Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to say how much I appreciate the committee that did travel to Hay River and hear from many of our NGOs, including the family support centre, and I know that those MLAs who heard that presentation with me know exactly what I’m talking about today.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, as a government we need to prove that we are committed to protecting the victims of family violence and to keeping faith with the support workers in this territory who are the ones who are on the front lines, who are working to break the cycle of violence. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for that. I don’t think it can happen too soon. In the list of people that he recited who are going to be consulted on this, obviously absent were the people who are involved in providing the service themselves, even the volunteers or the paid contracted ambulance services. I would like to know, will they be included in the consultation in setting up this new and organized system? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services in follow up to the questions that I posed to the Minister of Transportation and MACA yesterday with regard to the ambulance service that is provided by the volunteer fire department located in Hay River. As I stated yesterday, the volunteer fire department provides an ambulance service, which takes some vehicles -- as I stated yesterday, one is 10 years old, I think one is 19 years old -- out on the highway and services quite a wide radius of the road system in the South Slave area. So I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since the appointment of a new chair to that board in the person of Mr. Todd Burlingame, is he satisfied that Mr. Van Camp, who he says is eminently capable -- and I totally agree with him on that -- has been kept informed of applications that have been reviewed in unsettled areas, that he has been kept informed with correspondence, attendance at meetings, has been kept in the loop as a participant on the board? Is the Minister satisfied that that has occurred in recent months? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources today on the much talked about Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board and how it is functioning. Does the GNWT have a representative and a voice on the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board this time? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, October 9th to 15th, 2005, is Family Violence Awareness Week. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, family violence continues to be as pervasive as ever and a shadowy reality in the North.

This is an important time for the residents of the NWT to stop and reflect on the challenges presented by family violence. It is also a time for us to recommit ourselves to the reduction and elimination of family violence.

---Applause

Awareness of the issue is definitely the first step in recognizing its existence and bringing about its eradication. Awareness also means recognizing...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can I switch Ministers then in my....Okay. I didn't hear the answer. I'll address my supplementary question to the Minister of Health and Social Services. No, I can't; okay.

I would then like to ask Minister McLeod, Mr. Speaker, who is responsible for providing the equipment that our volunteer fire department uses to go and respond to motor vehicle accidents on the highway? They service a large area. One of the ambulances which is used regularly is 19 years old. Who is responsible? What government department is responsible for replacing that vehicle...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize Theresa Handley, the Premier’s wife. He said many years, but I think it is worthy of note that it is 40 years.

---Applause

Apparently, they exchanged rings and she provided her husband with a lovely polar bear diamond ring, so I assume she has decided to keep him. Thank you.

---Laughter

---Applause

Thank you. The motion is in order; it's not debatable. All those in favour of the motion? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

I will now rise and report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report that the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development has reviewed Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act, and Bill 9, Municipal Statutes Amendment Act, and wishes to report that Bill 8 and Bill 9 are ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.