Sandy Lee

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I have some general comments and a question with respect to these amendments. My general comments are related to what Mr. Ramsay just stated. Listening to Mr. Ramsay’s statement and the Minister’s response, I think the Minister may be misunderstanding or missing the point that the Members on this side are trying to make with regard to what transpired in the standing committee process. Mr. Chair, let me just put it on record that I have no problem supporting these amendments. They are quite minor in nature. I have to tell you that I’ve been here…this is my...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

How much money, on a year-by-year basis, has been allocated for special needs funding for the last five years for the NWT as a whole?

What is the breakdown each DEA/DEC received for this funding for special needs over the same time period on a yearly basis?

What are the criteria set out to determine how students with special needs qualify for special needs support?

What is the process used to determine who among our student population have special needs and require additional support...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Sorry. I would like to know if the Minister sees a transition home for men who are addicted to crack or any other drugs as part of his plan for addressing people with a substance problem?

Am I to understand, then, that the Minister is not aware of a proposal at this time?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm looking for real improvement in this area and not just empty statistics, and I suggested to you that the Minister saying that he's doing a survey every five years or that he's talking to the chairs of boards twice a year is just not going to cut it. I expect nothing less than our school system knowing at any given point what the special needs of our students are and how we are meeting them all across the Territories. We wouldn't think of treating patients with illness randomly and choosing who's going to get service, and I don't know why we think it...

Thank you. I think that is the crux of the merit in this legislation, and on that basis I am happy to support these because it is simply giving the powers to the municipal governments to do this, and it’s up to them, and they do account to their voters about these provisions. I think that’s it for my questions. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. I think that is sufficient for me. By this amendment, we’re giving powers to the municipalities and municipal governments to enforce this, and I have to respect that. If they choose to do that and implement that, we’re just simply giving that power for them to do it.

I have another question about the questions about being able to transfer outstanding debts to…Sorry, I’m looking at the opening statement. You know the section that I’m talking about. The Minister mentioned earlier that the outstanding debts relate only to real property charges. So I’m interpreting that to say that...

Thank you. I think that changes quite a bit, really. That changes it in a way that makes it even more problematic for me in that I don’t think general citizens would, if they were walking down the city sidewalk and they get injured and they think about, okay, maybe I have some claim here, I don’t know if that person will think about going to an SAO to provide an intent that some time down the road I think I may be suing you if I can’t work because of my injury or I broke my ankle. I want to know what the law says. Is there any other jurisdiction that has something this specific about notice...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to report that the Standing Committee on Social Programs has reviewed Bill 7, Personal Directives Act, and we choose to report that Bill 7 is now ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think the Minister is still floating from the compliment that he received earlier and he’s not getting to the specifics of what I am trying to get at. Could I ask the Minister to enquire into this proposal that is being put forward by the people in the community who are in the know about dealing with people with substance problems? They are really looking at setting up a transition home or home for men who are trying to live a sober life. Living with sobriety requires a home that is conducive to that, and there is a proposal…(inaudible)…gives its best...