Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for the last few years, we seem to begin the first day of each session with an active ongoing labour dispute. Today seems to be no exception, Mr. Speaker. During the lunch hour, I had a chance to meet and talk to the employees from the Trailcross group home in Fort Smith who flew here in large numbers in order to make their cases known, their voices heard and to highlight their issues and the importance of resolving this labour dispute.

Fortunately, Mr. Speaker, if past example is anything to go by, all labour disputes that have come to our attention in this way have concluded with a settlement, and most, if not all of them, with positive results for the employees and employers and, most importantly, for the clients they both serve and the services they provide.

Mr. Speaker, I can tell you that we have also had the opportunity to get a brief update from the Minister of Health and Social Services on this issue. I have also had a chance to talk to not only the workers, but the union leaders. I also had a chance to talk to the representatives from Bosco Homes. I have to say that I remain optimistic that this can be resolved.

Mr. Speaker, I do understand that there are a couple of issues that are still a point of strong contention, but given that there are only a few issues outstanding, there is a hope for resolution soon. But both parties will need to work. In all of these labour disputes, I have taken a consistent approach to this and that is to encourage both parties to get back to the table and keep talking. I do understand that there are no more negotiations scheduled since they met last minute on Wednesday. I would like to take this opportunity again to encourage both parties to get back to the bargaining table and I will call upon the government to do what is possible within their mandate and jurisdiction to urge and facilitate this process so that we can all see this come to a quick resolution and make it possible for the group home to be open and operating again. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Before I go on, I would like to acknowledge and draw your attention to the visitors gallery and the presence of a former Member of the House. Mr. Leon Lafferty is with us.

---Applause

Member’s Statement On Labour Dispute At Trailcross Childcare Facility In Fort Smith

Speaker: MR. MILTENBERGER

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to first thank my colleague from Range Lake for as well raising the issue of Trailcross in this House. I would like to briefly speak to the current circumstances at Trailcross as well.

Trailcross is a childcare facility that has a long history in the Northwest Territories in Fort Smith. In fact, in the last century, I had the privilege and good fortune to manage the facility and work there for a number of years. I know the type of work that is done, the type of children that require the service, the needs that are out there, and the stresses and the pressures of the job.

It was at one time a government facility where the staff were all employees. There was a decision to privatize it in the mid-1990s. Now we have a circumstance where there are contractual discussions that have reached an impasse. While it is part of the negotiating process, clearly a strike serves nobody in the long run. Hopefully, it will bring resolution to the outstanding issues. But, like my colleague from Range Lake, my hope is that an encouragement to both parties is to get back to the table and resolve the issues that are outstanding.

I have been in discussion with the union. I have met with them a number of times. I have been on the phone, as well, to the Minister and his senior staff a number of times, as well, encouraging them to try to move this process forward. I would like to thank both sides for their recent activity and some of the suggestions that were made.

Mr. Speaker, I know that we are close. I know that there is a willingness and interest by both parties. I hope they do get back to the table. There are a host of children that require the services that Trailcross provides. Every day that this strike goes on is every day that these children don’t get that service. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause