Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could the Minister advise when this report that he mentioned might be expected to be completed. The reason for the question is that since we have not yet considered the main estimates for the Department of Health and Social Services, would it be possible for us to get that report before the consideration is undertaken?
Debates of March 29th, 1995
Topics
Bill 21: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 701
Bill 21: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 701
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Minister.
Bill 21: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 701
John Pollard Hay River
I had anticipated the report in late April or May, Mr. Chairman, so I really couldn't say that I could
get a report to this House by the time this budget is concluded. Thank you.
Bill 21: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 702
The Chair John Ningark
Qujannamiik. Administration not previously authorized, $33,000. Where am I? Health and hospital boards, $2.414 million. This is a special warrant. Agreed?
Bill 21: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 702
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Bill 21: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 702
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Medical travel, $1.886 million. Mr. Patterson.
Bill 21: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 702
Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
Mr. Chairman, could I ask the Minister what amount was budgeted for 1995-96 medical travel for the Department of Health and Social Services? Thank you.
Bill 21: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 702
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Minister.
Bill 21: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 702
John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Chairman, there's $16.134 million budgeted for 1995-96.
Bill 21: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 702
The Chair Tony Whitford
Thank you, Minister Pollard. The chair continues to recognize Mr. Patterson.
Bill 21: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 702
Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I think we have to ask again with this special warrant of $1.886 million, the previous year's actuals will be $19.4 million. I understand that the 1993-94 actuals were $19.246 million, about the same. How on earth are we going to spend $3.3 million less in the 1995-96 fiscal year?
Bill 21: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 702
Bill 21: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 702
John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Chairman, that is what the department is estimating. The increased use of Stanton Hospital is, I think, one of the influences upon them that suggests that there won't be as much need to travel as far. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Bill 21: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 702
Bill 21: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 702
Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
Mr. Chairman, the department was wrong this past year by $1.8 million. What accounts for those increased costs? Thank you.
Bill 21: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 702
Bill 21: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 702
John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Chairman, yes, the department was out in this particular year but for good reason: there were price increases of $1.434 million and that's something that they're not allowed to put into their request for budget funds. Another $265,000 was the shortfall between what we are paying Larga boarding homes and what the federal government are reimbursing us for. We have asked for the department to come back to us on that one as well. The majority of the thing was the price increases in travel that they were legitimately allowed to come back and ask for an increase for. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Bill 21: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 702
Bill 21: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 702
Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Perhaps the place to ask these questions is when the main estimates come forward for the Department of Health. It seems to me that if there are serious shortfalls in the boarding home arrangements in Edmonton, then we have to understand how we can save $3 million from one year to the next. I would imagine it would take some kind of a miracle but I'll save those questions for the main estimates of the Department of Health.
I would like to ask the Minister, and short of echoing what Mr. Dent said, we got quite glowing reports about the nearest centre policy and the arrangement with the Royal Alexandra Hospital netting a savings. Did those two policies net the government savings and can the Minister indicate what those savings were?
Bill 21: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 702
Bill 21: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 702
John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Chairman, yes, in the nearest centre policy we did see the cost curve start to bend down with regard to the travel and of course, there was an increase in facilities at the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital and more people were working here and so on and so forth. With regard to the Royal Alex, as I said before, we anticipated in excess of $3 million worth of savings there and it seemed we only got $600,000 in the first year. That's what the department is working on right now; to try and find out why our projections were so far off, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.
Bill 21: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 702
The Chair Tony Whitford
Thank you, Minister Pollard. Health and hospital boards, special warrant, $2.414 million.
Bill 21: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 702
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Bill 21: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 702
Bill 21: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 702
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed