Thank you, Mr. Ng. Would Mr. Picco like to take up the option for another question? Thank you. Mr. Picco.
Debates of Feb. 20th, 1997
Topics
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Edward Picco Iqaluit
Thank you, Madam Chair. Just checking our notes here. I think that was my fourth, so I will try my fifth. Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, moving on the policy on funding for health boards and giving Mr. Roland or someone else to ask a question on that. I have one final question concerning the policies and standards that I asked yesterday and did not get quite the response that I was looking for. On the policies and standards, the health services administration have been following the policies and standards that the government, I have received some correspondence to date that indicates to me that over the Christmas break, with the non-continuous and continuous employment has a concern where the hospitals may not have been properly staffed for the emergencies that were presented. I am wondering if the Department of Health and Social Services and the Minister have been reviewing this as a result of the first time ever in the history of the Northwest Territories where we had to have this continuous, non-continuous employment and closures on certain days during the Christmas break. Is he reviewing that? Some people refer to them as "Donny Days", Donny and Bonny Days, Mr. O'Brien informs me. Maybe the Minister could just update us; is the department reviewing the situation in regard to these non-continuous and continuous employment and the Donny Days and the breaks during Christmas, if the services of the hospitals were lacking as a result of these enforced policies by this government? Thank you, Madam chair and thank you very much for your ruling. I will have opportunity to check the... Yes. Mr. Ootes is telling me it was four questions. Thank you.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Madam Chair. Health care services are an essential service and one of the deemed continuous services. I am not aware of the issue that the honourable Member is bringing up. We are in dialogue with the board's CEOs through the staff on a regular basis. If there are any issues out there, we certainly would not be hesitant to try to address them, Madam chair.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Thank you, Mr. Ng. On the list I have Mr. Henry, Mr. Steen and Mr. Ootes. I think that I will go to Mr. Ootes first, to give him an opportunity, then we will go back to the Members. Thank you. Mr. Ootes.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Madam Chair. I wonder if the Minister could tell us if the department has regulations regarding awarding contracts, or do they follow the regulations similar to those in the Department of Public Works or do they use the Department of Public Works regulations? Thank you.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, all boards have to apply by government policies and regulations because we finance them, Madam Chair. Thank you.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Madam Chair. I take it the Minister is saying they follow the same regulations as the Department of Public Works. I would just like to make reference to the document which I did table, Madam Chair. This is on non-competitive contracting. It states that government contract regulations require all contracts be issued through a competitive process, unless they meet the strict regulatory requirements for sole-sourced contracting. The only exceptions to this competitive contracting process are those that meet the regulatory requirements for sole-sourced contracting, which are: it is urgently required and delay would be injurious to the public interest, only one party is available and capable of performing the contract, the contract is less than $1,000 or less than $25,000. I understand that the contract with Med-Emerg International Incorporated is a sole-sourced contract. Could the Minister confirm that for me, please.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Yes, it is Madam Chair.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Madam Chair. I will pose it as one question; does this meet the regulations of sole-sourced contracting as I stated previously?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, it does.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 19th, 1997
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Madam Chair. I wonder if the Minister could clarify those three specific areas that I referred to, and how they apply in this particular case?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, as I indicated earlier, it is because of the urgent need to perform the work and we did not feel that the expertise was available in a timely fashion with northern groups, Madam chair. Thank you.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Madam Chair. The contracting regulations state it is urgently required and delay would be injurious to the public interest. Could the Minister clarify the delay on "getting a contract out injurious to the public requirements"?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Madam Chair. In my opinion, it is because we needed to reform our health care system in as timely a fashion as possible, particularly recognizing the need to bring on those capital projects as part of that overall reform, Madam Chair. Thank you.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Thank you, Mr. Ng. Mr. Ootes, I believe that was five questions. I will come back to you. If you still have questions after hearing what Mr. Henry has to ask. Mr. Henry.