Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr Ng.
Debates of Jan. 21st, 1998
Topics
Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 241
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Return To Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 241
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No.
Return To Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 241
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.
Supplementary To Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 241
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to the Minister's answer, I would like to ask a second question. Can the Minister tell me what action his department will take to improve the delivery of health and social services in the Mackenzie Delta?
Supplementary To Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 241
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Ng.
Further Return To Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 241
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of any high profile or major problems in the Mackenzie Delta. If the honourable Member has some specifics, I will certainly be willing to speak to the chair of the Inuvik Regional Health and Social Service Board who
happened to be in town yesterday and quite frankly, I believe things overall, in the Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services Board area is running quite well. Like I said, if there are issues out there that I am not aware of, I am certainly prepared to sit down with the Member and discuss them and try to deal with those issues, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 242
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.
Supplementary To Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 242
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is good and well to hear that everything is hunky dory in the Mackenzie Delta, but the reason I asked my questions in this House, time and time again, and if he wants to go through the Hansards to see exactly the number of questions raised in regard to the whole question of health and social services issues in the Mackenzie Delta, he can go at it. My question is, when will the Minister act in regard to all these issues that were raised in the past and the demand from my region to call for a public inquiry?
Supplementary To Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 242
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Ng.
Further Return To Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 242
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe when the honourable Member brought forward issues that I have tried to address them. I know that sometimes the results have not been to his satisfaction in respect to some of the funding initiatives that we cannot fund all programs or quite frankly that the board itself feels that it is doing the right job in putting the dollars where they feel are the most effective. I cannot recall any public inquiry demands from the Mackenzie Delta that the honourable Member speaks of, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 242
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Final supplementary.
Supplementary To Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 242
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final supplementary is, well, what will it take for the Mackenzie Delta to call for some sort of inquiry in regard to health service in the Mackenzie Delta by this Minister and his department?
Supplementary To Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 242
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Ng.
Further Return To Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 242
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess it would take having the necessary reasons for me to call one. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Question 53-13(5): Inquiry Into Health And Social Services Delivery
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 242
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Mr. Roland.
Question 54-13(5): Regional Mainframe Changes
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 242
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question at this time will be addressed to the Minister
responsible for Public Works and Services, Minister Antoine. I received a letter dated January 20, yesterday, speaking on the government's computing platform and a letter saying that there will be some work ongoing and that mainframe systems and reloading centres are no longer needed, and they will be moving them to Yellowknife. It goes on in the letter that the system is equal to, or maybe a little bit better. I guess my question would be, if the system is not a whole a lot better, why are we going to go through the expense of moving things down into Yellowknife? Why do we not just consider keeping them where they are at? There does not seem to be any savings with this. It talks about employees getting training to continue on working. But why, if there is no real improvement? Why are we doing it? Thank you.
Question 54-13(5): Regional Mainframe Changes
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 242
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Antoine.
Return To Question 54-13(5): Regional Mainframe Changes
Question 54-13(5): Regional Mainframe Changes
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 242
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the initiative that the honourable Member is talking about is there is a plan for making some changes to the computer mainframe. In the past the government had some regional mainframes in the regions, and with the upgrade and the improvement in the computer system, the department is looking at establishing just one headquarters computer mainframe. The region will use that as well and just upgrading our equipment mainly. That is what we are doing and training the existing staff that we have to comply to the new equipment that we are installing. Thank you.
Return To Question 54-13(5): Regional Mainframe Changes
Question 54-13(5): Regional Mainframe Changes
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 242
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.
Supplementary To Question 54-13(5): Regional Mainframe Changes
Question 54-13(5): Regional Mainframe Changes
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 242
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The reason I am questioning this planned move is whenever we see reductions going on and the concern comes around that this is not the start of centralizing things. Especially with division coming on, although I have no concerns with Whitehorse, we do not want to see the Northwest Territories or the Western Territory turn into a similar situation. Is this the beginning of centralization of more and more items? Is it efficiency because it does not really clearly state it. Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 54-13(5): Regional Mainframe Changes
Question 54-13(5): Regional Mainframe Changes
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 242
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Antoine.
Further Return To Question 54-13(5): Regional Mainframe Changes
Question 54-13(5): Regional Mainframe Changes
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 242
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the changes that we are planning to do in Public Works in regard to establishing changing the computer mainframe in Yellowknife, having one here in headquarters, and then the regions will be able to access this mainframe at the headquarters level. It is for efficiency, and it is not intended to centralize the system we have. We are just trying to improve on what we have, so that we have better and faster
equipment. The intention is not the beginning of centralizing the services that Public Works is providing. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 54-13(5): Regional Mainframe Changes
Question 54-13(5): Regional Mainframe Changes
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 243
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.
Supplementary To Question 54-13(5): Regional Mainframe Changes
Question 54-13(5): Regional Mainframe Changes
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 243
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will there be any loss of the ability to carry on existing services within the regions from making the changes that are proposed here? Will the community of Inuvik, for example, be able to write emergency cheques, and so on, as they do now? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 54-13(5): Regional Mainframe Changes
Question 54-13(5): Regional Mainframe Changes
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 243
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Antoine.