Sandy Lee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a new question for the Minister of Health and Social Services. It has to do with my Member’s statement earlier today with regard to the new program that the government has to put more mental health and addictions workers in communities. As I indicated earlier, the qualifications being asked under the contribution agreements are such that it really is sure to exclude most local people from taking on these positions. This raises two questions. One is not being able to provide employment opportunities that are available, but secondly these are important positions...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Minister of Health and Social Services with regard to the coverage for drug benefits for seniors. Mr. Speaker, recently there was a change in insurance companies. I believe it went from Sunlife to Alberta Blue Cross, I am not sure exactly. The new insurer is Alberta Blue Cross. In the process of changing this insurance coverage, many seniors are finding that their pharmaceutical products that used to be covered under the old benefits are no longer covered under the new one. Part of it is just transitional problems where the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak today on the way the mental health and addictions program is being rolled out in communities. Mr. Speaker, this is a program that I have supported and I believe it’s a very good thing that the government has allocated new money and more money to put resources in this area. I believe, also, Mr. Speaker, that it is important that we do it in a way that meets the needs of our local communities and at the same time maximizes the local employment opportunities wherever possible.

Mr. Speaker, the information I have is that the GNWT...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of this motion. Mr. Speaker, I do it with a heavy heart because I am well aware of the personal suffering involved here of our colleague, Mr. Zoe, and his family, his friends, his constituents and his leadership. Mr. Speaker, no matter the outcome of this motion, it is my sincere wish that Mr. Zoe would take necessary decisions and take personal actions to grow positively from this and to achieve personal healing.

For me, Mr. Speaker, my decision on this motion is totally based on the interest of the public that I feel I am...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister’s long answer without the information I was asking for. Mr. Speaker, I need to know from the Minister if he could provide me, inside or outside of this House, information as to how many mental health and addictions workers are going to be hired under this program. How many of the incumbents would need extra training and what specific training proposals are being considered to bring in the new people? Mr. Speaker, I will remind the Minister that we approved the budget already in March. It’s high time that the department has a plan in place...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I must say that the answer that the Minister has provided is a very good “let’s stay in the box” answer as we were warned against in our Circle of Northern Leaders meeting in Hay River. Mr. Speaker, I must state clearly for the record that I do support this program. My questions are in terms of how they are being implemented. Second of all, I do also agree that in all these positions, we need to have people who are properly trained. I am not questioning any of that. It is irresponsible of the government to roll out these programs and require these job requirements when...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Continuing on with the participants: Kelvin Redvers in TV video productions from Diamond Jenness High School; Justin Shelley in culinary arts from Sir John Franklin High School; Mara Smith for worksite safety from Sir John Franklin High School; Jeremy Studney in aircraft maintenance from Buffalo Airways; Stephen Walsh in welding from Kingland Ford; Kyle Wheaton in small powered equipment from Sir John Franklin High School; Allen Christiansen in heavy duty equipment mechanical from Finning; Duncan Hamre in IT PC network support from Sir John...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I hope the seniors of the community will forgive me if I speak about something that is not related to seniors this day.

Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday I had the opportunity to attend the good luck send off for the Skills Canada NWT/Nunavut team that are currently, as we speak, competing for the NWT in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Mr. Speaker, this year, the team consisted of 20 gold medal winners from the NWT and six from Nunavut. I have, over the years, enjoyed observing and partaking in some of the events that they have held. I have watched a lot of territorial games, and I hope...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to add that I have a lot of respect for Mr. Zoe, as I have for Members in this House. I do believe he is a very capable Minister. I believe the issue here is something quite different, and I believe the issue has to do with leadership. I would rather like to see a situation where Mr. Zoe maintains his duties in Cabinet, but I need to be assured that there are decisions made by decision makers with the power to make sure that it doesn’t happen again, and the statement today does not tell me, and does not give me the confidence that we have taken the steps...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is a very positive aspect to this. I do believe we released a statement yesterday talking about self-relying individuals and working towards wellness. I do not think anybody could disagree that active seniors are healthy seniors who have less need and make less use of the health care system. By engaging people as soon as they become seniors -- 55 plus for the purpose of the games -- the society hopes to get them active both physically and mentally and keep them active for the rest of their lives. In 2002, the oldest participant at the games was 92 years old....