Wendy Bisaro

Thanks to the Minister for that. I appreciate it does take a while because it’s a culture change and it’s a mindset change, and I guess I would just exhort the departments and all departments in the government to just try to remember whenever they are developing anything new that they need to look at it from an operational perspective, but we also have to look at it from a gender-based or a gender-equity perspective. I think one of the things that gets lost sometimes when we talk about gender-based analysis is it’s not only just looking at women. It’s looking at particularly in female-based...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are addressed to the Minister of Health and Social Services today and I want to follow up on my statement. I asked some questions in my statement with regard to the Medical Travel Policy and I specifically noted two ministerial statements previously made in this House during oral questions, I believe. Both Ministers categorically stated that patients 65 years and over do get a medical escort when they have to travel outside of their home community. So I’d like to know from the Minister of Health and Social Services whether or not that is a policy currently...

Thanks to the Minister for that. So one of the things that I think has been mentioned already is the legislation that is required. We have to mirror the federal legislation and take it on ourselves. So I know that preparation of legislation takes a lot of time and it takes a lot of work. Will we need to be hiring legislative drafters in order to get all the legislation ready for April 1st? I know that our Justice department is pretty backed up right now with regular legislation, so to speak. So this added burden, in my mind, requires more bodies. So is that the case? Thank you.

Okay, move to page 9-35, Justice, activity summary, services to the public, operations expenditure summary, $5.028 million. Mr. Bromley.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to ask a question here with regard to the women’s advisory, and there’s also a women’s initiatives grants on the next page. The women’s advisory office does a number of things. One of the things that I understand it does is to work to try and give a greater profile across government to sort of gender-based analysis. Could I just start with that question? Is that a function of the women’s advisory office to try and enhance the understanding of gender-based analysis across all of government? Thank you.

In March 6, 2009, Hansard, then Minister of Health Sandy Lee stated, “Our program also provides for non-medical escorts where a patient needs assistance for physical support or even mental support for those who are in particular situations. Anyone over 65 is eligible for even non-medical escorts and for interpretation.” Yet, the GNWT Medical Travel Policy makes no reference to this provision, and my constituent was denied funding for something approved by two ministerial statements. So just what weight does the Minister’s word carry?

I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social...

Thank you. I’m just trying to understand and I have, unfortunately, the same sort of opinion as Mr. Bromley does, that there’s a large percentage of half of our population who don’t have an opportunity to be “consulted,” what I see, in my mind, as consulting. So it sounds to me as though 50 percent of our population is not going to have the ability to say yes or no to this agreement. I guess I would just like to know from the Premier if he thinks that’s an accurate assessment. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thanks to the Minister and the DM for the information. I just want to say that I appreciate the fact that the department’s been working really hard and the Auditor General also has been working with the department really hard to try and improve the process and to get the public accounts out a lot earlier. I’ve seen an improvement and I just hope we can maintain that. Good on you for working so hard.

Thanks, committee. We move to page 9-32, Justice, activity summary, corrections, grants and contributions, contributions, $179,000.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I have to ask a question here with regard to the NGO Stabilization Fund. This amount for this fund has stayed the same, certainly for these three years that we can see, and I don’t think it’s been increased since its inception. I think the Minister is well aware, and I think the department is well aware, that there are huge demands from our NGOs for extra funds over and above what they either fundraise for themselves or manage to get from various and sundry program grants or other grants elsewhere.

I’d like to know, first of all, whether the Minister considers the demands for...