Jane Groenewegen

Next for general comments I have Mr. Nadli.

Thank you, Premier McLeod. Mr. Talen.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Next for general comments I have Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Next I have Mr. Bouchard.

Next for general comments I have Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you. We will continue with the Department of Education.

I just want to reiterate my phrase out-of-sight, out-of-mind. I don’t know what support there is for families, either, for seeing these folks’ family members who get referred to southern institutions.

Previously, in another Assembly when I was on the Standing Committee on Social Programs, we actually went and did a tour and visited many of the facilities. That was way back in the day when Michener Centre was still operating and we went to the Alberta Hospital. I believe Minister Miltenberger was the Minister of Health and Social Services, and off we went to see where our people were living.

It...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Specifically with regard to group homes for adults and children, are there any vacancies currently available here in the Northwest Territories in the group homes that already exist? It only makes sense to me that if there is no vacancy, the tendency would be to have to send them to southern placements. Thank you

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. Minister Lafferty.

I think everybody would agree that that is a very substantial sum of money that this government pays out to southern facilities for the care and keeping of Northerners.

I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services, when is the last time that repatriation opportunities for some of these 69 adults and 37 children were contemplated and considered by his department? Thank you.