Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Minister of ENR was explaining earlier to me about lightning rods and I’d like to know how many lightning rod detectors we have in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

I appreciate the Minister recognizes the problem, which is now followed by my next question, which is: In the interim, is the Minister willing to cover the actual costs of both the physician and the medical travel costs? Because at present, what’s being budgeted is nowhere near sufficient enough to cover the actuals. That’s what keeps making this authority look bad when they’re doing a fantastic job. That’s the issue. Would the Minister see what he can do?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve often raised the issue of Stanton Territorial Hospital’s deficit, and over the years I’ve often said that it’s my belief that it’s underfunded and it needs a true and serious detailed funding assessment. Recently, I went to the public administrator’s open house to talk about this particular issue about how the hospital is running, and of course, I was very impressed with the work that they’re doing there. What stood out clearly are two particular issues. The first one is the physician costs and medical travel costs are put down on the Stanton Territorial Hospital...

Mr. Speaker, I look for clarification on the official record from the Minister. By all means, I really hope I’m wrong on this particular case, but I have been informed that community health nurses at their health stations have no ability to leave their station to provide health care if there’s an incident on the highway or within close proximity. Maybe the Minister could help shed some light on that particular case. If it is a rumour out there or misinterpretation, maybe he can help put that to rest. The fact is we want to make sure people are helping.

Are nurses hamstrung or nurse...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I talked about the need to support first responders. I was really highlighting about the importance in the communities, how they need that type of support. Without those first responders, whether you are in Ulukhaktok, Gameti or, certainly, Lutselk’e, first responders provide a critical role. If they are untrained, they put themselves as well as the person they are trying to help at great risk.

Knowing that every community deserves some type of support, is the Minister of Health aware in some manner or such of what type of program exists to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In Yellowknife we’re very fortunate to have organized first responders in our city. I know I’m very grateful, as well as many other people in our city. However, not every community has this privilege, and for obvious reasons; sometimes it’s not feasible, but that doesn’t make it any more right and it certainly doesn’t make it fair. By coincidence, if you happen to live in the Tu Nedhe riding – that’s either in Lutselk'e or Fort Resolution – and just by chance there happens to be a terrible situation in that particular area, who responds? Who has the skills and...

Would the Minister be able to elaborate exactly where they are in proximity to Yellowknife and the Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to table a poster here today. It belongs to the NWT Disabilities Council regarding their annual auction, of course, which is being held November 24th, between 7 and 11, and you’ll see that on the poster if you click on it on-line. Thank you.

I appreciate the Minister recognizing those two particular issues, the ones I’ve raised, but I think he’s missed the concern that they’re well outside the ability to manage it at Stanton.

The Department of Health sets the mandate and value of what they will provide the authority for physician costs, as well as medical travel costs, but their burdened to run the actuals. In other words, the department provides a budget and the Stanton authority has to do the actual, which always puts them in deficit. That’s why I once again ask, would the Minister be able to take a look at the situation and ask...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have been quite fortunate as I’ve grown up and had many courses and training, and offered training as an instructor for first response types of techniques. I have even had the few occasions of waiting out in the Mackenzie to help people who have been in serious jeopardy. But I couldn’t have done that without these types of skills through St. John Ambulance and Royal Life Saving Society and many other types of support mechanisms along the way. The reason I describe it that way is, without that type of support and confidence, you can’t just do that.

What can the Health...