Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement I indicated my concern with the future of the commercial fishing industry in Hay River. My question today will be for the Minister of ITI. What is the department doing to innovate and to assist commercial industry in the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Some of my colleagues have indicated that they’re in turmoil with this decision or this motion. I’m at the same point. I understand that we have a lot of issues with the current education system and some of the graduation levels. However, I’m not certain that with the changing of this motion would alleviate all those problems. I think we need to look at what the impacts of this would do. The department’s indicated that they wish to continue to use it, and before we make a rash change, I think we should assess what the values are. I would be agreeable to discussing this...

Has the department looked at any, as he indicated, alternates for some of these youth that would be deprived of their opportunity to be in the Arctic Winter Games at this time?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My next line of questions are for the Minister of MACA concerning a CBC news report on 2016 Arctic Winter Games, which indicated that there’s going to be limited sports on the ice surfaces. What involvement has MACA had with this Arctic Winter Games planning?

My next question is: What kind of wait-lists are there in the Hay River area for senior housing currently?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my statement today I questioned the assistance to seniors housing and helping seniors that are currently in their own house and what is available. My question to the Minister of Housing is: What programs are currently available for seniors in their own home?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to discuss the increasing need of our seniors. In Hay River the situation for seniors housing is reaching a critical point. Many seniors are finding it difficult to maintain their own homes and are trying to secure a place in senior public housing. As we all know, these spaces are very limited. At this time I would suggest that if we were able to assist the seniors to stay in their own homes, it would take the pressure off the government to supply more senior housing.

Currently, seniors are given some assistance for heating costs, but with the increase...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have no further questions, but I am concerned with this issue. Thank you.

Obviously, it’s a concern to me. I know Hay River and Fort Smith put a proposal back a couple years ago to combine the two communities together to host the Arctic Winter Games and they were declined because they didn’t want to put the two communities together to host all the events, yet they’re allowing this one community to do it with limited sports. What is the next step for MACA involved with the Arctic Winter Games planners to ensure that these games are included for the youth of the North?

I appreciate that information. Could the Minister be able to coordinate some of the information he provides to me that the government’s currently doing for seniors, along with coordinating with his other colleagues to give me the specifics on all that available for seniors in their own homes? Thank you.