Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As I’ve indicated in statements today, I think it’s something very important that we implement sooner than later. I’m quite confident the department can implement this sooner than later. I’m very comfortable with the Minister. I made this motion so that we implement this sooner than later, and it moves everybody’s midwifery programs ahead by a year.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate the department’s answers to all these questions and I appreciate the Minister’s responses as well. I guess this is the beginning of the process that, when coming into this job, I thought I might find it frustrating being in private business where we implement stuff a little quicker than the government, and this is one area that I think is lacking with our government system, and it’s in the area of midwifery.

The Minister has asked why we’re so concerned about trying to implement things quickly and trying to move things ahead. It’s basically because I think...

I appreciate the timeline there. I’d also like to ask the Minister if, to speed the process up, they have looked at any other jurisdictions such as Alberta and Quebec who are funding some of these types of surgeries.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to follow up on questions that Ms. Bisaro was asking about bariatric surgery and weight loss program to the Minister of Health. He has indicated he has a committee and they’re doing some reviews. I’m looking for a timeline when we can see some implementation to the changing of the act and the funding of these types of surgeries.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As my colleague indicated, we had the honour of attending the 2013 Chamber of Commerce gala in Hay River on Friday night. Typically this is one of the big events of the year in Hay River, where the Citizen of the Year is named. This Citizen of the Year is Lilian Crook. Lilian Crook is a long-time Hay River resident. She’s a valuable asset to the community of Hay River. She does a great deal of volunteering in the community. She is the leader of the Hay River Persons with Disabilities and she’s the successful award winner of this year’s Citizen of the Year.

During this...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a motion. I move that this committee strongly recommends that the government identify the necessary funding to accelerate the establishment of midwifery services in Hay River to commence in the 2013-2014 fiscal year.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have no further questions but I do look forward to seeing that happen sooner than later.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t have any questions today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This morning the Minister of Health, Tom Beaulieu, started his statement, “It is a priority of this government that children get the best possible start in life so that they can reach their full potential.” I’d like to recognize some of those people that help that.

We all know that many youth throughout the winter travel throughout the North to compete in many different sports: hockey, soccer, swimming, basketball, figure skating, hand games, and many others, including skiing. I’d like to recognize all those parents, grandparents and coaches that have been on the road...

Thank you, Madam Chair. My colleagues have a lot of good comments here and I’d like to add a few general comments on the concept of our budget and this department. I guess it represents just about 25 percent of our budget. Another 4 percent increase this year. I understand the process of the fact that we want more money to go into health and I think the demands are always there. Being able to attend the Minister of Finance’s budget process and some of the general comments we got in Hay River were, do more with the same amount of money. They see a lot of wastage. I think that some of our...