R.J. Simpson

Mr. Speaker, I continue to receive complaints about the service at the Hay River Regional Health Centre, and for the most part they are the same complaints I have been receiving since day one. Some are optimistic that the Minister of Health's recent appointment of a new public administrator for the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority will spur positive change in service delivery, so I would like to ask the Minister: what changes does he hope to see with the new public administrator? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. There is a motion to report progress. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour. All those opposed. The motion is carried.

---Carried

I will rise and report progress. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The reason I asked about getting together and creating a plan is because the public administrator isn't responsible to this House, whereas the Minister is. In the absence of Hay River being part of the territorial authority, I need some sort of way to convince my constituents that we are making progress. So further to the Minister's previous point, what progress is being made to bring Hay River into the territorial authority? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Like Mr. McNeely, the Minister has answered a few of my questions already. So it's become clear that, during the life of this Assembly, the Hay River authority will not be brought into the territorial health authority. I mean, there just is not the political will to get it done from Cabinet, and so the Minister must work with the public administrator to address these recurring issues that I keep hearing about. Since the Minister said that the public administrator still needs to orient himself to this, I guess they have not made a plan. What I would like to see is the Minister and the new...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this past Saturday I had the honour of attending the grand opening of the brand new Marine Training Centre in Hay River. There has been some secrecy surrounding the centre, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I checked out the facility, I spoke with the staff, and, Mr. Speaker, I'm happy to say that it's the real deal.

Even though people have inhabited the area since time immemorial, the town of Hay River, as it exists today, exists because of marine shipping and commercial fishing. With both industries experiencing a resurgence, the training centre...

Thank you, Minister Sebert. I will turn to the chair of the Standing Committee on Social Development, the committee that considered the bill, for opening comments. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. There is a motion to report progress. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour. All those opposed. The motion is carried.

---Carried

I will rise and report progress.

Thank you, committee. Thank you to the Minister and to your witnesses. Minister, you may take your seat. Sergeant-at-Arms, you may escort the witnesses from the Chamber.

Thank you, committee. Sorry for the delays. It is our first day back in committee, so we are just ironing out the kinks. Committee, we have next agreed to consider Bill 14, the Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2018. I will turn to the Minister responsible to introduce the bill. Minister Sebert.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister, do you have witnesses you wish to bring into the Chamber?

Thank you, committee. Bill 14 is now ready for third reading. Does committee agree that this concludes our consideration of Bill 14?