Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Health

During the review of the 1994-95 main estimates, the committee recommended that the Department of Health develop a concrete plan for implementing the recommendations of the following groups:

-the Auditor General of Canada;

-the Standing Committee on Public Accounts;

-the Special Committee on Health and Social Services;

-the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions;

-the Standing Committee on Finance.

The committee further recommended that the department report on how they plan to improve policy development capability within the department. The committee expected the department to present its implementation plan as a prerequisite to approval of the department's 1994-95 budget. This did not occur and the committee later extended the deadline to May 9, 1994.

The department's response to this comprehensive recommendation is summarized, as follows, in a status report received on September 13, 1994:

"On June 30, 1994, the department tabled with the Standing Committee on Finance, a document called, "Preparing For Change." This document outlined an implementation plan to address the recommendations of the various committees that reported on Health and Social Services.

In June, the Department of Health and Social Services were brought together and amalgamated under one Minister and one deputy minister.

The headquarters organization is being restructured and a new organization will be confirmed by late November. Several changes have already occurred that will strengthen the department's policy development capability and the ability to plan and respond to client needs.

These include a restructuring of the finance and administration divisions to incorporate capital planning and the financial consulting staff from the hospital and health facilities division.

As well, a new strategic and evaluation division combining the former divisions within Health and Social Services has been established. This division is responsible for strategic and regional planning, policy and legislation development, as well as information systems and evaluation.

The MOU project is proceeding on schedule and all partners are pleased with progress."

The NWT Health Care Association requested that the committee grant an extension to the May 9, 1994 deadline, to allow the Department of Health to consult with the health boards regarding its two-year action plan. The committee granted this extension and arranged a meeting in early July.

On July 5, 1994, the committee met first with the NWT Health Care Association and then with the new Minister and deputy minister of the newly merged Department of Health and Social Services to discuss Preparing For Change -- the department's action plan. Committee Members saw the review process with the Department of Health and Social Services as a very useful exercise, with positive results. Although the plan did not, perhaps, go far enough in addressing all of the concerns raised in the various committee reports, Members were generally satisfied.

The NWT Health Care Association, on behalf of health boards across the territories, informed the committee that the relationship between the board and the department has improved significantly. However, they did indicate that there was some room for even more involvement of the boards in the emerging consultative process. In addition, the association mentioned that health boards and the association wanted to be involved in planning health services in anticipation of division in 1999. Further, they indicated that they believed that the need to commence the planning was urgent and they were prepared to start immediately.

Madam Speaker, I'd like to refer the report to our chairman, Mr. Antoine.