Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Minister of Health and Social Services, has any thought been given to removing some of the administrative functions from the hospital itself? I often wonder if the need for finance, if they actually need to be in the building; and they actually do take up a fair amount of space within the building. Do they need to be located there? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. In my Member’s statement, I mentioned the space issues at Stanton and the fact that there’s limited space which affects both patient care and staff morale. Have they pursued any opportunities to find space for the staff at Stanton? Have they taken any direction to resolve some of the space issues at Stanton Territorial Hospital?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the last couple of months I have had the opportunity to speak to a number of my constituents as well as residents of Yellowknife and the North. A recurring theme and an area of concern which has been raised is the limited space available at the Stanton Territorial Hospital and how it affects both staff and patients. The cramped conditions are clearly felt by both hard-working and dedicated staff, as well as the patients who are receiving assessment, treatment, and ongoing care within the building.

A large number of staff in tight quarters, such as in the physiotherapy unit or the surgical day care unit, can cause frustration, which may lead to poor morale. This adversely affects the quality of care and the treatment received by the public. Similarly, the tight conditions cause stress to patients. For example, patients going to Stanton for cancer treatments or other procedures had to be fit in. By "fit in," I mean put in stress test rooms filled with staff clothing, treadmills, and other assorted items. This is not a positive environment or experience for northern residents already going through difficult times in their lives.

Mr. Speaker, later this afternoon I’ll be asking the Minister of Health and Social Services on space and physical working conditions within Stanton Territorial Hospital. Thank you.

---Applause

WHEREAS Rule 85 requires that Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures:

Ms. Wendy Bisaro, the Member for Frame Lake;

Mrs. Jane Groenewegen, the Member for Hay River South;

Mr. Kevin Menicoche, the Member for Nahendeh;

Mr. Robert Hawkins, the Member for Yellowknife Centre;

Hon. Bob McLeod, the Member for Yellowknife South;

AND FURTHER, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures as alternate Members:

Mr. David Krutko, the Member for Mackenzie Delta;

Mr. Tom Beaulieu, the Member for Tu Nedhe; and

Mr. Bob Bromley, the Member for Weledeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, November 29, 2007, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures: Ms. Wendy Bisaro, the Member for Frame Lake; Mrs. Jane Groenewegen, the Member for Hay River South; Mr. Kevin Menicoche, the Member for Nahendeh; Mr. Robert Hawkins, the Member for Yellowknife Centre; Hon. Bob McLeod, the Member for Yellowknife South; and further that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures as alternate Members: Mr. David Krutko, the Member for Mackenzie Delta; Mr. Tom Beaulieu, the Member for Tu Nedhe; and, Mr. Bob Bromley, the Member for Weledeh. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This question is for the Premier. Given that the voluntary sector is diverse and provides support to all areas of a community, there is merit in having the mandate for supporting the voluntary sector transfer to the Executive. Currently with MACA, the mandate is for sport, recreation and youth, and does not give them the knowledge, expertise and whatnot to reach out and address issues of voluntary groups such as justice and arts and whatnot. As Premier, would you commit to supporting the voluntary sector creating a clear and logical singular point of contact and allocating the responsibility for supporting this sector to the Executive? This will send a message that the GNWT values the voluntary sector and is committed to voluntarism and developing an open, informed, sustainable dialogue with the NWT voluntary sector.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The catch is now figuring out where I was. Alright.

Further, they feel that some of these challenges may be overcome by assigning the responsibility, mandate and accountability for implementing the government’s commitment to the Executive under one Minister.

Mr. Speaker, later this afternoon I’ll be asking the Premier some questions regarding the effectiveness of having the responsibility for the voluntary sector under the Department of MACA and how the government intends to move forward in order to provide the support committed to the voluntary sector in March 2005. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In 2005, the 15th Assembly released a declaration on volunteering

which demonstrated the government’s commitment to work with organizations that represent the diversity of the voluntary sector and support the voluntary sector through active partnerships and leadership on such programs as the NWT Volunteer Support Initiative, which is the VSI, and the related finance action group.

Volunteering in organizations within the voluntary sector supports community wellness and helps all northerners build the kind of communities that we all want to live in, for both families and individuals. Through the voluntary sector, people have had the ability to come together, take action, and come up with solutions to the common problems that improve the quality of life for all residents of the Northwest Territories.

The sector is broad and includes voluntary organizations which support the arts and culture, actively engage youth and adults in organized sports, and provide social programming to northerners in need and/or crisis. The sector includes organizations that are purely volunteer-based, as well as non-government organizations which employ staff in order to provide administration and respond to the wishes of their membership. All add to the strength of communities. Given the nature of the sector, organizations within it are able to respond to community and individual needs far quicker than the government.

As part of the government’s declaration, it was recognized that helping others is a shared tradition of northerners and that open, informed, and sustained dialogue with the NWT voluntary sector was, and is, required between the sector and government. As such, in compliance with the government’s commitment to support the voluntary sector, the GNWT appointed the Minister of MACA as the Minister responsible for addressing voluntary sector issues and accounting for the NWT VSI. Unfortunately, although MACA has done some work with the Volunteer Support Initiative and the finance action group, the sector continues to struggle and their ability to provide services to meet local needs and advocate for the marginalized and under-represented individual groups and their cause is being compromised.

Many of the organizations within the sector feel that the lack of progress may be related to the lack of the GNWT staff dedicated to this area, as well as the lack of government-wide approach on supporting the sector itself.

May I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement?