Thank you. Your motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Since the health transfer, Canada has been advancing $1 million per year, increased annually by the escalator, which shall be specifically used as part of Canada's share to replace the Inuvik General Hospital and to carry out major renovations to the Baffin Regional Hospital.

It is the committee's understanding that these amounts, which now total over $4 million, have been taken as income in the years received rather than recorded as a deferred liability to be matched with the related expenditures.

Therefore, I move, Mr. Chairman, that this committee recommend that the Departments of Health and Finance consult with the Auditor General on the correct accounting treatment of the $1 million contributed annually by the federal government for the replacement of the Inuvik and Iqaluit hospitals and specifically whether it should be considered as a deferred liability.

Thank you. Your motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Member for Thebacha.

That completes the comments from the Standing Committee on Finance.

Thank you. Would Madam Premier like to bring in witnesses?

Mr. Chairman, yes.

Madam Minister, for the record, would you please introduce your witnesses?

Mr. Chairman, I have Dr. David Kinloch, Deputy Minister of Health, and Ed Norwich, the Director of Capital Planning and Maintenance.

Thank you. General comments. Mr. Antoine.

General Comments

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am concerned about a situation in Fort Simpson. Last week there was a two day meeting in Fort Simpson regarding the health programs and services delivered in the hospital. I travelled there with the former Minister of Health, Dennis Patterson. In a meeting with the public there some specific commitments were made to the community affirming that this process would continue, and because of the changes I certainly do not want to see a slow-down in the process. Commitments were made to the chief and council that there would be some money set aside to do an independent study into the process which is going on. I am concerned that these commitments might not be carried out because they were made by the former Minister. I certainly hope that an agreement is reached to try to resolve this issue in the Fort Simpson hospital area. I know it is not a capital issue but this has been the first opportunity to bring it up. I would like to know if this commitment will continue? Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Minister.

Mr. Chairman, I am familiar with the issue. I have discussed the issue with Mr. Patterson and I know that he was looking for ways and means to make sure that the decision-making process for what is going to happen to the Fort Simpson unit be totally involved with the community leaders and the catchment area. The commitment to try to facilitate an independent look at what was in the process is still there and I believe that as a total government program issue, we have to address not only the Fort Simpson unit but other areas where we are delivering, to see what type of facilities for the various regions will continue to exist. Yes, you have the commitment that this process will continue.

Thank you. General comments. Mr. Antoine.

Mr. Chairman, there were a number of letters exchanged between myself and the Minister. The capital estimates that everything for Simpson and surrounding area seems to be put on hold until this process runs its course. In the meantime, there are a number of things which should be taken care of until the process has run its course. I am concerned that this understanding may be overlooked in the process of waiting until somebody else is appointed as Minister of Health. I certainly hope that this department will look at Fort Simpson. Even though there is a process in place, we could do some of the things that are needed right away in that facility. Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think that there are some immediate concerns which can be addressed. It is in the best interests of this government as a whole to move as quickly as possible in completing the study process so that we know what has to be done. It is not only a Fort Simpson issue, it fits into the whole health delivery system of the western Arctic. It is very important that we continue to try to fast track decision-making and the involvement of people to continue that long-term plan. In the meantime we know that there are smaller issues which will be taken care of. Thank you.

Thank you. General comments. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Part of the problem is that there is no health board in the whole south western region of the Northwest Territories. It is such a large area and there are three distinct areas included in the whole region. Since the health transfer in 1988, no health board has been created in that area. The people in my area and the Deh Cho region have said that they are distinct from the Dogrib region and the South Slave, and it is going to be cumbersome to have a large board. The department never pursued this. All we have is a public administrator running the whole show. There is no real input into the whole health process. The other health boards in existence in the north have more of a say than we do. I think this is one of the problems. I recall in 1988, the suggestion was made during the transfer that they wanted to see a health board, but not a large one, just a health board for their own particular area. I think this is what the Dogrib people have already said as well as South Slave. I think this has to be pursued. There might be different suggestions coming out of the discussions in Simpson but this is one of the key items which may be causing the problems in this whole process.

The decision-making which you have spoken about has to be looked at. I am wondering if the department will be working with the regions and the communities to try to resolve this issue? Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Minister.