Julie Green

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I noticed that the expenditure on out-of-territory hospitals and physicians is the same to the dollar between the two years where I would have expected that there may be some variation. Is there a reason that it's exactly the same for the two years in a row? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am all about evidence-based decision-making. It has been a hallmark of my time here to talk about that. I stand by my remark that I am cynical about the timing of finally producing this action plan after the budget itself will have been considered, but I don't see that we are going to go any further on this today.

I would like to know if questions about Avens are in community health programs, or are they in another activity area? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Nothing further on this page.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Is that also the case for the cost of moving the department out of the existing hospital while the existing hospital is retrofitted? Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I think it is worth revisiting this conversation because of the number of things that have changed in the last one or two terms since the Minister was a Regular Member around having a child and youth advocate. As I indicated in my statement, there is considerable uptake in both the Yukon and Nunavut in having these services available to children. Given that interest, how can I, as a Member of the Standing Committee on Social Development, move this initiative forward so that we can engage in conversation with the Minister and his department? Mahsi.

I appreciate the fulsome answer from the Minister. He said that he wants to make sure every voice is heard. I am wondering what the mechanism for that is without someone in a formal advocacy position.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to welcome my constituent Linda Bussey who is continuing her public service, this time on the languages board. Merci beaucoup, Linda.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to revive a discussion started in the 14th Assembly about creating a child and youth advocate for the Northwest Territories. Children and youth need our special attention and support, particularly when they are being cared for by people other than their immediate families. Since the NWT started discussing this issue in 2003, Yukon has created an advocate office, and so has Nunavut. In fact, we are one of the only two jurisdictions in Canada without an office dedicated to protecting the rights of children on both an individual and systemic basis, as well as...

It sounds like the program is busing seniors around to different places in Yellowknife, which I find a little confusing. As the Minister knows, there are roughly two groups of seniors who need this program; people who are frail but cognitively intact, and people who are cognitively frail but may otherwise be fine. I'm a little unclear about not having a central place that is a base for providing these services. Is there, in fact, going to be that?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. We spoke earlier in this sitting about the need for an adult day program in Yellowknife, and he said that his officials were meeting on February 21st to discuss this issue and he would be able to outline the concrete directions being taken following that meeting. Today I am calling on him to do just that. Mahsi.