Michael Miltenberger

No, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct; this is a contractual arrangement with Bosco Homes, which has been providing a very excellent level of service both in Yellowknife and Fort Smith for a good many years now. There will be an opportunity for people in Hay River, including those individuals who got laid off at Dene K’onia, to look at the jobs that are available, look at the job descriptions and the job requirements. If they are interested, they will be able to apply to access those jobs. It is our hope that that same opportunity will be given to those folks currently...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there will be impacts as we move through the transition, but the quality of the program that Bosco delivers will not be impacted, in my opinion. They have a track record in Fort Smith where they have delivered a contractual program since the mid '90s, I believe, and they’ve invested a lot of time and effort. They have a lot of skilled people available and we’ll get through the transition, and, as we have in the past, we will be provided with quality child welfare programs in Hay River. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. By definition, territorial facilities are there for the benefit of all 33 communities. Once again, by definition, the other 32 communities are going to have to generally travel to access the service that is in the one community where that service may be, be it Yellowknife, Fort Smith, Inuvik, Hay River, or anywhere else. When we have a territorial facility, we plan and budget for the travel that is required, as we will do in the case right now with TTC, which is here, and children come in from all the other communities. The process will be the same, only they will...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I indicated that I would follow up on the Member’s assertions and that we would take every step possible to be sensitive and mindful of the situation that the affected employees are going through, and that’s what we intend to do. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, TTC, like Trailcross in Fort Smith, is a territorial facility that provides services to all the communities in the Northwest Territories. Currently, I understand there are four Yellowknife residents and four residents from other smaller communities outside of Yellowknife. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in fact, Bosco Homes has indicated interest, and the intent is to transfer the contract and keep it as a contractual arrangement. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The decision has been made by the government to relocate the program and we are in the initial stages of discussion with Bosco Homes. I have met with the board in Hay River. I have met with Bosco Homes' management and we are going to be taking the appropriate steps to have an orderly transition. We also have to look at working with Public Works and Services over the next number of months to do the planning for the renovations. The money was already in the budget; it has been carried over for this year. So we are in the relatively early stages, but we are moving towards...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a government we should be taking measured, careful steps to look at our facilities and infrastructure across the territory to make sure that they’re used to the maximum, to make sure there is as equitable distribution of resources and programs as possible. As I’ve indicated previously, there’s a stated commitment that we’re prepared to look at decentralization opportunities. We have to look at the capability of the communities and we’ve done all that, Mr. Speaker. I believe we’ve made a careful, measured decision to relocate a program to a community that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will follow up on the Member’s assertions made here in this House and, as I indicated, we will take all the steps necessary to be as mindful and sensitive as possible to the issues of the staff disruption and dislocation that may occur. Thank you.