Debates of June 7, 2006 (day 7)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier in my statement today, in speaking about the various forms of violence, one of the things I mentioned is the importance and the important work that our frontline workers do to deal with a lot of social issues. I should state that my question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. I can tell you that one of the things the Yellowknife committee has been working on at the frontline is the SideDoor Youth Centre. This is a place where there is shelter provided and they have a Living Room Program, which has gone through a pilot project for a few months last winter where youth could go and stay overnight in a supervised condition and they could seek shelter and stay away from trouble.

The Minister had committed in this House that this was a pilot project but that he was reviewing that with a view to extending it. I was told yesterday that this funding has depleted, ended, and there is no hope for future funding and that the organizer of the group is telling me they have had to turn down requests and calls from youth who want to access this service. I would like to ask the Minister how he could be so cold hearted and cut off this program when it just took off. Thank you.

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

Return To Question 78-15(5): SideDoor Pilot Project In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t consider myself cold hearted. My understanding is that we did provide funding and we are, as far as I know, still considering that. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 78-15(5): SideDoor Pilot Project In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I must say I am very pleased that the Minister’s cold heart is warming up and there is a glimmer of hope that we may still keep this program going. So, Mr. Speaker, may I just take this opportunity to give the chance to review this program and perhaps he could make the results of the pilot program to us. Will he give full consideration to extending and continuing this very important program in our community? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 78-15(5): SideDoor Pilot Project In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The social envelope Ministers gather regularly and one of the issues we have been working on is a Homelessness Strategy. We have done work on that. There have been papers brought forward and we are bringing forward requests for funding and building things into our business plans. One of the things that has been identified as the need to the Homelessness Strategy is the service provided by the SideDoor. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 78-15(5): SideDoor Pilot Project In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate his answer, but I am not sure if I got as much commitment as I would like to see, Mr. Speaker. I just want to build on his first answer and say yesterday in the House we talked about the merit of this government spending $320,000 to do a review on an office building. Mr. Speaker, a program like this, we are talking $20,000 or $30,000 a year to keep these youth off the streets and into a program where they can engage in healthy activities. Can I ask the Minister to make a commitment here to say that he will review this and he will do all he can to revive this program? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 78-15(5): SideDoor Pilot Project In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In point of fact, I believe the amount of money that was provided was $100,000 last year and if the Member will check unedited Hansard, I will say it again, the social envelope Ministers have worked together. We have put together a Homelessness Strategy. We are building things into our business plans. There are requests for funding in there and one of the items that has been identified as a need in Yellowknife have been the need that’s met by the SideDoor and that has been identified in the work that we’ve done, the documents that we have pulled together and that are currently processing through the required budgetary and business planning processes. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 78-15(5): SideDoor Pilot Project In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I take that answer to be saying that it’s not a question of if, but it’s when. On that optimistic note, Mr. Speaker, I think the expectation was raised in that there was a pilot program. It went until March and they were looking for funding, and this is June and it’s not forthcoming. Can I ask the Minister when will these people be able to expect to hear from the Minister as to whether their project is a go or not? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 78-15(5): SideDoor Pilot Project In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are going through the required budgetary and business planning steps. When that process is completed, that information will be available. This is a yearly process and clearly we want to be up and running well before the coming winter. Even though it’s only June, we are planning for the coming cold season. So we are working on this. We have been working on it for a number of months and the paperwork is already in the process. Thank you.