Sandy Lee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We do have counsellors and wellness workers in most of our communities. Our budget is $6 million to provide for that. Mr. Speaker, it is true, we do not have a treatment centre in every community. If we were to do that, we need to do that as a Legislature and government and through the business plan process. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize Mr. Timothy Riviere and his mother, Heather Riviere.

Yes, I do, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. No, it would not have an impact on the work that they do. Thank you.

Yes, I do, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Monday, May 17, 2010, I will move that Bill 8, Social Work Profession Act, be read for the first time.

The program we have now for providing for a casket is for the indigent only, which means people on income support. There is a very specific amount of money that is allocated for that. The problem is when the families want to go with something more costly, because they want to, as the Member said, do the best for their families. We currently do not have a program that would do that. Lots of back and forth that goes on is that staff are clear about what they are able to purchase. It’s the people who want to do more and we do not have programs for that. If the Member wants to pursue that and work...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is correct in his concern that we do not have a policy or program funding to accommodate a family of our people when they are dying or when they are sick for any length of time. The only thing we have is a medical escort to medical travel. It’s limited to one person and usually for a very specific period of time. If the Member is interested in working as a committee chair to pursue this further, we could analyze that and see what the cost implications are and what the scope and breadth of that program might be. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize a very impressive young constituent from Range Lake. His name is Timothy Riviere. I know he’s known to all of us because his mother works here, but he’s famous in his own right because for the third year in a row he’s going to be shaving his head -- well, shaving his hair -- to raise money for cancer. He is also captain of his own relay team this year called Relay Rink Rats for Relay for Life, which raised the money as well.

His personal goal is to raise $3,500 this year. I’m sure he will meet that. There are pledge sheets...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To my left is Mr. Mark Aiken, director of legislation, and to my right is Ms. Lisa Cardinal, director of policy and planning for the Department of Health and Social Services. Thank you.