Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to make a statement today that I hope will help our constituents understand a very key element of how we accomplish work on their behalf. There are many ways to approach our constituency work. We can make statements in the House, ask questions during session, write letters to Ministers and departments, send e-mails, have meetings, issue press releases, hold constituency meetings, have newspaper columns, publish newsletters, et cetera. But to be very specific, many constituents we don’t often hear from unless they have an issue with their dealings with GNWT programs or services. In the case of these specific requests for information or assistance, we very often contact the office of the Minister responsible. That is when we either get prompt, wholesome and helpful responses, or not. Each of the Ministers in our government are responsible for a wide range of topics. Our government delivers and participates in the same vast range of areas that any government two, three or four times our size would. So Ministers are busy.

The good news is that although we have a small number in Cabinet, we have a correspondingly small number of MLAs to which this Cabinet is accountable. Being a Regular Member, of course, I think that MLAs and issues they represent on behalf of their constituents should be the very highest priority of our Ministers.

We are a small territory. We represent relatively small constituencies where it is quite possible to know every one of those constituents. This results in constituents feeling quite at liberty to contact their MLAs quite freely about just about anything. That is a good thing. Our ability to serve our constituents well has a lot to do with the seriousness and importance that Ministers place on our issues. This will always be evident in the demeanour and attitude displayed by the Minister’s office.

I could offer compliments and kudos to several offices, different offices today of Ministers, but I want to focus on one department. After being an MLA for the past 10 years, I could say that about 50 percent of the inquiries that we deal with in our office relate to health and social services. So I am happy today to commend the Minister of Health and Social Services and his ministerial staff for prompt and thoughtful responses to many of the inquiries we make and issues that we raise. There are many challenges. I want my constituents to know. Make no mistake…I need unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. I want to make it abundantly clear that I know extremely well, as do the people across the North and in Hay River, that there are many challenges facing health and social services in the big picture. But I want to say that a good working relationship is the premise of why I remain very optimistic about continuing to address those concerns. I would just like to thank the Minister for his attention to those issues. Thank you.

---Applause