Michael McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during our pre-budget consultations there was a suggestion that the shelters be funded directly by Health and Social Services, because some of the money wasn’t always filtering through to the shelters. So I would like to ask the Minister if he and his department will consider an option like this? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the system in Tulita was designed and put in place at the time when this type of filtration system, this type of plant, was only available from the United States. We have been working with the community to look at what backups are required. The old plant is still there and we do also have a portable water pump in the event of both plants going down. We are discussing with the community on a plan to carry some backup material, filters and equipment, so that we can avoid the situation in the future. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement before, I spoke to the concerns of the women’s’ shelter in Inuvik and I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger, if he would commit to looking into the concerns and seeing if there’s anything he and his department can do to help finding a solution for the problems that are going on there. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The community of Tulita has encountered some problems with the water treatment plant in the area of the filter clogging up. The community does not have a backup filter for this plant. However, it does still have the use of the old water plant that was left in place as the backup and the community is utilizing that facility. It does not have the filtration system that the new guidelines require. That’s why the community has issued the boil water warning. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the system in Tulita was designed and put in place at the time when this type of filtration system, this type of plant, was only available from the United States. We have been working with the community to look at what backups are required. The old plant is still there and we do also have a portable water pump in the event of both plants going down. We are discussing with the community on a plan to carry some backup material, filters and equipment, so that we can avoid the situation in the future. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I agree that we, in the sense that there are people who have experience in the Northwest Territories and the expertise to sit on the board, we don’t do that when we appoint our Members or Ministers. Certainly we look for what their credentials are and that’s the same as what we do when we look for new Members for the Public Utilities Board. The board was set up by the Public Utilities Act to serve as the expert and independent adjudicator for the rate setting process. It was also set up so that it would be at arm’s length from this government. There is an application...

Mr. Speaker, I’m sorry. The positions on this board are all part-time positions. We have one staff person that supports this board. The nature of the work is very technical, very time consuming. We need people who have the abilities to be able to analyze the applications that come forward, to know the act and they have to be very well versed of what is required in their duties. In this case, we have two people who are currently residing out of the Northwest Territories; however, they have a lot of experience. They spent many years on the board. They know how the board functions. They have...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I agree that we, in the sense that there are people who have experience in the Northwest Territories and the expertise to sit on the board, we don’t do that when we appoint our Members or Ministers. Certainly we look for what their credentials are and that’s the same as what we do when we look for new Members for the Public Utilities Board. The board was set up by the Public Utilities Act to serve as the expert and independent adjudicator for the rate setting process. It was also set up so that it would be at arm’s length from this government. There is an application...

That was a long way to say no. Mr. Speaker, initially they did live in the Northwest Territories, but they no longer live in the Northwest Territories. The point I am trying to make is people who live in the Northwest Territories should be the people who are sitting on this board. So I would like to ask the Minister if he would introduce an amendment to the act that requires members of the board to be current residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I’m sorry. The positions on this board are all part-time positions. We have one staff person that supports this board. The nature of the work is very technical, very time consuming. We need people who have the abilities to be able to analyze the applications that come forward, to know the act and they have to be very well versed of what is required in their duties. In this case, we have two people who are currently residing out of the Northwest Territories; however, they have a lot of experience. They spent many years on the board. They know how the board functions. They have...