Wendy Bisaro

We still badly need doctors in Inuvik and Hay River; there is still no permanent nurse in Tsiigehtchic; and each year we continue to spend millions of dollars moving people from their home community to a regional centre so they can get the medical services they need. We can provide medical services in our communities. We have the innovation referenced by Dr. Snowdon, we just need to get on with it.

The Health and Social Services budgets in the last two years have earmarked literally millions for the Foundation for Change to reform our health care system. What do we have to show for that money...

We’ve still got time?

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just have a few comments here in terms of the supp as a whole. It’s relatively minor in that there are only four items, I think, on here. Most of them are in and out, but we do have one very significant item and that is the request for the work to be done on the Inuvik-Tuk highway.

I’ll back up a bit. I was pleased, actually, to see that in this supplementary appropriation for capital, although its number three, it’s a relatively minor amount in terms of the number of projects that money is being asked for, a large amount, in my mind, in terms of $2.5 million for the...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just had a question with regard to the last item, the funding required to address the increased costs of food. Like other Members, I’m having great difficulty understanding why we couldn’t have seen that we were going to need a higher budgeted amount for food costs at our corrections facilities across the territory. My understanding is that we have budgeted the same amount for corrections facilities for food for about the last three, four or five years. To the Minister, I’d like to know how often we adjust our base funding. I know sometimes it’s done every year, but...

Okay. Page 5, Human Resources, operations expenditures, human resource strategy and policy, not previously authorized, $123,000.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’ve got a couple of questions on this page. I do want to comment specifically on the cost itemized, the $3.335 million that’s itemized for contributions to the Beaufort-Delta Health and Social Services Authority and Stanton Territorial Health Authority.

I spoke about this in my general comments, but I would like to know at this point, and the Minister kind of gave a bit of an answer previously, that we’re sort of working to fix this, but having been here for four years, I’ve been hearing this for awhile now. I’d like to know, at this point, whether or not I can get any...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have to ask a question of the Premier following up on my colleague’s questions with regard to the announcement for Betty House. I have heard the Premier say that the money was approved in 2009, part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan in 2010 – I think in 2010 – and then he also said that the Standing Committee on Social Programs was advised in December of 2010. I wonder if the Premier could commit to providing the documents which would verify that. I have no recollection of that particular information being provided to Social Programs. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Mr. Miltenberger.

Alright. We’ll move on to the Executive. Executive, operations expenditures, Ministers’ offices, not previously authorized, negative $257,000.

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Minister Miltenberger.