Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Talen. Just before I go to the next speaker for general comments, I’d like to welcome all of the visitors in the gallery today. We have a very large delegation here of elders, leaders, negotiators and citizens of Deline here with us. I understand that our government processes and the way that we do things may not be something that you’re completely familiar with, so let me just explain that we’re going to continue with general comments about the bill, 46. At the end of general comments, we will go through the clauses of the bill to be approved, and then this committee will...

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. Next on the list for general comments I have Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Next for general comments I have Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be very brief. I did not speak to this bill at first or second reading, and being chair today of Committee of the Whole, I did not speak to it when the bill was before Committee of the Whole. So, as I said, I would like to take a brief opportunity at this moment to add my congratulations to the people of Deline, to all the people who worked on this.

I’m one of the Members who have been here since this all started. Not that I can take any credit whatsoever for the work that’s been done, but I do want to recognize this history in the making. I think only in the...

Thank you. Next for general comments I have Mr. Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to talk more about the $26.95 million that this government spends every year on southern and, may I say, Alberta institutions for placements for northern residents. The Minister indicated that there were 106 including adults and children. That works out to an average of $255,000 per placement.

I’d like to ask the Minister, first of all, when is the last time these placements where these referrals are being sent to, when was the last time those facilities were visited by somebody from our government, either standing committee or members of his staff? Thank...

Thank you, Minister Lafferty. Next I have Mr. Bromley.

I’d like to also ask, in the facilities that we do have here in the Northwest Territories, could he tell us on any given day, like today, are there vacancies available in those facilities, or are we completely maxed out and couldn’t it be that referrals that are made to the South are actually, in fact, because there is no room in the facilities we have here? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The Member is not requesting a response from the Minister at this time. If there is anything he has a desire to respond to in this, maybe he could add it after the next Member who is going to provide general comments. Mr. Bouchard.