Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Friday, June 8, 2012, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Monfwi, that the Legislative Assembly recommend the appointment of the following individuals to the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission:

Mrs. Marion Berls of the town of Fort Smith, for a term of four years;

Mr. Charles Dent of the city of Yellowknife, for a term of four years;

Mrs. Bronwyn Watters of the city of Yellowknife, for a term of four years;

And further, that pursuant to Section 17(2) of the Human Rights Act, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is one of the bigger departments and one of the ones that has been a very big interest to myself and the community of Hay River. I think one of the things that we would like to see is a little more in the community as far as providing health services. It’s one of the larger centres. We would like to see some of the services that are provided in other communities provided for Hay River.

Obviously on the forefront are doctors. We are still looking to locate permanent doctors in Hay River. The department is continuing to work with their authority, but it still should...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Along with my 12 colleagues, I’m concerned with the growing cost of living in the North. Many people are finding it difficult to pay their monthly bills. Every time you turn around, the cost of food, water, taxes, fuel and, more recently, the price of power is going up. These people are the majority of the Northwest Territories, the general public, and the high cost of living especially affects the middleclass and lower-income people throughout the North.

The public is looking to this government to find ways to reduce the high cost of living. Many people are finding ways...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My next question: Will the Minister commit to this House that the department will never indicate to an organization that’s already been working hard, already doing fundraising, to indicate to them and say go and do some more fundraising? Is that not insulting? I would ask the Minister to commit to not put that into a letter again.

Will the Minister look at reviewing the handivan program which is so vital to the community of Hay River?

Madam Speaker, the Honourable Tom Beaulieu stated this week that the Department of Health and Social Services supported the work for NWT Disabilities Council, the NWT Autism Society, the Yellowknife Association for Community Living, the YWCA, the Canadian Institute for the Blind and the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association. We recognize these organizations provide valuable support to persons with disabilities, but my questions today will be for Mr. Beaulieu about Hay River persons with disabilities. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess I’ll start with some of my issues and concerns and support towards housing.

One of the things I support is this new rental scale program. It’s built on encouraging people to stay working, where the old system was a deterrent to be working. If you made a certain income, because of your income you were discouraged because the rent went to high amounts. The maximum amounts are quite a bit less now, so there’s an incentive to stay working. You are contributing to the economy yet taking advantage of public housing.

One of the other issues I know that’s a concern in my...

My next question to the Minister: Will the Minister’s department work with the Hay River Persons with Disabilities to stay open?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My questions this afternoon will be for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Will the Minister commit to reviewing and reassessing the Hay River Persons with Disabilities application for core funding?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I’d like to bring the topic of persons with disabilities to the forefront since we acknowledge Disability Awareness this week.

In the past five years, a group of dedicated volunteers has taken the Hay River Committee for Persons with Disabilities from a delinquent society to a vibrant and much needed part of the community of Hay River. They run numerous programs. They currently provide an Employment Assistance Program where 15 people are enrolled for training, job hunting and on-the-job support. They assist clients from the surrounding local areas and they put forward...