Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In Nunakput our elders have worked hard, have lived all their lives, and they’ve been quick to adapt their preliminary lifestyles into modern lifestyles during their time. They had to take care and protect us. Our elders truly lived amazing lives.
In every community in the Northwest Territories our elders deserve a place where they can go for entertainment, visiting, or just for healthy services. My office has received correspondence from the Minister responsible for Seniors in responding to a funding request for the facility in Ulukhaktok and I’d like to thank the Minister for it. However, the rationale indicated says that the needs of the community of Ulukhaktok does justify the expenditure commitment.
During my travels across the Territory I see other communities that are smaller and not so isolated that have received funding for seniors facilities of some sort. I asked the Minister why the discrepancy. Several years ago the community of Ulukhaktok initiated a petition to get this government committed to building a badly needed seniors facility. Today, 2010, only a year left in this government and there’s still nothing. What happened to promises made to the communities during the early years of this government?
Caring for our elders’ health and well-being must be a pillar of this government. The community of Ulukhaktok elders deserve this. We really have to get this done for the hamlet so we can have our elders taking care of them ourselves. I also expressed a growing concern with the trend of government with lack of services to communities and commitments in the future enhancement projects.
Mr. Speaker, even with this enormous difference, this government continues to use formulas such the per capita market conditions when evaluating the need. This is wrong. Ulukhaktok needs an elders facility just as much as Yellowknife, Inuvik and Hay River. As I mentioned in previous Member’s statements during my various leadership positions, I will continue to try to improve the life of my elders.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted.
I will continue to try to improve the lives of my elders.
Once again, I challenge this government to seriously review the needs of our elders to place necessary resources and implement real plans for real changes for our real problems. I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
