Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize Darrell Beaulieu and Peter Vician, members of our strong support Northern community leadership. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Chair, I also support this motion and want to share some of the experiences. As you know, the Sahtu region is remote. It is only accessible in the wintertime. It is only accessible by cold weather travel over compacted snow. This system, North Wrigley, totals 765 kilometres, and you can imagine yourself isolated without access. In most cases, the average traveller doesn't have cell communication, because they can't afford a cell package or a satellite package, so we’ve had numerous close calls, close instances, and even some cases where tragic death has occurred. These shelters do play a...

My next question to the Minister is: If there is going to be a transitional plan for a portion of the department moving into the building this coming November, can the Minister provide the documentation to discuss some of the logistics and staffing that would be eventually included in the transitional plan?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had mentioned here earlier in my Member’s statement, my question to the Minister of Health and Social Services about the newly constructed, still underway, facility in Norman Wells providing a modern medical care system to the residents of the whole area. It's the first of its kind in the area to also provide long-term care units and availability to 18 seniors in our community and our area. Taking into account a building of such, there's a transitional phase that would take place prior to the building being functional and ready to provide that service. I'm asking the...

I welcome the Minister's invitation and look forward to our further dialogue and meeting on that.

In that case, my next question, Mr. Speaker, is to seek who is actually holding the transition plan. When I talked to the CEO in Norman Wells, she says they're moving in in November. So actually, which is it?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I address in my Members' statement a building under construction in Norman Wells, a building that is going to cost this government $35 million to provide well-needed healthcare to the surrounding communities. For the newcomers in the audience, I represent five communities in the Central Mackenzie. It's remote. We've got three ways to go in there. We have no all-weather road, so the government provides meaningful institutions and services to our five communities. Getting back to the statement here, the facility is under construction, but is going to be seeing the...

As you all know, I'm one of the new Members here coming into this Assembly and the principle intent of the mandate, I really strongly believe in that directive: setting the goals set by the priorities identified by all representatives. To create a dialogue for people out there that we serve in all our ridings, let them know that we now have a plan. Here is a plan set out to try and achieve these. In reality, I don't think it's doable, but we have a document to start from, identifying everything from child development to creating and improving our economy to continuation of programs and...

On the comments and the information provided, we did have a new administration system or administration personnel in the Town of Norman Wells, so I look forward in working with the Minister's department and the new staff of the Town of Norman Wells to explore the re-opening of the facility there with the contributions as said.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As mentioned in my Member’s statement, I'm addressing my question to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on the daycare facility in Norman Wells and the surrounding communities as well. My first question is: what level of funding is being committed to the daycare home and the daycare facilities in the Sahtu communities?