Thank you, Mr. Ng. Mr. Steen.
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 1070
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 1070
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Madam Chairperson, my question is in medical travel. I believe I asked this question of the Minister before, but I wonder if he has some figures for the cost of medical travel in the Beaufort Delta region versus other regions? I am being supplied with it here, thank you. Thank you, Madam Chairperson, I just received the information here. These people are reading my thoughts. I will just hold my question for now.
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 1070
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Mr. Steen, if you are referring to the document that has just been circulated, it does not have to do with medical travel.
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 1070
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 1070
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Mr. Steen, this is what was just discussed under the last activity, which has to do with strategic initiatives. Mr. Ng.
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 1070
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Madam Chairperson, what the honourable Member has before him is the regional allocations by board for the Strategic Initiatives Fund, the $4 million that is going to be used toward, hopefully, preventive new programs. Thank you.
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 1070
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 1070
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. I have that straight. My question is, does the department have specific cost figures for medical travel in the regions? I believe the Minister has been asked this question before. He did promise to supply that information before? I will ask him again if he has the cost for medical travel in the Beaufort and the other regions.
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 1070
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 1070
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. We do not have the actual costs. The boards have those and we are trying to compile that information, but what I do have are the budget allocations for the 1997-98 year. I understand that they are pretty reflective of their spending patterns.
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 1070
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 1070
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 1070
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Would the Minister be able to make that available to be circulated to the Members?
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 1070
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Not today. I can have the information prepared and submitted. Thank you.
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 1070
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 1070
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Yes. Thank you.
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
February 24th, 1998
Page 1070
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Tomorrow?
--Laughter
I am asking the questions now for the Members. The Minister indicated that will be available tomorrow. Mr. Steen.
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 1070
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. On medical travel and this relates some to escorts. The whole question is, are there different policies and different boards as to who can qualify for escort travel, as well as, are there different standards or guidelines for what patients would be deemed to be requiring escorts? Are there different standards set by the boards or is that set by the Department?
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 1070
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 1070
Ramsden
With a certain amount of flexibility, the Department has constructed the parameters that each board must follow in the area of medical travel. We speak of flexibility because circumstances change from time to time throughout the year. Primarily, we establish the territorial standard that speaks to supports for children and the absolute priority on expenditures first, for the person who is in need of support. It speaks to the need to provide for escorts in areas where the normal provision of interpretation services is not available on a specific occasion. Within those areas of flexibility the department has established a standard. Thank you.
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 1070
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 1070
Vince Steen Nunakput
Would it then follow, Madam Chairperson, those areas that require more interpreters to travel with patients would have a higher budget for travel?
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 1070
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 1070
Ramsden
Madam Chairperson, no, because the system is staffed and the resources are in place normally to provide a consistent level of interpretation or translation support. The allocation per board is far more influenced by distance, number of communities, population and the range of services that are available in each region. For regions where there is less service available right in the region, then medical travel resources are used to replace other infrastructures which are in other regions. Thank you.
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 1070