Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen
Hay River South

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 6)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS pursuant to subsection 61.(1) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, the Legislative Assembly chooses a Premier and recommends to the Commissioner the appointment of Members to the Executive Council;

AND WHEREAS pursuant to subsection 61.(2) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, the persons appointed hold office during the pleasure of the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS many events have transpired that have eroded the confidence of the general public and Members of this Assembly in the performance of the Premier and Executive...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 5)

Mr. Chairman, I move that we report progress.

---Carried

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 5)

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of privilege. Mr. Speaker, yesterday afternoon before the commencement of the House, I returned to my private office in the Legislative Assembly to find a handwritten note from Jean-Marc Miltenberger on my desk. Mr. Miltenberger was in the Legislative Assembly yesterday as a guest of his brother, Minister Michael Miltenberger. As you know, Mr. Speaker, Members' offices are located in a restricted area of this Legislative Assembly, an area accessible only by Members and staff of the Legislative Assembly. As you also know, Mr. Speaker, it is the policy of this...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 5)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Members have the opportunity to speak once per session to any topic for as long as they wish or on any number of topics. As a senior Member of this Assembly, I am taking this opportunity today to speak about the state of the 16th Legislative Assembly. I do this with the hope to bring to light information and answers to questions that I truly believe are on the minds of many Northerners.

I am not sure that our residents who are watching the performance of this government would be able to fully articulate what the problems are. But through communications with...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 4)

It’s interesting to hear that this was not a cost saving. Here’s my question: How many seniors in the Northwest Territories over the age of 60 years who are not covered by any other health insurance does this change and policy going to affect? How many seniors in total?

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 4)

That is the kind of comment that I was referring to in my Member’s statement. When we keep hearing from the Minister of Health and this government that those who can pay should pay, but the fact of the matter is that for many, many years this government has provided support to seniors living in the North, where it is more costly to live. There could not be a worse time to be taking this away from seniors. It’s costly to live here. Most are on fixed incomes.

I would like to ask the Minister, did anybody figure out how much money the government was going to save by implementing this? Was that...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 4)

Thank you. I give notice that on Friday, February the 6th, 2009, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, that pursuant to subsection 61(2) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, this Assembly formally revokes the pleasure of the Assembly from the appointments of the Premier and all Members of the Executive Council effective February 9, 2009, at 1:30 p.m. MST;

And further, that this Assembly recommends that a Premier and Executive Council be chosen without delay and that the Commissioner be notified of the...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 4)

I’d like to recognize Mrs. Eileen Collins in the gallery today. She’s president of the Hay River Seniors’ Society and vice-president of the Northwest Territories Seniors’ Society and has worked tirelessly to articulate the concerns of Hay River seniors with respect to supplementary health benefits and many other projects she’s undertaken.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 4)

It’s interesting to hear that this was not a cost saving. Here’s my question: How many seniors in the Northwest Territories over the age of 60 years who are not covered by any other health insurance does this change and policy going to affect? How many seniors in total?

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 4)

That is the kind of comment that I was referring to in my Member’s statement. When we keep hearing from the Minister of Health and this government that those who can pay should pay, but the fact of the matter is that for many, many years this government has provided support to seniors living in the North, where it is more costly to live. There could not be a worse time to be taking this away from seniors. It’s costly to live here. Most are on fixed incomes.

I would like to ask the Minister, did anybody figure out how much money the government was going to save by implementing this? Was that...