Debates of May 26, 2005 (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise with further questions for our friends on the other side of this Assembly. The Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation is smiling because he knows I can’t ask him any more questions today because the last one was taken as notice.

I have questions for the Deputy Premier of this Assembly, Mr. Floyd Roland, with regard to the TTC that’s being taken out of Yellowknife. The Minister of Health and Social Services had mentioned that there was a facility in Fort Smith. So from the sounds of this, there will be two in the South Slave. Maybe if the Deputy Premier could help explain the scenario. Is this going to be a bit of a political shell game? Is this why we are moving this from Yellowknife down to Hay River? Is it built on an economizing measure where we are enhancing a program, or is it due to money? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Deputy Premier, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 24-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Minister of Health and Social Services has answered on a number of occasions in the House, he is preparing information to share with Social Programs and Members of this Assembly. It wasn’t a political shell game. The facilities that are being referred to are contract facilities that are run by Bosco Homes at this point. That is why there is reference to that facility, but information is being put together to be shared with Members of this House. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 24-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Maybe the Deputy Premier could help emphasize some clarity. This sounds like a done deal and I hate to say it, but the Minister of Health has been in charge of the health portfolio for quite some time and I put a lot of faith in the fact that they must understand and know the depth of their portfolio. This decision must have been made quite some time ago, so there must be some information that they can share with us today. What was the business case that could justify this move? There must be some answer we could give this House today so we can move forward. We could be here for awhile. What does the Deputy Premier think of that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 24-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that sounds similar to a question asked earlier about the business case. Again, the Minister has provided to commit to providing that information to Members of this House before the end of this session. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 24-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am a little concerned that we have to wait until the end of this session; we should be waiting until tomorrow. Will the Deputy Premier be willing to commit to seeing if we could wield some of this high profile information, this high detailed information, because there must have been some business case put forward in order to decide to just move this out of Yellowknife. Would the Deputy Premier be able to bring forward this information tomorrow so we can deal with it in a timely manner, because we only have four days after tomorrow in this session to deal with this? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 24-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will work with the Minister in seeing what timelines can be put into this. He has committed to bring it forward before the end of this session. I am not sure if it will be Monday or Tuesday, but he has committed to getting that information and we will honour that before the end of this session. Thank you.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 24-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to hear at the same time when we get this high level, detailed information that really speaks of why we are moving it out of Yellowknife and affecting both the staff and the children, what was the motivation that is preparing to move this out of Yellowknife. The e-mails I am getting now don’t say we want to move to Hay River. The e-mails are saying what is going on. Can we hear some reasoning behind the motivation? What is the true motivation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 24-15(4): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Minister stated already in this House, this government already has a number of initiatives underway to ensure that all communities in the Northwest Territories benefit from some of the services we provide in the territory. That is one of the things we have to also keep in mind. Again, the Minister has committed to providing information to Members of this House, so that they can see the trail that’s gone to this point. It’s not something that came up yesterday. It’s been discussed for some time and we will provide that information. Thank you.