Statements in Debates
It couldn’t be said better than by the Canadian Medical Association president, Cindy Forbes. She talks about the growing rate of seniors. She also references the cost, where it costs $1,000 a day, on average, in Canada to hospitalize and hold seniors. Whereas if you find partners like Avens, it comes at a fraction of that price. She estimates average cost in Canada at fifty. Now, I know these are southern costs, but the ratio is the point, not the actual dollar number. Why is the government not realizing that?
My next question is: When will this government be willing to finally step up and...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. They’ve been recognized a few times, but I certainly wouldn’t mind underscoring it just one more time at least a little further. I’d like to recognize Deputy Minister Arsenault. I’ve gotten to know him over the last few years. I really admire his hard work. He’s had a great relationship with the Northwest Territories and I’m very thankful that we have someone in the Yukon who understands our problems as we learn about theirs. I couldn’t think of a better team to take on the challenges in Ottawa than our good folks in the gallery here today, so thank you for your...
I hear the Minister but I worry he’s not hearing me. The issue is it’s not about Avens and if the government decides to contract directly with Avens for services for the extended care level 5 beds. Albeit it’s not as if it’s a competitive market in the city where we’ve got 50 seniors’ agencies scrambling at the door saying we want a chance. We really have one. Sorry; two. I should say it this way. You have Avens and you have the Government of the Northwest Territories. You have one or the other who wants to take on the challenge.
That isn’t the issue, and I want to be very clear, but the...
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’m not going to belabour this section very long. I just need to clarify a particular thing under the extended care 18-bed facility being anticipated to be here in Yellowknife. One of the particular issues that has arisen is the competitiveness of these opportunities.
Can I get the Minister’s commitment to this House that it will be a competitive tender process whether is it developed through a partnership with Avens or it’s developed as a government project or some other way? The point is, I want to ensure that this extended care facility is an open and competitive...
It was reported on CBC North, and I thought it was an interesting comment, and not just a plug for CBC North on at six o’clock with Randy Henderson – Randy can thank me later; I’m waiting for his Tweet – that said, in all seriousness, the Ontario Auditor General had pointed out performance problems with the contractor as basically the lead of this initiative. I mean, in essence it really talked about probably cost creep, although I haven’t had a chance to read the report, I certainly will be looking towards it later on. In essence, the performance of these two hospitals that were built in...
I can never say enough, but jobs are important, and I know how important they are to not only Yellowknife but to the small communities. They have a major impact on our economy. In the publication we call 20/20: A Brilliant North, NWT Public Service Strategic Plan, we talk about growing the public service. We often hear the Finance Minister directly talking about trying to attract 2,000 new people to the Northwest Territories. Lastly, I’ll say even from the Minister’s fiscal update, he talks about the importance of our flat population growth as the main source of revenue as it begins to decline...
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will return to the test sections, because I would like to know more about that, but I want to understand in this particular section on Highway No. 3 how many kilometres are targeted for reconstruction and how many are targeted, I assume, just to fill in the dips. Thank you.
I’m trying to understand now the department’s definition of “incident.” Just because somebody is upset, that doesn’t mean… I don’t know. I mean, I’m just trying to understand. We’re talking about the nature of the work that people are… In other words, when people file complaints they’re upset. I’d like to know what the definition is they’re using as the low water mark of incident. I want to understand this.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The other day, on Tuesday to be precise, the Finance Minister indicated that considering reductions to the workforce to ensure expenditures do not exceed revenues is part of the obligation they have to provide the 18th Assembly with the best information possible.
Further to that, the Minister of Public Works said today in the House, with a flat revenue outlook and the need to take a hard look at how we spend our money in coming years, operating effectively and efficiently is more important than ever.
In light of what both Ministers have commented on and stated in this...
So, I’ll get a copy of that before session ends? Thank you.