Robert Hawkins

Oh I'm sorry, I thought she was referring to the deputy minister would comment before coming back. If I'm incorrect.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of ECE regarding income support.

Mr. Speaker, it's my understanding that in order -- I have a lot of experience helping constituents with this, but for them to get housing support they have to go to the Yellowknife Housing Authority to get on the housing list first. But unfortunately, most of these people don't actually need the full-fledged housing support through Yellowknife Housing Authority and have no intention because they're not at risk and they're certainly a low priority. But what it does is create an...

Mr. Speaker, you can't take away and still have more. You can't take away and still have the same. So, Mr. Speaker, I'm trying to understand from the Minister is what's the focus. And that isn't just in the budget. We have two health czars working on this particular problem. So, Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell this House what is being considered as reductions within this master plan of reorging health? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Maybe then I'll ask this: Can I get some sense as to when the next Council of Leaders meeting is; furthermore -- because Members are really not involved in any of that stuff so we don't really know what happens at that esoteric table of conversations until much later. That said, can he make sure he informs me when the next Council of Leaders meeting is. Furthermore, can he also let me know when or who he's spoken to about this so I get a sense that at least the conversation is being had, and we can then take it wherever it goes next. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I look forward to that answer from the Minister.

Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement I also cited that there are issues with the phone system where people will leave messages, and the message online, whether you're calling the hospital to a specialist section, whether it's, you know, ultrasound, etcetera, or the clinics, etcetera, is you will get a callback between two and three days, so Mr. Speaker, if the -- maybe the Premier's trying to draw the attention of the House. I thought I was being interrupted there. Did you want something, Mr. Premier? Oh, maybe not.

Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I cited in my Member's statement regarding health privacy concerns at the clinic, and so I'm going to ask the Minister what can she do to investigate, access, address, and follow up to people like myself, MLAs that is, what action can and will be taken to address these issues so inadvertently personal private information is not being shared? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I almost jumped the gun on that one, and thank you for being as kind as you are. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize Ms. Katie Johnson. She is a Yellowknife Centre constituent, and she's certainly a very strong advocate for inclusive education. She's very smart and hardworking at this issue, and I hope the government heeds some of the lessons and excitement she brings with ideas she channels through me and other Members of this House. Thank you very much.

Mr. Speaker, I may have used the word "breach." I'd have to go back to transcript. It wasn't -- no, no, but I want to be clear just for the mere second of grace you'll allow me. It's not a breach when two people are talking and people are listening as in a nefarious breach; it could just be shared inadvertently hence that's the breach per se, in that -- so if CBC's listening, you're not getting a fax.

Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement, I also cited the fact that there are line-ups at 7:30 when the doors open for those few precious appointments, and they're gone moments later, and then we...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I appreciate your word of wisdom. I, too, agree I want to begin by saying you're right, the individuals in the public service aren't on trial here in the sense of it's the Cabinet and their budget certainly is in the face of that and hence I wish to couch my marks around that particular thing.

So, Mr. Speaker, I did hear the budget. I'm going to say it wasn't all terrible, but -- so I want to stress that to the Finance Minister. I do know that bureaucracy works behind the scenes, you know, not days, not weeks, months and years to come up with what they do. And how do...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Sometimes I think this government misses the important things, the nuts and bolts of people's health care and how their families are impacted by government process, including the government bureaucracy, two favorite words - process and bureaucracy.

Mr. Speaker, I had heard from numerous constituents, but several as of late, about their concerns about getting appointments through the clinics. And this isn't just a Yellowknife issue. This is a territorial issue, Mr. Speaker. So, for example, if you want a same-day appointment, you have to walk down at 7:30 in the morning...