Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very pleased to hear that we do offer the best service and one of the best facilities to provide for our elders that do have to end up in long-term care facilities, Mr. Speaker, but I still don’t understand why we have a treaty right and our aboriginal elders are having to pay for it. If the Minister could comment on that again, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. I am very concerned about a problem an elder in my constituency is having with the health care system; more particularly with the long-term home care in Fort Simpson.

He was recently informed that he now owes approximately $4,000 as rent for staying in the long-term care facility. Setting that aside for now, the question for the Minister, Mr. Speaker, is why is an aboriginal elder paying to stay in a long-term care facility? Is this truly a policy of our health care system today? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

(English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate three long-term employees of Enbridge Pipelines NWT Ltd. It gives me great pleasure to recognize them publicly for 20 years of service. These individuals are Mr. Mark Gerlock, Mr. Steven Vandell, and Mr. Frank Villeneuve of Fort Simpson, NWT; gentlemen all.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, honourable colleagues. So let me make one more commitment today. I commit myself to inform this House of the results of the challenge that Mr. Yakeleya and I have taken. I promise to return with the statistics on the number of young people who have taken up the challenge with us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Yes, Madam Chair. Committee wishes to consider Bill 13, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 2004-2005.

Mr. Speaker, a while ago, the Minister of Health and Social Services, the Honourable J. Michael Miltenberger, issued a challenge to me; the challenge to be smoke free. I am pleased to report that, today, I accept his challenge. At noon here in the Great Hall, I joined my fellow colleague, Norman Yakeleya, the Member for Sahtu, and together we made a public commitment to quit smoking.

---Applause

Now, the challenge to be smoke-free is not primarily about getting people to quit smoking. It is about making sure that young people never start in the first place. If I am successful at quitting for...

Thank you for answering the question, Madam Chair. Because before, that’s what happened in the not previously authorized amount for $184,000. What is the inconsistency here?