David Ramsay

One of the general themes stemming from the NWT Alcohol and Drug Program’s discussion paper from last fall was that there needs to be more attention paid to health promotion and prevention programs. Investments need to be made and programs aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing the onset of addictions. These would be required in order to effectively combat alcohol and drug issues. The more children in the NWT that we can get into sports and recreational type activities, the better the chance they will have to choose healthy living. We need to get more physical activity into our...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just to wrap this up, again, I know we talked about this at length now, but, to me, if we don’t send the message out there that it is not okay to run up huge deficits and come back to the Legislative Assembly to have us rubberstamp basically saying it is okay. You can run up a $7 million deficit. It is okay. We are just going to rubberstamp it and approve it anyway. I don’t think that is the message that I want to get out there. I think these health operations in the regions have to be run effectively and they have to be managed effectively. They have to be funded...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have had this discussion with the Minister before in committee regarding the deficit situation at some of our health boards at Stanton and the Beaufort-Delta. Am I to understand too that there is some deficit accruing in the Sahtu as well? I would like the Minister to elaborate a little bit on what the plan is to better manage these facilities and these boards if they are allowed to run up what amounts in the last few years here over $10 million in deficit and then come back to supplementary appropriation to, in effect, wipe out their deficit. That is not a very...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. How is prenatal care coordinated in the NWT today? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I’ve got a number of questions on this as well and it follows up with my colleague Mr. Yakeleya. I guess first of all, the Action Plan on Family Violence was approved by the Assembly I believe 18 months, two years ago, now. It’s been around for a little while. I’m just wondering if these two functions, the survey and the territorial family violence conference, are items that are included in phase two of that action plan. Why is the Department of Executive coming back through supplementary appropriations seeking money to have these two things carried out when...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, too, will support the motion that is before us today on criminal records checks. Mr. Speaker, it is something I feel very strongly about. I believe the justice system in this country is too lax and it is no fault of young children, who have offenders molest them, that our jails and our justice system fails and lets people out of jail early that will re-offend. They are out there, Mr. Speaker. We have to take every step that we can to ensure that our children are safe in our communities and they are not going to be victims of sexual abuse perpetrated...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I feel quite strongly that the Government of the Northwest Territories has an obligation to the people it represents to implement such a service and to work with the stakeholders to ensure that there’s a 911 service. If that starts out in Yellowknife and expands to Hay River and Fort Smith, so be it. Then we can expand it later on. I’d like to ask the Minister, and I wasn’t overly impressed with the last answer, but what are the next steps to move this forward, and where does the responsibility lie to move this issue forward to the next level so that we can...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So the $50,000 is going towards developing a tool kit and putting on some workshops. Is that right?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs some questions regarding the 911 service. As I mentioned in my Member’s statement, six years ago, in 2001, the chief coroner of the Northwest Territories recommended that MACA work with the RCMP and the City of Yellowknife to establish a 911 service. The first year was to be in Yellowknife and then that service was to be expanded out to other communities in the Northwest Territories. Why is it six years later? What has happened? Why aren’t we at a stage where we can start moving 911 outside of...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. One more question on page 11 and that has to do with the funding to support the implementation activities associated with the New Deal for communities. If I remember correctly, the original number that was the ask by MACA was for $100,000. I just wanted some more information. The committee said they wanted that money taken out, but it’s come back as half; $50,000 instead of $100,000. So I wanted to ask the Minister what the impact of not having $100,000 would be and what is going to happen with the $50,000?