Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I talked about the opportunity here for hope, purpose at the downtown day shelter. My questions, of course, are directed to the Minister of Health and Social Services. My question specifically is this: What services, such as addictions treatment or employability type of programs, would he be willing to do as some outreach to help capture some of the potential and give people a bit of hope and opportunity for the future there? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Finance.

Would the Minister supply a detailed analysis on the small capital projects budget for the budget years 2010-2011 and 2011-2012, which specifically aggregates the following details by departmental budget:

Items requested in the actual budgets and the budgeted amount requested for each item in the capital plans;

The supplier and actual cost of each item purchased;

The date of purchase and delivery date of each item; and

The reasons why any requested items were not purchased, and an explanation of what happened to the financial...

Mr. Speaker, I want to specifically note and highlight the fact that the Minister didn’t mention chiropractic or massage therapists. I am not suggesting it isn’t in his list before him. With that said, would the Minister be willing to provide a detailed list as to whom they have spent time consulting with and when? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During my Member’s statement today, I talked about the need for regulation and certainly legislation for the areas of chiropractic and massage therapy. There are a number of groups out there that have this request, such as naturopaths as well. There seems to be some consensus built around chiropractic and massage therapists that legislation could come in and we could develop some regulations to provide some public assurance that the government is watching and making sure that our citizens are protected. My question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services. What...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A number of organizations representing health professionals in the Northwest Territories continue to ask for regulation of their sector. They continue, primarily, to come knock on the government’s door as opposed to the government telling them that they should be regulated, and that certainly needs to be noted.

Who am I talking about? The chiropractic and massage therapy groups are certainly leading and becoming champions on this particular issue, because they feel it’s very important to have clear regulations that protect themselves and our public.

It’s becoming very...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that we report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The next big question to this is: Will there be any type of public discussion or development of any type of decision paper to move forward on this particular initiative? If there will be, when can we expect some detail on that particular initiative? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, that is good news. From the Minister I would like to find out which professionals or particular areas is he studying and considering for inclusion in this particular bill. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s an honour always to recognize the Honourable Anthony W.J. Whitford, who is a friend of many and he’s looking fantastic. As our colleague Mr. Dolynny said, he is a survivor of cancer. I have seen him with a great spring in his step lately. It’s nice to see the old Tony back.

The Minister keeps trying to do a smoke and mirrors show on this particular problem. He says the old Minister. Every time he keeps referring to the old Minister. The old Minister actually signed the contract. That’s the difference here. The present Minister is responsible for the implementation for the contract while it’s still active, live, valid, et cetera. The Minister keeps avoiding that reality. Why does the Minister refuse to take responsibility for the present legal contract? Has it already been struck down and thrown away that we’re not aware of? We need some clarification why he’s...