Thank you. We are the business development, contributions, headquarters, total region, $8,000,000. Agreed?
Debates of March 9th, 1992
Topics
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The Chair Ludy Pudluk
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Contributions, Total Capital, Agreed
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The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Total contributions, $8,000,000. Agreed?
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Business Development, Total Capital, Agreed
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The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Total activity, $8,000,000. Agreed?
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Economic Development And Tourism, Total Capital, Agreed
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The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Now we go back to page 17-7. Program summary. Capital expenditures, total capital expenditures, $ll,5l0,000. Agreed?
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
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The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Does the committee agree that this department is concluded?
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
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Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Thank you. I would like to thank the Minister and the witnesses at this time. What does the committee wish to do now? Do you wish to go on to Health? Agreed?
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Department Of Health
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Okay. The committee agrees that we are going to go on to the Department of Health. The Department of Health is page 14. Order, please. I wonder if Mr. Minister would like to make opening remarks at this time. You can make opening remarks now, and if you want to call a witness after your opening remarks, it will be appreciated very much.
Minister's Opening Remarks
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman and honourable Members, the Department of Health's capital budget for the 1992-93 fiscal year reflects a commitment to improved service planning. Increased emphasis will be placed on renovating health facilities to extend their useful life span. Better use of the existing health centres will also be sought through periodic reassessment of service use and service requirements. Redesignation of all or parts of facilities will be made on the basis of these assessments. This approach continues the direction taken by the department in recent years.
During the fiscal year 1991-92, renovation projects were completed at the Inuvik Regional Hospital, Iqaluit public health unit, and H.H. Williams Memorial Hospital. Renovation projects were also initiated for the Baffin Regional Hospital and the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital, with a completion target for 1992-93.
Mr. Chairman, as Minister of Health I am recommending the funding which is necessary to continue a sound capital program for the NWT health services system. Key elements of the 1992-93 budget provide for: 1) the completion of essential renovation projects; 2) improved computerized financial and health information management systems; 3) improved health technology assessment; 4) improved facilities for school-based dental services; and 5) the development of a strategic plan for health service delivery, with specific attention to the future role of health facilities serving regional populations. I am requesting capital funding in the amount of $5.699 million, which includes the carry-over from 1991-92 of $1.591 million.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my opening remarks. I would like to thank you for the opportunity to present my first capital budget for the year 1992-93. I would like, at this time, to seek your permission to have a briefing on the Department of Health, as the House had sought earlier, which includes a glimpse of the past initiatives, of the present, and some of the direction that the department is taking. This may be done through the support of the deputy minister and the assistant deputy minister.
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The Chair Ludy Pudluk
The Minister is asking permission to bring his witnesses in now. Is this agreed? Mr. Todd.
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John Todd Keewatin Central
I just want to get clarification, Mr. Chairman. Is the Minister asking for us to hear a briefing now, or does he want us to deal with the budget? I just need clarification.
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The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Mr. Minister.
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Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Mr. Chairman, the department had prepared a presentation which would explain some of the concerns that were expressed in this House, and elsewhere, about the department. It was felt that in order to assist the Members, we would put together a presentation that would explain some of the concerns that may have been expressed. I was under the impression that it would best be done in committee of the whole.
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The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Thank you. Ms. Cournoyea.
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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput
Mr. Chairman, there have been many questions that have been asked of the Department of Health and the government, as a section that was referenced in Strength at Two Levels, called the "NWT Way on Health." There were a number of questions asked as to what the NWT Way was, exactly. When we discussed it, the Department of Health was willing to make a presentation so that the questions could be answered in a presentation which would last about half an hour, in terms of taking us through the NWT Way. When it was offered for presentation in the separate time and space, outside of the committee of the whole, it was suggested by the ordinary Members who were present at that particular meeting that it should come into the committee of the whole in the Legislative Assembly. I just thought I would take the time to explain why the Department of Health was offering it at this time. It was suggested to offer at this time an outline of what health, the NWT Way, was. However, Mr. Chairman, it would be up to the committee of the whole.
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The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Does the committee wish this briefing before the budget, or after? Mr. Gargan.
Debate On Presentation Of Health Department Briefing
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Samuel Gargan Deh Cho
Mr. Chairman, I am in agreement with what Mr. Todd said. I believe this June, I think, we will be dealing with the main estimates of operations and maintenance. I would think that would be the appropriate time to deal with the NWT Way. I do not know if it is appropriate to be discussing this while we are dealing with capital projects. I have limited myself, Mr. Chairman, in speaking to the capital estimates. I have not really questioned the operation or maintenance of the government. Mr. Chairman, you may have a position on whether or not you feel this is the appropriate time to address this particular issue.
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The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Thank you. Mr. Todd, tell us what to do.
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John Todd Keewatin Central
I am the last person to say that we should not get a briefing on the NWT Way model of health care, but we are dealing with a very minor, if I can say, part of the total Health budget. I would have felt, given the amount of debate that has taken place with respect to health care, and the diversity of opinions, that it required a full debate outside of this small capital budget. However, I will stand down to the will of the majority. If you want to incorporate it in here, that would not preclude us from debating it later on. Whatever everybody else wants. I did not expect it, to be quite honest with you. I do not, at the same time, wish to suggest for one minute that it would not be a valuable exercise, particularly as we debate the capital budget. I would have hoped to give it merit and to give it the kind of debate that is required, and given the fact that there is significant diversity of opinion which requires a full debate, I think, outside of this $5 million-plus budget. It depends on what the majority says.
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Ludy Pudluk
Thank you. Government Leader.