Thank you. Mr. O'Brien.

That you, Mr. Chairman. That is correct, Mr. Todd. I realize that information was provided to us, but I am asking you to provide it to the House and the public. Mr. Todd, one of the concerns I believe the Minister brought up, in relationship to some of the major problems with our nursing staff, why they are leaving and the concerns they have. The Minister indicated one of the problems was isolation, the other was call-out time. In this plan or this area here, you indicate there will be money set aside to bring in extra staff, to help alleviate these long hours and call-outs. How do you expect to do that if we do not have enough nurses to go around as it is now, just for regular duties?

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Perhaps it would be appropriate is the Minister is sitting in the House, for him to answer that question. He is much more knowledgeable of the details of his program than I am. I am here to defend the money, so I will defer to the Minister.

Thank you. I recognize Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the intent is the development of the locum relief pool would provide the bulk of the support for community nurses that are operating under the stress if they needed additional relief, because of whatever circumstances were happening in the community at the time. They need the relief to get out for professional development or for the Advanced Nurses Skills Education Program to upgrade their skills. That is the intent, that the locum relief pool would provide the support, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. O'Brien.

Final question in this area, Mr. Chairman. Is that pool of people, resources, available now?

Thank you, Mr. O'Brien. The last line was not picked up because your microphone was out so, try again, Mr. O'Brien, please.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I was asking the Minister whether or not this pool of resources is available now? If not, when it will be, so these changes could take effect to benefit the nurses, and so on?

Thank you. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, we started advertising for relief assistance in this area about a month ago. To date, from my understanding, we have six individuals we have signed on to be available and obviously we are expecting that to grow, now that we have some resources to assist in that area. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When does the Minister think we can fully benefit from these new programs, additional staff and this pool of resources that is underway or being put together now? When will the nurses in the nursing stations feel the full impact of the benefits of what you are proposing?

Thank you. The honourable Minister, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I would think it depends upon the circumstances, what aspect of the whole recruitment and retention plan is implemented. In respect to some of the professional development, ANSIP development or facilitating workshops with their peers, that type of thing. That will have to be worked out between the boards and their existing resources they have on staff, in

coordinating how they can manage that.

In respect to an area like the locum relief pool, obviously if there are six individuals that are already signed on, I could perceive that would be put into place if a need were to arise now that they would be able to call upon these individuals to assist some of the existing health care professionals in the territories. It is just a matter of identifying that need and putting the resources to that, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, is the Minister saying that he is confident with this pool of resources, these six people or whoever he has on hand, this is sufficient so the nurses or medical staff can benefit fully from what he is proposing? An example would be where you have nurses with holidays or off on sick leave, whatever, I believe the issue was that they had great difficulty to get people to come in to help them out from other regions. Is the Minister saying with the pool of people he has now, this will benefit the nurses on staff now?

Thank you. Again I will recognize the Minister for Health, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, what I said was we have six individuals who have signed on and that is a start and we hope to be able to develop more. Certainly I do not think six is enough. I do not know what the correct number would be. When you recognize there are vacancies, it depends on the various stages of the communities and what their vacancy rates are. It depends on the circumstances of the community who are under stress because of an outbreak of a virus or with the conditions they are working under. Ideally, we would have enough individuals signed up to cover all vacancies, for whatever reasons. If there was stress on the system and the need was there or individuals were designated for holidays or upgrading, that they would not be available to their communities. I cannot say right now what is the ideal amount. All I am trying to suggest is this is a start. I am trying to address the problem of recruitment and retention. We are hoping in the medium and longer term, there is going to be some solution and hopefully it will address some of the immediate, short-term needs as well, over time. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The six support staff or pool staff that you have now...is that, at this point in time, to cover the whole Northwest Territories?

The allotted time for Mr. O'Brien is over. I have Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, as it stands now, yes it is NWT locum relief pool. Thank you.