This is page numbers 711 - 742 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 7th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was chairman.

Topics

Supplementary To Question 355-12(7): Impact On GNWT Re Health Care Billings Arrangement
Question 355-12(7): Impact On GNWT Re Health Care Billings Arrangement
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 717

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi. I'm just reading in the unedited Hansard of March 29th that there was some consultation on this agreement. I would like to know what kind of consultation took place with all the aboriginal groups that the Minister mentioned on page 1622 of unedited Hansard. What type of consultation took place with these groups before signing this agreement? Were these groups advised and given a chance to comment or were they just told what the arrangements were?

Supplementary To Question 355-12(7): Impact On GNWT Re Health Care Billings Arrangement
Question 355-12(7): Impact On GNWT Re Health Care Billings Arrangement
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 717

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 355-12(7): Impact On GNWT Re Health Care Billings Arrangement
Question 355-12(7): Impact On GNWT Re Health Care Billings Arrangement
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 717

John Pollard Hay River

Mr. Speaker, as I said before in the House, we had a commitment not to enter into an agreement until we had advised the parties that we had been dealing with over the period of three years. The calls were either conference calls or direct calls by the Premier or myself to the organizations, to the people there, and they were advised of the agreement that we had reached. They were told of the dollar amount and the impact that it would have upon them because, particularly with the aboriginal groups, their concern was that it not get in the way of self-government, treaty rights, infringing upon fiduciary responsibility or land claims. Those kinds of assurances were made, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 355-12(7): Impact On GNWT Re Health Care Billings Arrangement
Question 355-12(7): Impact On GNWT Re Health Care Billings Arrangement
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 717

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Supplementary To Question 355-12(7): Impact On GNWT Re Health Care Billings Arrangement
Question 355-12(7): Impact On GNWT Re Health Care Billings Arrangement
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 717

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I guess that raises a concern, again, on the question of consultation and what it is. The Minister just told us that these people were told about the arrangement, and I would just like to ask if he considers that as proper consultation with these groups; telling them what the arrangements were before signing it. I guess my concern is how much time and what kinds of detail were these people presented with to give meaningful input into the agreement? Were they given considerable amount of time and consulted appropriately to give meaningful input in the arrangements with the federal government?

Supplementary To Question 355-12(7): Impact On GNWT Re Health Care Billings Arrangement
Question 355-12(7): Impact On GNWT Re Health Care Billings Arrangement
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 717

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 355-12(7): Impact On GNWT Re Health Care Billings Arrangement
Question 355-12(7): Impact On GNWT Re Health Care Billings Arrangement
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 717

John Pollard Hay River

Mr. Speaker, if the Member is asking me, through you, sir, if we were saying to people here's the agreement, what do you think of it; can you suggest any changes, that really wasn't happening. What we were doing was fulfilling what we thought was our obligation to advise affected people before we entered into the agreement that we had not gone beyond what we said to them at the very beginning. Three years ago, we said this is a contractual dispute, this is a dispute about money and they made us very aware of their particular concerns and we said when we went to court, we would not get into their area or jeopardize any of the agreements they have with the federal government.

We never, ever did say that we would consult with people and say what do you think about the agreement. What we did say is we would get back to them and make them very aware that we had not compromised them in any way and that we were settling this dispute in the best interests of people in the Northwest Territories. So there weren't days given. It was a telephone conversation, people were asked for their opinion and that was all, Mr. Speaker. There wasn't a lot of time given. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 355-12(7): Impact On GNWT Re Health Care Billings Arrangement
Question 355-12(7): Impact On GNWT Re Health Care Billings Arrangement
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 717

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Health with regard to funding allocations for personal care facilities across the north. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister of Health what is the departmental policy with regard to allocating funds for personal care facilities across the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Cournoyea.

Return To Question 356-12(7): Policy Re Funding Personal Care Facilities In Nwt
Question 356-12(7): Policy Re Funding Personal Care Facilities In Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 717

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, at this point in time and for the last three months, I have been trying to find out exactly what it is that had been allocated to each community and how we came to those decisions to put these particular facilities in the communities. From the information I have gathered, it does not appear to me that we have a clearly defined policy as to when, how and to what degree we do needs studies before a facility is determined in a certain area.

So, Mr. Speaker, I'm still working on that to see if we can come up with a fair distribution of infrastructure so that each region gets treated fairly, and that each community has a needs study in terms of what their needs are as well. There are some policy guidelines, but decisions of this government in the past, as far as I can determine, have not really been guided by a global look at the Northwest Territories; rather, by community interest, or maybe a couple of communities together or a community that aggressively pursues resolution of infrastructure needs to be met in that community.

I hope shortly I'll be able to do an assessment to see how we can more adequately look at needs. Presently, for example, in the Delta region we've had a request for the ongoing maintenance of the Aklavik elders' facility. At the same time, we have another suggestion on what the town of Inuvik would like to see in their community; as well, what Tuk would like to see in their community. At one time, when the facilities were first built, one facility was put in and everybody else was channelled there. However, communities are getting more aggressive. They're getting more clear in enunciating what it is they feel they should be responsible for and to what degree they should keep their elders in their own community, and at what point in time we have to ship them out to a facility that has more medical back-up.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to clearly say that the guidelines and general policy really seems to have been motivated by the hard work of certain communities or areas to pursue facilities for their region. Thank you.

Return To Question 356-12(7): Policy Re Funding Personal Care Facilities In Nwt
Question 356-12(7): Policy Re Funding Personal Care Facilities In Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 718

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Supplementary To Question 356-12(7): Policy Re Funding Personal Care Facilities In Nwt
Question 356-12(7): Policy Re Funding Personal Care Facilities In Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 718

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's my understanding that there used to be needs studies done in order to determine whether personal care facilities are required or senior citizens' homes are required. I know in my particular community, it's a community initiative that has created and allowed for the building of a personal care facility. I guess the concern I have is that if there's no departmental policy in place, what guidelines does the department use to determine the amount of funding granted to each personal care facility in the north. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 356-12(7): Policy Re Funding Personal Care Facilities In Nwt
Question 356-12(7): Policy Re Funding Personal Care Facilities In Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 718

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Ms. Cournoyea.

Further Return To Question 356-12(7): Policy Re Funding Personal Care Facilities In Nwt
Question 356-12(7): Policy Re Funding Personal Care Facilities In Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 718

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, once a facility is designated in a certain category, there are guidelines that indicate exactly what type of human resources you require in personal care, depending on the level of that care. So it does exist. I'm not saying that the government or the department is totally void of any guidelines. There are needs assessments done. For example, I know that, in looking at why there are some facilities in certain areas and not in others, some communities have been more aggressively pursuing and establishing the need so they could get in the forefront of another community or group of communities that have not done so.

It's not to put a negative connotation on somebody who has moved ahead, it's just that I think we haven't communicated very clearly with all the communities. There are certain levels of care that are quite able to be handled at the community level; other levels of care have to be handled in areas where there are more medical services available. I've been attempting to deal with that over the last two or three months, or maybe a little longer, and trying to rationalize that with the communities so we get a clear understanding from the communities what is possible to be done at the various levels.

As to staffing requirements for certain care facilities, there are criteria that have been established in terms of the human resources that are required. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 356-12(7): Policy Re Funding Personal Care Facilities In Nwt
Question 356-12(7): Policy Re Funding Personal Care Facilities In Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 718

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Supplementary To Question 356-12(7): Policy Re Funding Personal Care Facilities In Nwt
Question 356-12(7): Policy Re Funding Personal Care Facilities In Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 718

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once the funding is allocated from the department, it appears to be determined upon the different levels of care throughout the facilities. I'm wondering whether the Minister can advise me, are the service fees imposed to seniors who are in personal care facilities determined or is there a guideline that these facilities can impose on seniors. Is there a cap which basically allows for personal care facilities to be charged to seniors utilizing the service? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 356-12(7): Policy Re Funding Personal Care Facilities In Nwt
Question 356-12(7): Policy Re Funding Personal Care Facilities In Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 718

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Ms. Cournoyea.

Supplementary To Question 356-12(7): Policy Re Funding Personal Care Facilities In Nwt
Question 356-12(7): Policy Re Funding Personal Care Facilities In Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 718

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, there is a formula. I'll take the question as notice and provide that information. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 356-12(7): Policy Re Funding Personal Care Facilities In Nwt
Question 356-12(7): Policy Re Funding Personal Care Facilities In Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 718

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. The question is take as notice. Item 6, oral questions. Ms. Mike.

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation made a statement on northern manufacturing initiatives, and that the Housing Corporation spends approximately $17 million each year. Is this $17 million expended only in the west part of the territory for northern manufacturing initiatives?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Housing, Mr. Morin.

Return To Question 357-12(7): Location For Northern Manufacturing Initiative Funding
Question 357-12(7): Location For Northern Manufacturing Initiative Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 718

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The $17 million represents expenditures of the NWT Housing Corporation in the whole Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Return To Question 357-12(7): Location For Northern Manufacturing Initiative Funding
Question 357-12(7): Location For Northern Manufacturing Initiative Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 718

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Supplementary To Question 357-12(7): Location For Northern Manufacturing Initiative Funding
Question 357-12(7): Location For Northern Manufacturing Initiative Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 718

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My supplementary to the same Minister. Where are these northern manufacturing businesses located in the NWT?