Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. I have a different perspective now when we sit indoors and talk about the communities and the residents that I got to know a little bit better this summer in the course of one short week, and I want to thank everyone who we encountered along the way for their kindness and hospitality. Just to name a very few: the Pellissey family in Wrigley, Fred Andrew and his children in Tulita who we stayed with, and the warm hospitality of Chief Ron Piro and the people of Fort Good Hope. Incidentally, I did run into on this trip, as well, Mr. Bell, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Minister’s Statement 48-15(3) and would like to report progress and, Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

I will call Committee of the Whole to order. We have one statement that has been referred to Committee of the Whole. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Premier then that these are called Premier’s awards, but it sounds like he doesn’t have any input into who gets chosen, he doesn’t finely screen the recipients in the end. Wouldn’t the Premier agree that these awards would have more meaning and would be regarded more highly if he personally would become involved in it, and if there was some sensitivity to some balance of who works in the public service in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

That's an interesting answer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

Perhaps with a little bit less vagueness the Minister could tell me approximately what kind of dollar value is associated right now with placements outside of the Northwest Territories of persons with disabilities. What kind of dollars are being expended by this government for those clients, those over one dozen? Thank you.

---Laughter

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, right now are there any facilities in the Northwest Territories similar to what is being offered right now where these clients are accommodated in Alberta? Are there facilities currently open with vacancies in the North at this time? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have listened with interest to the comments made in this House and in the media over the past week with respect to northern clients with disabilities who are being cared for in Alberta. I realize that there may be occasions when northern residents cannot receive very specialized services that they may require in the North, given our smaller population and more limited services.

The one group home being referred to has had difficulty with their licensing, insurance, accreditation, and they have at least nine NWT clients residing there. Mr. Speaker, I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very pleased to hear that the Premier will take this under his authority, and see that this program is intended for what it is meant to be. I will take that commitment, and that is satisfactory to me. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I realize that there are many folks out there awaiting our presence in the Great Hall to deal with the Premier’s Awards for Excellence, and that is actually the program I want to speak to before we go out there. First of all I want to confess I did not submit any nominations for this awards program, but, Mr. Speaker, I am concerned with the Minister’s statement the Premier made today when he outlined who the recipients for this were. I don’t want to rain on anybody’s parade here, but, Mr. Speaker, if we are going to have awards and programs like this I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when I had asked the Minister in a previous question how many northerners -- I don't need to know exactly -- I don't believe he answered that question. Does he know how many northerners are in southern placements right now currently funded by his department? Thank you.