Sandy Lee

I have committed to looking at the situation in Ulukhaktok and Paulatuk. We will follow up on that and look at it in light of the overall assisted living programs for seniors that we need to develop as a whole. The Member has to understand, and I think everybody here understands, that we want to keep our elders in their communities and as close as possible, wherever possible. We need to have a plan in place to do that.

Absolutely. Positively, Mr. Speaker. I look forward to having this discussion over the next two or three months. Thank you.

I would like to recognize a long-term resident of Yellowknife and a friend that I went to school with, Laurie McLean. Thank you.

There is no other jurisdiction in Canada where there is not some kind of income testing. In fact, in most jurisdictions they do asset testing. This one, we are saying income as a possibility of determining access, and no matter what your age, your ability to pay should factor in.

Secondly, Mr. Speaker, one thing that the Member for Hay River South mentioned earlier is that our previous plan that came out was designed in such a way that if you didn’t make an income threshold, you are dropped off. We’re not suggesting this. This is an idea. We’re saying should there be gradual responsibility for...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, March 3, 2010, I will move that Bill 2, An Act to Amend the Dental Auxiliaries Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The standard is the best interests of the child. We know that a lot could be put into that, but whenever a child protection worker intervenes, they have to justify and answer for it and there are a group of people that are working on that. I think, in this case, what would be helpful is if I could have a private discussion with the Member. Perhaps this family is not aware of all the support that they can get, and I’d be happy to work with the Member to help this family if we can. But, really, I am aware and I could give the Member stats on the fact that our system really works to work with...

Mr. Speaker, the entire Foundation for Change is based on making sure that people in our health care system do what they’re most suited to do. So I can’t answer to the Member’s question about doctors looking at files. I can’t imagine that we would ask them to look at their files for any other purpose than for which they are being paid to do, which is to provide doctor services.

Mr. Speaker, he’s asking a very general question. I’ve answered already. The primary care clinic consolidation might be requiring the staff to look at their files, but, Mr. Speaker, I can say once again that my...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In our policy and practice we give a lot of recognition to family members, extended families. As much as possible we would like the extended families involved. In fact, there are many children in care who are being fostered by extended families and relatives. We do pay them, as we would any other parents or families who take care of the children on a short-term basis or long-term basis. Without knowing the specifics of what the Member is talking about, I can’t get into the details and we wouldn’t do that here anyway. In general, we do recognize family members to a...

One example that I can think of is we’ve been reviewing the specialist services to see what services we provide, how they are being provided. The Stanton CEO and the department and refocusing government have been working on that. We have also done a review on medical travel, because that is a part that is completely dependent on demand and the requests that are made from the doctors and other service providers. That’s under review, and supplementary health benefits. We just went through a very detailed analysis on exactly how many people accessed that, how much it costs and who’s accessing...

I’m not sure if those are apples and oranges or peaches and cream.

---Laughter

The NWT Seniors’ Society is made up of Mr. Tom Wilson as president, from Fort Simpson, and Florence Barnaby, Bea Campbell, and we had a new member from Tuktoyaktuk that was appointed, and Eileen Collins from Hay River, and Leon Peterson from Fort Smith. They are really well-regarded and well-respected grandmothers and grandfathers from all over the Territories. It is a really good group.