Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee today would like to do Tabled Document 66-16(5), NWT Capital Estimates 2011-2012, and we would like to deal with the Housing Corporation. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to support the motion, because if this motion and if this new policy were implemented, it would necessarily result in there being less money for the local housing authorities to work with because it would in fact reduce people’s rents.

I think the responsible thing for us to do is to look at housing system-wide and say is there anything that could offset this loss of rent. So we would be trying to affect a positive change for a certain group of people that would see their rents reduced.

I do support that, Mr. Speaker, but I think, at the same time, we need...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In Hay River we do have infrastructure already in place. We have a lower operating overhead than you would have in other places in terms of costs. We are very accessible, from a transportation network point of view, to get product out. If the Minister would contemplate going to a request for proposal on this, then all of these things could be brought to bear in considering an option. Also the management and capabilities of the proponents that would actually be delivering the service, these are important things. It’s one thing to just re-box stuff and ship it off to...

I know that in the past there was some thought given to putting this function of purchasing pharmaceuticals and medical supplies under the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority and having it actually done through Stanton. Again, no offence to the government, but I submit to you that the private sector could do this cheaper. If this were a function taken on by the government, trust me, it would grow. It would become a massive operation. The thing that is also necessary is when we’re sending out to small nursing stations, they don’t need a hundred or a thousand of certain things. The...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would never argue with you, but I would also like to recognize my constituent Mayor Kelly Schofield and my constituent, town manager Terry Molenkamp.

Also today it’s a pleasure to welcome especially Cece McCauley. She’s not only the elected representative of their land corporation, she is the chief of the Women Warriors.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee today would like to deal with Committee Report 3-16(5), Standing Committee on Social Programs Report on the Review of the Child and Family Services Act. We would like to proceed with general comments today. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I am suggesting a process that would be cost-plus. We would still, as a government, realize the savings of the bulk purchasing because it would be a predetermined additional cost for the administration and provision of the service. Does the government at this time procure any other supplies on a cost-plus basis under such a plan?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to follow up on my colleague Mr. Ramsay’s questions about the potential savings to this government by bulk purchasing pharmaceuticals for people in the Northwest Territories.

I have a great idea for the Minister, one that will save the government a lot of money. Mr. Speaker, I think we can all agree that the private sector can do almost anything cheaper than the government can. In Hay River we have a long-established business called Medical Surgical Supply. It is owned and operated by two registered nurses with extensive experience in the Arctic and in small...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today we had a chance to meet with some Ministers and I am pleased that for the first time in his term we have been able to welcome the mayor of Hay River here today, His Worship Kelly Schofield, and our town manager, Terry Molenkamp.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to talk about Hay River a bit today. Hay River prides itself in being a diverse economy, diverse culture, a long-standing community with a lot of resiliency. Mr. Speaker, the mayor reminded me this morning in your office of a phrase that I really like. That is that the cup is half full. I try to stay...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to make my statement on distracted driving.

Mr. Speaker, distracted driving is nothing new. We like to associate it with texting and talking on cell phones, but when I was a kid growing up and we went on a road trip with our family, I can hardly believe my father wasn’t distracted with five screaming kids in the backseat of the station wagon and occasionally had to reach his arm around and give a few of us a little discipline, shall we say.

Back in those days, also, Mr. Speaker, they had bench seats in vehicles in the front, and I often used to ask my dad...