Michael Miltenberger

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there's not enough time during this forum for me to outline all the things that we are doing, but I'd like to reassure the Member that we are doing we think all that is required. We're going to be coming forward here by the 15th with a whole slate of interim measures; we're looking at redoing the census numbers this coming year and the following year; we've been working very, very closely with all the renewable resource boards up and down the valley and, as well, our partner jurisdictions to look at making sure we have the accurate information, keeping in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we spend in the neighbourhood of $1 million a year on agency nurses. We do have plans to mitigate that. We have invested millions of dollars in the Northern Nursing Program at the Aurora College. We have been in a state of transition for the last 18 months. This coming spring, we anticipate, are planning, and are very glad to see about 24 nurse graduates that are going to be graduating with their four-year degree and nursing certification that we are going to be making job offers to. As well, we are looking seriously at ways to set up permanent float...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, there is money that’s been put aside for this winter as we continue to work on a longer-term homelessness strategy or strategy for the homeless. There’s some money that’s been identified for Yellowknife and Inuvik and some in Hay River. As well, there’s a fund of $150,000, I believe, that’s been set aside for small communities to use on a case-by-case basis should there be circumstances that arise as there has been over the last number of months. It allows us to, on a short-term emergency basis, deal with those individuals that are called absolutely...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'll just quickly outline some of the many factors that we think are affecting not only the Bathurst herd, but the herds in general. There's things called weather events where we experience a lot of freezing rain in the last number of years during the winter that has frozen the ground making it very, very difficult for the animals to feed. There's concern that the number of predators is very large and extreme. There are hunting issues. There's more roads now and access to hunting than there's ever been before. There are development issues. So those...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In fact, we anticipate, and we are starting to see, an improvement in our HR services now that we are consolidating, being more efficient and coordinating our efforts. The problems with nurses have long preceded the fact that we have consolidated HR. We continue to struggle nationally and internationally with a shortage of nurses. We have spent millions, as I have said, beefing up and coming up with a very good nursing program in the Northwest Territories. As well, we are also going to be developing an improved program for licensed practical nurses which will allow...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member has the document. I am not quite sure what the question is. I have indicated that we have identified, in some parts of our operation, we have to pay better attention and be more diligent in how we apply the contracting processes. We are going to do that. I would suggest that, as we bring forward in our accountable way how contracts are let and what contracts are let, we should hopefully see an improvement. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the deputy has been tasked and quickly recognizes the need to follow-up with all of the CEOs and the various authorities to review the processes and appropriate procedures and ensure that they are put into place on an ongoing basis. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are committed to making sure that every community and every health centre is adequately resourced and equipped. That is the basis that we look at allocating the resources. As we go through the detailed budget review, and we have the staff here and we will have the documentation, I would be happy, at that point, plus separately with the Member, to go over what is on the books for the Sahtu that we can see firsthand. I can tell the Member that there are dollars allocated and identified that we are going to be spending in the Sahtu in a whole range of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the health authority in the Sahtu and their staff will carry on with administrative processes in place to deal with O and M requirements for minor capital and larger capital items will go into the capital planning process. As well, we have assessments of the health centres, the condition of the health centres and where they may be in terms of their life expectancy and potential required upgrades. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is an issue of some concern for the Northwest Territories, the government, and all the communities in the North. We are working, as the Member has indicated, on a plan. In fact, Minister McLeod and I and our staff met yesterday, and we're looking at bringing a document forward that hopefully, over the next number of weeks, we'll be able to review the committee as well, that lays out some of our initial thoughts and recommendations in the interim as we look to how to rationalize the whole process.

In regards to the Member's request for $10,000, if the...