Debates of January 20, 2004 (day 1)

January
20
2004
Day
1
Speaker
David Krutko
Word
Members Present
ITEM 1: PRAYER
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 1: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2003-2004
Member's Statement On Health And Social Services Staffing Levels
Member’s Statement On Addressing Youth Crime In The North
Member’s Statement On Cooperative Working Relationships
Member’s Statement On Dealing Positively With Families
Member’s Statement On Mackenzie Valley Gas Pipeline
Member’s Statement On Minister’s Comments On Restructuring Boards Of Governance
Member’s Statement On Passing Of Sahtu Residents During The Holiday Season
Member’s Statement On Recognition Of Commissioner’s Scholastic Achievement Award Winners
Member’s Statement On Resident Justice Required For Hay River
Member’s Statement On Social Conditions In The NWT
Member’s Statement On Working In A Consensus System
Minister's Statement 1-15(2): Sessional Statement
Minister's Statement 4-15(2): 40th Anniversary Of Apprenticeship NWT
Minister’s Statement 2-15(2): Remembering Dennie Lennie
Minister’s Statement 3-15(2): Fire At Fort McPherson Power Plant
Motion 1-15(2): To Amend Rule 85 Of The Rules Of The Legislative Assembly
Motion 2-15(2): Appointments To The Standing Committee On Governance And Economic Development
Motion 2-15(2): Appointments To The Standing Committee On Governance And Economic Development, Carried
Motion 3-15(2): Appointments To The Standing Committee On Social Programs, Carried
Motion 4-15(2): Appointments To The Standing Committee On Rules And Procedures
Motion 4-15(2): Appointments To The Standing Committee On Rules And Procedures, Carried
Question 1-15(2): Minister’s Comments On Board Restructuring
Question 10-15(2): Pipeline Employment Opportunities
Question 2-15(2): Resident Justice Vacancy In Hay River
Question 3-15(2): Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Opportunities
Question 4-15(2): Correctional Officers' Pay Scale Dispute
Question 5-15(2): Treatment Of Young Offenders
Question 6-15(2): Cabinet Consultation With Regular Members
Question 7-15(2): Resident Justice Vacancy In Hay River
Question 8-15(2): Update On Intergovernmental Forum And Devolution
Question 9-15(2): Dealing With Loss Of Residents In The Sahtu Region
Return To Question 10-15(2): Pipeline Employment Opportunities
Return To Question 7-15(2): Resident Justice Vacancy In Hay River
Tabled Document 1-15(2): Aurora College 2002/2003 Annual Report
Tabled Document 4-15(2): Transportation Of Dangerous Goods Report For 2003
Statements

Member’s Statement On Dealing Positively With Families

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’m here to talk to you about family. This past weekend, I happened to have the pleasure of attending a special surprise birthday party for a couple of constituents of mine, Larry and Hermie Pineda. They’re 75 years and 74 years of age respectively, and they’ve been married almost 54 years. I think that’s an incredible feat to recognize and it’s with an amazing amount of respect you have to look towards folks like this. They don’t just build a family; they build a community, folks like this.

On that note, sometimes you can look around and there are sad stories out there that don’t necessarily have happy endings and we have to pray extra hard. So at this moment, I want to recognize the teamwork of the Department of Health and Social Services over the Christmas season.

As we all know, Christmas is a stressful time. A constituent of mine came to me with a concern that truly was a life-and-death circumstance; it wasn’t blown out of proportion. It was reality. I have to stress that the staff of the Department of Health and Social Services recognized the compassion needed to deal with the issue. They took a realistic approach with a willingness to find a solution. The staff did find a solution by taking reasonable steps and they worked within the policy and found a way to make this happen to unite a family.

So with that being said, I just want to take a moment to recognize them and say that though sometimes happy stories get overlooked about departments, I want to bring this forward today.

I’m going to close my statement by pointing out that I’m going to put this government on notice of my high expectation of a good working relationship between Cabinet Ministers and regular Members. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause