Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Moses. To the motion. Minister Abernethy.

Thank you. If I could direct your attention, please, to page 3 of the document. Legislative Assembly, operations expenditures, Office of the Clerk, not previously authorized $24,000. Total department, not previously authorized, $24,000.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the spirit and intent of the motion. It is interesting. Like Mr. Dolynny, I have some issues with the final now therefore. It talks about paying medical escorts, both medical and non-medical escorts, and it talks about paying people for their time and it sounds like paying for their time when they’re perhaps going to be away accompanying someone for a long period of time.

Right now I believe what we have for people who are medical escorts is we have travel, we have per diems for food, we have per diems for accommodation, we do have a lot of financial support...

As a result of that competition, can the Minister confirm for me that the position of electrical inspector with Public Works and Services will continue in Hay River as it has been for many years? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a little story I want to tell today and it ends with a question. What are we supposed to tell them?

For many, many years, Hay River has had an electrical inspector who works under the Department of Public Works and Services. Most of you will know that that was Stanley Norn. Stanley Norn recently retired, and congratulations to him on his retirement.

Now, the job was out for competition and candidates applied. This is a position that we have to fight to keep in Hay River. If a candidate who applies for the job lives in a different community, they can’t then just say...

So, in response to the constituents who have raised a concern to us as MLAs about the availability of an electrical inspector in Hay River, and back to my question in my Member’s statement about what shall we tell them, can today we tell them that the electrical inspector’s position will continue to be located in Hay River? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In follow-up to my Member’s statement today, my questions are for the Minister of Public Works and Services.

Can the Minister confirm that a recent competition was held to attract and recruit an electrical inspector for Hay River? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Saturnino. Mr. Dolynny.

My experience has been that sometimes when family members step in, there is a sense in the department or with the child welfare worker that the problem has now been alleviated, it has been solved and the inclination is to step away from the situation and say, okay, the children are no longer at risk and therefore they are safe.

I would like to know if there is a process that allows family to be involved in that transition for those children. Quite often, child protection workers are seen as the enemy coming in to apprehend children and take them out of their home. I know there are very many...

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister Lafferty.