Jackie Jacobson

Mr. Minister, how will this benefit my constituents of Nunakput other than getting headaches worrying? Let the different boards take care of themselves and let us take care of our own people. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Today I’d like to welcome everyone into the House. It’s good to see all the kids out, livening up the place a bit. I’d like to recognize my mother-in-law, Edith Bourke, from Fort Smith today.

Oh, sorry. I apologize. Okay. Let’s get started here. Good job in regards to getting the monies from the federal department or federal $50 million. I think it shouldn’t be too hard to spend that $50 million. I can’t wait to get my new housing units, hopefully get a four-plex in Sachs Harbour and my new eight-plex in Ulukhaktok for my elders facility that is going to be coming forward in a motion and a petition as well. I am working on that. I will help you spend those new monies.

Regarding Sachs Harbour, on the infrastructure acquisition plan, I see three of my communities that I represent on...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It takes a long time to get things to work. It takes a long time to get people to feel comfortable with their local organizations and agencies. In the Beaufort-Delta we are no different from anyone else.

We have local housing organizations that work pretty well. Yes, sometimes there are issues and challenges where sometimes things could work better.

We have to work with regional health and social services boards, which includes a person from each community. Yes, and we have hard times staying in the budget. Most health authorities do. Yes, they have difficult times...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is for the Minister of refocusing government. What’s the benefit from doing this if there’s no cost savings? Why? Was there any time on this and if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Today I would like to talk about some real issues facing our local housing organizations in Nunakput. I really think these issues get lost when the government identifies its own priorities and diverts everyone’s attention to the topic of board reform, the way we are trying to improve services offered by local boards. No one really thinks that a super board is going to make any difference to the ordinary person in the community. Everyone knows talking about a super board means going to many meetings and discussions of a super board and will only take away from local organizations in the effort...

Today it’s probably one of the toughest positions I’ve been put to task for in my elected career, as MLA for Nunakput and in my political career as a whole. For Nunakput I’ve been very fortunate to have my colleagues on both sides of the House support me on anything I’ve done. In regard to giving me the access road to Tuk and anything that I’ve asked for basically. My leaders back home, they phone me and tell me, support the government, support them to keep them in to try to work together as 19 as a whole. It’s a really tough call for me because you know some of the stuff I’ve seen, people don...

Basically I’m the last guy to be standing up and supporting this motion, so a lot of good things have been said. Today I’ll be supporting the motion on supplementary health benefits. I support my elders and my people with chronic conditions and disabilities throughout the Territory.

As Northerners we take care of our own, no matter where we’re from in this great Territory. I do agree to throw this program change out and start over. I did help Mr. Abernethy on his statement too.

---Laughter

Today I’d just like to bring up a recreation leader in Aklavik, Mr. Dean McLeod and his staff, and what a good job they’re doing. To let them know that they’re doing, I guess you could say, an awesome job. This past weekend we attended the hockey school in Aklavik with my two sons with Andy Nowicki from the Red Deer Rebels, he’s a goaltending coach. Over the past four years we’ve been attending the camp and it’s only getting better. We’ve got about 30 to 40 children on the ice at all times. Just to let them know and to thank them for doing an awesome job. Dean, at the same time was holding a...

Today I’d like to give condolences to Jeannie Keevik’s and past-Commissioner Helen Maksagak’s families. They were sisters. A couple weeks ago Jeannie passed away up in Tuk. I’d like to give condolences to her brother Albert Binder, her sister Ruth Pulk and their families, Stanley Keevik and all the Keevik family up in Tuk. Growing up in Tuk, I grew up two doors down from her. We called her little Nanook. She’d always have a smile and would give you words of encouragement and always looked out for everyone. She will be missed.

Condolences to all who lost loved ones since our last sitting in...