Statements in Debates
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I raised the issue, once again, regarding a seniors charter. Since three weeks ago I made sure that the Minister of Health and Social Services, who is also the Minister responsible for Seniors, received a copy of the matters I was raising as well as the corresponding research on the particular issue, Mr. Speaker, I’d like an update from the Minister responsible for Seniors. Has she had a chance to evaluate the merits of a potential seniors charter for the Northwest Territories and what are her plans with that matter? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A number of weeks ago I raised in this House the need for our government to develop a seniors charter that speaks to the dignity and care that our seniors rightly deserve. A seniors charter could be called by many names; perhaps a blueprint of our care, a manifesto of our stewardship, or even a statement of values and commitment by our politicians and government as to what we truly believe.
As the present, leaders of this Assembly, let us not forget we are the shepherds of our present and future generations, both young at heart and certainly young of age. As I stated a...
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that we report progress. Thank you.
---Carried
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As promised in my Member’s statement today, I said I would table the NWT Seniors’ Society’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms for Older Adults.
Mr. Speaker, the charter that I’ve spoken of as well as the particulars I’ve spoken to in my Member’s statement talk about a lot of things: recognizing the dignity, stopping elders’ abuse, among many, many other things. Does the Minister responsible for Seniors agree with that type of merit and believe that a seniors charter could help us achieve a manifesto of our principles that we believe strongly here? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to make special recognition again of Mr. Ed Jeske, Yellowknife’s very own Mr. Hockey. As well, at the same time, I’d like to recognize Vivian Squires, executive director of YK Seniors, as mentioned. As well, as mentioned earlier, I’d also like to make note of our Reverend Ron McLean. Thank you very much for joining us today.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Government Operations met on December 9, 2010, for a detailed review of Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act.
Following the clause-by-clause review a motion was carried to report Bill 17 to the Assembly as ready for Committee of the Whole.
This concludes the committee’s general comments on Bill 17. Individual Members may have additional questions and comments as we proceed, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.
If I understood the Speaker correctly when he said he’d get back to Members, I assume that won’t be in the next annual report. I assume that will be in a timely way once that clarification is made.
Mr. Chairman, one other thing worth of note, and again, it just jumped off the page listening to the request for additional money, although I don’t have the report in front of me here, it’s in my office, I do recall off memory, in some manner or form, that the latest Languages Commissioner’s report is painting a picture of lack of interest in the traditional language and she points that out. We haven...
That’s fine. Will that information be passed on to Members in that particular case to find out what the money is attributed to? Thank you.
Mr. Chairman, wouldn’t it seem reasonable, if I may ask, that she would know what her mandate is and be asking for money that would fall within it first rather than coming to the Assembly and asking for money and figuring out how it fits later. Wouldn’t that seem reasonable? Thank you.