Thank you, Mr. Ng. Health Insurance Programs, page 6-7, activity summary, operations and maintenance, total operations and maintenance. I recognize Mr. Krutko with a motion. Mr. Krutko, would you reinstate your motion for the record?
Debates of Feb. 24th, 1998
This is page numbers 1041 - 1091 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 5th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was chairperson.
Topics
Committee Motion 21-13(5): To Establish Guidelines And Standards For The Operation Of All NWT Health Boards
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1077
Committee Motion 22-13(5): To Identify The Amount Of Federal Funding For Western NWT Aboriginal Health Care
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1077
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that the committee recommends the Minister of Health and Social Services work with the federal government to clearly identify total federal funding, amount allocated for health care to aboriginal people in the western Northwest Territories.
Committee Motion 22-13(5): To Identify The Amount Of Federal Funding For Western NWT Aboriginal Health Care
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1077
The Chair Vince Steen
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Your motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? I do not recognize a quorum, so I will ring the bell. I will call again. All those in favour of the motion? Opposed? The motion is carried. Bill 8, Appropriation Act 1998-99, Health and Social Services, activity summary, Health Insurance Programs, page 6-7, operations and maintenance, total operations and maintenance, $59.435 million. Mr. Erasmus.
Committee Motion 22-13(5): To Identify The Amount Of Federal Funding For Western NWT Aboriginal Health Care
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1077
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I do not remember, in the Minister's response, whether the new dental program for treaty people has actually been implemented already or is it going to be implemented in the new fiscal year?
Committee Motion 22-13(5): To Identify The Amount Of Federal Funding For Western NWT Aboriginal Health Care
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1077
Committee Motion 22-13(5): To Identify The Amount Of Federal Funding For Western NWT Aboriginal Health Care
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1077
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The last changes came into effect October 1, 1997. Thank you.
Committee Motion 22-13(5): To Identify The Amount Of Federal Funding For Western NWT Aboriginal Health Care
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1077
Committee Motion 22-13(5): To Identify The Amount Of Federal Funding For Western NWT Aboriginal Health Care
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1077
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. One thing I forgot to mention, is my concern that in communities that do not have a resident dentist, if they cannot get approval for treatment for four to six weeks, has this resulted in patients being left with temporary dressings for prolonged periods of time and perhaps even infections caused by waiting because they cannot get the approval for four to six weeks?
Committee Motion 22-13(5): To Identify The Amount Of Federal Funding For Western NWT Aboriginal Health Care
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1077
Committee Motion 22-13(5): To Identify The Amount Of Federal Funding For Western NWT Aboriginal Health Care
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1077
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, we are not aware of any situation like that, but obviously it would be our responsibility if a situation like that occurred where we would have to provide the immediate treatment necessary not to have the individual suffer as a result of having to wait. Thank you.
Committee Motion 22-13(5): To Identify The Amount Of Federal Funding For Western NWT Aboriginal Health Care
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1077
Committee Motion 22-13(5): To Identify The Amount Of Federal Funding For Western NWT Aboriginal Health Care
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1077
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If this did occur, then it would be an increase in the cost of treatment. One other item I wanted to touch on is the fact that I do not believe there
is currently a territorial preventative program for children across the Northwest Territories in the dental area. Could the Minister indicate what is being done in this area?
Committee Motion 22-13(5): To Identify The Amount Of Federal Funding For Western NWT Aboriginal Health Care
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1078
Committee Motion 22-13(5): To Identify The Amount Of Federal Funding For Western NWT Aboriginal Health Care
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1078
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, there is a Dental Therapist Program that is run throughout the Northwest Territories. In addition to that, there are also dental preventative programs that are taught in the schools for dental care. Thank you.
Committee Motion 22-13(5): To Identify The Amount Of Federal Funding For Western NWT Aboriginal Health Care
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1078
Committee Motion 22-13(5): To Identify The Amount Of Federal Funding For Western NWT Aboriginal Health Care
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1078
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That is fine for the children who are in school. What about the children who are younger than that? I have seen young children with very, very bad teeth particularly because mothers may not know the difference, but often people provide juice to babies in bottles because the kids like the juice, it is sweet and it keeps them quiet. But obviously, it would be very bad for their teeth. So what is in place for children who are younger than school age?
Committee Motion 22-13(5): To Identify The Amount Of Federal Funding For Western NWT Aboriginal Health Care
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1078
Committee Motion 22-13(5): To Identify The Amount Of Federal Funding For Western NWT Aboriginal Health Care
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1078
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, a lot of those types of preventative programs are addressed through some of the prenatal programs, through some of the well-women clinics that take place in our health centres, through some of the well-baby clinics as well, Mr. Chairman. Some of the Brighter Futures Programs that are stressing some of the nutritional aspects, healthy nutrition and that type of an educational component to the funding for Brighter Futures. So there are various avenues and programs out there for not just in school but preschool, as well, as I indicated. Thank you.
Committee Motion 22-13(5): To Identify The Amount Of Federal Funding For Western NWT Aboriginal Health Care
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1078
Committee Motion 22-13(5): To Identify The Amount Of Federal Funding For Western NWT Aboriginal Health Care
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1078
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. From the Minister's response it seems quite clear that there is not a territorial program. It is relying on the good will, the intelligence and the ideas of the people in the communities. To me, it seems that this is such an important area that we should have a territorial program. I think we were talking about core programs under the administration area. Should this not be a territorial program that should be done across the north? Thank you.
Committee Motion 22-13(5): To Identify The Amount Of Federal Funding For Western NWT Aboriginal Health Care
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1078
Committee Motion 22-13(5): To Identify The Amount Of Federal Funding For Western NWT Aboriginal Health Care
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1078
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I beg to differ with the honourable Member in the respect that the prenatal programs and the Well Women Clinic Programs are core services that all boards are required to provide to their constituencies. Part of that component, as I indicated, is healthy children and looking after both prenatal and postnatal. Thank you.
Committee Motion 22-13(5): To Identify The Amount Of Federal Funding For Western NWT Aboriginal Health Care
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1078
Committee Motion 22-13(5): To Identify The Amount Of Federal Funding For Western NWT Aboriginal Health Care
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1078
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If those are core programs, could the Minister indicate whether this program would be administered the same across the Northwest Territories or do the various regions and boards have their choice of what priority to place on these programs and how they are to implement them?
Committee Motion 22-13(5): To Identify The Amount Of Federal Funding For Western NWT Aboriginal Health Care
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1078