Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’ve yet to speak about the caribou issue, as some have been calling it, and so I will do so today.

Even though I haven’t spoken yet, I have been considering all aspects of it every day for the last week and more, listening to my colleagues on both sides of the House, listening to elders and other residents as they speak to us in person and via the media. I’ve been trying to reconcile the arguments, the concerns, the differences of opinions and the different positions. It has been difficult to do.

At the core of this issue is the need for conservation of the...

Thank you Mr. Chairman. I have a number of comments. These are not in any particular order, but some are in reference to the budget in general and some are in reference to the Minister’s opening remarks.

I would like to start off by talking about there is a statement, I think it is in the business plan, there is a trend to a decreased use of income assistance funds, but I know over the last week or two I have heard the Minister state that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment... Income support is certainly handling more income support claims. So I am a little bit concerned that if...

I have spoken in my general comments about the need for Stanton to be redeveloped, redesigned, refurbished. I think the Minister knows as well as anybody, it’s a 20-year-old building and we need to get planning sooner rather than later. It’s our only territorial hospital. When can we expect that there will be money for the hospital for the Stanton hospital to do the development of a master development plan? Thank you.

That is the business plan, Mr. Chairman, and if the Minister needs to get back to me, that is fine.

I am not quite sure that I understood what I heard. There is a trio of departments that are looking at this particular framework, but what information is the Minister going to give me? I am looking for a revised framework. If it is not being revised, then that is fine, then tell me that. But when will we get this revised framework, if it is indeed being revised? Thank you.

That certainly makes sense. The other question I had is in program delivery details and there is a very large jump between last year’s revised main estimates and this year’s budgeted mains. We go from $20.5 million to just over $26 million for adult continuing care services. Is there a specific reason for that? Is it a number of factors? If I could have an explanation, please. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a question with regard to contract services. There is a rather large increase in contract services from the revised estimates of 2009-10 to the main estimates of 2010-11. We go from $8 million to almost $13 million. I wonder if I could have an explanation for that increase, please. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that matters are being dealt with, but again I have to say that an MLA, a Minister, a department official are not impartial and independent. That is the service that we need for our residents. I would like to ask the Minister if this work is going to be ongoing, if there is going to be work between Justice and the Executive. When can I expect to get some information about how this office is progressing? Thank you.

I appreciate the answer from the Minister. My concerns are larger than just the Residential Tenancies Act. That is one aspect of work that an ombudsman can do and the service that they can provide for our residents. I also appreciate the fact that this is going to cost money, but there are some things where the money needs to be spent in order to provide better services for our residents. We need an office, an opportunity for residents to appeal decisions which affect them. I’d like to ask the Minister -- he kind of alluded to the fact that there’s lots now -- what sorts of things do exist...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over my time in this Assembly I have encountered quite a few situations where constituents have been at odds with a body or organization who has made a decision that affects the constituent or their family. In most cases when that happens the only recourse available is for the matter to be taken to court. That option comes with all sorts of problems attached. Most people don’t have the money to pay for a lawyer. Most people are not comfortable in the court system even if they do have a lawyer. As well, the court system is adversarial and does not allow for solving a...