Robert C. McLeod

Madam Speaker, I would like to use this opportunity to recognize my wife of almost 35 years. It will be 35 years in July. I would like to recognize my wife, Judy. Welcome to the gallery.

Mr. Speaker, we have a partnership agreement with the local housing authority and they will receive their funding. As far as the extra position goes, that will be a decision that they would make. However, I can tell the Member and Members of this House that we are reviewing how we are funding all our local housing organizations and we take all of these into consideration. That work is ongoing right now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The building in Fort Good Hope is on schedule and we’re hoping to have construction starting this summer. So as far as we know, the building is still on schedule and will be completed in a timely manner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the maintenance will be done by the local housing organization in Fort Good Hope. I believe there is a caretaker that may be required for it. Again, that would be a decision of the local housing authority in Fort Good Hope. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The assurance that I can give them is that it is an issue that we’re working on with our interdepartmental group. They have come up with many suggestions. One of the big ones we’re looking at is we want to be able to help the communities be able to train personnel in the communities to respond to emergencies. One of the issues we hear is there is no point in having an ambulance if we don’t have trained personnel. We have heard that, and again, as I said, as we debate the budget that’s before the House, we will be debating some enhancements made to the funds that are available to the...

That’s an arrangement that the community of Enterprise would have to work out with the community of Hay River, but I can commit to the Member that our department will work with the community of Enterprise again.

These are initiatives that are normally community driven. We will work with the community, and I think, later on when we debate the budget, we might be debating some funds for ground ambulance and highway rescue services, enhancing the funds that are already there so it gives more communities an opportunity to provide training and other initiatives along those lines. We will work with...

Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I stand to address Members today on the incredible achievements of three northern Olympians.

I am, of course, referring to biathlete Brendan Green of Hay River, speed skater Michael Gilday of Yellowknife and cross-country skier Jesse Cockney, who was born in Yellowknife and now lives in Canmore, Alberta.

---Applause

Brendan made us all proud when he made his Olympic debut at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics as a member of Canada’s 4 x 7.5 km relay team. That team matched Canada’s best performance ever at a Winter Olympic Games.

Brendan’s perseverance...

That is an issue that they would have to work out with the provider. I can’t commit to saying that MACA will reimburse these clients that have to be taken by ambulance; however, I can commit to working with my colleague at Health and Social Services and see what options might be available to them through Health and Social Services.

The quick answer is no, we don’t reimburse costs for ambulances.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Through the Government of the Northwest Territories, we don’t provide any medical services to the community of Enterprise. I think the service they do get provided is from the community of Hay River. But I can assure the Member that through our Interdepartmental Advisory Committee we are looking at the whole issue of ground ambulance highway rescue, as we’ve heard from Members before, so we have that work underway right now, and we’re hoping to have something out to the Members soon.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Return to Written Question 2-17(5), I wish to table the following document, entitled “Detailed Information Package on Calculating Eligibility for Public Housing Rental Subsidies.” Thank you.