Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The motion is in order. To the motion. I’ll just allow a couple of minutes for the motion to be distributed. Ms. Bisaro.

I’ll call Committee of the Whole to order. The first bill before us today is Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act. I’m going to ask Minister Jackson Lafferty if he would please introduce his bill. Mr. Lafferty.

Does committee agree that this concludes consideration of Committee Report 1-17(3), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2010-2011 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, committee. Bill 3 is now deemed ready for third reading. I’d like to thank Member Blake and his witnesses for their attendance here today, and I’ll ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort them out of the Chamber.

Committee, if I could turn your attention now, please, to Committee Report 1-17(3), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2010-2011 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. I will now go to the chairman of the Government Operations committee for any opening comments he may have. Mr. Nadli.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. We will proceed with that after a very brief break. Thank you.

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Here is the insanity of the situation. If we’re going to put in something that works, it’s going to have to be up to code, which is going to cost, according to the latest quote from Public Works, $55,000. How can we have a facility that is up to code but not useable by a person with a disability that’s in a wheelchair? I mean, there’s no code standard with something that is unsafe and unusable for a person with a disability. Do I need to tell my constituent to go and file a complaint with the Human Rights Commission or something? I mean, it’s not acceptable that she cannot go to the Hay River...

I guarantee that the concerns of my constituent could absolutely and completely be addressed for less than $5,000, including labour. How many plumbers and carpenters do we have working for Public Works and Services in Hay River? How many are on staff at the hospital themselves that could not reinforce the drywall and put a horizontal bar in a washroom so that a person in a wheelchair could use the washroom?

It is a sad day; $55,000 for a washroom renovation. I am embarrassed. I am disgusted. I can’t even go back and tell my constituent. I am offering today to pay to have this fixed. I’m going...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to move that we report progress.

---Carried

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. The Speaker has listed the items that are before Committee of the Whole today. I would like to ask what is the wish of the committee. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I stated in my Member’s statement today, I have a constituent who has an issue that should be of concern to all of us. My constituent is a very articulate person, and when we met with the public administrator and the CEO of the hospital, she was very clear on what it would take to make the washrooms at the hospital accessible and useable by someone in a wheelchair such as herself. I am sad to say that since that meeting six months has gone by. The hospital is operated by Health and Social Services, but Public Works and Services would be involved in any kind of a...