Kevin A. Menicoche

Can the Minister inform me when the Healthy Family Program will be brought to Fort Liard? What is the scheduling date for that program?

I look forward to that information. The point is that it’s a critical need and I’m hoping that the Minister can urge working with the Human Resources department to ensure that position is being filled and that the gap that’s there now has coverage.

On another line of questioning with regard to early childhood education, what kind of work is the Department of Health and Social Services doing right now to improve childhood programs in Fort Liard?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once again there is only one social worker in Fort Liard. There are two positions but one is vacant. When this happens, it is very stressful for the remaining social worker and when she’s away, the community is usually without help.

The social workers provide an essential service, helping families in times of hardship, need, and great stress. Such times are often hard on children too. We all know that sinking feeling that occurs when a whole bunch of things go wrong all at once. Unfortunately, there have been many deaths in Fort Liard this year and that is how people in...

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

---Carried

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for keeping us on track. With that, I’d just like to ask the Minister when we can see results of that in the community of Fort Liard.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’ll be happy to restate that question. What kind of work are the departments of Health and Social Services and Education doing to improve early childhood programs in Fort Liard?

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just want to follow up on my Member’s statement on the lack of social workers in Fort Liard with the Minister of Health and Social Services. Currently, like I had indicated, they have been short staffed all summer. It’s really impacting the health and wellness of the community. When can the people of Fort Liard expect to see another social worker at work in the community of Fort Liard?

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Today I wish to congratulate the newly elected Village of Fort Simpson councillors and the DEA council. But firstly, congratulations to Mr. Mayor Sean Whelly, who was acclaimed as mayor of Fort Simpson. It shows the confidence residents have in him by returning him for a second term. Congratulations to the newly elected Village of Fort Simpson council members: Mr. Larry Campbell, Mr. Robert Hanna, Mrs. Leah Keats, Ms. Marie Lafferty, Mr. Ron McCagg, Mrs. Stella Nadia, Mrs. Renalyn Pascau-Matte and Mr. Tom Wilson.

I also commend those who were not elected, for...

Thank you very much. The Minister spoke about a long-term strategy. I’d certainly like to see any of that preliminary work that he has, if he has any. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m going to have to talk about Highway No. 7 in my question. I notice that the Department of ITI just recently released preliminary tourism reports about how well the parks have done this year. I was wondering if the Minister of Transportation has some preliminary numbers for tourists that travelled down Highway No. 7 and toward the Blackstone Park. Thank you.