David Ramsay

Going back to the plan that the Minister presented two years ago and talked about balancing budgets, I’m not sure exactly what she’s talking about. I’m not standing up here today suggesting that programs be cut, services be cut. I’m suggesting that we come up with a workable solution and a plan going forward.

I have a question that I don’t need a long, verbose answer to. I’d like to ask the Minister, is the department and Stanton Hospital, is there an intention to start charging people for parking at that hospital?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve got questions today to the Minister of Health and Social Services. It goes back to my Member’s statement where I was talking about deficits that have been accruing specifically at Stanton, which is what I want to talk about today, but at other health authorities across the Northwest Territories.

Eighteen months ago the Minister came to committee and presented a plan that would see those deficits get back to zero. In fact, over the past 18 months deficits at not just Stanton but at other health authorities across the Northwest Territories are growing at an...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the recommendation of the committee is to look at shelving the proposed changes to the supplementary health benefits in the Northwest Territories until next fall when it can become an election issue, is that something that the Minister could support?

I was wondering if the Minister could outline for the Regular Members here and the public -- obviously there are going to be questions and concerns stemming from the release of this working group’s report -- what process is going to be followed that is going to allow questions and concerns for Members and the general public to be addressed by the government before anything is implemented.

I shouldn’t have to preach politics to other politicians, but, understandably, the Minister should go door to door in her riding, attending election forums and answer to the public and her constituents on why she continues to support changes to supplementary health benefits. Mr. Speaker, this will also give other candidates in ridings across the Territory an opportunity to state their position on proposed changes to supplementary health benefits. Then let the electorate decide who the candidates they’re willing to support will be.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be pursing this issue with great...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure has reviewed Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Tourism Act, and wishes to report that Bill 9 is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’m not sure how officially the report got to us today. We did receive it and I’m not at liberty to discuss that report right now. Obviously it’s not before the House. However, what I want to ask the Minister is: Is that report the gospel according to this Cabinet? Is this Cabinet going to entertain parking the proposed changes to supplemental health until next fall when rightfully it can become an election issue here in the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have questions today for the Minister of Health and Social Services. I guess I’ve got some great concern over some comments that the Minister made at her constituency meeting where she talked about the proposed changes to supplementary health. In fact, one of the quotes that the Minister made at that meeting was that portions of that plan would be implemented in November. That’s two weeks from now.

The report from the working group has just come forward recently. I’d like to ask the Minister what exactly she is referring to. What exactly is going to be implemented in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker It is a pleasure to be back amongst my colleagues here in the House and I’m looking forward to working with all of you towards a productive fall session.

Mr. Speaker, last evening I hosted a Kam Lake constituency meeting at N.J. Macpherson School, and I’d like to thank all those that attended and shared their thoughts and concerns with me. Mr. Speaker, it is my job and responsibility as an MLA to listen to my constituents and to the public and then raise those concerns here in this House.

Mr. Speaker, I can’t possibly do justice to all the issues that were brought up last...