Qujannamiik. Mr. Minister.
Debates of March 31st, 1994
Topics
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 987
The Chair John Ningark
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 987
John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Chairman, we knew in advance that the cuts were going to be made at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. We're reasonably sure that it is not going to affect patient care, but I would remind the Members that we have not yet concluded the formal arrangement with the Royal Alexandra. Obviously, that will be part of the formal negotiations, that if care is going to be cut back and cut back, it is going to be of great concern to us. We will be monitoring that. But, I would point out that it seems it is not just one particular facility in Edmonton, it is affecting all of them. If they're all cut back in staff and if it does affect patient care, then we don't have much choice in where to go unless you want to go out of province. I was in Calgary recently and I was told the same thing about Calgary.
As I say, when we get further into the formal negotiations with the Royal Alexandra, we will ensure that this is one of the priorities on our list. That is that there is adequate patient care, particularly for the patients from the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 987
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Out of territories hospitals, total O and M, $20,105 million. Agreed?
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 987
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Health And Hospital Boards
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 987
The Chair John Ningark
Health and hospital boards, total O and M, $92.446 million. Mr. Dent.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 987
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm not sure that this is the proper activity, and the Minister can probably advise me, but my question has to do with the CHR program. I know that in my travels around the territories I found the CHRs to be, in general, very effective at assisting in public health programs in many of the nursing centres. I think it would be a very cost-effective way for us to improve our public health care if we were able to increase the number of CHRs. I was wondering if the department has any plans to increase the funding to allow more than one CHR per community in those communities where they already have one, and ensuring that we have good coverage throughout the north of CHRs?
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 987
The Chair John Ningark
Merci, Monsieur. Mr. Minister.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 987
John Pollard Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There is a possibility that we may in some communities be suggesting an increase in the number of CHRs. That would be to take on the environmental aspect of community health. The possibilities are there for us to maybe increase the number of CHRs, and ask them to take on somewhat new responsibilities. Although they would have the same basic training as other CHRs, they would be additionally trained in the environmental aspect of community health. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 987
The Chair John Ningark
Health and hospital boards. Mr. Dent.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 987
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I welcome that news. The Minister didn't indicate how many communities we might be looking at, but I would hope that we would seriously look at expanding the numbers of CHRs throughout the north. Could the Minister advise whether the department has looked at whether we could run more training sessions? I know the department purchases the training for CHRs from Arctic College. I was just wondering if the Department of Health has considered purchasing more courses from Arctic College to allow more people to be trained for the positions in the upcoming year.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 987
The Chair John Ningark
Qujannamiik. Mr. Minister.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 987
John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Chairman, before the last training program there were 15 CHR positions vacant. So we know fairly well before, the number of vacancies. If we do see before the end of the year that we still have vacancies, or we see in the middle of the summer that we have vacancies, and if we're able to look at the environmental aspect as well, we'll certainly try to put on another program before the end of the year. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 987
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Health and hospital boards. Mr. Dent.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 987
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I don't need this right now, but I was just wondering if the Minister would agree, some time before the end of next week, to table in the House a list of communities which do not have CHRs at the present time.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 987
The Chair John Ningark
Minister of Health.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 987
John Pollard Hay River
Yes, I will do that, Mr. Chairman.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 987
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 987
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just one last question on this activity just to find out if the Minister has any breakthrough news for us on the health billings dispute, or if he could provide the House with an update as to where we are at the moment.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 988
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. The honourable Minister of Health.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 988
John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Chairman, there have been examinations for discovery, I think the lawyers term it. Mr. Bower has spent some time in Ottawa being cross-examined. The court case is still proceeding. Although, at the last meeting with Mr. Irwin that Mr. Todd and I attended three weeks ago, we did reiterate again our plan to try and settle this dispute out of court. To that end, we're developing a position at the present time. The federal government is aware that we're developing a position. We already know who the contacts are going to be. Sometime within the next six weeks we'll get those people together and discuss this issue to see if we can achieve an out of court settlement. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 988
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Health and hospital boards, total O and M, $92,446 million. Agreed?
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 988
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Medical Care Plan
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 988
The Chair John Ningark
Qujannamiik. Medical care plan, total O and M, $19.921 million. Agreed?
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 988
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Medical Travel
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 988
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you very much. Medical travel, total O and M, $17.578 million. Mr. Dent.