Debates of Feb. 20th, 1997

This is page numbers 731 - 767 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 4th 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

Members Present
Item 1: Prayer
Minister Absent From The House
Importance Of Teachers
Labrador Winter Games
Pangnirtung Fisheries
Employees Affected By Division
Caribou Population
Fairness
GNWT Travel Expenditures
Aboriginal War Veterans
Kicking Caribou Theatre Company
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Fairness In Allocating Funds
Plan 2000 - Public Housing Strategy
Offer To Purchase Clyde River Staff Housing Units
Frequent Flyer Points
Nunavut College Student Accommodation
Plan 2000 - Public Housing Strategy
Effects Of Alcohol On Infant Mortality
Maintenance Of Yellowknife Staff Housing
Anti-smoking Legislation
Appointment Of Territorial Court Judge
Changes To Eye Exam Program
Leave For Continuous Employees
Chair Of The Stanton Regional Health Board
Civil Servant Wage Clawbacks
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Written Question 18-13(4): Locksmiths, Security Guards And Other Security Occupations Act
Written Question 19-13(4): Updating The Arbitration Act
Return To Written Question 5-13(4): Attention Deficit Syndrome/disorder
Return To Written Question 6-13(4): Cancer Statistics
Return To Written Question 7-13(4): Over-budgeted Capital Projects
Return To Written Question 8-13(4): Housing Corporation Revenues And Expenditures
Return To Written Question 9-13(4): Reform Review Initiative
Return To Written Question 13-13(4): Insurance For Education Facilities
Bill 2-13(4): Justice Administration Statutes Amending Act
Bill 9-13(4): Forgiveness Of Debts Act, 1996-97
Tabled Document 52-13(4): Terms Of Reference: Strategic Plan For The Department Of Health And Social Services
Tabled Document 53-13(4): Detailed Statistics On Cancer Cases
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Recommendation To Reinstate Funding For Delta House
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 22: Orders Of The Day

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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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. What were the operating costs of the other facilities?

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

The Chair Vince Steen

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Ng.

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, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, if I can use NAS as an example, their total budget was $1,041,000 but after you take off the mortgage, utilities, heating costs and that type of thing. Their adjusted operating cost were $831,000 for 28 beds. That is where you get the $30,000 cost per bed. I would like to say, Mr. Chairman, that it was not strictly in respect to being the least efficient, respect to just operating cost. The other major factor is the fact that they had the smallest facility. They only had 12 beds. That would take the least number of beds out of the system as well. Where if you took a larger amount, obviously the vacancies would go up for the other facilities, but then we were concerned about possible waiting time. That was another issue that is out there in respect to reducing some of the availability of bed spaces, Mr. Chairman. 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

The Chair Vince Steen

Thank you, Mr. Ng. Mr. Roland.

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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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When we look at all the cost involved, and saying that 12 beds were the easiest decision, when it comes to 12 beds taken out of the facility versus 28, for example, on the one you just mentioned for the costs. What was the vacancy rate of all beds in the territories?

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

The Chair Vince Steen

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Ng.

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, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the occupancy rates were about 54 percent over the last few years. Advocates about 46 percent vacancy rates, Mr. Chairman. 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

The Chair Vince Steen

Thank you, Mr. Ng. I have to recognize Mr. Erasmus now.

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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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you. Mr. Chairman, I was wondering if the Minister could explain the new system of funding for the treatment centres.

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

The Chair Vince Steen

Thank you, Mr. Erasmus. Mr. Ng.

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, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, for the 97/98 year, it was proposed to go to a 50 percent core funding for the operating treatment centres and 50 percent held for per DMs based on the number of individuals being treated there, Mr. Chairman. 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

The Chair Vince Steen

Thank you, Mr. Ng. Mr. Erasmus.

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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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. What capacity would a treatment centre have to maintain in order to receive 100 percent of its funding?

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

The Chair Vince Steen

Thank you, Mr. Erasmus. Mr. Minister.

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, Mr. Chairman. There would have to be 80 percent occupancies, Mr. Chairman. 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

The Chair Vince Steen

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Erasmus.

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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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. What happens if a centre is only 60 percent one month, 95 percent the next month, and 95 percent the month after that? Does this go over the course of a full year, or if you are less than 80 percent one month do you lose that amount of money for all time?

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

The Chair Vince Steen

Thank you, Mr. Erasmus. honourable Mr. Ng.

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, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, they would have their core funding cash flow evenly throughout the course of the year. The other 50 percent per DMs would be based on their occupancy levels which would be purchased through the boards. Mr. Chairman, 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

The Chair Vince Steen

Thank you, Mr. Ng. Mr. Erasmus.

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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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate that information. What I want to know is what happens if one month they are less than 80 percent, then the next month they are well above 80 percent? What happens if at the end of the year they might have had two or three months where they were less than 80 percent, but overall they might have had 85 or 90 percent capacity?

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

The Chair Vince Steen

Thank you, Mr. Erasmus. Mr. Ng.

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

Generally speaking, if they were to obtain their 80 percent average throughout the year, no matter where the spikes and dips were, they would have enough funding to operate for the year, Mr. Chairman. 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

The Chair Vince Steen

Thank you, Mr. Ng. Mr. Erasmus.

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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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Is the Minister saying if, at the end of the year, a centre has an overall average of over 80 percent, or overall capacity, then they will receive 100 percent of the funding they are eligible to receive?