Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’d like to start by thanking the chair of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure for guiding us through consultations on this proposed act. It’s been a huge one, as my colleague Mr. Yakeleya has mentioned. Much bigger than we had expected. I’ve appreciated his guidance and the assistance of our staff. As I believe our chair said, I was very impressed and thankful to all the people of the NWT who took time to participate in those consultations.

We had tremendous turnouts, tremendous and enthusiastic turnouts, passionate presentations, both at...

Thanks, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Darrell Beaulieu as well, a resident of Weledeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d just like to follow up perhaps with the Premier. I’ve heard some distressing remarks here. I find the Auditor General’s remarks and report here quite distressing. I heard the Minister of Transportation say we followed the rules. In fact, Mr. Speaker, they didn’t do that. They changed the rules, not once but twice and the second time was...

Thank you for the response from the Minister. Mr. Speaker, we need data to attack this problem. Data is information and all we have right now is anecdotal information. The Seniors’ Society is calling on government to get the facts and start research projects to collect specific data on the extent of elder abuse and living conditions specific to seniors. The Anti-Poverty Alliance is calling for the same improvements in data collection. Will the Minister commit to working with the Department of Executive to take prompt action on this request so we can set the 17th Assembly up with good data for...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to probe a little further on how this government can and will assist our seniors as they struggle to deal with the issue of elder abuse. My questions are for the Minister responsible for Seniors.

At the close of the NWT Seniors’ Building Network Symposium the society stated some priorities for immediate action. They want to put in place pilot networks in communities over the next three to four years; upgrade their online support to fight abuse with information; they want to reinstate the NWT Prevention of Abuse of Older Adults Steering Committee; and they seek...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to speak today on one of the tragic realities facing our elders: the huge yet hidden prevalence of elder abuse.

The NWT Seniors’ Society has been working hard to push this reality out into the open through their Building Networks on Elder Abuse Project. The project’s three phases were reviewed at a two-day symposium in Yellowknife, November 30th and December 1st, attended by more than 100 participants drawn from all regions.

Community and literature research was reported. National experts shared their wisdom on the state of knowledge on elder abuse. The results of...

Thank you, committee. We’ll do that, but we’ll start with a short break.

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I’d like to call the Committee of the Whole to order. We have before us for consideration today: tabled documents 4, 30, 38, 62, 75, 103 and 135, as well as Bills 4, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and Minister’s statements 65 and 88. What is the wish of committee, Mrs. Groenewegen?

The Minister for the Department of Transportation mentioned that the Cabinet or somebody followed standard practice which included, apparently, amending rules. I’m wondering what message this sends out to our public, to our colleagues, to our businesses. Can they simply change the rules or are rules in fact put in place for a reason?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have to chuckle, Mr. Speaker, I did not say the word “broken.” I said the word “changed the rules.” I believe the Auditor General has used the word “amended the rules” and I was looking for a synonym that was plain language because I know our public are listening. So if the Premier chooses to interpret that as broken, well that seems to reflect a sensitivity on his part, but in fact, I used the word “changed the rules” and in fact the...