Michael Miltenberger

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...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe I spent the last three questions providing the information of what we intend to do. I will just stand by those commitments that I made in previous answers to previous questions. We will ensure that, where appropriate, we go to public tender. Recognizing the business we are in, we require the latitude to do sole source in certain areas. Where it has been identified that the rules haven’t been applied properly, we have taken the steps with the deputy minister to ensure that everybody involved is clearly aware of what is expected of them. Thank...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we will ensure that we are appropriate and guidelines are followed and procedures are followed. But I would like to point out, as well, that we have some very significant contracts that are with a specific provider. The one that immediately comes to mind, of course, is the capital health authority, where we have over a $10 million arrangement with them to provide services. We have numerous arrangements for children in care that are very specialized services that we just don’t put out to tender. In cases where it is appropriate, we are talking about...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will make a commitment to check with the deputy, so we can ask the Sahtu staff and the board to confirm what is available and if there are gaps in the areas that the Member has mentioned. At that point, I would be able to talk with the Member further. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that work is underway across the Territories. We look at the resources we have and the needs that are there for the various facilities and communities and types of equipment. I would be happy to get for the Member the capital requirements for the Sahtu, both large capital and small capital and equipment, then we could have the discussion on a more informed basis. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we're working on the document, and part of the plan when we have something of substance to take forward is we will do the consultation with the Member and the communities to ensure that we're on the right track and that we maintain a collaborative approach. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have the pleasure of recognizing some folks from the constituency. Some are here for the budget address. Jeff O’Keefe, Margaret Imrie, Alma McDonald and Steve Lafferty from the college. As well, we have two stalwart members of the UNW executive from Fort Smith, Mr. Brad Brake, second vice-president; and Paul McAdams, regional vice-president. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we're aware of some of the concerns in Liard, as the Premier has brought the issue back from one of his trips there. It's similar concerns that have been raised in Providence, with the animals in the communities destroying property and such. We're looking at some options such as possibly having to destroy a number of the animals to get them out of the community, as well as other ways to try to keep them away. So we're looking at some of those options, keeping in mind that these bison are, I believe, in danger and we have to be careful how we proceed...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the work on the plan is underway. We're trying to address a number of species, including barren land caribou, the woodland caribou, as well as the bison in its various herds. I anticipate that before spring we should have a document that would be ready to go. Prior to that, we'll be able to circulate some drafts. Thank you.