Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a friend and hunting partner, Mr. Koe.
--- Applause
Debates of May 17th, 1996
Topics
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 472
John Ningark Natilikmiot
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 472
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Krutko.
Question 252-13(3): Cost Of Health Care For Northerners
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 472
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng. I say that with great pride, since he is becoming a close friend of mine.
--- Laughter
The question I have for the Minister is with regard to the overall cost to this government of what is being paid to facilities in Canada and what we are paying in the way of costs for clients per day in these southern institutions and northern institutions. I would like the Minister to tell me if he can have those costs tabled in this House for all the Members, to see the comparison.
Question 252-13(3): Cost Of Health Care For Northerners
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 472
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng. That was two questions.
Return To Question 252-13(3): Cost Of Health Care For Northerners
Question 252-13(3): Cost Of Health Care For Northerners
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 472
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be willing to get into the details of that information when that budget of the Department of Health and Social Services comes before Committee of the Whole. Thank you.
Return To Question 252-13(3): Cost Of Health Care For Northerners
Question 252-13(3): Cost Of Health Care For Northerners
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 472
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.
Supplementary To Question 252-13(3): Cost Of Health Care For Northerners
Question 252-13(3): Cost Of Health Care For Northerners
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 472
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As you know, the Tl'oondih healing program is a new program and they have been trying to acquire resources to operate as a northern facility. As I stated earlier, they are registered as a charitable organization in Canada. Yet, they seem to have difficulty in maintaining adequate funds to continue to operate. La st year, the program cost in the range of $1.2 million compared to other facilities such as Hay River, Yellowknife and Iqaluit. Because the Tl'oondih Healing Society is trying to fund-raise to southern institutions and look for additional resources because they may not be able to operate fully this year without those resources. As the Minister stated in the last couple of weeks, they have contributed $300,000; but my understanding of the $300,000 is that that is not core funding, that is basically for services that they will be willing to provide as they admit clients to this program through Social Services. They are for non-insured health benefits. That means that only status Indians and Inuit can take this program. Will the Minister agree to deliver to this House the status of being able to deliver this program to Metis and non-aboriginal people, as well?
Supplementary To Question 252-13(3): Cost Of Health Care For Northerners
Question 252-13(3): Cost Of Health Care For Northerners
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 472
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Again, to remind the Members, to limit your preamble to before you make your three supplementaries. Mr. Ng.
Further Return To Question 252-13(3): Cost Of Health Care For Northerners
Question 252-13(3): Cost Of Health Care For Northerners
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 472
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department has agreed to cover treatment costs at Tl'oondih for non-status individuals through the extended health program, provided that those individuals have received approval to attend the Tl'oondih Healing Centre. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 252-13(3): Cost Of Health Care For Northerners
Question 252-13(3): Cost Of Health Care For Northerners
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 472
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.
Supplementary To Question 252-13(3): Cost Of Health Care For Northerners
Question 252-13(3): Cost Of Health Care For Northerners
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 472
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
To date, the Government of the Northwest Territories funds four facilities to the tune of $4 million. I would also like to know about costs for the services we get from southern institutions, such as Bellwood and other areas like that. There are some options that the government is looking at, where we talk about empowering communities and finding new ways to do government. I think we have to consider looking at the private sector, but also looking at it in the context of trying to use northern facilities more then we use southern facilities. I would like to have something on that also. Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 252-13(3): Cost Of Health Care For Northerners
Question 252-13(3): Cost Of Health Care For Northerners
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 472
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Ng.
Further Return To Question 252-13(3): Cost Of Health Care For Northerners
Question 252-13(3): Cost Of Health Care For Northerners
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 472
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I acknowledge the comments of the honourable Member. It's something the department is striving towards, in setting out
in our business plans the priority of trying to keep our resources in the North utilized as fully as possible, by trying to minimize the amount of dollars being spent in southern institutions. That's something we've recognized and we've already started working on planning for that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 252-13(3): Cost Of Health Care For Northerners
Question 252-13(3): Cost Of Health Care For Northerners
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 473
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Ootes.
Question 253-13(3): Membership On Panel Of Advisors On Economy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 473
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Now that we're working our way through the budget, I think that the government will be starting to shift its focus to economic stimulation. Members have spoken on that, and Mr. Todd outlined that in his budget address. There will be a challenge there to create jobs for people. I wondering if the Premier would be in a position to advise us of the membership of his panel of advisors on the economy.
Question 253-13(3): Membership On Panel Of Advisors On Economy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 473
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Premier, Mr. Morin.
Return To Question 253-13(3): Membership On Panel Of Advisors On Economy
Question 253-13(3): Membership On Panel Of Advisors On Economy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 473
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have written to all the members and I've talked to them on the phone. They've all agreed to sit on that panel. I wrote to Members yesterday. You should be getting that letter fairly quickly. What we've come up with are 16 members on that panel, and those members are from every region in the Northwest Territories. There are a mix of people with many different business backgrounds, and I'm looking forward to meeting with them fairly quickly once we get out of this session; hopefully, in June sometime.
I had hoped we would be able to make the panel a bit smaller than 16, but I'm also of the full understanding that business people are business people and they have to run their businesses. So we appointed 16 people and I'm expecting them all to come for a meeting in early June. Thank you.
Return To Question 253-13(3): Membership On Panel Of Advisors On Economy
Question 253-13(3): Membership On Panel Of Advisors On Economy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 473
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.
Supplementary To Question 253-13(3): Membership On Panel Of Advisors On Economy
Question 253-13(3): Membership On Panel Of Advisors On Economy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 473
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm pleased to hear that the Premier has expanded the panel. I feel that because some people may not be able to make it from time to time, that's excellent. I wonder if the Premier could tell us if he will develop the objectives of this panel in conjunction with the panel members. Perhaps if he could tell us when he expects to have his first meeting with them.
Supplementary To Question 253-13(3): Membership On Panel Of Advisors On Economy
Question 253-13(3): Membership On Panel Of Advisors On Economy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 473
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Mr. Morin.
Further Return To Question 253-13(3): Membership On Panel Of Advisors On Economy
Question 253-13(3): Membership On Panel Of Advisors On Economy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 473
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I expect our first meeting to be sometime in June. I will be looking
forward to the panel's input and I'll take whatever they say into consideration and take their advice. That's the main reason to establish this panel; to get the advice of these independent business people on what direction we can go and how we go about getting there. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 253-13(3): Membership On Panel Of Advisors On Economy
Question 253-13(3): Membership On Panel Of Advisors On Economy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 473
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.
Supplementary To Question 253-13(3): Membership On Panel Of Advisors On Economy
Question 253-13(3): Membership On Panel Of Advisors On Economy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 473
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
This panel will be of great importance to us and of interest to the Members of the House. I wonder if the Premier could commit to keep us updated on progress; perhaps a summary of each meeting as he has held meetings with the business community.
Supplementary To Question 253-13(3): Membership On Panel Of Advisors On Economy
Question 253-13(3): Membership On Panel Of Advisors On Economy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 473
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Morin.
Further Return To Question 253-13(3): Membership On Panel Of Advisors On Economy
Question 253-13(3): Membership On Panel Of Advisors On Economy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 473
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be pleased to do that. Thank you.