Robert Bouchard

As I indicated in my Member’s statement, I believe that this is an important asset for the Northwest Territories, and a commodity. I’m just wondering what the department has done to invest in the NWT commercial fishery to assist those people in the industry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In follow-up to my Member’s statement, my concerns on the closing of the facility on the K’atlodeeche, I’m just wondering if the Minister of Health has a set plan for that facility in the near future.

What is the wish of the committee? Ms. Bisaro.

To the bill as a whole.

Okay, we can proceed to a clause-by-clause review of the bill.

We’re doing a clause-by-clause review. Does committee agree?

Thank you, Madam Chair. I’d like to thank the Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya, for all his hard work in bringing this bill to our committee and to the Assembly here, and I definitely appreciate the situation that’s in the Sahtu right now and, obviously, befitting that we had a whole question period on drug and alcohol problems throughout the North. I understand the issue before us.

I’d also like to thank the members of the Gov Ops who have taken this to the public in the area of the Sahtu and got the general information from those people and their concerns.

I guess I do have some issues with...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess my final question would be, if the Department of Health doesn’t have a current use for it, would they be willing to turn it over immediately if an opportunity were to present itself from one of the other departments.

Mr. Speaker, I’m just looking for clarity. Is the Department of Health going to maintain the cost of this facility or is it being switched over to the Department of Public Works and Services in their control so it becomes a territorial facility open to any opportunities within the territorial government or is it remaining in the control of the Department of Health?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I applaud all the Members here talking about drugs and alcohol, addictions and facilities. This summer we definitely were frustrated with the process that was in place from the closure of the only drug and alcohol facility in the Northwest Territories. This affected three MLAs, the Member for Deh Cho and the two main Members from Hay River.

There were six positions at K’atlodeeche and eight from Hay River. Those people were in the community. Those were people that were given very short notice that their jobs were done. There are 14 families that have been affected by...