Robert Hawkins

I appreciate that answer but, with all due respect, I think that’s an issue of semantics where we’re saying something similar. Ultimately, I think that it goes back to the question why are they funding us that particular case and on what basis are they funding us that particular case? Thank you.

Thank you for clarifying which page my specific question would be on. Seeing how it is related, I’d like to continue. What is the present formula that causes us to get $21 million for that type of care in this particular budget cycle? What type of inflationary factors are built in? As I understand it, the territorial government services cost more than we’re being paid. In other words, did we put in a particular figure and did the federal government respond with a particular figure and, of course, what would that figure be? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under revenue summary, I’m just curious as to finding out what particular money is built into this bottom line here that emphasizes the money paid to us through our NIHB figures. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, with the budget before us some things sort of pop out and I’m certainly pleased to see the evolution of our downtown clinic. Through this budget it will help support that. Our budget also supports the soon to be opening dementia centre, which is excellent news and I think it is a step forward in the treatment of people with this chronic ailment. It’s certainly a good thing to see that we have a facility that’s up to date with an appropriate way of helping people through this problem. The day shelter, there will be funding for the day shelter or drop-in...

Thank you considerably for that excellent answer. That’s the type of information I was trying to get at: what do we provide for weight loss assistance or support for people with diabetes? Again, this is one of the areas a constituent of mine has been denied on the basis that it would be offered locally. I’d like to know what area that that would be new for this coming year. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I can appreciate the willingness or the lack of willingness that the Minister shows interest on this particular issue beyond the fact he turns around and says I understand the concern, but I am sure $250 makes people worry. Well, Mr. Speaker, it is about upping the ante and sending the correct message that needs to be sent, Mr. Speaker. All we have to do is have the ticket submitted to our process, change a regulation so it reflects that. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister show some national leadership on this particular issue and step forward and say we will see if we could find a...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that we report progress. Thank you.

---Carried

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The long-term vision won’t change with anyone. Everyone wants the caribou herd to survive. Everyone wants the caribou to be around forever. The decision may not change, but the fact is they would be party to the decision. They would be involved into the discussion of the decision and they would also feel responsible because they would be part of the outcome. That’s the type of discussion I’m talking about. I’m talking about getting rid of southern style of consultation by making sure that everyone’s involved in the outcome. That’s why I’m asking for an immediate caribou...

The issue at hand here is that an emergency caribou summit should take place not just with the co-management but also with the affected Dene leadership and groups. That is the issue at hand. I’m not suggesting making the Caribou Summit, which I had the good fortune of attending three years ago, but ultimately the issue is let’s get people here immediately working together on a common solution or path. Would the Minister show some guidance to this issue of saying, I’ll do that right away and we’ll get on that right away and we’ll work together with these groups?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to continue to talk about the caribou issue today in terms of trust and relationship. Today I don’t want to talk about whether the decision was good or bad, right or wrong; I want to talk about it in the context of consultation as more than a fly-by, a coffee, a hey, how you doing? That is a southern mentality that has been brought up here for years when they speak to true Northerners and it does not work. Anyone here even for a short time can tell you that is not how decisions need to be made.

Last week I heard a wise man say, what good is a right if you can’t...