Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to follow up on my line of questioning yesterday that we had for the Minister of Health and Social Services in what must have seemed like a mini theme day for Minister Abernethy, but when we talk about people leaving the Northwest Territories, the outward migration of residents of the North, we need to look at all aspects of that.

Yesterday I spoke about some of the challenges for seniors living in the North: the cost of living, the cost of living independently in their own homes. Today I’d like to talk about another segment of population who we often hear...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think Members of this House will agree that Hay River is nothing if it is not home to some very interesting people, some very innovative, entrepreneurial and very successful people.

Just briefly, I want to recognize a few of those people today. We have here in the gallery today Brad Mapes, who most of you know is doing a very cutting edge, leading edge entrepreneurial endeavour in Hay River, which we wish him well with and are honoured to witness a signing today, an historic signing today.

You don’t have to talk to very many people outside of Hay River, Northwest...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week I stood up in this House and talked about all the wonderful programs and services available in the Northwest Territories. Today I’d like to focus on one area. That is the area of support to seniors.

People are living longer in the Northwest Territories and we want to keep our population from declining by seniors thinking about having to retire in the South because of the challenges here in the North. In spite of all of our good programs, that’s something that we have to be concerned about. I listed some of the support we do have for seniors, such as Pharmacare...

That is also good news. I would also like to ask the Minister what the government’s position is or strategy is with respect to the sustainability of the support for seniors given that some seniors do receive an extraordinary amount of support, basically living without having to worry about the cost of fuel or they’re living in government accommodation and they don’t have to worry about the cost of fuel or the cost of power. They don’t have to worry about who they’re going to pay to shovel the snow off their driveway. That cost, as compared to the cost of seniors who are much more supported, I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Unfortunately, I’m not exactly certain who is the Minister responsible for Seniors in this government. Whoever it is, that’s who I’m directing my questions to.

What kind of proactive work is this government doing to establish a survey or a database of information on the up and coming needs of seniors? We say we want to keep seniors healthy, we want to keep them independent, we want to keep them in the North and I would like to ask, how are we anticipating the needs of seniors as our population ages? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to take this one step forward. Does the government or the Minister know of any program that provides for reaching out to seniors who are currently living in their own accommodation to see how they are doing health-wise, expense-wise?

You go into buildings and you read in newspapers now and it says if you’re renting accommodation and you’re spending more than 30 percent of your household income on rent, come to the Housing Corporation and we’ll give you a subsidy. I’m not saying that’s a bad program; I’m saying that’s a very a proactive program.

I’d like to know...

I do recognize the department does do a lot of good work with the seniors and for seniors in the Northwest Territories. I’d like to ask the Minister, how does that information they have on the age, health status, housing conditions, how does that translate, that information, into a plan to ensure that we continue to support seniors in the appropriate levels?

Good afternoon, colleagues.

Before we begin today, I’d like to draw your attention to the Canadian flags on your desks. In 1996, February 15th was declared National Flag Day of Canada to mark the introduction of Canada’s national flag.

It was on February 15, 1965, that the first flag with its distinctive red and white maple leaf design flew proudly on Parliament Hill in our nation’s capital. Since then the flag has become an iconic symbol of Canada, known the world over and associated with the Canadian ideals of democracy, freedom and respect.

Although we don’t see maple trees in this part of the...

I will ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to please bring the witnesses to the table.

For the record, Minister Beaulieu, could you please introduce your witnesses.

Thank you, Minister Beaulieu. I would like to ask Minister Beaulieu if he would now like to bring witnesses into the Chamber.