This is page numbers 745 - 772 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 6th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was chairman.

Topics

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Todd.

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John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Once I was a Japanese suicide pilot...

---Laughter

I understand what the honourable Member is talking about. No, Madam Speaker, we haven't taken any interest in growing little trees, but we would be only too happy to assist those creative entrepreneurs who may be able to scratch a small living out of doing this.

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

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Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Since from time to time I give advice to my constituents on areas that I have some knowledge in, Madam Speaker, and since people may be taking these little trees from an area that doesn't belong to them and transplanting them to make them grow, does the Minister know whether this is a legal or illegal poaching of trees?

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Some Hon. Members

(Microphones turned off)

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Mr. Lewis, I am having a problem with your question. Any question posed to any Minister should be under the direct responsibility of their ministerial portfolio. You may want to rephrase your question or I will have to rule it out of order. Mr. Lewis.

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Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

I will try again. It is a difficult area, Madam Speaker, because economic activity cuts across so many boundaries. I would like to ask the Minister whether he knows of any regulation that prevents the removal of an economic resource from an area where this particular resource is available?

Supplementary To Question 340-12(6): Study On Economic Feasibility Of Bonsai Trees
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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Todd.

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John Todd Keewatin Central

I am not aware of any regulations as it relates to the pilfering of bonsai trees, Madam Speaker.

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Health. Over the past few years, there has been a lot of concern raised about the medevac services in the Northwest Territories. I am under the impression that this issue is under study or was to be studied in some kind of report prepared for this Assembly. Can the Minister advise this House as to what the status is of the review of medevac services in the Northwest Territories?

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Acting Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Pollard.

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John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, this issue was looked at and some medevac standards were arrived at. The commitment of the government was that once those standards were arrived at, they would be

discussed with the industry and the industry would have input into a new medevac policy for the Northwest Territories.

The status at the present time is that those guidelines were developed and they are now being discussed with the health boards. The health boards want to have some more input into it. I anticipate that by the end of this year, all that data would have been gathered and put into a report. So early next year, Madam Speaker, the consultation process will begin with the industry itself. I am confident that the Minister of Health will be able to put a report into this House in the winter session. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

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Fred Koe Inuvik

It is a major cost concern because a majority of our money in the health care system is being spent on medevacs. I am pleased that the department is proceeding in terms of consultation and involving people who are impacted by the services. What work has been done to involve them in this review?

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Acting Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Pollard.

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John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, the concerns of the different regions and communities across the Northwest Territories are being channelled through the health boards. It is hoped that in that way we will know what the community and regional concerns are. So that is being done through the health boards, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

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Fred Koe Inuvik

In the meantime, I will have to assume that it is business as usual and that much of the services and disputes as to the jurisdiction and different areas are just continuing as they were last year.

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Acting Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Pollard.

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John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, I think, in going through the process and looking at the medevac standards, et cetera, it has made us all more aware of each other's problems, whether we are a board, patient or nurse practitioner trying to load someone onto an aircraft. We have all learned that there are problems out there. That has been instrumental in solving some of the problems, particularly in communication. Yes, we are still working on the same regime that was there before, except that we are more knowledgable about the

problems. We may be compensating for some of those problems in our own way. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Koe.

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Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. In communities that have access to roads, they also provide road medevacs by road vehicles. When we were visiting communities on the Special Committee on Health and Social Services, we saw the condition of some vehicles that were being used for medevac purposes. Is anything going to be done to look at that aspect of provision of medevac services? Are you looking at vehicles and their condition to upgrade them?

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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Acting Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Pollard.

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John Pollard Hay River

Madam Speaker, the Member is correct. Across the Northwest Territories the condition of vehicles, the kinds of services that are available -- and I talk about paramedics versus other people who are perhaps not as well trained -- varies across the Northwest Territories. Health boards and communities have raised this issue to the department and the department is looking at the situation, not only in the air, but on the road as well. I might say, Madam Speaker, that in communities that would be serviced by aircraft for medevac, there is still the concern of ambulance services within that community. So the department is looking at it, Madam Speaker. Thank you.