Robert Hawkins

Okay, that's good. Is there any thoughts or knowledge with the Minister it's always weird, call him the Minister of Justice and Premier the Minister and the department as to what type of timelines or logistical challenges that may delay the timelines? I am looking to get a sense of how soon or what are we talking about. Thank you.

HON. R.J. SIMPSON:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I mean, wouldn't the Minister want to know how documents go from the NWT to Alberta and hence, you know, it would be nice to know from a constituency point of view that it may apply to other Members but the issue is that if the systems don't talk to each other, I would think that the Minister would know how they communicate their medical health information in today's environment of security information and the details, so I would think that there would be a practice and process in place, and that's what I am asking for. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. While constitutents are showing up at referrals by doctors to doctors in Alberta without the information some there must be some type of standard practice, including package and process that's going on now, because we can't or being proposed now, because we can't have people being sent on medical travel. What a waste of money to send them there without the information. So, what is currently being done by the department to help fill this or solve this problem? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if I heard that correctly, that was the longest yes I've ever heard, or we'll find a way if it's not available. And the Minister's welcome to correct me if yes wasn't in there but that's certainly what it sounded like. It was difficult to follow, but I think I got it.

So, Mr. Speaker, once the mandate letter is drafted and sent, obviously in agreement I've listened to how the Minister chooses to proceed on this one would she be willing to make that mandate letter public? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister define the difference between intentions and direction? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Aurora College transition still is a concern in Yellowknife. It's a live issue. Mr. Speaker, we've heard from the chair, the president, and the incoming president about the unfunded transition, Mr. Speaker. This is serious stuff. Mr. Speaker, they're using their surplus just to keep the doors open on this particular issue and the lights on. Mr. Speaker, we need to ask ourselves the tough questions, why is this issue not being discussed? The Minister will say she talks to the chair all the time. Makes you wonder what do they talk about, then, if this...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It only makes me wonder do the are the navigators counsellors in the context of the big C counsellors, or are they just cheerleaders in the sense of just supporting advocates? And if with eliminated productive choices, how do we encourage them to create goals? And if they don't want to be involved in the navigator process and we don't require them to be productive choices to be involved in productive choices, does the department just sit and do nothing? Like, I'm just trying to understand how we get them involved. Thank you.

Okay, I'll certainly say touché on that one. But it speaks to the broader point, we should have deputy ministers on every subject or ADMs, sorry of every subject, whether it's xray machines and deputy minister of nursing, and like, every area we have. I just think this is a horrible waste of money. And if we want to really support these, we should be giving them to the communities to inspire community homegrown programs. People don't need another another, like I said, upper echelon person. They need program people on the ground. So that's my comment. If I was given an opportunity, which I'm...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm excited that the Minister's really excited, but I'm still curious over here as to what specific information the department tracks that we know what they're doing or how they're progressing through the system to be able to stand up on their own. So is there any other useful information outside of their age, where they live, and their gender that we can build upon to help strengthen the program and the individual as we hope that they can return back to the working world. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. What other considerations were given other than hiring another seniorsenior manager? Why didn't we just hire a middle manager or a programs person to help support the communities and committees working to continue to strengthen their language? And we could easily put one in South Slave and the North Slave for half that price. Thank you. Well, not half, but you know what I'm saying.