This is page numbers 4627 - 4656 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 5th 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 communities.

Topics

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve recently been informed that the radiologist contract has ended in some type of dispute. I’m not precisely sure if it was about money or technical expertise but, if I understood it correctly, people were brought up to provide that service. I’m certainly concerned that this may be putting Northerners at risk. It does cause quite a bit of worry, because anybody who goes to a radiologist, this is not an elective type of treatment, this is obviously for very serious concerns.

I’m wondering what the Minister of Health and Social Services can do to update this House as to what accommodative services have been made since this has happened and if a new contractor has been found to provide these services so we don’t have people at risk. If the Minister could inform us of that.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Any position like that, if there were any vacancies for any reason, the authority would be using locums to make sure that those duties are fulfilled. I’m not aware of details of what the Member is raising. That’s the first time I’ve heard of it, so I’ll take the question on notice and get back to the Member.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 11, replies to opening address. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to go back to item 8.

---Unanimous consent granted.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Item 8, oral questions. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to ask the Minister of ENR about the issue with the Yellowknives Dene and the news he had yesterday. I want to follow up, this being the last day of the House. I want to ask where the deal is with the Yellowknives Dene. Are they closed or still ongoing?

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is correct; there were arrangements made for a sit-down between some senior staff and Chief Sangris. I haven’t been informed whether they were successful, but I know that contact has been made.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Would the Minister then inform the House and myself as soon as there is a deal that’s going to be satisfactory to both sides on this issue?

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Happily. Happily.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya? Item 11, replies to opening address. Sorry. I think I missed item 10, returns to written questions. Mr. Clerk.

Tim Mercer Clerk Of The House

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to Written Question 2-16(5) asked by Mr. Ramsay on March 1, 2010, regarding psychiatric assessments at the North Slave Correctional Centre.

From time to time the courts in the Northwest Territories may order that a psychiatric assessment be conducted to assist the court in determining whether an accused person can be held fully accountable for a crime. These assessments must be conducted by a psychiatrist. No psychiatrist in the Northwest Territories does these type of assessments so offenders are typically sent to a specialized forensic psychiatric unit at Alberta Hospital.

As of March 1, 2010, there were no remanded offenders at the North Slave Correctional Centre awaiting a court ordered psychiatric assessment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Item 11, replies to opening address. Item 12, petitions. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Pursuant to Section 5 of the Legislative Assembly Executive Council Act, I wish to table the Summary of Members’ Absences for the Period of January 27, 2010, to February 28, 2010.

Tabling of documents. Item 15, notices of motion. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Monday, March 8, 2010, I’ll move the following motion: now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that this Legislative Assembly requests that the Auditor General of Canada undertake a special audit of the Deh Cho Bridge Project and report thereon to the Legislative Assembly; and further, that this audit investigate the long-term financial implications of the partnership arrangement, compliance with the Financial Administration Act, Deh Cho Bridge Corporation Act and the financial policies of the Government of the Northwest Territories, value for money considerations, control, appropriation authority, reporting and adherence to standard public procurement practices; and furthermore, that the Auditor General investigate and consider any other factors that, in her opinion, she feels are relevant; and furthermore, that all employees and officials actively cooperate with the Auditor General in providing all appropriate documents, papers and information; and furthermore, that the government inform the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation and all relevant contractors of the nature and purpose of this special audit; and furthermore, that the Auditor General is requested to complete the special audit as soon as practicable and provide a report to the Legislative Assembly; and furthermore, that the Speaker formally transmit this motion and content of our proceedings today to the Auditor General of Canada for her consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS Tabled Document 4-16(5) has been tabled in this House;

AND WHEREAS the Report of the Joint Review Panel for the Mackenzie Gas Project requires detailed consideration;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that Tabled Document 4-16(5), Executive Summary of the Report of the Joint Review Panel for the Mackenzie Gas Project, be referred to Committee of the Whole for consideration.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Question has been called.

---Carried

Tabled Document 4-16(5) will be moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that, notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on Thursday, March 4, 2010, it shall be adjourned until Tuesday, May 11, 2010; and further, that any time prior to May 11, 2010, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as it has been duly adjourned to that time.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.