Michael Miltenberger

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d be pleased to do that. I’ll make that commitment that we’ll sit down and I’ll talk further with the Member and we’ll work with the Inuvik Health and Social Services Authority to make sure that we can try to address the issues. I’d also like to point out that we did add out of some of the federal money we had another $100,000 a year to the shelters. The five shelters we fund and the shelter directors got together and, I believe, agreed that Inuvik was one of the shelter’s that should get that money as opposed to some of the other ones, but I will...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can appreciate the Member’s concern that he wants to ensure the system is fair, especially for the small contractor. But it would be problematic where volumes are very high like Yellowknife where they are processing hundreds of thousands of beverage containers to have individuals sitting there counting one can, another can. I think they’ve come up with ways through the recycling processes across the land in terms of weight and what that’s equivalent to in terms of the number of cans and such. So we will make sure that the process is fair, that it’s...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in fact, I shared that information with the individual in question since I spend a lot time in the airport, as does he. We had a chance to talk about this, but yes I appreciate the Member’s concern and we are going to be making every effort as well to recognize the efforts of the Speaker on this because it's a very, very important issue for everybody. We are pushing very, very hard with Public Works and with our own training to make sure we are ready to go late October or early November. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Monday, June 5, 2006, I will move that Bill 7, Pharmacy Act, be read for the first time.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the catchment area that’s there for Hay River would be the area of service. That includes people from Fort Resolution, Kakisa, Enterprise, possibly Providence, should the need arise. Yes, we have an idea of those individuals currently requiring dialysis, as well as trying to identify those who may become candidates down the road based on indicators we have at this time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that kind of working relationship is critical at frontline levels and at every level. Once again, I’m aware of the concerns that the Member is talking about and I will, as well, commit to make sure that that’s part of our discussion. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I gather it’s a lot like going to the butcher shop and you buy a steak. You buy some by the pound and you want to make sure the butcher doesn’t have his finger on the scale.

---Laughter

I appreciate the Member’s concern. This is a relatively straightforward process. There’s a certain amount of setting up the system that’s operating in good faith here where we want to work with the communities to deal with a very important environment issue. Once again, we’ll make sure that we go back and double check to make sure everything is working as it’s supposed to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the Member would provide me with the detail of the information that he has talked about in the communities and contractors that he is referring to, I will ensure that they are followed up with and that we can clarify circumstances and make sure that they have the support they need. We can hopefully resolve this issue and maintain and continue the recycling program. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Now that I have been made aware of this discrepancy as the Member has indicated, then we will be following up today and tomorrow to ensure that the proper facts are communicated to all of the participants in this program. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to announce that through the Don’t be a Butthead campaign, many young people have made the commitment to be smoke free. I have personally written to over 3,000 children and youth from every community in the NWT, congratulating them on their pledge to remain smoke free. This campaign originated in 2004 as an initiative of the Department of Health and Social Services to educate youth across the North on the benefits of staying smoke free.

This year, youth and schools in the NWT got caught up in the smoke-free fervor by entering the Create the Smoke Free Future contest in...