The Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are two possible ways that rental rates for housing is set. One is economic rate, and that is just the rates of operating the housing units, and the other way is that reserved for lower income tenants of social housing and staff housing. These rates are set by policy of the local housing authorities. If there are discrepancies or concerns, there is a rental housing officer that can review complaints in these matters. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question was more directed to who will enforce this? I understand the situation with public housing, but I am more concerned about the housing provided for the teachers and nurses and so on.

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If there are specific concerns from individual employees or tenants, what I would suggest is that those concerns are raised with myself or the Minister of FMBS and we can look at them on a case-by-case basis. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. After much consideration, the Baffin Regional Health and Social Services Board recently announced the closure of the Drug and Alcohol Centre in Apex. I wonder if the Minister could update this House on the Department of Health's involvement in that decision? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister for Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department had no involvement in that decision. I think it is a good example of board empowerment. They are recognizing the

lack of use of the facility, the ineffectiveness of some of the alcohol and drug programs that have been provided. Stepping back, with the temporary closure, in trying to take a look at how they can more effectively deliver programs for their constituents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Department of Health then be monitoring the review of the services and help expenditure the resumption of services offered by the Treatment Centre in Apex? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, after we did learn of the closure, of course our staff did contact the staff of the Baffin Regional Health and Social Services Board to find out what exactly was being contemplated and to be assured there were services that would be provided to those individuals who would need it. At the same time, recognizing they made that decision, confirming there is going to be services available, whether or not locally or having to be sent out. The fact remains, it is their decision. If they request some assistance in developing the new programs and what they want to provide for their service area, then certainly we would be more than willing to assist in that regard.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, from those answers I gather that indeed, the Baffin Regional Health Board has made the decision themselves to close down the treatment centre in Apex and not with consultation with the government itself, if it is up to the board through our community empowerment process. My follow up supplemental question would be, can the Minister then assure the people of Iqaluit, of the Baffin region of Nunavut, that indeed there will be no disruption to the services previously offered by that facility in Apex, until it reopens? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, I can reassure him in the respect that the board is still expected to provide residential treatment services to those individuals within their service area that require it. That is the agreement they have with us. If there are any deficiencies or people not being treated as a result of the closure, then we would actively intervene and make sure that situation was remedied. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Health, Mr. Ng. Today, the Minister talked about the Recruitment and Retention Program and has already answered some questions in this House.

The Minister stated that he is going to put some additional funds in, but the largest thing that I see here in this report is that he has hired an individual, a specialist as he called it, a front line worker, to assist the different health boards with recruitment and retention. I believe some of the questions he has answered has talked more about the retention of employees and also its long-term retention. I am not hearing any immediate concerns addressed for health care professionals as was brought up in this House in the past number of days. Could the Minister address what is being done to address the shortage of health care professionals in some communities, such as Mr. Steen alluded to in this House the last couple of days? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The honourable Member is correct. A lot of the initiatives, as I have indicated, are more of medium or longer term in trying to develop a sustainable workforce, but in the short term there is the locum relief pool as I had indicated is the main focus. There are significant resources dedicated towards that area providing, hopefully, a base of individuals that would be able to go in and assist communities where there is immediate need. Thank you.

Oral question. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that. Could the Minister give us a time frame on which this locum group will set up that will be able to address the concerns that have been raised in this House of immediacy for health care professions, particularly nurses in some of the communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.