Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This motion is partly in response to the results of our educational programs, which have created a situation where we have students graduating with a diploma which does not prepare them for the post-secondary education that they wish to take on. Unfortunately, when I went to school we had vocational and matriculation diplomas and it was very clear what they prepared you for in terms of post-secondary. Today we don’t have that.

I know the Minister is aware of this and is working with committees and others, his staff, to make sure that we plug that hole, but in the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you again to the Minister. Again just referencing the statement, I note the reference to broad implications that we’re taking. We have taken broad action and, in fact, we are contemplating broadening the application of our reduction measures. I’m wondering if we will commit to seriously going after effective new actions that demonstrate significant net reductions in NWT emissions, especially relative to 1990 levels, and putting this government back into a leadership position. Just looking around the Territory, I see municipalities, the NWTAC and so on providing...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to take a few moments today to discuss the process that will be followed to consider and debate the report of the Independent Commission to Review Members’ Compensation and Benefits. I would be remiss if I didn’t begin by thanking the commission members themselves for their detailed and thoughtful work.

The commission provided every Member of the House with opportunity to provide their thoughts and perspectives for the commission’s consideration. Ample opportunity was also made for public participation. The commission members were Ed Gullberg, Leon Lafferty and...

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Minister’s comments there. Just for confirmation, will the Minister recognize Members’ advice on this, that it is clearly a priority and it needs to be treated as a priority, and will she commit to bringing some solutions forward when next we meet, I believe early in December? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Allen Barret, David Ross, executive director of YKACL, Kiefer Dolphus, Lenora Barret, Michael and Shauna Henry, the Weledeh school student and all other members from the Weledeh riding. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to take a few minutes to really speak to the benefits of respite services in the words of the people themselves. I want to start with expressions of benefits about the family members who have disabilities. What are they gaining from the respite services we currently provide and are talking about discontinuing? A break from their families. That seems odd, but if you think about it, you can understand that pretty quickly: the opportunity to develop social skills and aptitudes, relationship building, concepts, learning opportunities, partnerships, new...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to follow up from my Member’s statement earlier today when I talked about the relationship between the Minister and the standing committees on Social Programs and Priorities and Planning. How will the Minister include the Standing Committee on Social Programs? Perhaps, how is she including the committee and how will she include the committee in coming to a solution for priority funding and maintenance of respite services in Yellowknife and the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week the Minister of Health and Social Services indicated that the Executive Council agreed to rescind the 2007 policy changing supplementary health benefits. The House applauded this action. Today I wish to address next steps.

The Minister indicated in her statements that advancing work on revising elements of the Supp Health Policy will require varying levels of additional research and planning before implementation. This is a significant statement, one that reflects a longstanding message of many Members and committees that have dealt with this subject. I fully...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, November 4, 2010, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that this Legislative Assembly recommends that eligibility for the Student Financial Assistance Program be expanded to include students taking full-time secondary school upgrading programs in preparation for post-secondary education. Mahsi.

I’m wondering, the voluntary sector -- speaking specifically about the voluntary sector -- has called a number of times for an independent office within government, such as the Department of Executive, that would serve to simply help them in building capacity. That’s something this government has talked about a number of times. I think we may even have talked about it earlier in this session. The Premier I believe is putting some consideration into that. I’m wondering where the Premier is at or when we might be able to give a positive response to these organizations that are requesting that...