Debates of March 2, 2005 (day 47)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is to the Minister of Health and Social Services and it’s further to my Member’s statement. Earlier, Mr. Speaker, I called for some government help to have a youth shelter opened in the city and there is a group called the SideDoor who has worked to make this happen. The Minister was quite generous in his answers to my questions a couple of weeks ago and he indicated that his officials were working with the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority to make this happen. I was happy to hear this had happened, but then I’m hearing that the funding is for a very short term. I’m wondering if this is because the funding can only happen until the end of the fiscal year, and if I could get a commitment from the Minister that the department will continue to work with this, I’d be happy with that. Could he make that commitment? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 517-15(3): Funding For A Yellowknife Youth Centre

Yes, Mr. Speaker, we will continue to work on this. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 517-15(3): Funding For A Yellowknife Youth Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Should I take that as the Minister saying that he will use his good office to let his department officials know that creating a shelter or making it possible…Not the government doing 100 percent, but making this happen is his priority. Could I take that as his answer? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 517-15(3): Funding For A Yellowknife Youth Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member asked for a ministerial commitment to continue to work on this issue with the SideDoor and Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority past the end of the fiscal year. I’ve indicated that, yes, we are going to continue to do this. It is an issue that’s not going to stop April 1st. So, yes, we are going to continue on this. I do not make these commitments lightly. There are people recording the proceedings of this House in Health and Social Services, so we will be moving on this. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 517-15(3): Funding For A Yellowknife Youth Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate this, it’s just that you can never be as certain as you’d like to have it. Mr. Speaker, could the Minister indicate whether or not the budget that this House just passed included any elements there that could specifically fall into funding a facility or program money like this? I also heard that in Inuvik there is a youth group there that is having a problem with funding and I’m just wondering if the government has separate pockets of money that look after the needs of the youth in this way. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 517-15(3): Funding For A Yellowknife Youth Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with regard to the specific issue of youth at night, especially on the weekends, and being on the streets, we’ve been dealing with this under the issue of homelessness for the short term. We’re working on a longer-term homelessness strategy as I’m also the Minister responsible for the homeless. I’m working in conjunction with my colleagues, Ministers from the social envelope, and we’ve put together a short term budget that is before this House now in a supplementary and we intend to come forward with further planning. In Yellowknife we want to continue to work with the coalition as well, and there is also access to federal dollars. So we’re trying to come up with a way to deal with both the issue of absolute homelessness, who are those folks who have absolutely no place to stay, and the issue of relative homelessness, which are those who may be inadequately housed. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 517-15(3): Funding For A Yellowknife Youth Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My understanding is that the SideDoor specifically has funding until the end of the fiscal year. Could I get the Minister to commit to provide me with correspondence that speaks to the funding arrangement for the next year, given that he’s going to work on this? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 517-15(3): Funding For A Yellowknife Youth Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will confirm in writing to the Member what I’ve just said in this House. Thank you.