Debates of March 30, 2004 (day 11)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am going to raise the important issue relevant to seniors and the contributions they make to our society. I met with the Seniors’ Society last week here in Yellowknife and also another elders’ committee from Lutselk’e yesterday.

Although these meetings were bound together under different circumstances, the underlying points raised during these discussions were very similar: issues pertaining to health services, acute and outpatient care, and community health representation, just to name a few, and many other issues related to housing and seniors’ and elders’ involvement in our education system. Mr. Speaker, the role of this demographic sector of our society cannot be undermined by our fiscal restraints, resource development and devolution issues. I don’t think there is any other sector of our society which can make such a priceless contribution towards improving community support and assisting youth and other seniors through increased volunteerism and community involvement.

Mr. Speaker, I feel that organizations like the NWT Seniors’ Society and community elders’ committees should be given equal consideration by this government on all fronts related to their work, their health and their cultures and especially their relentless dedication and support that they have for us, their MLAs, to make their lives more meaningful and enjoyable and, more importantly, more memorable like those many other lives that they touch and improve every day. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause