Michael Miltenberger

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, we have a very close working relationship with the NWT Society for the Disabled. We work with them on a disability framework, which is a framework of strategy that was worked on collectively with many, many partners, including many of the government departments like Health and Social Services, Justice, Housing and Education. In there, we attempt to deal with the various service issues that relate to the disabled. Once again, it depends on what the disability is that the person is talking about and what service they are trying to access, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, there are a number of departments involved in this area that would depend on the disability in question and what the circumstances of the request were and what service they were trying to access. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I took the opportunity to go to Hay River last night. It kept me up well past my normal bedtime, but it was well worth the trip, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, it was, to me, an exhilarating experience to be in the gym or in the arena with 1,200 students when they marched in with all their schools with their banners beaming with pride and with music going. I must tell you with the fiddlers from Hay River and over 1,200 young people singing their hearts out, it was one of the best renditions of O' Canada that I can remember.

Madam Speaker, we are very interested in trying to remove administrative barriers to access to services, especially by people with disabilities. There has been discussion in this House about access or people who are going to be permanently disabled having to still apply on a monthly basis, for example, for income support. There are other issues that pertain to the federal government and the funding that they release. So yes, Madam Speaker, we are willing to work on that. That’s one of the goals of the disability framework, to try to collectively improve our services. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. There is no one definition in terms of a disability, or what constitutes a disability. If the Member has specific issues that his constituents are having trouble accessing programs for disabled, as the Minister responsible for the disabled, I would be happy to get that information from the Member. I will ensure that we get in touch with the proper agency and we take the steps necessary to be responsive to the request that’s being brought forward. Thank you.

I would like to thank, of course, yourself, Madam Speaker, and the people of Hay River for the amount of tremendous work they put into this year after year, and recognize the work of all the communities, the people, the volunteers, the parents, the staff. I was, of course, proud of my own constituency, but it was a very good evening. Thank you.

---Applause

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to address this House in my new role as the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.

As Minister, I want to ensure our children inherit a secure future built upon a healthy environment that is capable of supporting traditional lifestyles within a modern economy. This goal is echoed in the department’s mandate and principles and is shared by the staff. We intend to achieve this goal by building on the strengths of our people, both within the department and in the Northwest Territories, and through the wise use and protection of our natural resources.

Together...

Mr. Chairman, I'm not sure to attend one of the workshops in Norman Wells, Inuvik or Simpson. Is that what the Member is asking?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I would just like to put out, as well, that Health and Social Services is acting in this capacity as sort of the current chair of the social envelope Ministers meeting or committee which includes Education, Culture and Employment and Housing and Justice, as well. This is a collaborative effort to get direct feedback and recommendations from the impacted communities on the impending Mackenzie gas pipeline.

There is a workshop that was held earlier this week; yesterday, Monday and Tuesday, I believe, in Fort Simpson. There is one next week in Inuvik and...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I have talked about the issue with the deputy minister, as well as the CEO of the Deh Cho health authority and she’s confirmed that in the past there was an arrangement, and I’ve indicated to her that we should look at trying to revise our current arrangement where things are done through Stanton to make them aware of that particular circumstance and recognize the unique situation the Member has talked about in this House between Fort Liard and Fort Nelson. Thank you.