Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to follow up with my statement and ask some questions of the Minister of Transportation. I realize the situation I mentioned in my statement may have been an anomaly. It may have been just that one day. I do have some major concerns with the fact that a callback will not be made for two days.

I’d like to first ask the Minister whether or not there is a policy with regard to voicemail and callbacks and whether or not there are guidelines for employees in terms of when they should return calls for service.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about one of my pet peeves with GNWT programs and services: the lack of customer service that we provide to our users.

GNWT employees are all members of a public service. That should mean that they ensure that the public, NWT residents, receive service; the same kind of service that we expect from the retail and the food sector. But at times when designing programs, we – and I mean both the government and workers – forget that. We forget to consider customer service in our planning for the provision of services and in the delivery of those...

I want to thank the Minister for his commitment. I’m glad that he agrees with me that 48 hours is too long for a call.

In looking into it, I guess I’d like to know from the Minister – certainly this was a situation here in Yellowknife but it could apply to other offices throughout the territory – will he ensure that in looking at the situation, he doesn’t just look at one office but that he looks at all offices under his jurisdiction as the Transportation Minister.

The Finance Minister said yesterday that the GNWT is striving for efficient and effective government. If that’s a sincere statement, we should seriously examine employee productivity and adjust our staff accordingly. At the very least, Mr. Speaker, we must add a staffer by transfer, at the motor vehicles office to improve the level of service that we should provide. Thank you.

Thanks to the Minister for the information. He said if it’s determined to go beyond, then it would be that amount in ‘13-14, I think is what he referenced. So my question to the Minister is, if we’re putting in $175,000 in this fiscal year, is there something which has yet to be determined for ‘13-14 to allow the Dene Ko Shelter to be funded. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure today to recognize a constituent who has already been recognized, Jenni Bruce. Welcome to the House, Jenni. I’d also like to recognize Mira Hall, trustee for YK Education District No. 1. Mr. Krutko, I cannot forget you, a former colleague. I’d like to also especially give my personal thanks to Mr. Mike Olson, who was a great assistant to me coming home on Sunday night from Edmonton.

Thanks. I’m still confused. The Minister said we will fund for the following year. I would really appreciate it if he could give me some numbers so I’m sure of what years he’s referencing. I would think if the money is identified – and I would hope that the money is identified – I guess I want to hear from the Minister that, yes, the money is going to be in the ‘13-14 budget or, no, if we can’t get a contract by the end of March, it’s not going to be there. I would like that clarification. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are addressed to the Minister of Health and Social Services.

I want to follow up from my statement that I made earlier about the Dene Ko Day Shelter here in Yellowknife, and whether or not there’s going to be funding once we come to the end of March of 2013, whether it’s going to be able to continue its work into the next fiscal year. So I’d like to ask the Minister, first of all – it wasn’t referenced in the Finance Minister’s budget address – what amount of money is identified in the 2013-14 budget for the Dene Ko Day Shelter in Yellowknife. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am extremely concerned that a viable, much needed three-year pilot project here in Yellowknife will soon be losing its funding and forced to close its doors. I am, of course, speaking about the Dene Ko Shelter. The benefits of this shelter to the city of Yellowknife are recognized and much appreciated. Just ask the RCMP or Stanton Hospital if the shelter has had a positive impact on their operations. The closing of the day shelter for a month this summer gave everyone involved a true picture of the contribution that the shelter is making to our city.

What is not so...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks to the Minister for that clarification. I’m very glad to hear that.

I would like to know from the Minister if it is the intention of the department to continue that funding over more than one year, or is this going to be a one year to one year to one year where they are always waiting for confirmation of funding. Thank you.