Sandy Lee

Can I ask the Minister to commit to…Could I ask the Minister whether there’s any intention under this legislation to give workers a chance to have a say on who that third medical opinion will be?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a number of visitors I would like to recognize. First, two teachers from St. Joe’s who are spending part of their summer holiday to visit us. I don’t think we could see from this side, but it is my constituent Rosemarie Critch and her friend Linda Nickerson.

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I would also like to recognize my family, my mother-in-law who is visiting from England, Peggy Radcliffe; my brother-in-law, Steve Radcliffe, and my other half, Mr. Dave Radcliffe, who is also a teacher.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated earlier, there is still a sense out there that, from some staff members or people involved, they would like to see more transparent and a more inclusive process with this. I think if we are going to be successful in addressing some of the issues that may come about, that it is imperative that we make sure that everybody feels involved, that they had a real say and not only a real say on identifying issues but also on how to implement the changes. Could the Minister give me an assurance today that all of the staff who participated in this...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services and it's in regards to the human resource management review that's been going on for the last number of months. Mr. Speaker, as indicated in this House last week, we've had a chance to have some briefing on the update of the report and some of the findings, but most of the issues pertaining to the review are still in the works, and it's not finalized, and it's a work in progress, and it's going to be worked on while most of the Members here are occupied otherwise for the month of September....

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it has been said that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. I have to stay I don’t have enough of these best friends, but I don’t mind because I know that the diamonds have become best friends of Yellowknife and the NWT. I know that our friends in Tlicho will also tell you that diamonds are a Dogrib’s best friend. My colleagues in Hay River are working hard to make sure that diamonds become Hay River’s best friend.

Mr. Speaker, but I have to say that I am not sure if this government has been diamond’s best friend. The first thing is that the government has...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I would like to speak on a specific item on the Minister’s opening statement. It speaks to a specific project, but I am going to make it into a general comment because it is included in his statement, Madam Chair. That has to do with an item in the budget for the dementia centre. Madam Chair, I just want to thank the Minister very much. I don’t mind being effusive and being totally shamelessly thanking the Minister for moving this project forward. Madam Chair, I just want to say that.

All the Yellowknife Members here know, especially the ones such as...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The committee agrees that there is a need for legislation and policy to deal with substance abuse, trafficking and bootlegging of illegal substances and other undesirable and illegal activities the SCAN legislation attempts to address. 

However, the committee believes that Bill 7, in its current form, has too many deficiencies to be successfully amended and passed during the short time available to the Members of the 15th Assembly prior to dissolution.

Other northerners also thought that the process was too rushed, like Ms. Debbie Raddi of Tuktoyaktuk who said, “I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t disagree that there have been good responses and a number of people being involved. My specific point is that often, or sometimes, people that participate in this process are left out right at the end. People may tell the interviewer what they feel are problems at workplaces or what could be improved, whether it be communication or otherwise, but when the solutions come about, they don’t have as much say on what the solutions are and how they should be implemented. I am asking the Minister to give us an assurance that those 345 people and more...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to that, I understand there will be other processes involved in allowing the staff to have an input into the process in the findings as well as hopefully in the plan of action. Mr. Speaker, I believe very strongly that there will be some issues that need to be worked out, and the best way to do it is to have as much input as possible from the stakeholders, especially the staff. So I'd like to ask the Minister what is the plan for the Minister and the hospital to invite that input. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Even if there is a port, we will still need to supply the mines by road. The only way to do that in the most efficient way is by extending the winter road. The way to do that is to build some infrastructure in the entry point where there are soft spots and really shortens the winter road season. There are other parts throughout the ice road that needs enforcement that this government can do to extend the ice road and to be able to withstand some of the warming trends. So, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say, for the record, that I support the joint committee’s...