Wendy Bisaro

I have to thank the Minister for that information. The first time around, I didn’t hear anything about a facilitator, and that changes hugely my vision of what’s going to happen in these stakeholder meetings. That a facilitator will present the information will have a much different impact on the people that are there, and I think it will allow them to provide the kind of input that Members and, I think, the public are looking for.

The other thing that’s noted, in terms of consultation, is a discussion paper. I’d like to ask the Minister how the department intends to generate input through this...

Just a follow-up question. Is return of service agreements one of the areas that is being considered? I gather it works reasonably well within the Department of Health and Social Services. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask a few more questions of the Minister of Health and Social Services with regard to her and the department’s plans for Supplementary Health Benefit Program changes. The information that’s on the Health website talks about town hall meetings being scheduled and a discussion paper that is going to be released. I’m not sure if it’s been released or not yet; I haven’t had enough time since I’ve been back. With regard to the town hall meetings, there are five or six scheduled, I think. I would like to ask the Minister what format is planned for these meetings...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. There is an increase of five positions in the North slave region. Could I know where those happened, please? Thank you.

I think the important thing to note in the Minister’s answer is she said that’s what they started to do since last Thursday and Friday. The working group was established before Christmas and my understanding was they were supposed to help to develop what the department seems to have determined a draft plan. It seems they have a plan which they’ve put out and they are looking for consultation on, a plan which apparently would charge a fee. I just have to take exception with the fact that the working group was not involved in the drafting of that plan. I guess I ‘d like to ask the Minister why...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just have a few general comments in regard to the budget for Justice. Initially, I believe that the position of the chief coroner is being reinstated to a government position and I do support that. I think that’s a good move.

Also a good move I think is the emphasis on increased policing. We’ve added some members and a detachment in this last year, and I will have some questions as to the timing of the planned rollout of other detachments as we go forward when we get to that section.

I also note that there’s an increase in legal aid services with the establishment of, I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to address my questions today to the Minister for Health and Social Services. I have some questions in regard to the recent release of information about possible change to the Supplementary Health Benefits Program. I am very appreciative of the work that’s been done by the department and the staff in the department to do a lot of research and to provide a lot of data. My questions go to the process that has been used to date and the process that’s been planned for the future in terms of consultation.

The motion that was passed last year by this...

I guess I would then ask do we know what the Y uses it for.

That didn’t totally answer my question in terms of timeline, but prior to asking that again, I note in the briefing note it says that GE told us in 2007 that system support wouldn’t be provided after December of 2009. So that’s, if it’s the middle of 2007, that’s at least a year and a half for this project to come forward and for the department to ask for approval. So I’m a little taken that it’s now coming before us and it’s urgent. I can accept that it’s urgent, but I think there’s a difficulty with planning or a lack of planning on the part of the department here.

To the Minister, I’d like...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to ask a question here with regard to the community justice committees and projects. It has been a concern, I believe, to get some of these justice committees going and part of it, I understand, is due to the lack of community coordinators. I wonder if I could get an update on whether or not there’s been any progress in getting more community coordinators in place and/or are we making progress on establishing community justice committees. Thank you.