This is page numbers 207 - 230 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was chairman.

Topics

Return To Question O219-12(2): Abstention By Departmental Staff
Question O219-12(2): Abstention By Departmental Staff
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Oral questions. Mr. Dent.

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. Mr. Speaker, I heard recently that there was a major fire at the Expo site in Seville. I am wondering if the Minister could advise the House if this fire may have saved the Government of the Northwest Territories a considerable amount of money by creating a situation where we would not have to go forward with our participation at Expo?

--- Applause

The Speaker

Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question O220-12(2): Fire At Expo Site In Seville
Question O220-12(2): Fire At Expo Site In Seville
Item 5: Oral Questions

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John Pollard Hay River

I must admit, Mr. Speaker, that when I heard the news that the Expo site was on fire, my hopes were raised, but they were dashed, Mr. Speaker. It was not our building, and there was no damage to our building. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question O220-12(2): Fire At Expo Site In Seville
Question O220-12(2): Fire At Expo Site In Seville
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Dent

Supplementary To Question O220-12(2): Fire At Expo Site In Seville
Question O220-12(2): Fire At Expo Site In Seville
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Yes, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary for the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. Mr. Speaker, on February 13 of this year, the Minister advised this House that he would provide us with a report done by Mr. Fred Abbott on our participation at Expo as soon as it was received. Can the Minister advise me whether or not he has received this report?

Supplementary To Question O220-12(2): Fire At Expo Site In Seville
Question O220-12(2): Fire At Expo Site In Seville
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question O220-12(2): Fire At Expo Site In Seville
Question O220-12(2): Fire At Expo Site In Seville
Item 5: Oral Questions

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John Pollard Hay River

Mr. Speaker, the report was received by Mr. Alvarez on Saturday, I believe, and I have not yet received it, but I will make it available to the House this week. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question O220-12(2): Fire At Expo Site In Seville
Question O220-12(2): Fire At Expo Site In Seville
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Oral questions. Oral questions. Mr.

Antoine.

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

I had my hand up, Mr. Speaker, for an oral question. It is to the Minister of Health again, regarding the hospital in Simpson. Last year we heard there were rumours that the Department of Health was thinking about down-sizing the present hospital. This has caused a lot of concern in Simpson and the region, and that is the reason I am asking you these questions. I asked you earlier what your definition of a modern health centre was, and I was not really satisfied with your answer, so I want to know if it is a nursing station, or is it our present hospital improved with service and programs and the addition of modern equipment? Is it one or the other?

The Speaker

Mr. Whitford.

Return To Question O221-12(2): Definition Of Modern Health Centre
Question O221-12(2): Definition Of Modern Health Centre
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The question is a good question. There is no doubt about it that they may be concerned with what has been heard, but it is not the department's intention or policy to downgrade anything that is being used. Perhaps more in line with the policy would be to try to install programs, equipment, personnel and services that are needed in a community wherever resources and the need warrant them.

I think that the definition of a modern facility would reflect, I guess, the needs coupled with the ability to provide a service in that area, of that nature. There was some mention a while ago about having an operating theatre, but if you have an operating theatre and you only use the operating theatre once every two or three months, the people who do the operations do not get the type of practice and amount of work that keeps them in good shape, so to speak. It is like anything else. If you do not keep continuously at it, you are not going to be up to standard. So I think what we are looking at is balancing the need of an area with the ability to provide services at a reasonable cost and having reasonable access to the type of specialty services that we can provide.

On the other hand, we also have to balance that with alternates as well. If a service is not available there, there is some program in place that makes that kind of service accessible to the public. That will reflect the up-to-date, modern type of facility. It will utilize whatever technology is available within reasonable costs and need for that area.

Return To Question O221-12(2): Definition Of Modern Health Centre
Question O221-12(2): Definition Of Modern Health Centre
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Return To Question O221-12(2): Definition Of Modern Health Centre
Question O221-12(2): Definition Of Modern Health Centre
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I like what the Minister is saying, and that is basically exactly what we have been saying in Simpson all these years; that from April 1,1990 to March 31, 1991, the hospital in Simpson recorded dealing with over 8000 outpatients. This year they have already seen about 6000 from April 1, 1991 to the end of February, 1992. At present, the hospital in Simpson is very under staffed. The head nurse works sometimes 18 hours a day, and she is run off her feet. We are also badly in need of equipment, and we have said that many times. There were a lot of patients sent out because we did not have the type of equipment there that was required to deal with them. If we do not have the equipment, then the patients will be sent to Yellowknife; we have a facility there, but we do not have the resources to deal with the patients right in Simpson; so, of course, they get sent over here.

What we have been saying is what you are saying: that if we had the resources to take care of our patients in our region, then certainly the place would be more utilized. I would like the Minister to take note of what I was saying, and if the department could get back to me on this as soon as they could. I will have some written questions to you later on. Mahsi.

Return To Question O221-12(2): Definition Of Modern Health Centre
Question O221-12(2): Definition Of Modern Health Centre
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

I did not hear a question in that rather long statement, Mr. Antoine. Oral questions. Mr. Pudluk.

Ludy Pudluk High Arctic

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Education. In the past, the Baffin Divisional Board of Education had concerns regarding the funding they will be receiving. This is a big concern for the Baffin Divisional Board of Education, and there are changes being made. I would like to ask the Minister about the changes. The Baffin Divisional Board of Education is against the changes that will be made.

The Speaker

Minister of Education, Mr. Allooloo.

Return To Question O222-12(2): Funding For Baffin Divisional Board Of Education
Question O222-12(2): Funding For Baffin Divisional Board Of Education
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Titus Allooloo Amittuq

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Canadian government has informed us that the Auditor General informed the Canadian government that the funding that is given out every three months -- they follow the policies of the Canadian government, and we were informed that we were not following the policies that were made by the Canadian government, so we were informed that the funding that is given out to the divisional boards has to be given out monthly. Starting in April, the funding will be given out monthly. Before we go about doing it in that way, we will be meeting with the divisional boards with regard to the interest dollars and how they will have to be handled. Thank you.

Return To Question O222-12(2): Funding For Baffin Divisional Board Of Education
Question O222-12(2): Funding For Baffin Divisional Board Of Education
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Supplementary, Mr. Pudluk.

Supplementary To Question O222-12(2): Funding For Baffin Divisional Board Of Education
Question O222-12(2): Funding For Baffin Divisional Board Of Education
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Ludy Pudluk High Arctic

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Baffin Divisional Board of Education is putting out materials, and we are very pleased with the Inuktitut materials that were produced. I would like to know if they will be stopping them from producing materials. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question O222-12(2): Funding For Baffin Divisional Board Of Education
Question O222-12(2): Funding For Baffin Divisional Board Of Education
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

Mr. Allooloo.

Further Return To Question O222-12(2): Funding For Baffin Divisional Board Of Education
Question O222-12(2): Funding For Baffin Divisional Board Of Education
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Titus Allooloo Amittuq

(No translation) (Translation) We will be meeting with them regarding the monthly funding that they will be receiving. For example, in the past, the Baffin Divisional Board of Education used to get $600,000 to $700,000, and that was given to the divisional board. If we are going to be giving them monthly funding - we will be speaking with them with regard to this. We will inform them on how the funding will be used and we will (No translation)

Further Return To Question O222-12(2): Funding For Baffin Divisional Board Of Education
Question O222-12(2): Funding For Baffin Divisional Board Of Education
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 212

The Speaker

Oral questions. Ms. Mike.

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

(Translation) I have a question for the Minister of Education. It is on the same subject. The Baffin Divisional Board of Education was able to produce some Inuktitut books. In Yellowknife, I used to work for the Department of Education

as a program specialist for Inuktitut classes. I was responsible for producing the Inuktitut material, and it is very difficult for one person to be responsible for this. The Baffin Divisional Board of Education has produced some very good materials in Inuktitut, and they are not misusing the funds that they have. This was tried by the territorial government. He toldyou that if the funding were be given on a monthly basis, they will no longer receive the money they receive from the interest, and the Baffin Divisional Board of Education will not be able to produce such material in Inuktitut.

The Speaker

Minister of Education, Mr. Allooloo.