Michael Miltenberger

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have been going through the business planning process, the capital planning process. The Minister of Finance gave a statement in the House about the fiscal update. He indicated that there is a requirement to have a certain amount of surplus to be able to fund our capital infrastructure. The money that was in the budget, the money was fully subscribed to. We have a much longer list of projects than we have resources. It is on our list should new money come available, but at this time there has been no money added to the capital budget and that is the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In recognition of National Foster Family Appreciation Week, October 15th to the 21st, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the contributions our foster families make in the lives of many children and families in the NWT.

For the past several years, over 400 foster families have provided a safe, caring home for over 600 of our most vulnerable children who require this service. Some of these foster families provide short-term care in emergency situations, while others have been providing a service to the same children for many years and thereby creating...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday in this House, I made reference to two individuals. This was a conversation, as I sat in my chair, as Mr. Ramsay was talking. Those

comments were not on the record, but when he called the point of order I recognized, very clearly, that I had caused him some unhappiness, that I had spoken inappropriately to the point where he wanted to call a point of order.

I thought it would be incumbent upon me to do the right thing, which is stand up and acknowledge that, yes, there were comments made and that I was prepared to withdraw them. Those comments...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what I intended with my previous answer was to indicate that up to this point, this current business planning process, the dementia facility had never been formally brought forward as a capital project, that work had been done over the last few years. We've used some federal money; we have identified land for the project. It was put in through the capital process for the first time this business planning session, and while it would not be reflected in the capital plan, as I indicated to the YACCS people, it is now in the capital planning process and will...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the hope is that of the people that applied some will be seen to be qualified by the hiring committee and that there will be a choice and some interim process to allow those positions to be filled. If it's found that none of the candidates are suitable, then we're going to be in a difficult situation of trying to cover off with casuals and support from the Inuvik Health and Social Services Authority office in Inuvik. But at this point, as I indicated, Mr. Speaker, I'm not aware of who has applied or what their qualifications are. So I'm going to be...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the information that I have is that the competition is closed Friday, and that there's going to be screening and hopefully interviewing very quickly thereafter. I'm not sure how many applicants they have because it's not closed yet, but the information I do have from the department for the social worker and wellness worker is that the competitions are going to be closed and the screening will take place very soon; next week. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to point out to the Member that this is not just a list of health projects, but there is a government-wide list of a whole host of projects that are important, not only to Yellowknife but to communities all around the Northwest Territories. Our decision is to focus on Stanton, as we have indicated to committee, as well as a potential to move on to the consolidated clinic.

The dementia facility clearly is on our to-do list but, for the funding that was available for this year, the focus is on those two particular projects in Yellowknife. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I met with YACCS a couple of weeks ago and indicated to them that the dementia facility is not in the ‘07-08 capital plan. It is on our list should there be any new money that comes available, along with a number of other projects. We continue to do the work. There was $1 million allocated to the dementia facility planning last year. That money has not been fully expended. In fact, it’s only been partially expended. So we are continuing to look at that. We have been in contact with YACCS. We are going to be much more actively involved to work with YACCS in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once again, for the record, I would like to stand before this House and unreservedly and in an unqualified way withdraw comments. I apologize to the Member and this House for those comments and indicate that I am sorry for any distress that I have caused to him or his family. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Clearly the Member must have been a negotiator at one time. I/m not sure how many questions she has left, but, yes, I'll commit to that as well. Thank you.