Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In follow-up to my Member’s statement today about youth at risk, I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services does this government have any way of determining what the magnitude of this problem may be in the Northwest Territories. Is there any data on that that would help us develop solutions and response to this issue? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In follow-up to some of the statements that have been made regarding young people at risk in that 14 to 16 age group, I’d like to add my observations and comments, and question if our government could do more to support parents that are going through a difficult time with their teenagers.

Mr. Ramsay shared a story of a mother’s frustration. It seems that she can only sit by helplessly while observing her daughter making choices that may change the course of her life permanently, and not for the good.

First of all, let’s get the myth off the table that this only happens...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee would like to deal with Bill 11 and all four committee reports today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would very much like to see the safety net around this particular age group strengthened through cooperation between teachers, educators, social workers, families, communities, churches. I would very much like to see this safety net for this age group strengthened, and I would ask the Minister if he would consider a specific dialogue and discussion with people who are in this field going forward and perhaps include it in a transition plan for the 17th Assembly. Thank you.

Thank you. When the Minister spoke the other day, I believe in Committee of the Whole, saying that this government cannot possibly have enough money to address all of the social concerns once they have advanced to the point that trying to achieve and address these solutions is so costly that this government doesn’t have enough money for that, and he stressed the importance of working on the front end on preventative measures. Mr. Speaker, I see a lot of opportunity where we as a government could bring programs, services to bear early on when these young people first begin to encounter some of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Some kids will come to their senses and pull back. They find an appeal of such choices worn off and turn their attention to wholesome pursuits. But what about the ones who don’t, the ones entangled in a life of struggle with addictions? What can we as a government do to support the parents and caregivers through these years? I don’t think we can throw up our hands and say hey, you’re on your own. They are people with a right to their own choices, even if these choices are unquestionably bad choices.

I believe that we need to do more to support...

Last year the province of British Columbia budgeted $50 million for fire suppression and spent $500 million. What does our government currently have budgeted for fire suppression in the Northwest Territories? What contingency do we have should we end up with a worse fire season than normal?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our news these days is full of images and descriptions of natural disasters around the world: earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons, hurricanes, tornadoes. Many times we sit and watch the news and say we sympathize but thank God that’s not here. Not to be predicting the negative today, I want to say that we do have disaster on our doorstep.

It’s impossible to think that our neighbour, the province of Alberta, could have almost virtually lost the infrastructure of a town of 7,000, thankfully with no loss of life or injury to this point. Alberta is burning. There are 115 fires...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, will be supporting the motion. I’d like to thank the Member for the Sahtu for bringing this forward.

Mr. Speaker, it is a well-known fact we have a huge problem with alcohol abuse in the Northwest Territories. Anything we can do to prevent that, to treat that, is something that I will support.

To the clause in the motion that speaks of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce and to the beer cans over Mr. Hawkins’ fence, I can’t really exactly understand how that correlates to an on-the-land drug and alcohol abuse program, but that’s okay. I’m going to try and speak...

What reciprocal agreements do we have in place with other jurisdictions in Canada to provide them with support if our fire season is not making busy our crews and equipment that are on standby? What agreements do we have in place to lend support where it may be required in neighbouring jurisdictions and where they may come to our aid should we require their assistance?