Déclarations dans les débats

Debates of , (day 36)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for his answer. Mr. Speaker, before this story goes too much further, would the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment look into this situation before this so-called story of a person using their language is being discouraged? Before it goes through the meat grinder of arbitration and whatnot, would the Minister look into this before it goes too far? Thank you.

Debates of , (day 36)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I will focus my question to the Premier, and he can forward it thereon in. Does the government have a policy to discourage people to use their first language?

Debates of , (day 36)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my household, we speak approximately four languages, three languages of Chinese -- one would be Cantonese -- and, of course, English, because that is the main one I understand. Mr. Speaker, Canada is a melting pot of acceptance. It is kind of like a secret recipe of culture, but when you start throwing out the right to use one’s language, it is like revealing the recipe or throwing out an important element of that recipe. Mr. Speaker, my first question was not answered. What is the Premier’s position on the usage of the official languages in the...

Debates of , (day 36)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I respect the fact that the Minister doesn’t want to talk about that subject, because it’s out for bargaining or discussion on an informal basis. I can appreciate that, so I won’t go into that. My last question is how does this Minister plan to address the fact that we still have families out there who can’t get a family doctor? We could ask for 35 doctors coming to the city…

Debates of , (day 36)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Miltenberger, for first acknowledging the fact that it isn’t quite working out as it may have been dreamt of. I’m glad to hear that we’re trying to strive forward. Mr. Speaker, I have people in Yellowknife who cannot get a family doctor. I have people who are told by the clinics that they have to go wait in emergency and, if it’s not of a life or death nature, they have to sit there between four and six hours because they’re not considered a priority at emergency. Mr. Speaker, how does the Minister plan to address that type of problem? I’d like to...

Debates of , (day 36)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because families in Yellowknife are still having trouble getting a family doctor and even simply seeing a doctor.

Mr. Speaker, I believe, a few years ago, the change from switching family doctors to go from fee-for-service to salary has caused a serious gap in service delivery. Mr. Speaker, a few years ago, we had 14 doctors seeing approximately 40 patients a day, but today we have approximately 20 doctors a day seeing 20 patients a day. That is 80 visits a day short, Mr. Speaker, that our constituents and our families are missing out on an...

Debates of , (day 36)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to request unanimous consent to return to item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , (day 36)

If I can reword my question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment acknowledge if we have a policy that discourages people from using their language of choice, also noted as an official language of the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , (day 36)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the Premier have a position on usage of official languages, not the language Minister?

Debates of , (day 36)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House again today because I’m concerned about a news story I read today with regard to someone being reprimanded for the usage of French. Mr. Speaker, French is an official language not just in the Northwest Territories, but in Canada. Mr. Speaker, languages should never just be tolerated, but they should be celebrated. The respect for language goes much more beyond a household, it must be acknowledged publicly. Mr. Speaker, my question to the Premier of the Northwest Territories is what is the Premier’s position and the government’s...