Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pursue a further question on the Member's statement that I made earlier today. As I stated, Members here often express our frustration of the fact that when we are presented with a budget so much of it is locked in. One of the things that are locked in is the care for these clients in southern facilities for various causes. It could be for a disability or for some other cause, and they're just locked in. We don't revisit it, we just pay whoever it is that we're paying, and for some of it a lot of money. This facility that we're talking about in Edmonton, we have 10 people in this facility and we're paying more than $1 million. I would submit to you, Mr. Speaker, that is a critical number of clients as well as a critical mass of dollars that would allow us to do our own thing in the North. Often the case is made that we have two clients here and two clients there and it's not enough for us to have to hire all of the resource people that are needed, but I don't think that argument can be made here. So I would like to know from the Minister how much thought he has given, or his department has given, to see how we could repatriate these clients to the North so that money can be spent here and the services can be given in the North by northerners. Thank you.
Sandy Lee on Question 197-15(3): Repatriation Of Disabled Clients In Southern Institutions
In the Legislative Assembly on June 2nd, 2004. See this statement in context.
Question 197-15(3): Repatriation Of Disabled Clients In Southern Institutions
Item 6: Oral Questions
June 1st, 2004
Page 697
See context to find out what was said next.