Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have some comments on the memorandum of understanding. During the address to the 1992 annual general meeting of the Northwest Territories Health Care Association, the former Minister of Health, the Honourable Dennis Patterson, outlined an approach that may hold some solutions to the currently unacceptable level of uncertainty and control conflict. He commented that, " A master M.O.U. between the health boards and the departments must be developed. It is my intention that work should begin on the M.O.U. within the next several weeks and substantially before the end of the fiscal year. Completion of this work should clarify many long-standing issues of authority and accountability and preparation for the collaborative advantages that must follow." The Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions recognizes this process as the essential first step to the resolution of the strained and hampered working relationships between the boards and the department. It should be accorded at the highest priority within the Department of Health and among the hospital and health boards. However, it should not be seen as a permanent alternative to legislative review and amendment.
The October 1990 report of the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions from the 11th Assembly recommended that the Territorial Hospital Insurance Services Act should be repealed and replaced with one that "better reflects the government's philosophy of supporting regional autonomy". This still has not been done. The legislative response is too long overdue.
The process by which this M.O.U. is to be established must be structured to ensure full and direct participation by all health boards. During their meeting with board representatives, Members of the standing committee were dismayed to learn that several boards had not received an update on the initiative since the Minister's September announcement. This effort will simply not succeed unless it is based on ongoing information exchanges and a collaborative approach.
Finally, there are some indications that the department may now be very for from the Ministers original time line, which envisions substantial completion of the M.O.U. by the conclusion of the 1992-93 fiscal year. The department must prioritize the timely negotiations and finalization of this key document.
During the period between the tabling of this interim report and the delivery of a comprehensive final report, the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions will monitor this departmental initiative to ensure that it is proceeding according to the previously announced time line and with appropriate direction and input from the health and hospital boards.
Mr. Speaker, that concludes our interim report on Health and Hospital Boards in the Northwest Territories.
Motion To Move Committee Report 9-12(3) To Committee Of The Whole
I would therefore move that the Interim Report of the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions on Health and Hospital Boards in the Northwest Territories be received and moved into the Committee of the Whole for further consideration.