Bob Bromley

Thanks to the Minister for those comments. We certainly do need redundancy here in order to avoid this sort of situation. I just want to explore further the issue of backup for emergencies. The Minister’s 2010 answers to me promised a change in process and more staff training. Ms. Bisaro was told last week that there will be client service officer training, and the Minister has confirmed that. Because this is a financial payment function, and because the need for prompt payments is absolutely critical, will the Minister ensure that not only client service officers but an emergency backup in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Ben McDonald, a stalwart of Alternatives North and defender of the public good.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank my colleague Mr. Yakeleya for helping to bring this motion forward.

This motion is in response to the very deeply held concerns territory-wide about the loss of environmental review, oversight, and public participation that recent federal legislation passed and proposed is causing. Known as the federal omnibus Bill C-38 passed in June and C-45 currently under consideration, the impacts of these legislatives are more strongly felt and immediate in the North because the environmental management regime is largely federal here. This motion asks our...

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 93(4) and move Committee Report 7-17(3) into Committee of the Whole today.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of midwifery care. The petition contains 27 signatures of Yellowknife residents.

The petitioners request that the Government of the Northwest Territories commit to expanding the Midwifery Program to other communities in the NWT beyond Fort Smith for fiscal year 2013-14, by identifying the selected communities and committing to the continuity of this expansion with annual core funding. Further, that the Government of the Northwest Territories ensure that women feel confident and secure to stay in their communities...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Gobbledy-gook. Why can the Minister not work management authorities now and get a resident quota in place for this season? Record numbers of caribou, unlimited Aboriginal harvest, how about 10 tags for resident hunters?

The Minister refuses to answer. I will answer for you. Never. Resident hunters are never allowed unlimited harvest on barren land caribou. I’m not saying that’s good or bad, it’s simply the way it is. The season has been closed – that is zero harvest for resident hunters – for years now for all barren land caribou for resident hunters, except possibly the Porcupine. What has been the Aboriginal quota on the Bluenose-East caribou this year?

Mr. Speaker, thanks again to the Minister for that response. My understanding is that the client service officers put in the order for the cheque and then the financial people issue the cheque. That is what I was referring to. I assume that the Minister has that well in hand and will ensure both steps are taken in a timely fashion.

When these payments are late they cause ripple effects. People incur late fees for things such as phone and electricity. These are people for whom a five or 10 dollar additional charge is equivalent to a day’s groceries for a family. Unfortunately, current income...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to follow up on my colleague Ms. Bisaro’s questions to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment the other day regarding late payment of income support.

I’ll start by noting that I raised this issue with the Minister in 2010 and was told at the time that the problem was due to staff changes. This time it’s attributed to the possibility of holidays or staff vacancies. Obviously, these predictable and regular occurrences should never deprive people, destitute people of their only way to pay rent, buy food and clothe their families.

Can the Minister assure...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Later today I will be tabling a written petition of 27 signatures, calling for the early introduction of midwifery services throughout our communities.

This paper petition is in addition to the e-petition that will remain open for signatures until January on the Legislative Assembly website. My colleagues for Hay River North and Frame Lake have spoken this session on the need for early introduction of midwifery services throughout our community. I will add my voice to theirs.

The Minister of Health has heard the sound arguments: improved social functioning, enhanced...