Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to introduce, to and through you again, the International Rotary students here. Welcome to the House. We have two guests from Calgary who are on their first time here to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. We have Laura McLeod and John Humphrey from Calgary who are friends with Minnie, who works in our cafeteria. She’s got a great, beautiful last name in German I cannot pronounce. Welcome to the House.

Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Yakeleya, I’m going to let the Minister respond to that. Just so that you’re aware, we’re on active positions and health and social services authorities, so we’re on 8-11, but we’ll ask the Minister to reply to that one question, but I’ll ask you to redirect future questions to the page. Mr. Beaulieu.

Page 8-10, Health and Social Services, information item, active position summary. Any questions?

Thank you, committee. I’d like to turn your attention to 8-7. We’ll be deferring this until after consideration. Page 8-8, Health and Social Services, information item, infrastructure investment summary. Any questions?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. General comments. It looks like we’ve covered everyone. We’ll give an opportunity to the Minister to respond to general comments. Minister Beaulieu.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Welcome, Minister of Health and department here again this afternoon. It’s interesting. I am sitting here listening to the Minister’s opening remarks, and the first paragraph indicates $363 million, which is a 4 percent increase from last year. It makes it sound like that is an incredible number, which it is. But when you factor in forced growth, we’re not even touching the issues that are affecting the residents of the Northwest Territories, in my opinion. In fact, you’ll hear for three days on what that opinion is very valid. We’re not even near.

I am hoping the...

I agree that there ought to be a stepped approach for requirements. Is it safe to say that the need of a proper legislation for the functioning of a crematorium lies in the hands of the territorial government, yet we’re waiting for a request, I guess, from the general public or organization? Given that fact, we are only one of two remaining jurisdictions in Canada without such legislation, it bears to ask the question, could the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs consider such legislation in the absence of requests from public. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I spoke on a sensitive topic pertaining to lack of legislation around the functioning of a crematorium. I want to convey again my respect of such topic to the many cultures sensitive to the subject.

The costs of a cremation are respectfully more affordable than traditional embalming, casket and burial. As I mentioned earlier today, without the proper legislation means we cannot have a functioning crematorium in the Northwest Territories. As a result, families must incur extra expenses to send loved ones to southern facilities. It is with this topic in mind...

I’d like to thank Minister Beaulieu here today and I’d like to thank Ms. DeLancey and Ms. Mathison. Sergeant-at-Arms, if you could escort the witnesses out of the House. Thank you very much.