Debates of August 23, 2007 (day 16)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for Seniors, Mr. Bell. Sorry. The question I have for the Minister responsible for Seniors is: Is the government looking at implementing a one-stop shop for seniors in small communities where they can all go to one building, get all their services, get all their programs that they need, get the services that they need to find out about, in our smaller communities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister responsible for Seniors, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 186-15(6): Centralized Services For Seniors

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said yesterday in my statement about income security, the government’s plan is to eventually move towards providing all of our social programs, if possible, through one office in all communities. It will take some time to get there, but eventually that would be the plan.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 186-15(6): Centralized Services For Seniors

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would ask if government would make it a priority to look at the seniors first in terms of having this plan here. Give some thought to the strong recommendations that the seniors programs be looked at in terms the seniors can go to one place and deal with all their issues in one spot rather than to look at other buildings where they have to go in their communities as it is done today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 186-15(6): Centralized Services For Seniors

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government already has a 1-800 number that is delivered in conjunction with the Seniors' Society in order to make sure that seniors are able to access clear and concise information about programs that are available. As I have said, over the next few years we expect that this government will move to ensure that all of its front-line services are delivered through one-stop shopping in the communities. So I can commit to the Member that moving in that direction will be a priority for this government.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 186-15(6): Centralized Services For Seniors

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the 1-800 number. I would like to see if there’s more of a cultural relevance in terms of small communities where the elders -- their primary language is their aboriginal language -- in terms of having something else besides a 1-800 number; somebody in the community that is dedicated just for seniors that has a strong language and can speak to the seniors; one person in the community that can work with the seniors in terms of coordinating some of the programs and services they are dealing with today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 186-15(6): Centralized Services For Seniors

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It would be a marvellous opportunity if we could find a way to have a person in every community to deal exclusively with seniors but, as the Members knows, we don’t have enough of a demand in all of our communities to have staff available for such dedication. That’s one of the reasons that we’re looking at service centres, or government service centres in communities where programs like income security programs can be delivered. Hopefully, over time, we can expand the programming that they’re able to deliver to include those services for seniors. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 186-15(6): Centralized Services For Seniors

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think there are lots of ways we can look at dedicating this one person. There is lots of work in the region that needs to get to the seniors that I think this government, hopefully, would make some strong recommendations as to how to coordinate some of the approaches and having some of the workers just be dedicated for the seniors. If we don’t do something like this, it’s going to be very difficult later on. So I ask again if they would look at dedicating some of this work to their staff in the communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 186-15(6): Centralized Services For Seniors

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government will work with the Seniors' Society to determine what is appropriate in each community and see how quickly we can move forward with that.