Kevin A. Menicoche

WHEREAS the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and the Government of Canada are negotiating a final agreement on non-renewable resource revenue sharing, and the transfer of management of lands and resources to the GNWT;

AND WHEREAS this transfer is only desirable if it benefits all people and regions of the Northwest Territories;

AND WHEREAS Dene and Metis land claim organizations in the Northwest Territories have the right to be involved in the negotiation and implementation of a devolution accord for the NWT;

AND WHEREAS negotiations on devolution are proceeding without the...

I did do some research on it and boosting the signal, we just need a weak signal, boosting the signal is actually an $800 investment for the signal booster. I think the process here is now we need a tower to put that booster on, that’s where the bigger costs come in. Can the Minister work with his Cabinet colleagues to see how the government can support such an expenditure to increase the signal towards the Fort Simpson Airport? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that this committee recommends that the Caucus of the 17th Legislative Assembly establish a process convention to facilitate the referral of a limited category of regulations to standing committee for review and comment prior to their final enactment.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the 17th Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures strongly consider adding the automatic referral of the annual reports of the Northwest Territories Heritage Fund to the terms of reference of the appropriate standing committee. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you very much. I know we are beefing up our Aboriginal Languages Training Program, working with the Minister of Education. That is a commitment of this government. I think it’s time we start doing a coordinated approach. Perhaps the Minister of Heath could work with the Department of Education. Let’s get these terminology courses happening in all our Aboriginal languages provided to our front-line workers, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister commit to do that? Thank you.

I appreciate the Minister’s answers. I think just one of the solutions that must be done is we have to have consistent cultural training and awareness training programs for our front-line staff.

I spoke in my Member’s statement about our elders being turned away not once or twice but three times as you go to the health centres. They are being given Tylenol, like Mr. Yakeleya says. It is the same in my riding. They are going there and being given Tylenol. They are not being diagnosed or even examined properly. They are just saying they are sick, so here’s some Tylenol. I’d like to ask the...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to speak about the quality of health services delivered in my riding of Nahendeh. Specifically I want to speak about how these services are provided to our elders.

I share my colleagues Mr. Yakeleya and Mr. Jacobson’s concerns that people are not being examined properly and are being misdiagnosed. We know that as we age, our bodies require more care, we need to see the doctor more often, and we need health professionals to take us seriously when we say that something is wrong. We may not be able to diagnose ourselves, but we know our bodies...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that this committee recommends that the government draft regulations for the operation of the Heritage Fund and refer them to the appropriate standing committee in a timely manner for review and feedback.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Government Operations held a public hearing on May 21, 2011, to review Bill 10, Northwest Territories Heritage Fund Act. The clause-by-clause review of the bill with the Minister took place on August 12, 2011.

The committee wishes to thank interveners for their oral and written submissions, including the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Alternatives North, West Point First Nation, Pembina Institute, Ecology North, and MLA Bob Bromley.

There was unanimous support for a Heritage Fund, but there was also a chorus wanting...

I would think that doing a proper medical examination would be the first thing you do, because people are saying they are going there and getting cursory examinations and given Tylenol. I’d like the Minister’s commitment that the front-line staff must do this to our residents and constituents.

The other issue is about having proper translators and training for the front-line translators that are there. What type of training program is available to the front-line workers that deal with people on a daily basis? Thank you.