Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On Thursday, March 3, 2011, the Regular Members of this House unanimously passed a motion requesting that the Minister of Health and Social Services immediately order an independent external investigation covering all aspects of the Leishman incident with recommendations as

necessary to improve the safety and security for all patients and staff, and improve the overall quality of care for all patients receiving care with the Stanton Territorial Hospital.

Recently, I was pleased to receive correspondence from the Minister of Health and Social Services indicating that he has directed Stanton Territorial Health Authority to establish an external review committee to conduct this independent review that Ms. Leishman and the Regular Members of the 16th Legislative Assembly have asked for. I applaud the Minister for that decision.

Mr. Speaker, given that this review will be subject to the Evidence Act, I understand that it will not be made public. However, I also understand that any recommendations coming from this external review will be shared with Ms. Leishman and this government. Ultimately, the intent of the motion was to ensure that we and the health care system learn something from this horrible incident so that a similar incident is never repeated. I am hopeful that the findings of the external review will provide some closure for Ms. Leishman and allow her to focus her attention to what needs to be done now as opposed to what has happened in the past, to focus in on her son’s ongoing treatment and care.

Mr. Speaker, I do have some questions regarding this external investigation. I will be seeking some clarity and answers from the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services later today. Specifically, I will be looking for some details on the nature of the external review committee; specifically who is on it and what are their qualifications to conduct an investigation of this nature. In addition, I would like some clarity on what will be shared with Ms. Leishman and the Regular Members of this Assembly.

I do understand the importance of the protection offered to health care professionals under the Evidence Act; however, as indicated in my comments to the motion, I don’t believe that human or professional errors occurred in the Leishman incident. Rather, I feel the authority’s policies and procedures may not have been comprehensive enough to deal with the situation that occurred. The report may demonstrate this. If the concerns raised are based on the policies and procedures, I don’t believe that the protection of the professionals offered by the Evidence Act will apply, as their conduct and actions would not be in question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My condolences to the residents who have passed away in my riding of Nunakput. I wish to take a moment to reflect on the constituents who passed away, the elders in my riding, since the beginning of my term. Constituents such as Andy Carpenter Sr., George Okheena, Jimmy Memogana, Margaret Egoytak, and Phillip Kataoyak.

The remembrance of our elders as opening a special event or discussion is an Inuvialuit tradition which I am especially proud of. I always start my Member’s statements with paying respects to the people who have passed away and their family and friends.

Since our last sitting of the Assembly we have had one death in the community of Tuktoyaktuk and a real good friend of mine growing up in the community was Thomas Kimiksana, passing on March 6th of this year.

Mr. Speaker, Thomas Kimiksana had five children: Tempess, Thomas Jr., Tory, Thaylene and Pamela. His wife, Shannon Kimiksana, and their two grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, Thomas’s brothers and sisters: Roy, Joy and Brenda Kimiksana of Tuk, Fred Kimiksana, Andy Kimiksana, Anna Cockney, Margaret and Joey Carpenter from Sachs Harbour, Laverna Kimiksana, and Beverly Ford.

Mr. Speaker, our communities are small and everyone knows everybody. In the community of Nunakput we are close knit and the loss of one person deeply impacts us all.

Mr. Speaker, lastly, I wish to give my condolences to the people of the Northwest Territories who lost loved ones in the past few months. Our prayers to them and their families are with them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I would like to talk to you in regard to the condition of our highways in the Deh Cho. It’s a sad comment on the state of highways in the Northwest Territories. Once again, last week the Liard Highway was closed to all traffic until further notice from Kilometre 254 at Checkpoint all the way to Kilometre 38, which is the Fort Liard access road. Once again the communities of the Nahendeh region are cut off from much needed highway access. Highway No. 7 is broken and needs fixing.

Over the years I have consistently spoken on the need for work on Highway No. 1 and 7. Later on today I will be tabling a petition from 462 northern residents who are willing to sign a petition for Highway No. 7 investment.

The North is a challenging place to build roads, but with a strong commitment to regular maintenance and upkeep, our highway system will be proven to be reliable. The Government of the Northwest Territories should make this commitment and hold the newly elected federal government to its campaign promises to invest in transportation and infrastructure nationwide and to our North.

The Conservative Party promised to take action on the concerns of residents in rural and remote communities, and pledged better infrastructure for First Nation communities, and resources to help develop skills among Aboriginal people in connection with infrastructure projects. Northerners should expect dollars to travel northward, not just to build new roads but maintain existing ones, and improve the standard of living for people in remote communities across the Northwest Territories.

The GNWT needs to ensure the federal government understands our real infrastructure needs. As the new federal government prepares its budget, this government must ensure that the Northwest Territories doesn’t get stuck in the muskeg and miss the bus. I urge the Premier and our government to begin discussions and request funding for all our northern highway infrastructure. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. [English not provided]

Mr. Speaker, I want to express my support for the Coalition Against Family Violence’s recent recommendations for the Phase III Action Plan.

Since the 2003 creation of this government-NGO partnership with 21 key participants, impressive efforts have been made towards reducing family violence, the phase 1 and 2 action plans that provided the roadmap for coordinated work across governments and society. The approach is applauded as inclusive and effective. Yet, Mr. Speaker, still the problem grows worse.

With the phase 2 action plan coming to an end in March 2012, the coalition partners have assessed achievements to date and developed recommendations for government and public review in the development of the phase 3 action plan. Three major recommendations for phase 3 are familiar appeals, and I emphasize them for this government’s action.

We need improved funding for four family violence centres outside Yellowknife. We need funding for outreach, advocacy and prevention in non-shelter regions. We need more ambitious delivery of programs to heal men who use violence.

Sixteen further recommendations stress the areas of training, partnership and coordination, policy and legislation, and education and awareness. Together they make a strong case for multi-year core funding of critical programs.

All recommendations reflect the core need in reducing family violence. We must take an integrated cross-government approach if we are to stop battling symptoms and start drawing up causes. Without education and awareness, our efforts at prevention are handcuffed. Without effective legislation and policy, we can’t help victims escape violence or deal effectively with offenders. Without adequate safe havens throughout our communities, our costs of policing, justice and corrections will continue to drain funds from prevention.

As the announcement accompanying the release of the recommendations said, they are “critical actions that will help us toward our goal of addressing gaps, shifting attitudes and enhancing services.” Mr. Speaker, the Coalition Against Family Violence continues to do its excellent work, for which I am grateful, and, Mr. Speaker, the job of this Assembly is to listen and to act. Mahsi.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like my other colleague today, I’d like to speak about the Edmonton airport closure. The closure of the Edmonton City Airport has alarming implications on our medevac patients. Our medevac patients already face a very long flight from the NWT to Edmonton for help, Mr. Speaker. Now their transportation time from the airport to the hospital is getting much longer. To be frank, Mr. Speaker, access to timely health care emergency services is the single most important priority I have; as well it’s of great concern to many northern residents.

In the context of the changing of the airport, the Health Quality Council of Alberta has put the facts down on the table that need to be addressed. Medevacs are now adding additional travel time. For example, a 40-minute drive to the Royal Alex Hospital from the International Airport instead of the old five-minute drive from the Muni. Mr. Speaker, as well, a 31-minute drive to the U of A Hospital instead of the previous 13 minute drive. Simply put,

Mr. Speaker, driving times from the airport will be longer for seven of the eight hospitals in the Edmonton area. As we all know, defining a hypothetical outcome may be unrealistic, but, Mr. Speaker, the fact is, common sense will tell you delays mean risk. Simply put, this could mean the difference between life and death.

Mr. Speaker, the issues before us are quite simple. How is this government dealing with the potential risks and what is their involvement on dealing with these problems? The Health Quality Council studied the impacts and they came up with a 75 page report with 18 clear recommendations. My issue is this: is the government going to ensure that it takes northern input and continues to advocate our position? What will be northern input and involvement from the Minister’s point of view, because northern input is critical for a long-term solution.

Mr. Speaker, recommendation number one was to establish a transition advisory committee. Mr. Speaker, I will hope that the Minister of Health and Social Services will tell us today that he is fully committed to being involved in this process and he will clearly designate someone we know, understand and respect, to be involved in that process. Mr. Speaker, I urge the Health Minister also to see this as an opportunity because, Mr. Speaker, change is inevitable, but let’s see this as an opportunity to examine the medevac travel protocols that we use now.

Mr. Speaker, we can’t put all the blame on the change that’s happening. It’s now our chance to look at how we issue emergencies, what type of aircraft we send to these types of emergencies, and how we make the final call to have a medevac.

Mr. Speaker, let’s see this as an opportunity and do something about it by putting northern health care first. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Ms. Jillian Huber who is a University of Regina social work practicum student who is doing her spring/summer project in the community justice division of the Department of Justice. I’d like to welcome her. Mahsi.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to acknowledge Ms. Maud Robinson-Spence. She’s my summer student and she’ll be working

with me here at the Legislative Assembly and helping me do my duties as a Member for Yellowknife Centre. I’d like to thank her for joining the team and acknowledge her here today. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Ed Jeske, who came to work at East Three in the 1950s and we’re fortunate that he stopped to stay behind in Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize, as I said earlier, an old -- but not old in age -- colleague, Mr. Jeske. I’d like to recognize with Mr. Jeske is Vivian Squires, the executive director for the Yellowknife Seniors’ Society, and way up in the back behind me is Ms. Marty Brown, who is returning to Yellowknife after a long absence. So, welcome back. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a constituent of the Great Slave riding, Mr. Mark Bogan.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. If we’ve missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to the Chamber, I hope you’re enjoying the proceedings. It’s always nice to have an audience in here.

Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve got questions today for the Minister of Health and Social Services related to my statement that I made previously. The former Minister of Health and Social Services, for whatever reason, didn’t want to get politically involved in the decision to close the airport in the centre of Edmonton, and for whatever reason she lacked an interest in getting politically involved. So I’d like to ask the Minister, she -- in questions I had to her previously -- had mentioned that the interests of residents in the Northwest Territories were going to be protected because we had people who were part of this Health Quality Council review that took place recently and was just

released. I’d like to ask the Minister how we were involved in the development of that report and who exactly was involved in that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Michael Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The involvement of the government and Health and Social Services was coordinated through the deputy minister’s office, who, as a former employee out of Alberta with extensive experience in the health system there, has sort of marshalled and coordinated all of our efforts. Thank you.