Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of this motion here today. I believe that in our small and remote communities we do have poverty issues and overcrowding issues in our housing. However, I believe that the direction that this motion gives is to have a consolidated plan for our government and that our communities with grassroots ideas and organizations that they can work with government to better help their communities. I think that we’re going in the right direction with this motion.

Just in terms of the strategy in the other regions, does that mean the Health and Social Services department has contacted the leadership, the band councils, the village councils, the Metis councils? I think part of the press conference they are talking about is it’s a community approach that’s got to be taken in this, especially if there are increased numbers in some of those communities. Does the strategy include advising the local leadership, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement I spoke about the MRSA press release that happened in the Tlicho region yesterday, the superbug or the anti-bacteria. Anyways, Mr. Speaker, I noted that I do have a communication and management plan for the Tlicho region and they’re quite active in pursuing it there. I’d just like to know what is the strategy in the other regions and are there cases in other regions, most specifically, of course, the Nahendeh riding. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your Standing Committee on Government Operations is pleased to provide its report on the review of the 2008-2009 Human Rights Commission Annual Report and commends it to the House.

The Standing Committee on Government Operations reviewed the 2008-2009 Annual Report of the Human Rights Commission. The committee would like to thank Ms. Mary Pat Short, chair of the Human Rights Commission, and Ms. Therese Boullard, director of human rights, for their appearance before the committee.

Now I will pass the floor over to my colleague Mr. Hawkins to continue with the report.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I just want to respond to some of the opening comments and the challenges of the NWT Housing Corporation. Of course, in the Ministerial statement a few days ago the Minister did mention about the stats in the Nahendeh riding that were one of the highest regions with regard to adequacy in our communities. In plain words, we’ve got lots of really old homes that require repairs. We’ve got lots of overcrowding, especially in Fort Liard. We do have lots of new homes coming up, I’ll grant that there, Mr. Chair, but the challenge is that in Fort Liard we’re not adding...

Thank you very much. Actually, I just wanted to ask about the Western Arctic Leadership Program for 2010-11, Mr. Chair. What is the status and progress?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me comfort that we have strategies in the other regions and communities. In terms of monitoring, is that something they are doing with the health centres and the community health nurse? They are aware of the symptoms to watch for in local community members? Thank you.

I would like to know what other efforts in terms of monitoring any more increased cases in other regions and communities are being done. Is there a strategy for that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to follow up with the Minister of Housing on the line of questioning that Mr. Krutko had with regard to an appeal system. That is something that I have been working with the Minister and previous Ministers in establishing an appeal system for the clients out there. The people that are telling them no aren’t the people we should be appealing to, Mr. Speaker. That is why we are looking towards setting up an independent appeal system. In fact, it was approved last fiscal year. They had the appeal system. Where exactly is this appeal system, Mr. Speaker?

With the couple of contracts that the Minister did speak about, do we have to wait until the new fiscal year, April 1st, to get those tendered out, or is the work and process underway to get those contracts into the system and into the public’s hands?