Fort Chipewyan Health Research Agreement (November 4)
Dr. Taft: Thanks, Mr. Speaker. This week the Minister of Aboriginal Relations has faced a few questions, but rather than answering, he’s decided to duck and cover.
The First Nations and Métis people in Alberta deserve better, so I’m going to ask a question again to the Minister of Aboriginal Relations. Does the minister think it’s his responsibility to publicly advocate on issues like health and safe drinking water for the First Nations and Métis people in Fort Chip?
Yes or no?
The Speaker: The hon. minister.
Mr. Webber: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our government acknowledges the concerns and frustrations of the people of the Fort Chip area, and we remain totally committed to working with that community, with the chiefs up in that area to resolve a number of their issues. I feel as a minister that I have a duty to listen to their concerns and to bring them to my caucus to inform my caucus of the issues up in that area. That is what I feel is my role as the minister.
Dr. Taft: Well, the minister of health’s and the Premier’s names are all over the correspondence with the chief in reference to the Fort Chip health study. Given this Minister of Aboriginal Relations has claimed to play a central role in these negotiations, why is this minister mysteriously absent from correspondence on this issue?
Mr. Webber: Mr. Speaker, that is absolutely not the truth. This letter of intent that we’re trying to get signed up in the Fort Chip area has my signature right on that document, so I’m very much involved with the issues up in that community.
Thank you.
Dr. Taft: Well, I’d like him to table that, then. That would be very helpful. I’m sure you’d agree, Mr. Speaker.
Why is this minister ignoring requests for a clear plan on how the health study will be done and instead, as he says, merely providing advice regarding a letter of intent?
Mr. Webber: Well, Mr. Speaker, we do have a physicians’ working group up in the area right now talking to the community, and we’re developing some type of community health study. Yes, some type of community health study. The options were presented to the Nunee health board in Fort Chip in August.
Alberta Hansard, November 4, 2010