Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There is an increase in staffing at community health authorities of seven positions. I wonder if I could get some explanation, some rationale for the need for these changes. I want to say I don’t begrudge the health and social services authorities from getting more staff, but I’d like to know why we’re cutting positions in headquarters and increasing at the authorities.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I hate to belabour this issue of staffing, but I do have a couple of questions.

Information that the standing committee was given by the department some time ago indicated that all 17 positions we have on the new table were to be eliminated in ’08–09. I just would like to get clarification from the Minister whether that’s a typo. If it’s not, how do we eliminate two people we haven’t yet determined?

Did the Minister expect a response from Regular Members to his briefing? Did the Members not hear the request for a response if there was one? Why do we seem to have such difficulty understanding each other? Where is the notice from the Minister that was requested in our letter?

Yesterday’s announcement to me is, unfortunately, another example of the high-handed attitude of this Cabinet. They seem to have little regard for the input of Regular Members, as evidenced by their actions.

All I want is a chance to hear, and comment on, what the government is going to do, before my constituents do.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a number of comments which have already been made, so I’ll just highlight them. I don’t expect answers. I think they’ve been answered already, but I wanted to point out some concerns which I have.

We just discussed housing for seniors. My concern is housing for seniors — I don’t know a better way to put it — who have money. I believe there needs to be — probably more so in Yellowknife than in any other community — some sort of housing source for seniors who have a certain amount of money. There needs to be some sort of a subsidy for seniors who can afford their own...

I appreciate that regional offices will be providing some assistance. I suggest that’s probably not going to be enough. I’d like to know whether or not the department is going to be monitoring the situation should the emergency planning coordinator position not be there after this budget. I’d like to know if the department is going to be monitoring the situation and evaluating whether or not the communities are able to do these jobs on their own or if things are going to be falling through the cracks.

Assuming that the capacity of local governments remains as it is — it tends to be quite stretched, I guess would be a good word — I appreciate the Minister’s answer, but at the moment the local governments do have the assistance of the emergency planning coordinator. If that position is gone, they’ll be left on their own. Is the government planning to provide any assistance to community governments to help them get these plans done, which should be an important part of their local government planning?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues.

Who will help our communities be adequately prepared for any and all emergencies when this position is gone? Who will help our residents, following a flood or a forest fire, to access the federal funding they are due when this position is gone?

In closing, our residents, our voters, through their elected local governments are telling us to delay this budget — that it lacks analysis, rationale and that the proper consultation was not done. Sounds kind of familiar, doesn’t it?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that the Speaker be authorized to set such sitting days and hours as the Speaker, after consultation, deems fit to assist with the business before the House.

The other question I asked was: who is going to assist the communities to access federal dollars to help to refurbish the communities’ and/or residents’ homes if there is, for instance, a flood or forest fire which creates damage to infrastructure within the community?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are directed to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. In my Member’s statement I mentioned two questions, which I’d like to ask the Minister at this time. I stated that the emergency planning coordinator position at MACA is an affected position. Assuming that the position is removed, I’d like to ask the Minister who will provide assistance to the communities in them preparing emergency preparedness plans.