Michael Miltenberger

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The decision has been made by the government to relocate the program and we are in the initial stages of discussion with Bosco Homes. I have met with the board in Hay River. I have met with Bosco Homes' management and we are going to be taking the appropriate steps to have an orderly transition. We also have to look at working with Public Works and Services over the next number of months to do the planning for the renovations. The money was already in the budget; it has been carried over for this year. So we are in the relatively early stages, but we are moving towards...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a government we should be taking measured, careful steps to look at our facilities and infrastructure across the territory to make sure that they’re used to the maximum, to make sure there is as equitable distribution of resources and programs as possible. As I’ve indicated previously, there’s a stated commitment that we’re prepared to look at decentralization opportunities. We have to look at the capability of the communities and we’ve done all that, Mr. Speaker. I believe we’ve made a careful, measured decision to relocate a program to a community that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will follow up on the Member’s assertions made here in this House and, as I indicated, we will take all the steps necessary to be as mindful and sensitive as possible to the issues of the staff disruption and dislocation that may occur. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, in fact we did look at Somba K’e probably over a year ago now, a year-and-a-half ago, in terms of its potential. There was a technical review done, there was a program assessment done, and it was determined that because of the distance and the required changes that would be necessary in the state of the building that it wasn’t found to be appropriate for a child welfare facility. So there was work done, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is an interesting challenge that the Member presents. If we are going to take that as a basis for allocation of programs in all other areas or if this is going to be a precedent, it’s one that we would have to look at very carefully because of the potential implications. At present, it’s a territorial facility. Territorial facilities, by definition, serve the whole territory and are located in one community. In this case, it would be located in Hay River. It’s a service that will be easily accessible. It’s a 35-minute flight across the lake for those...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this decision is one that has some history, as the Member has indicated and I have talked about in this House. There were decisions made and there was some revisiting of some decisions. There was initial work done to TTC, as well. We looked at Hay River. There was some work started in Yellowknife to look at what was possible there, as well. The decision was ultimately made before we were too far along any given track to move the program to Hay River and steps were made to do that. Any work that was initiated to look at TTC and be renovated in Yellowknife...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be happy to review and take the concerns of the Member to the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority. As I have indicated, they have already had meetings with the various NGOs and their own officials to look at the targets and the budget figures that we have for the coming year. At the Member’s request, I would be happy to visit that with the Health and Social Services Authority for Yellowknife. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, starting today in Fort Smith we will also be launching our annual carnival, the Wood Buffalo Frolics, and they’ll be starting off with a feast tonight. I’ll be home tomorrow to take part in the festivities over the weekend.

As Minister McLeod mentioned, the weekend after next we’re having the first Northern Games in Fort Smith. I’d like to thank the Minister for his leadership on that issue but, most of all, like every community, I’d like to recognize the many volunteers that work tirelessly to make these events possible, that raise the quality of life...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Clearly, the authority has significant flexibility in some areas when it comes to funding and the $33 million that they administer. They have made some determinations already. They’ve met with the NGOs but, as I just indicated to the Member, I will talk to our department and we will get in touch with Yellowknife Health and Social Services on this issue.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There were cuts proposed that were laid out in our business plan and in the draft main estimates; the details which were shared fully with the committees. It was also initially reviewed by the COs and the authorities and we reviewed the areas where we anticipated we could meet the targets that we set as a department.

Mr. Speaker, with regard to the specific cuts to Yellowknife; there were some cuts to the wellness funding, but Yellowknife Health and Social Services has about a $33 million budget. They already inject additional funds over and above what wellness...