Thank you, Madam Speaker. My questions this afternoon will be for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Will the Minister commit to reviewing and reassessing the Hay River Persons with Disabilities application for core funding?
Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. The Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. We’ve had discussions with the Hay River Committee for Persons with Disabilities on their funding and advised them that the funding would not be increased due to budget pressures that we’re all facing. Thank you.
Will the Minister look at reviewing the handivan program which is so vital to the community of Hay River?
I recognize that the handivan program is very vital to persons with disabilities and seniors. The handivan program is a municipal responsibility, so that’s something that we could have discussion with the municipality, but generally it could be also dealt with directly with the municipality. Thank you.
My next question to the Minister: Will the Minister’s department work with the Hay River Persons with Disabilities to stay open?
Yes, we are prepared to do that. We’ve had discussion. Due to the lack of funding that we’re able to provide, they have not signed a contribution agreement. We can go back and speak to them again and see if they will sign a contribution agreement to remain open. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister Beaulieu. Final supplementary, Mr. Bouchard.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. My next question: Will the Minister commit to this House that the department will never indicate to an organization that’s already been working hard, already doing fundraising, to indicate to them and say go and do some more fundraising? Is that not insulting? I would ask the Minister to commit to not put that into a letter again.
I can give that direction to the staff not to ask the people to do fundraising to continue operations.
Thank you, Minister Beaulieu. The Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.
