Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much. I’m confused. Health is in the treaties. So I would just like to ask the Minister once again, has he had dealings with Ottawa that lead him to say that statement, or what’s his approach or strategy towards Aboriginal elders in long-term care facilities? Mahsi.

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a comprehensive response to this report within 90 days.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I have questions for the Minister of Public Works and Services. I know earlier he anticipated the questions and tried to generalize everything, but specifically to his department, Public Works and Services hired 17 summer students last year. To date, how many have they hired?

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to draw attention to Aboriginal elders who are in long-term care. We have an excellent facility in Fort Simpson and I have praised it before in this House. Our elders are very well cared for. That care comes at a price to them. Every elder, including elders with treaty rights, pay $712 per month for accommodations and meals. That payment eats up the lion’s share of his or her old age security money. To make matters worse, this government is increasing that fee to $729 a month on June 1st. It is truly shameful.

On one hand we love and respect our elders and...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories review the fee schedule to the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act to ensure that it is clearly worded and does not place an undue cost on persons requesting access to information. Thank you.

Thank you very much. When did the Department of Human Resources start planning for hiring of summer students for this spring and summer?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 44 to deal with Motion 8-16(6), which I gave notice of yesterday. Mahsi.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday I had an interesting discussion with the Minister of Human Resources on summer student hiring and I’d like to continue with that.

Members are very concerned about the hiring of northern students returning to work in the NWT for the summer. Based on the return of questions yesterday, the Minister responsible for Human Resources indicated that the GNWT was committed to hiring 263 students; yet, to date there appears to be only about 146 students hired.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Human Resources is the gatekeeper for facilitating the hiring of...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I have questions for the Minister of Public Works and Services. I know earlier he anticipated the questions and tried to generalize everything, but specifically to his department, Public Works and Services hired 17 summer students last year. To date, how many have they hired?

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 93(4) to have Committee Report 5-16(6), Report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations on the Review of the 2009-2010 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, moved into committee of the whole for consideration later today. Mahsi cho.

---Unanimous consent granted