strategy on addictions and other counselling programs to conduct a comprehensive community-based decision to develop a go-forward plan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Capacity building with real social supports is very important and it’s very critical that government commits and delivers the required support, not just deliver the rhetoric on local communities. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services at the appropriate time. Thank you.