David Krutko

I just have a question for the Minister, maybe she can provide the information. Can you give me the information on how many northern aboriginal people are working in the health care system when it comes to long-term care facilities in the Northwest Territories and what are those statistics, since you keep saying that we have not been able to fill all these jobs? How many long-term Northerners and aboriginal caregivers do we have in the long-term care facilities in the Northwest Territories to date? Broken down by each community or facility.

Next on the list I have Ms. Bisaro.

Minister of Health, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I, too, have a similar question in regards to the Minister and just looking at the statistics that we see from the department. In the Inuvik region, based on 2006 statistics, people over the age of 70, there are 250 individuals identified in 2006. Again, I think these numbers are a little low, from the information that I have been pulling together. I have tabled information in the Legislature in the last sitting in regards to the information that was pulled together from Fort McPherson, which identified some 122 individuals over the age of 60 and 86 people over the age...

Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since someone opened the barn door and let the horses out, I might as well get involved in this debate too.

I’ve had a discussion with the president of the Gwich’in Tribal Council and the vice-president and there has been an olive branch handed out to the Premier to meet with them in Inuvik, where they just happen to be in the Premier’s riding. He has never once gone into the tribal council office to try to sit down and find a resolution to this problem. The letter that was sent to you clearly identified that they wanted to meet and discuss these issues. You have not at...

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to send my condolences to the Bruce family of Old Crow on the passing of their mother, their grandmother and, more importantly, a very important figure in the Gwich’in region.

Mr. Speaker, the Gwich’in people from across the Northwest Territories will be gathering today in Old Crow for the passing of Reverend Ellen Bruce. Ellen was the first northern aboriginal woman to be ordained in the Anglican Church and also was a member of the Order of Canada.

Mr. Speaker, Reverend Bruce is well known for her work with the church, but more importantly, working with the Gwich’in...

I believe that the six points that are spelled out in the letter basically outline the areas of concern. It’s not only the concern of the Gwich’in, it’s the concern of the other regions in the Northwest Territories that do have land claims. They do have costs and administration systems in place. They do have management regimes that they want to make sure there is a working relationship between whatever government that provides government services regarding land management. I think it’s important that we work with those land claims groups that have land claims settlements, more importantly...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. How can the Premier sit here and say that he’s working in cooperation with the First Nations government and all the people here? The only people I see him working with is one office that he goes into and he gets them to ask his questions. I’d like to ask him, why you are not involved in the aboriginal leaders who are elected by their membership in a face-to-face meeting, one that requested it in a letter six months ago to which they haven’t gotten a response or even a phone call? Is that the way that you operate?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

CREATE POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES

Positive outcomes will result from combining quality social services and interventions with activities that encourage community participation, ownership and empowerment. As an important step in developing better relations with the community, the department and its authorities must work with communities on all levels: project planning, implementation and evaluation. Empowering the communities to take responsibility for their own child protection and family services and supports would go a long way towards...