Sandy Lee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, like all things we deal with, all these things work in a continuum. We can’t isolate one issue at the exclusion of all the others. While we need to put resources into primary care in communities, that is important, but we still have to address the wait time issues in areas that the federal government talks about; in particular, diagnostic imaging. We have a long line-up at the territorial hospital here to get X-rays, C-scans, unless you go to emergency. You may have to wait days or a couple of weeks just to get an X-ray on your back about what is wrong...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think we’ll have to wait to get some more details and maybe the Minister will undertake to do that. I understand there is another review being done by the UNW with respect to working conditions and harassment issues or violence issues. I’d like to ask the Minister if he’s aware of that and whether he can undertake to take a look at that and see what government can do to implement the findings there in partnership with UNW. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, if we are going to maintain and grow our population by immigration, we need to employ a plan that would bring new and old people together and raise everyone to an equal playing field. Territorially and nationally I believe this is a sleeper issue that will challenge us a great deal as a nation unless we pay attention to this at the level it deserves. I’d like to urge this government and the federal government to address these issues, not just as an issue of number of votes, but an issue that is important to our economic and political future...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t think the Minister has detail of the information on this review, so may I ask the Minister to make a commitment to look at not only the human resources review that’s being worked on at the hospital, but also the survey being undertaken by UNW. I’d just like to ask him to commit to looking at that and see what we can do to implement some of those findings. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask questions today to the Minister of Health and Social Services and it’s in regards to the human resources management review that’s being undertaken at the hospital in partnership with the management of the hospital as well as the employees there, and there was a process developed to work on that. I’d like to ask, on the eve of us leaving this session, if he could give an update as to where we are with that review? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Census Canada released results from a 2006 survey yesterday which seems to more accurately reflect the demographics of the NWT population. I’d like to acknowledge the Stats NWT for doing the work they did in assisting Census Canada with the work. When we get our funding per capita, every head counts, obviously, Mr. Speaker, and this also just shows you why we need to do more things in the North, not in Ottawa, to get the things done right.

Mr. Speaker, one of the things that emerged from the 2006 Census is that Canada now gets most of its population growth...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table a letter from Arlene Hache, executive director of Yellowknife Women's Association to the editor of News/North; Bob Webber, Canadian Press; and all MLAs dated October 23, 2006. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Obviously, the Minister is stating that there is a provision on the clients affected in a situation like this, but I would think that it has something to say also about what the government in this kind of situation has to do to not interfere in getting employees and employers back together. I am suggesting that allowing these clients to be treated elsewhere and not checking to see if that is in breach of any contract is prolonging this delay. So I would like to know if the Minister could comment on what he is prepared to do, further than writing a letter, to bring...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to ask some questions to the Minister of Health and Social Services in regards to the labour situation at Nats'ejee K'eh. Mr. Speaker, I am not clear. Certainly, I sense that it is a great deal of concern to all of us that the valuable program being offered at that centre is no longer being offered, that the clients are outside of the NWT jurisdiction getting their treatment and that 22 of our employees or our residents are off the job. I do not understand exactly how we could accept the situation that looks a lot like a replacement worker...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as an immigrant to this great city of Yellowknife, from the beginning I was blessed with great teachers at the school and great family friends we met through church and other activities who helped us a lot and made it possible to get on with our life here and become contributing members of our society. Over the last 30 years I have seen Yellowknife change and become not only the biggest aboriginal community in the North, but one of the most multi-cultural cities in Canada. The vibrant aurora tourism and diamond industry and other economic opportunities have...