Debates of February 14, 2005 (day 35)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the weekend, I had the pleasure and opportunity to meet and speak with some very special people. I visited the Aven Centre in Yellowknife, a place for elders. I would like to say hello to Art and the gang right now at the Aven Centre.

Mr. Speaker, what I witnessed at this place in Yellowknife is the elders are being looked after, programs are in place for them and the staff have the capacity to take care of the elders here in Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, we, in the Sahtu, have long waited to have such a home for elders in this capacity. Mr. Speaker, we have such a place in Deline. The Ministers responsible for the Housing Corporation and Health and Social Services are fully aware of the building. Mr. Speaker, we are spending thousands of dollars each year maintaining these beautiful facilities. We are sending elders out of the region to be looked after and, Mr. Speaker, we have our elders in some of the really good homes outside our region, however, it’s about high time that we keep our elders at home in their region.

Mr. Speaker, our elders will continue to play an important role in our lives, either by advising us in our personal lives or providing guidance in our professional lives. Mr. Speaker, when will this government have a change of heart and let the people in the Sahtu, especially our elders, know that the Deline seniors' home will be in operation to take them and that we can keep them home like other regions do in the Northwest Territories? Mahsi.

---Applause