Jane Groenewegen

Page 1-17, Legislative Assembly, activity summary, Office of the Speaker, operations expenditure summary, $338,000.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to follow up on Minister Ramsay’s statement today on the Alcohol Ignition Interlock Program. This is something that I had pursued awhile back on behalf of a constituent. I’m just a bit curious about something. The idea of an Ignition Interlock Program and system on vehicles the Minister says will make our roads safer. I’m assuming that these devices would be available to people who would otherwise have their licences suspended and wouldn’t be driving on the road at all. I’m curious about this, because, well, some people in our society and in our communities...

Mr. Speaker, people in Hay River who have participated in this consultation, were canvassed for ideas for specific initiatives that could be carried out in the community. I’d just like to ask the Minister, wellness plans are one thing, initiatives within those plans is another matter. For that reason it would be really nice to know approximately when this funding is going to roll out. Is there a target date like April 1st? Just so the community knows, because they’ve put a lot of work into this. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In follow-up to my Member’s statement today, my question today is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. As I mentioned, many residents of Hay River who are involved in agencies for helping people have been very busy putting together ideas and suggestions or initiatives to continue on our path of community wellness. I’d like to ask Minister Beaulieu, through you, Mr. Speaker, if he is any closer to knowing how much funding Hay River would be getting. Thank you.

Okay. Is committee agreed?

I think it would be good if whatever the cost is for having this device to allow people to drive when they’ve been already charged with impaired driving, I think that it should be full cost recovery on this. As a taxpayer, I’m not really interested in subsidizing my tax dollars to enable people to drive when they’ve been charged with impaired driving.

These devices need to be calibrated, monitored, installed. There are all kinds of mechanical aspects associated with them. Where does the Minister propose those services be procured?

People that would be eligible to have these devices on their vehicle are people who have been charged with impaired driving who would otherwise be banned from driving, but now they can drive as long as they have this device on there. It’s a convenience for them?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the community wellness plan for Hay River has already been completed. That being the case, I understand it may be ahead of some other communities, but when could Hay River expect to receive funding? Thank you.

So I’m hearing $850,000 in total. How many communities will be participating in applying to access that pot of money? Thank you.