Daryl Dolynny

The bill as a whole?

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. This concludes it. I believe everyone had a chance to speak in general comments. I will allow the sponsor of the bill to comment back on the general comments. Mr. Yakeleya.

Okay, committee. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to table a document in relation to my oral questions today. It’s regarding Keep Seniors At Home Longer: Minister, an October 14, 2013, Yellowknifer article. Thank you.

Again, I appreciate the Minister’s response on that. Seniors often deal with a rotating cast of nurses and personal care workers each with their own different style of delivering care. In fact, patients can encounter what is called a kaleidoscope of different messages that increase the risk of communication breakdown.

Can the Minister indicate what is his department doing to improve and address this kaleidoscope of different messages our seniors receive?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m going to give the Minister a bit of a break on addictions. Earlier this month our Minister of Health and Social Services held a joint meeting with our federal Minister of State for Seniors, the Honourable Alice Wong, here in Yellowknife. The theme that came out of this meeting is how we can help our seniors and the challenges they face. I, like many, were interested in what exactly this territory will embark on to support our growing influx of seniors. My question today will be for the Minister of Health and Social Services.

Canada, in general, is way behind on home...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The guiding principles of the 17th Legislative Assembly clearly state that under extraordinary circumstances, Members of the Legislative Assembly should have the opportunity to discuss significant announcements, changes or initiatives before they are released to public. Unfortunately, it appears that the Minister of Health and Social Services and his entire department failed to dust off these principles, as numerous cavalier actions took place during the summer months that affected our dealings with addictions and health governance. Of course, Mr. Speaker, I’m talking...

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. With this, it concludes our general comments. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I’d like to thank the sponsor of the bill, Mr. Yakeleya. I’d like to thank the hospitality of the people of the Sahtu for sharing their time, their stories, their struggle and thoughts on Bill 24.

Furthermore, I wish to thank the Sahtu community leaders, band councils, chiefs and elders for your wisdom and guidance.

Bill 24 is simplistic in design, yet opens up the bigger issue of social responsibility when it comes to alcohol and its devastating effects. We heard from the sponsor of the bill that the Sahtu is unique, but does the Sahtu not suffer from the same issues as...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, thank you to the Minister. Finally, the Minister is quoted in the Yellowknifer on October 14, 2013, which I’ll table later today, that is directly related to the topic that we’re talking about here today. I’m going to quote here: “If we’re able to hold 10 seniors back for 10 years, that’s $1 million a year.” Can the Minister explain this quote to the House?