Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask questions again today in regard to an NWT-wide coordinated energy plan. I’m going to direct my questions today to the lead Minister for the Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee to see whether I can get some more full answers, perhaps.

Yesterday, the Minister of Finance, in answer to my questions, implied that we have a coordinated approach to energy across the NWT. So I would like to ask the Minister for MECC if he can identify for me the one document which outlines all the NWT energy activities for both the government and our residents...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just have a couple of comments. It is a concern for me that our seniors population is increasing a lot as we all grow older, and I’m included in that bunch, for sure. You don’t have to agree quite so noisily, my colleague. I did want to comment, though, that in terms of seniors care, we need to make sure that we have a continuum of care from housing, which allows them to be fully independent to assisted living to long-term care or to slightly assist...whatever. But we need a continuum of care, and one of the things that struck me in discussing this motion earlier is...

...(inaudible)...fast as they can in dealing with this because the sooner it gets to the public, the better it is. There is going to be an awful lot of interest in this and even from the first of May to the first of September is a very short time. So let’s get at it. Thank you.

Thank you Mr. Chairman. Just a quick comment and that is unfortunately the answer that I expected to hear. I guess my only hope would be that if we are ever renegotiating the agreement or renewing the agreement, particularly with Nunavut, I would think if there is any opportunity to try and recoup funds that could go towards the capital costs that we have to bear, then that would be a good thing. Just a comment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

My questions will be somewhat shorter. I had many of the same concerns as Mr. Bromley and he has asked the questions and secured the answers for me that I think I was looking for.

I am, as well, extremely concerned about the loss of the THAF funding, if that is what should transpire and I certainly hope it doesn’t. When we reviewed the business plans, there were some 21 positions which are funded by THAF and they are basic to our provision of health services primary care through nurse practitioners and midwives and so on. I was a little alarmed, though, to hear the Minister say that the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I have to thank the Minister for making my point for me. He said we have this, and then we have this, and then we have this, and then we have this. We need a coordinated plan. I would like to know from the Minister, if the Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee is so coordinated, where is the plan on paper that I could get from the Minister and when can I have it? Thank you.

Thanks to the Minister for that response, but I think he kind of made my point for me. We have a strategy. We have a plan. We have a committee. We don’t have one body, one organization, which takes everything that we are doing in terms of energy and puts it under one roof, which, as I said in my statement, directs the traffic. I think that’s something that’s necessary. I’d like to know from the Minister what sorts of Cabinet discussions have taken place in regard to the possibility of establishing something like an energy secretariat. Thank you.

I’m almost done. Mr. Speaker, we need that leader, that secretariat, so we have a common goal, so we can work cooperatively and in a coordinated manner to achieve that goal. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, after considering the budget address for awhile, I note that the 2010-11 budget does not include a coordinated NWT energy plan, and I’m disappointed in that. I may begin to sound like a broken record, and I apologize if I’m boring you, but I figure it bears repeating and I will keep harping away in the hope of a positive response eventually.

I can’t deny that this government has plans to pour, quite literally, millions of dollars into energy initiatives and projects. We heard the Finance Minister say last week that over four years we will spend $60 million...

Thanks to the Minister. You didn’t mention Aven Manor here in Yellowknife and it also is a long-term care facility, I presume. I’m somewhat concerned, I guess, that the territorial dementia facility is a very specialized facility. It is long-term care, yes, but it requires… Patients in there have very particular needs and they can’t be accommodated in just any long-term care facility. So I’m a little bit concerned that the dementia centre has been included in the definition of long-term care facilities.

My other question has to do with the success or failure; I presume its success to date. But...