Sandy Lee
Statements in Debates
Thank you, Madam Chair. On the basis of what the Minister just said, I have two questions. One is, given the difficulty associated with this commission and the fact that it’s so hard to determine diagnoses, is it safe to say that we do not have a mechanism yet to identify FASD as a specific disability nor do we do that in terms of determining treatment or benefits or the people with suspected FASD? Are there cases where people have been specifically diagnosed as having FASD and, once they are, are there accompanying programs they can enter into, or is it a case where the people who are...
Thank you, Madam Chair. I’m assuming that we’re on page 6-17 or 16. If that’s so, I’d like to ask questions under policy in order to highlight an item that the Social Programs committee discussed that is to do with the FASD policy government-wide.
Madam Chair, I think we are all aware of this issue as an emerging potential catastrophe in the North. I think we’re just not aware to what extent this is an issue. We know it’s an issue, we just don’t know what it looks like. I think that if we don’t know what it looks like, it is really hard for the government to plan for it and come up with...
Thank you. On the TSC then, I want to stay broad on this issue because I realize that the Minister and the witnesses may not have detailed information on this. I support the consolidation of the services that the TSC offers. I think it’s the kind of area that needs that critical level of expertise and the computer systems and software programs and things that we use on a daily basis in the government are supposed to be there to help us do our jobs better. At the same time, I’m aware that over the years the government and all the Members sitting here have been hesitant or maybe reluctant to...
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. I just want to make a very short general comment to say that I support this bill. I think it is a bill that makes sense, in light of the workload that we have to have in the North and with lots of potential for conflict. There is always a need for an additional pool of judges, which we often get from down South on a case-by-case basis. Many of the judges that we do get from the South are retired judges. In light of the fact that retirement age is very flexible these days, I just want to put on record that I support the principle and the details of this bill....
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll take that as a yes and ask the Minister, Mr. Speaker, I think there are larger issues in question here, and those are the gap years between 16 and 18 and the lack of support or the crack in the law and the legal limbo that these teenagers get into because they are not under 16 where there are other protections, and they are not over 18 where they could tap into programs that are available for adults. So I would like to know if the Minister has any plans to review those and see where the gaps can be filled. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. I can appreciate that, because the regionalization/centralization plan is still at an initial stage. To me, this is a very important part of the whole picture. I would like to know from the Minister if he is planning on bringing to us a more comprehensive plan about how these two functions are going to be combined and interconnected more. Maybe if he could bring that by the business plan session this fall. I would like to see some really concrete plans on some movements that the government could make on a management and training program, or a succession planning program. Right...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, it is also my understanding that the SideDoor is in the process of trying to get some assistance from the department. One of the issues that this group will need help with, aside from some funding, which I understand that this is not going to be something that’s expected of the government to carry 100 percent. I think there are interest partners, there might be some money with the Homelessness Coalition and other crime prevention funding and such, but I think there’s a key role for this government to play. So there are funding issues that we would like the...
Indoor gym.
Running the clock.
Supplementary To Question 384-15(3): State Of Winter Roads In The Sahtu Region
That’s the number one rule. If you ask a general question, you are going to get a general answer. Sorry, I can’t really get into detail on this. Let me just move to before your agreement with the NWT Medical Association with doctors and contractors. That’s a four-year agreement. The GNWT is now under negotiation for the UNW contract, which includes the nurses and other health care professionals. I am not sure if the Minister responsible for the FMBS can answer this, but earlier today in answering questions about the lack of family doctors for some people who cannot get a family doctor, the...