Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Committee would like to consider Tabled Document 9-17(4), NWT Main Estimates, 2013-2014, with the continuation of Public Works and Services and as well as Education, Culture and Employment. Thank you.

For example, I spoke of the community of Fort Liard that has no ambulance service. In fact, they don’t even have an ambulance. They’re willing to invest into that capital of buying an ambulance; however, they don’t have the financial support, they can’t cover the O and M costs and training is very expensive. Are those the issues that this committee is looking at?

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask some questions on emergency services with the Minister of MACA. I know, recently in this House, several Members spoke up about ambulatory and ambulance services on our highway system, given the unfortunate accident on Highway No. 1. When I was in Fort Liard doing my tour, I asked about ambulance services. They actually don’t have any there. I would like to ask the Minister of MACA, how are we addressing the emergency services on our highway systems, especially with communities without ambulances.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I, too, rise to speak on bullying or, as Mr. Dolynny’s new word, bullyology. I would like to say a special welcome to all the students in the gallery here today. I just want to say that I, too, have a phrase or words as well. I like to call it Bully No More. This is the cry from this Legislature today and it’s supported by all our MLAs, Ministers, students and all our constituents.

I would agree that this is a people’s movement or constituents’ movement to have safe schools and safe students. As I speak to parents in my constituency of Fort Simpson and the...

Like I said, I had done a Member’s statement and had provided written questions to the House and upon receipt of the information as well as the commitment to share whatever information I had to my colleague Mr. Hawkins. I look forward to these details and trying to come up with some ideas of how to do things differently in order to achieve one of the priorities of our Assembly, which is to lower the cost of living in all our communities.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It’s a pleasure to second this motion by my honourable colleague from the Sahtu, Mr. Norman Yakeleya, only because when we talk about development in the Northwest Territories, I think initially we were talking about a Mackenzie Valley Pipeline, the huge development that we were going to have. The federal government was going to actually kick in a $500 million impact fund to help us address our issues, and this is like a new and emerging issue that often jurisdictions are faced with, especially ours. I know that we had very successful NWT Days in Ottawa and we...

Mr. Speaker, some of the issues that face my communities are they actually missed the deadlines. I had raised the issue of liaison workers in the communities. We had this program about six to eight years ago. I’d like to ask the Minister if he will review that and maybe even consider that once again. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I raised the issue about NWT Corporation home ownership units that are vacant. I’d like to ask the Minister responsible for NWT Housing Corporation what strategy is the department currently using to address these vacant units in our communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that we report progress.

---Carried

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have a committee motion. I move that this committee strongly recommends that the government take immediate action to increase overall funding for addictions and mental health program delivery initiatives, including funding needed to implement the mental health and addictions plan and community wellness plan.