Bill Braden

Okay. Thank you, Madam Chair. That’s all for now.

Madam Chair, thank you. A bit earlier in this current fiscal year, 2004-5, 2005-06, we were able to flow $1 million, which came from the federal government, into the planning for a dementia facility here in Yellowknife. This was in cooperation with the Yellowknife Association of Concerned Citizens for Seniors. It was a very welcome bit of funding work. Now, there has been also quite a bit of work going on to look into the state of facilities, of care facilities for seniors in other parts of the territory, as well, Madam Chair, in the last few months. This was all with the expectation that we...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have written questions for two Ministers. The first set, Mr. Speaker, is for Minister Bell as the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Investment and they relate to the Diamond Strategy of this government.

Is the newly announced marketing venture with the diamond cutting/polishing/jewellery manufacturers a partnership, and how much money will each party contribute?

What are the objectives and tasks of this strategy, and will the department be reporting results to the Assembly on a regular basis?

Well, we have been put on notice again to the Chalmers report. Mr. Speaker, our Mental Health Act is, I discussed in my Member’s statement, a piece of legislation that is badly out of date in accordance with professional, legal and administrative standards. An impression that I have been given is if we can modernize this, we are not only going to be able to give people better care and do it quicker, we are also going to be saving a lot of human resources and money. Would the Minister advise that we will see the modernization and updating of our mental health legislation during the life of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions this morning will be for Mr. Miltenberger as the Minister of Health and Social Services. They relate to the field of mental health services and legislation in the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, the Social Programs committee, in its report to the Assembly, referred to the pre-budget consultations that were held last fall in a number of communities. I will paraphrase, Mr. Speaker. The report told us that there is not a lot of buy-in at the local level for the Mental Health and Addictions Strategy. Anecdotally, Members were told there is a real disconnect between...

Thank you, Madam Chair. It still doesn't help resolve my concern that by the time we get to the point where we have to vote the Housing Corporation's expenditures here, we may not know, even if we defer the corporation's detail approval, even if we defer it to the end of the month, we may not know in time. So I'd like to know what's plan B here. If the feds don't come through in time, is the Housing Corporation still going to commit to a $33 million/185-unit housing program, or just what is the extent of what we're able to do if the feds don't come through, Madam Chair? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to start with a few specific queries to the Minister’s opening statement. It starts off, Madam Chair, right in the third paragraph where the Minister told us that in the coming fiscal year, the corporation is planning a significant increase in housing delivery, some 185 units, $33 million. A number of them are replacements for public housing; the Supported Lease Program to assist people to become homeowners. These are very much at the core of why we want a successful housing agenda, but, Madam Chair, the statement then goes on to say this ambitious plan...

Mr. Speaker, to the reference that the Minister made to the many different partners, stakeholders, that are coming into play here. Is there a collective will, Mr. Speaker, to recognize that we have an urgent situation on our hands, and a will to take action? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question this afternoon is for Mr. Miltenberger as the Minister responsible for energy and renewable resources, and it regards the state of our caribou populations, Mr. Speaker. We've essentially seen, from many indicators, that as the herds have been declining, we've known that for some time, but the rate at which they're declining is speeded up, it is now something that is really causing a lot of concern. Mr. Speaker, what is the government doing to manage the alarming trend of declining caribou herds and avoid the terrible legacies of the past as it plundered the...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Does the Premier then concur with the information that the Minister has provided, that we should be anticipating something by this spring?