 | Home page |  | Text size |  | E-mail this page |
Legislative Assembly briefs
Health-care card complaints abound
Laura Busch
Northern News Services
Published Monday, June 3, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Problems with health-care card applications were a hot topic in the legislative assembly last week.
Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen introduced the subject on May 30, saying she has received complaints constituents had to pay for medical services - with the promise of being reimbursed once their delayed health cards arrive.
Hay River North MLA Robert Bouchard and Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins also told the assembly they have received similar complaints.
The Department of Health and Social Services has to process 38,000 health-care card applications in 2013, said minister Tom Beaulieu.
The department has received approximately 11,600 applications from January to the middle of May, of which it has processed 86-per-cent.
Beaulieu committed to informing health-care workers that individuals who can prove they have applied for their cards will receive coverage.
MLA says Inuvik school looks like a 'penitentiary'
The design of Inuvik's East Three School came under fire in the legislative assembly May 31.
"The only thing that amazes me about that school is the price tag," said Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen of the $126-million school.
In a recent tour of the new school, Groenewegen was struck by the lack of basic cabinetry, blackboards, bulletin boards and other items she said a school should have. For example, there are no racks for students' shoes, and so plastic trays and laundry baskets full of shoes litter the hallways and classrooms, she said.
Also, there are so many large windows in the library, the librarian wears sunglasses, she said. The Department of Public Works and Services is now planning to spend $60,000 on blinds to cover the school's windows.
"I just don't know how so many basic things could have been overlooked," she said.
Furthermore, the grey exterior and general feel of the building reminds her of a "penitentiary," she said.
Inuvik Boot Lake MLA Alfred Moses rose to gave his member's statement immediately after Groenewegen raised her concerns.
"You can't put a price on education," he said, adding Inuvik recently celebrated the graduation of 34 high school students.
During question period, Glen Abernethy, minister of the department, acknowledged there may be some outstanding issues with the building, but that is to be expected with new construction.
"We build what is asked of us to build," he said. "It's a state-of-the-art facility with tons to offer."
Fuel solutions for Inuvik
Fuel prices have doubled for some Inuvik residents since the town was put on synthetic natural gas to solve its energy crisis and something has to be done, said Inuvik Boot Lake MLA Alfred Moses on May 29.
People who cannot afford to pay their fuel bill are not getting a break, they're being put on a payment plan, he said.
"This is ridiculous. Not in this day and age, not in Inuvik," said Moses.
Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger responded to his concerns during question period, saying, "We are on track to have liquid natural gas in the community of Inuvik by this fall."
Moses then asked about fuel storage, as the community currently has storage capacity for about four days of fuel supply, and the Dempster Highway is prone to week-long closures.
Work will be done to extend the ferry service to Inuvik, said Miltenberger, and they are looking at expanding the storage facilities to hold a month's worth of fuel.
| 
