Shane Thompson

During my constituency term and in my conversations with expectant mothers, it has been brought to my attention that the health centre doesn’t actually use the ultrasound machine. They actually have to send them to Yellowknife. Can the Minister make a commitment or work with myself and the regional authority to get the staff trained so that we can actually have these ultrasound machines in place so that we can save some money and save time for the residents?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, after last sitting, I was informed by the Minister that we would not be purchasing a portable ultrasound machine for the Fort Simpson Health Centre. This was a little frustrating because the existing ultrasound is not working properly. Can the Minister explain why the portable ultrasound machine was deemed unnecessary for the Fort Simpson Health Centre? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to welcome everybody back and hope you all had an enjoyable few months either back at home working for your constituents doing committee work or as a Minister doing their work here back home.

Today, Mr. Speaker, I stand in the House to recognize my former constituency assistant, Leona Norwegian, known to everyone as Pearl. It is a bittersweet day that I recognize her today. If you know Pearl, you will recognize that she was never one for the spotlight. She was a person behind the scene and did not want the spotlight on her. Well, with her retiring away from...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for his answer. That’s reassuring because, when we talked about the new boards and the new authorities, we’re talking about utilizing positions, transferring them around. Can the Minister make a commitment, and he’s already made a commitment, but to the year cost analysis to show us that what would it cost to bring a machine into the community regional centres so we don’t have to ship our people to Yellowknife? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for his answer. I, too, am looking for mental health days here at some point in time. I thank him for that. My next question: what is the criteria that is being used to offer positions to affected employees besides them just being affected employees?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for his commitment to finding out and making sure that people are well informed. From my last question, Mr. Speaker: should the affected employees be offered another employment opportunity within this government and they take it, but during this time, something else in the government comes up that is more suited to them, are they able to apply for that position? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for his answer. That is great to hear. Does this government offer removal assistance to affected employees who do not get offered a new position within this government?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Into today's society, we have become more conscious about recycling our waste material. However, in saying this we should be doing more.

In Fort Simpson, Troy Bellefontaine, owner of the business Beauty Mark, has taken this idea one step further. Mr. Bellefontaine has partnered with Green Circle Salons to make his business a more sustainable venture, but more importantly it has helped him divert a majority of the business waste away from Fort Simpson Landfill.

Mr. Speaker, Beauty Mark is the first salon in the Northwest Territories to sign on. He says, "We are a small salon...

I again thank the Minister for that answer. It’s good to hear. However, I’ve been in contact with some of these affected employees or even contacted myself and other honourable Members here. What happens if a non-reasonable offer is being offered to these individuals or on an unacceptable timeline? Like you’ve got three days to make a decision on this position; what can the employee do to make sure that this is addressed?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was asking some questions of the Minister of Human Resources today about his Minister's statement. I understand the government does a great job trying to offer positions to affected employees. However, my question to the Minister previously may not have been asked properly, so I am going to ask it again: if the affected employee is offered a job and accepts it because it is the only position available at that time, and during the time he is in this position another position becomes available, is he able to apply for this position? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.