Robert Hawkins

Thank you. Anything new almost sounded exactly as what’s been said before. So, I guess there’s really nothing new per se.

What is the change to our complement of the staffing levels that we will experience in the new facility? Could the Minister, maybe not this present second per se, give me the exact number, but what’s the ballpark number we’re working with at Stanton and what is the ballpark staffing complement number we’ll need for the updated facility? Thank you.

Territorial-wide, territorial-wide, the growth in five years in seniors is going to be at 150 percent. All the beds that have been created today and all the beds they think that they’re going to create tomorrow still won’t meet that demand. The Minister can say we’re going to shuffle seniors around the room, around the territory to solve the problem. It is not meeting the challenge.

Will the Minister just be honest in this House to say are they going to make an agreement with Avens and when, because they cannot wait any longer. I can’t wait any longer. The seniors can’t wait any longer. As I...

It couldn’t be said better than by the Canadian Medical Association president, Cindy Forbes. She talks about the growing rate of seniors. She also references the cost, where it costs $1,000 a day, on average, in Canada to hospitalize and hold seniors. Whereas if you find partners like Avens, it comes at a fraction of that price. She estimates average cost in Canada at fifty. Now, I know these are southern costs, but the ratio is the point, not the actual dollar number. Why is the government not realizing that?

My next question is: When will this government be willing to finally step up and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. They’ve been recognized a few times, but I certainly wouldn’t mind underscoring it just one more time at least a little further. I’d like to recognize Deputy Minister Arsenault. I’ve gotten to know him over the last few years. I really admire his hard work. He’s had a great relationship with the Northwest Territories and I’m very thankful that we have someone in the Yukon who understands our problems as we learn about theirs. I couldn’t think of a better team to take on the challenges in Ottawa than our good folks in the gallery here today, so thank you for your...

I hear the Minister but I worry he’s not hearing me. The issue is it’s not about Avens and if the government decides to contract directly with Avens for services for the extended care level 5 beds. Albeit it’s not as if it’s a competitive market in the city where we’ve got 50 seniors’ agencies scrambling at the door saying we want a chance. We really have one. Sorry; two. I should say it this way. You have Avens and you have the Government of the Northwest Territories. You have one or the other who wants to take on the challenge.

That isn’t the issue, and I want to be very clear, but the...

Mr. Chairman, it sounds like we should buy them a moving van, not a luxury leather Denali Suburban, who knows? I mean, let’s be honest. Maybe the Minister can explain why a Ford Escape that holds four or five people in there, or even a four-door pickup couldn’t do this. It would certainly come at half the price for the occasion of driving to Behchoko. We’re not even getting into this yet about the fancy $65,000 vehicle sitting at the courthouse probably doing nothing during the day while one is on its adventure on its way to Behchoko. I’m curious what the Minister has to say about that....

It was such a good question I’m surprised they weren’t hanging on my every word. I was asking, under the warranty program how many kilometres where actually actioned. In other words, did we actually use the warranty or were we able to access the warranty? Did we access any warranty whatsoever? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am just wondering what the net positive impact will be in the Yellowknife community for public housing in this budget. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure has reviewed Bill 54, An Act to Amend the Forest Management Act. The standing committee wishes to report that Bill 54 is not ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole and that the bill not be further proceeded with. Thank you.

Since the construction of that road a few years ago, when we received all that money to redo it, I am just wondering if there was any part of that actual road that was under warranty, and if so, what sections. Thank you.