Mr. Speaker, it would be inappropriate for me to indicate the dollar value in terms of the gulf, but I would describe it as equivalent to the Grand Canyon. Thank you.
Debates of Jan. 26th, 1998
Topics
Further Return To Question 99-13(5): Pay Equity Negotiations
Question 99-13(5): Pay Equity Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 309
John Todd Keewatin Central
Further Return To Question 99-13(5): Pay Equity Negotiations
Question 99-13(5): Pay Equity Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 309
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.
Supplementary To Question 99-13(5): Pay Equity Negotiations
Question 99-13(5): Pay Equity Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 309
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the concerns that I have heard in regard to pay equity is, in fact, there are a lot of hints and implications that things are not good, and this is very serious. Would the Minister commit to providing the public, on an ongoing basis, with as much information as he can that will give some level of comfort and awareness as to the magnitude of this problem because now all we get are these kinds of statements that get everybody's levels of apprehension up and promote and foster the rumour mills, which is not in anybody's benefit? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 99-13(5): Pay Equity Negotiations
Question 99-13(5): Pay Equity Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 309
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Todd.
Further Return To Question 99-13(5): Pay Equity Negotiations
Question 99-13(5): Pay Equity Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 309
John Todd Keewatin Central
Mr. Speaker, we are under negotiations right now between two parties, and in fairness to the two parties, it may be wishful thinking, but I am still optimistic that we will make some kind of negotiated settlement. I would like to avoid, if at all possible, and I suggest, if at all possible, of it becoming a public discussion and we can come to some agreement. Should it come to an impasse, I want to assure my colleague that both this House and the people of the Northwest Territories will know the position of this government. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 99-13(5): Pay Equity Negotiations
Question 99-13(5): Pay Equity Negotiations
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 309
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Mr. Roland.
Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 309
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question would be directed to the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng. Mr. Ng made a statement today regarding breast cancer screening, and that was an issue that was discussed at some level here in this forum before we broke the last time. In his statement he says each board is free to deliver its services including breast cancer screening. He says that the Department of Health and Social Services provides each board with funding to offer the full range of services and goes on to speak of the Strategic Investment Fund that is available. I would like to know from the Minister, is there a certain formula that has to be followed, cost-shared program, that the health boards can plug into to try and achieve some of this breast cancer screening? Thank you.
Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 309
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng.
Return To Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The honourable Member, I believe, is referring to the Strategic Investment Fund, and yes, there are criteria to plug in to meet some of the parameters of the program to access funding by all boards. Thank you.
Return To Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Roland.
Supplementary To Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister inform us if there is a formula in place? Is it cost shared 50/50 from a health board funding perspective to the strategic investment dollars that are available? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Ng.
Further Return To Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as you know, the Strategic Investment Fund came about as a result of some of the deficiencies in health care funding throughout the Northwest Territories. I think it is fair to say that the department recognized that some boards were better off than others in respect to some of their core funding for programs through the department. So there is an intent to try to balance that off with this initiative. Some boards that have a bit more flexibility would be asked to put in more of their share of investment towards accessing funds in the strategic program dollars, and other boards that may have a more limited ability because of historic shortages in some of their funding would be asked to put in less to access some of these funds. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.
Supplementary To Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the next question I have is in regard to the investment fund. The Minister seems to be saying that it be looked at between one health board to another. Can the Minister inform me if the amount that was invested was $4 million, and $2 million of that was given to the ones that were considered to have low numbers? Now I think we are referring to two different amounts, but the $2 million that is left for all health boards, is that the portion we are speaking of and will it be viewed as you have just mentioned? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Ng.
Further Return To Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, of the $4 million identified and approved for the Strategic Initiative Fund, $2 million has been targeted, if you want to say that, to the three specific boards that have the greatest need, that being the Baffin, Keewatin and Dogrib boards. The other $2 million would be targeted to all the remaining boards, the Kitikmeot, Inuvik, Yellowknife, Deh Cho, Fort Smith, Hay River, Fort Resolution and Lutselk'e boards and give them access to some of these strategic initiatives funding as well, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Roland.
Supplementary To Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is a long way of getting about trying to get an answer. From the $2 million left over, is that money going to be used equally amongst the health boards and for proposals that are put in or is it going to be looked at if one health board seems to have lower or considered to have lower funding? Will they receive 75 percent of the funding and put in their own 25? Is it going to be viewed that way or is it going to be a cost shared formula of 50/50, 75/25? Is there going to be a formula that can be used? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Ng.
Further Return To Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe there is a formula within the program criteria that will be used for allocations of these funds. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Question 100-13(5): Funding Formula For Breast Cancer Screening
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Steen.
Question 101-13(5): Responsibility For Departmental Performance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the honourable Premier. I would like to welcome him back from his trade trip. Mr. Speaker, last week I was trying to establish whether or not Cabinet was involved at all in assisting the Minister of Health in regard to the problems with the health boards in the Keewatin and to some degree, in the Baffin. The last response, I believe, was from Mr. Todd, who advised that Cabinet, chaired by the Premier, is responsible for the overall performance of the departments. So, therefore, I would like to address the question to the Premier, is there a policy or a procedure in place whereby Cabinet does, on an ongoing basis, review departments' performance? Thank you.
Question 101-13(5): Responsibility For Departmental Performance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Premier.
Return To Question 101-13(5): Responsibility For Departmental Performance
Question 101-13(5): Responsibility For Departmental Performance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Government is constantly under review and reviewed by Members of this Assembly day-to-day in the House. As far as any government department is concerned, we do review the performance of the deputies of those departments on a yearly basis. We evaluate it and then pay them accordingly. Any Minister in this government that at any time has need of any help or has any concerns, that time is open to them to have an agenda item on Cabinet for the Members concerned. We do go in camera to discuss issues through Cabinet. So, there are processes
available to Ministers, if they had concerns with their department, as well as if any Minister has a concern with another Minister's department. Thank you.