Tom Beaulieu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the late Colleen Sayine-Burke of Fort Resolution. She was born on September 30, 1968, and passed away on October 25, 2010.

Colleen was a loving mother and daughter, who lived in Fort Resolution most of her life with the exception of the last 10 years during which she lived in Alberta with her husband, Tom Burke.

Mr. Speaker, Colleen was the only daughter of Mae and Robert Sayine, a former MLA in this Legislative Assembly. She was the mother of three: Stephanie, Raymond and Cameron. She was a loving grandmother to her...

Mr. Chairman, I move to report progress.

---Carried

Mr. Speaker, I have a couple of situations in Tu Nedhe that need immediate assistance. I have a disabled couple taking care of an elderly uncle who’s I believe in his nineties. Could the Minister tell me what kind of assistance would be available for family members caring for people today? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a constituent of mine from Tu Nedhe, William Buggins.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories table a comprehensive response to the Standing Committee on Social Programs Report on the Review of the Child and Family Services Act: Building Stronger Families within 120 days of its presentation to the House.

I move that this committee acknowledges the tremendous amount of time, effort and care that has gone into the development of the Standing Committee on Social Programs Report on the Review of the Child and Family Services Act: Building Stronger Families; and further, that this committee wishes to express its support in principle for the findings and recommendations identified in the report.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Social Programs presented its Report on the Review of the Child and Family Services Act: Building Stronger Families to this Assembly on October 21, 2010. Members had some opportunity for discussion earlier in this committee. I would now like to move the following motion: I move that this committee acknowledges…

Mr. Speaker, the situations in Tu Nedhe where individuals are being cared for by family, that’s happening without any compensation to the family, and what’s happening is the elders are now getting to a point where they feel that they’ve become a burden because they recognize that the family is doing this, taking shifts doing this on their own. Some seniors are even refusing care because there’s no money to support the families that are trying to help them.

Does the Minister and the health authority, I suppose, acknowledge the fact that respite care would, in the long run, save a lot of money...

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I talk about the importance of respite care in Tu Nedhe communities. I have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services.

Mr. Speaker, Tu Nedhe is a part of the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority. I want to ask the Minister what the plan is specific to communities in Tu Nedhe. Thank you.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I wish to talk about the importance of respite care in the small communities. Mr. Speaker, in many instances, young couples often take the responsibility for caring for aged senior family members or an ailing family member. This is the same for many grandchildren who live with their grandparents. They too are given the responsibility of caring and doing everything for the aging grandparents.

Mr. Speaker, over the last few days of this sitting, we have heard the Minister talk about changes to the way the government delivers health care, including funding of health...