Statements in Debates
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I, too, rise in support of this motion that’s put before us on the floor here today. I believe one of the primary reasons that I’ll be voting in support, certainly, is that the members of the public and the members of the Nahendeh public certainly do want to see more detailed information on the bridge project. Constituents are really worried about the impacts that it will have throughout the North and this will just be another, I believe, good forum in which to provide as much information to the public once it’s completed and it’s tabled in the House, Mr...
But still, like even if there’s no room on the medevac, you can still designate a non-medical escort. What that designation does there, Mr. Speaker, is it authorizes expenses to be covered for the spouse. Because in these two cases they travelled after their spouses. Their first thought, of course, is the care and concern and the health of their spouse, and the second one is now they’ve got all these out-of-pocket expenses, which they now have to worry about. My issue is that the spouses were not designated as non-medical escorts right off the start there, Mr. Speaker. I am not too sure why...
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just want to follow up on my Member’s statement wherein I spoke about the Medical Travel Policy and some of the issues around non-medical escorts. I’d just like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services, maybe she can remind the public some of the details around the Medical Travel Policy and non-medical escorts, because that’s where I seem to be having the issues. Just as a starter, Mr. Speaker, perhaps she can detail some of the Medical Travel Policy guidelines. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I was certainly in the Cabinet on the day that started the whole process of the Deh Cho Bridge. I have no problem to say that I continue to support the bridge. It was a megaproject. It was good for the North and even after we were elected, up to a year ago or 18 months ago it was a timely project. The economy was going downhill and providing work and opportunities to the North certainly was a good thing. However, I still continue to support the bridge. I ran out of friends in supporting the bridge, Mr. Chairman, only because of the debacle that has happened in the last...
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I looked at the fiscal updates along with all the other Members and I’m not really convinced that spreading it out for an additional five years will be of any benefit at all. I think our fiscal forecast showed that even without the Deh Cho Bridge debt on our books we still had to have some strong fiscal measures for the following year. I think that’s an important aspect. It doesn’t do us any good to have special over-expenditures for a longer period of time, I don’t believe anyway. So because I’m not convinced. I won’t be supporting this motion. I’ll abstain...
Mr. Speaker... [English translation not provided.]
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This week Members have been called back to consider legislation to establish the necessary authority that will provide for the GNWT to administer the completion of the Deh Cho Bridge. I spoke in the House in February to point out that Nahendeh people don’t want to see any more over-expenditures on this project. As taxpayers, they do not want to be left to pay for the cost overruns. I trust that, as Minister Michael McLeod advised in response to my questions in February, over-expenditures will eventually be offset by the...
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Marilyn Hardisty, who has her roots in Jean Marie River in my constituency. Thank you very much. Welcome.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister if he can come with me to Nahanni Butte to look at the project and, hopefully, if he does find an appropriate date, that the floor is complete. Thank you very much.
Will the contractor do the same type of material replacement or is there an alternate solution to have a floor that adheres to the cement? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 8 on the Order Paper.
---Unanimous consent granted.