I do have the information. I will table the document on Monday.
Debates of March 12th, 1993
Topics
Committee Motion 86-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 22
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 897
John Todd Keewatin Central
Committee Motion 86-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 22
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 897
The Chair Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Todd. Revenue recoveries and transfer payments, page 07-20. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.
Committee Motion 86-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 22
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 897
Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha
Agreed.
Committee Motion 86-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 22
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 897
Committee Motion 86-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 22
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 897
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Committee Motion 86-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 22
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 897
Committee Motion 86-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 22
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 897
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Committee Motion 86-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 22
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 897
Committee Motion 86-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 22
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 897
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Committee Motion 86-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 22
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 897
The Chair Tony Whitford
I would like to thank the Minister and the witnesses for their participation and informative answers.
Committee Motion 86-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 22
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 897
John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 86-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 22
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 897
Committee Motion 86-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 22
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 897
Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha
Mr. Chairman, we are willing to address the Department of Personnel, initially, but we have noticed the Minister is not in the House. Therefore, we will request the Minister of Health to proceed with her budget. Thank you.
Committee Motion 86-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 22
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 897
Committee Motion 86-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 22
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 897
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Department Of Health
Committee Motion 86-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 22
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 897
The Chair Tony Whitford
We have agreement. Is the Minister of Health prepared to present her opening remarks for the Department of Health?
Committee Motion 86-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 22
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 897
Rebecca Mike Baffin Central
Yes, I am, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 86-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 22
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 897
Committee Motion 86-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 22
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 897
Rebecca Mike Baffin Central
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for this opportunity to provide opening comments.
Overall, the Department of Health's budget has decreased by approximately .5 per cent in comparison to the 1992-93 revised main estimates. The department's budget reflects an effort to control expenditures in the areas of medicare, medical travel and hospital services. This will be accomplished by monitoring of service utilization, establishment and application of standard guidelines and procedures and the development of payment methods which encourage good practice and provide predictability of costs over time.
One significant task to be accomplished during the year will be consolidated management of medical travel benefits to GNWT employees into the Department of Health. It is currently within the mandate of the Department of Personnel.
Other initiatives the department has undertaken previously which will continue are as follows: a comprehensive AIDS prevention package; repatriation of specialized services to Stanton Yellowknife Hospital, with the aim of further enhancing services to the communities outside of Yellowknife; in collaboration with the Department of Education, development of a registered nursing diploma program at Arctic College; assessment of work load factors in the community health centres; continued planning through the development of community profiles to determine health needs, health service resources and use, and the options for improving service arrangements; review of expenditure issues with boards, especially for travel, drugs and overtime, with a view to better cost projection and control; negotiation of per diem and salaried contracts with physicians to provide predictable costs; strengthening the monitoring of medical travel use; establishing a means of reviewing patient care provided in the south so that opportunities for repatriation are identified and acted upon; and, continued development of the advanced nursing skills in-service program to prepare and support the needs of NWT nurses.
Significant issues to be dealt with in 1993-94 are as follows: improvements of the department's management for results system to make it a more useful tool for comparing results with resources, and full integration of MFRS into the budget into the budget and financial reporting system; development of a plan of action to increase aboriginal representation in the department at management levels; the collaborative development of a memorandum of understanding between hospital and health boards and the Department of Health; resolution of the DIAND dispute over hospital services to Indian and Inuit residents; development and discussion of principles upon which the NWT health system will be developed over the next decade; the planned consolidation of the Department of Health and Social Services, beginning with the joint review of and planning for alcohol and drug programs and for services to aged and handicapped; and, decentralization of the health insurance services division to Inuvik and Rankin Inlet.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments. Thank you.
Committee Motion 86-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 22
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 898
The Chair Tony Whitford
Thank you, Madam Minister. Is the Standing Committee on Finance prepared to present its report? Mr. Zoe.
Comments By Standing Committee On Finance
Committee Motion 86-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 22
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 898
Henry Zoe North Slave
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is the Standing Committee on Finance report on the review of the 1993-94 Main Estimates to the Department of Health.
The Department of Health has the second largest allocation at $182 million, only Education is larger. The Auditor General has told us that this department is not fiscally effective, efficient and economical. Obviously, Mr. Chairman, we are greatly concerned.
Frankly, the Department of Health is not managing, they are only reacting. The departmental responses to the committee's recommendations were unsatisfactory. If you cannot measure the key indicators in your program, you cannot manage them effectively.
This government spends $182 million per year on reacting to our communities' poor health. We agree that a person is his or her own "health control board." However, someone must provide leadership to improve the overall health situation. The Department of Health is where the resources are. The Department of Health must significantly improve the support, direction and leadership provided to ensure community development in matters of health.
The department must ensure that it is serving the regional health board well by providing suitable support, direction and training programs; by keeping systems simple, and by developing an early warning system aimed at preventing serious problems.
Major improvement is an urgent matter, the risks are too high otherwise. Unhealthy life-styles and practices must be addressed. Change must occur at an accelerated pace. We must turn around the trend of rising health costs, in human and in financial terms.
Mr. Chairman, the committee has three recommendations they would like to pursue.
Committee Motion 87-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 10
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 898
Henry Zoe North Slave
I move, the committee recommends that the Government Leader and the Minister responsible take immediate action to correct the deficiencies noted in the comprehensive audit report of the Auditor General, and take responsible action to control health costs while meeting the public needs. Mahsi.
Committee Motion 87-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 10
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Zoe. We have a motion. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Committee Motion 87-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 10
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 898
An Hon. Member
Question.
Committee Motion 87-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 10
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 898
The Chair Tony Whitford
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.
---Carried
Mr. Zoe.