Michael Miltenberger

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Later today I will table the new NWT Seniors’ Society Action Plan: Making Connections – Building Networks to Prevent Abuse of Older Adults.

Seniors and elders are the fastest growing segment of the Northwest Territories population. Unfortunately, the vulnerability of many elders leaves them open to exploitation, often by relatives or others in their community. The Northwest Territories Seniors’ Society reports within its new action plan entitled Making Connections – Building Networks to Prevent Abuse of Older Adults that 71 percent of older adults say the abuse of older...

There’s a modest presence in the regions and I would anticipate that since it’s now May, almost June, that we’ve probably maxed out, but I would have to check with the department to see if we anticipate exceeding last year’s number of nine.

There is still a chair available for the dinner tomorrow night with Mr. Beaulieu, so the Member for Weledeh is welcome to attend. Yes, I will make that commitment.

Thank you. I would be happy to provide the Member with a note that would lay out the position of the government when it comes to this particular service and we can have further discussion at that point if he wishes. Thank you.

Thank you. There’s a common planning process. The Minister of HR laid it out. It’s tied to our business planning process, the funds that are going to be available, the means to look at this particular piece of work that’s done in addition to all the other program demands and getting the information out so that students are encouraged to in fact file and put their names on the system. Thank you.

We’re committed to hiring as many students as possible with the resources that are available to allow us to do so.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The rates for long-term care in the Northwest Territories are by far some of the most reasonable in the country and they are not a service that is covered under treaties. Thank you.

The Member has been quoting from documents that I don’t have. I take his point about consultation. This is a federal process. This is federal legislation. We have been, for the most part, up until recently, treated like a stakeholder, much to our chagrin. They’re expecting the second draft. Most of the changes being contemplated at this point are legislative in nature. There’s been no significant reply to our response to the McCrank Report that we submitted back in 2009 where there was significant changes put forward and recommended by Mr. McCrank, some of which we took exception to and did...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to stand today and recognize Ms. Tina McNeill from the Uncle Gabe’s Friendship Centre in Fort Smith.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Monfwi, that Bill 5, Write-off of Debts Act, 2010-2011, be read for the third time. Thank you.