Sandy Lee

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Madam Chairperson, the Standing Committee on Social Programs conducted its public review of Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Territorial Court Act, on December 9, 2004. The committee would like to thank the Minister and his staff for presenting the bill. Following the committee's review, a motion was carried to report Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Territorial Court Act, to the Assembly as ready for Committee of the Whole.

This concludes the committee's opening comments on Bill 18. Individual Members may have additional questions or comments as we proceed. Thank you...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister’s answers, but over the years I’ve learned to listen to the Minister’s answers very carefully and in listening to him, I’m not sure if there was any indication there, strong enough anyway. The Minister is suggesting that the government is working with them, but I don’t have as strong an indication as I would like for the Minister’s support in this project. Could the Minister indicate whether he supports the agency’s proposal? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Could I just ask the Minister with the centralization of the human resource functions, do you foresee this section being changed in any way and how?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Minister of Health and Social Services and it’s with regard to a lack of youth shelter that can remain open after midnight. Mr. Speaker, I was first informed about this need over the holidays at Christmastime, and I did write to the Minister, but I have not heard back from him. So I would like to ask the Minister about what programs there are available under his guidance that could benefit those between 15 and 18 who find themselves homeless after midnight on any given day. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Seven seconds left; holy. Sorry; I had so many questions.

---Laughter

Maybe I’ll just end with one. I’m still not clear though. I know there are criteria for capital funding, safety, protection of assets and such, but how does an indoor facility, which I would think is pretty essential if there are no other facilities in that community for a place to meet or play indoor sports for children -- and I understand there are three or four communities in the North that have that problem -- how does that rank? Why does that rank behind changing the carpets in an office in Yellowknife? I really believe...

Mr. Speaker, if the Members do not agree with the original amendments, I think the right thing to do is to send the work back to the Striking Committee. It is a working committee, it’s a standing committee, it’s a respected committee that has been set up by Members to do this work. So I really think that this is interfering with the process that’s very well established and it is not respectable of the Striking Committee that was set up by Members to do Members' work. I would like to also urge the Members in voting on this, to consider what precedent this might be setting. We would not want...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Once again, I will just wait to see what the initial review of that is and make further comments. On page 3-31 that we are on, the figures show that the revised estimate for 2004-05 is less than what was projected in the main estimates. For next year, we are looking at a lesser amount being budgeted than this current year. Are we looking at a downward trend in the consumption of alcohol, or what is the basis for reducing this budget? In particular, why is there an almost $900,000 difference between what was estimated for this year and what seems to be the actual...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know the Minister means well, but I’m not sure I agree with his approach and the government’s approach on how they’re going about it in terms of speaking about the GNWT’s position at the national table on childcare or day care or early childhood education or however we want to phrase this. I don’t think it’s the proper thing to just go and say we’ll see what the federal government is asking or we’ll see where we end up. I think we’ll have a better chance of getting it where you want to, if you know where you want to be before you start. So I’d like to know from the...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I wanted to ask a question to the Minister about the review of the Liquor Act in light of this section here on this budget.

Mr. Menicoche mentioned the example of AADAC in Alberta where not only do they do that, I think that commission is responsible for the roles that our liquor board or Liquor Licensing Board -- I think it is combined -- the work that our liquor board does and the Liquor Commission. Also, AADAC funds money for at least three alcohol and drug treatment programs in Alberta. They fund the Poundmakers in part and they fund the Henwood. They also fund...

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 380-15(3): NWT Child Care Spending