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.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I had indicated, that was one of the aspects that had already, even prior to being specifically funded, been initiated. There are some human resources in that area right now but obviously we would like to see it developed more. This will give us an opportunity to accelerate that process and hopefully be able to provide more individuals in that area. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if I recall the Med-Emerg Report, that $750,000 document, I believe many of the recommendations that it alluded to are only now being implemented. I mean, it did talk about professional development and such things as the Minister is proposing. Could the Minister maybe give us some indication as to why it would have taken so long for him to get to this, for his department to get this to a stage that he could present it to the FMBS for putting some funds toward this project? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as all Members are aware, the Med-Emerg Report was a development of a strategic plan that is still ongoing. As it stands now, a lot of the strategies that were identified are into the implementation stages and into full consultation with some of the health care providers throughout the Northwest Territories. Quite frankly, one of the reasons why we did not accelerate, I guess, the aspect of the financing of the preliminary retention plan is that there are a lot of other needs out there as well, as you know, that the department has been actively pursuing and it is time management, quite frankly, of some of the resources that we have in addressing ongoing issues, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Henry.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt it is recognized that, you know, the removal of the vacation travel assistance and the housing benefits has had an impact on all our employees throughout the government, nurses as well. I think that what is important to recognize is that some of the non-financial supports are outlined, as I have outlined today, in our recruitment and retention plan that will go a long ways towards assisting the health care professions. I think in the long run, some of the collective agreement process, hopefully, will alleviate some of the pressure in the long term. It is an issue that we are going to have to continue to keep on top of and continue to be promoting and working towards improving, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Rabesca.