Bob Bromley

Mr. Speaker, the Minister has told me that justices want these mental health services in place. In his work with the Minister of Health, and in recognizing that the programs being proposed for 2013-14 are in the budget, will these programs meet, as proposed, the needs assessed by justice requirements for a mental health court? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Justice. The Department of Justice has been working on the development of a mental health diversion court in response to repeated committee requests and motions passed in this and the 16th Assembly. The Minister has told me that justices are generally supportive but need to be assured that the model to be used will satisfy conditions for being a legal alternative form of sentencing.

How is the Minister working to ensure that this legal test is met and when can we expect to see these proposals for review by committee? Mahsi.

I did, indeed, give the Minister considerable notice here, so I appreciate that I will be getting that information very soon.

Last session I asked the Minister why home ownership units stand unsold, pointing out that income rating and debt restrictions often prevent people from meeting program eligibilities. A more individual approach is needed. Both the Housing Corporation and I would like to see increased home ownership.

What is the Minister doing to evaluate the Housing Choices program to include some applicant file audits and to pursue other measures to tune up the program and get people...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again today, advocates for the prompt provision of on-the-ground midwifery services are gathering outside this Assembly to press their case. Some may join us here in the gallery yet again, to watch our proceedings and repeat the appeal for early and full introduction of midwifery service. Through petition, letter, contacts with MLAs and with the Health Minister, the NWT Citizens for Midwifery have demonstrated their broad base of support espousing the wisdom of implementing territory-wide midwifery.

The proposed budget contains limited amounts for partial introduction of...

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Minister mentioned in his earlier comments the three pilot projects they’ve got going in the area of, I believe it’s chronic disease. Just in terms of our policy development and whatnot, what are those three programs and what is the basis for the evaluation that will go into designing the then permanent chronic care strategy?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have been at this for several years now, so I’m glad the Minister is getting a sense. We were told by Health that, in fact, these programs will meet the mental health court requirements.

Is the Justice department going to be prepared to fund a court, given that those conditions are met, for 2013-14 and the feasibility study will, obviously, be done this fiscal year? Mahsi.

Our biggest department, probably our biggest challenges, very heavily dependent on technology, very expensive technology, so there’s lots of work here. I appreciate the work he does on these challenges. I also very much appreciate our social programs. I think we have a very effective bunch working on that front, too, and I know the Minister appreciates that.

I just want to mention the social determinates of health. To me, this is the framework within which I like to view things. It’s a broad scope. They are early childhood development education; ability of one to get a job; the kind of work...

I appreciate the Minister’s response again. I think we really want to use those emergency provisions only when there is an emergency, otherwise it needs the oversight. Now, these problems could have been avoided if we had an effective community-based mechanism for independent oversight. Yet, despite six drafts of an oversight discussion paper and eight drafts of an Environmental Agreement, the working group hasn’t met since last August.

The Minister stated his support for independent oversight at a March 2012 workshop. So will the Minister direct his department and encourage our federal...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my questions to the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources and focus on the Giant Mine Remediation Project. Aboriginal Affairs Northern Development Canada, GNWT’s partner on this remediation project, has filed a water licence application to carry out demolition of the roaster complex at the Giant Mine, requiring removal of 700 tonnes of deadly arsenic trioxide and 90,000 cubic metres of waste, but there are serious concerns with the federal government plan for site. Most disturbing is a lack of a comprehensive dust management and air...

Music to my ears. Thanks again. Given the imminent and long sought powers of devolution, we could ensure Giant Mine is the last massive liability dumped on the taxpayer. This government introduced environmental security requirements for activities on Commissioner’s land. What is the government’s plan for moving swiftly to extend these requirements to new legislation through devolution to use of the land we’ll be taking control of following devolution?