David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know there’s a program and treatment centre in Hay River that deals with alcohol addiction, but my main concern is for drug addiction. It’s becoming more prevalent every day in society in the Northwest Territories, especially with our young people. As I mentioned, the economy is growing stronger and people have more money; the problem is only going to grow. I’d like to ask the Minister if he will indeed have a look at setting up a dedicated treatment centre for drug addiction in the Northwest Territories. I think it’s something that we have to pay attention to and it...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m just wondering where members might find the actual budget for that new hospital in terms of maintenance, heating fuel and power consumption.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m just wondering if the Minister and his department have a strategy to perhaps come up with a program that is tailored to the residents of the Northwest Territories that they can seek some programming help while at home and not have to journey south, away from friends and family, to seek the help that they need. I’m just wondering if the department has any plans to try to put together some type of program tailor made to our situation here in the North. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I guess I will start off with asking the question why a new hospital that was twice the size of the old hospital was using a budget based on 2002-03 actuals of the old hospital. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Residents are often sent south to get help far away from friends and family to support and encourage them. Money seems to be the biggest hurdle to overcome in making this happen. I would like to comment that during last fall's election campaign, many residents felt that a dedicated treatment centre was necessary and much needed. As a government, we need to prioritize the needs of our residents, with health and welfare being at the top of that list.

Why do we continue to operate a young offenders' facility in Inuvik with no clients, or a hospital in Fort Smith with...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will stop here. I just would like to know who did the budgeting for the new hospital in Inuvik in terms of what it would cost for utilities and maintenance. Was it an outside firm or was it Public Works? Someone really dropped the ball on this to miss this budget by what amounts to $1 million a year. If it’s one of our employees, they should be looking for a new job, Mr. Chairman.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So to the Minister, if an employee of one of these health authorities committed a crime against a patient or another client of whatever service delivery that they’re doing, would this insurance cover us against liability, Mr. Chairman, on the behaviour of one of our employees or an employee of the health authority? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m just wondering if the Minister could describe for us the types of liability and crime insurance coverage that this type of insurance covers. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee, for your committee’s comments. I would like to ask the Minister if he would like to bring in witnesses.

Clause 4.