This is page numbers 63 - 90 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 7th 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 social.

Topics

Supplementary To Question 26-13(7): Status Of Baffin Regional Hospital
Question 26-13(7): Status Of Baffin Regional Hospital
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 75

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Ng.

Further Return To Question 26-13(7): Status Of Baffin Regional Hospital
Question 26-13(7): Status Of Baffin Regional Hospital
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 75

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I believe the honourable Member is aware, with the three Nunavut and Inuvik capital projects for health facilities, we were trying to use the new P3 public/private partnerships method to try to creatively finance some of the capital construction for those facilities. As it stands now, our government, in full consultation with the Office of the Interim Commissioner, has gone along that route in, first of all, the planning and the aspect of the overall targets for those facilities for the Nunavut ones. I am speaking now for the Office of the Interim Commissioner where they are involved. The plan was always that anything would have to be signed off by either the Office of the Interim Commissioner or the future Nunavut government, post April 1st, who will have the legal autonomy to make those decisions and have the financial responsibilities for financing those projects. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 26-13(7): Status Of Baffin Regional Hospital
Question 26-13(7): Status Of Baffin Regional Hospital
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 75

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Barnabas.

Supplementary To Question 26-13(7): Status Of Baffin Regional Hospital
Question 26-13(7): Status Of Baffin Regional Hospital
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 75

Levi Barnabas High Arctic

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do not understand. Maybe it is only me that does not understand. I understand QC was supposed to be the one that was dealing with the public/private partnership. What happened there? Why is QC there that is dealing with the public/private partnership with this department? What happened to the money that was supposed to be there for the design? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 26-13(7): Status Of Baffin Regional Hospital
Question 26-13(7): Status Of Baffin Regional Hospital
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 75

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Ng. Two questions.

Further Return To Question 26-13(7): Status Of Baffin Regional Hospital
Question 26-13(7): Status Of Baffin Regional Hospital
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 75

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. QC, the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation, is the owner. They are the private component under the P3 initiative and it is with them that they are going to be the owners. The plan is that they would be the owners of the facility and the Nunavut government would, of course, have some obligations for payments to them as part of the operators and the owner of the building.

There is also, the honourable Member is referring to, some capital injection from the federal government to the territorial government for the Inuvik and Iqaluit hospital replacement projects, the agreement that was reached between this government and the federal government. The proceeds from that agreement go into the division of assets and liabilities table that was reached, agreed to, and signed off between this government and the Office of the Interim Commissioner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 26-13(7): Status Of Baffin Regional Hospital
Question 26-13(7): Status Of Baffin Regional Hospital
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 76

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Edward Picco Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is the for the Minister of RWED on the new venture capital program. I am wondering if the Minister could tell us who the contact organization, group or individuals are that will be helping facilitate the initiative for our government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 27-13(7): New Venture Capital Program
Question 27-13(7): New Venture Capital Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 76

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would have to get that information for the Member, so I will take the question as notice. Thank you.

Return To Question 27-13(7): New Venture Capital Program
Question 27-13(7): New Venture Capital Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 76

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The question is taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is addressed to the Minister of Health and Social Services, soon to be departed but none the less still Minister of Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, my question is in regards to the tendency over the last three and a half years for the department of Health and Social Services to keep innumerable studies and reviews and planning issues on the go with no real time when the planning and strategic train pulls into the station, and you can actually see the product and start making decisions based on this extensive strategic planning. Could the Minister indicate, as he mentioned in his statement yesterday, that once again they are into strategic planning mode, when in fact will we start to see some final products so that decisions can be made, planning can be done for children, for facilities, for health care centres? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Return To Question 28-13(7): Health And Social Services Strategic Planning
Question 28-13(7): Health And Social Services Strategic Planning
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 76

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as all Members know, when you are dealing with health and social services issues, they are very complex and a lot of them are inter-related and quite frankly, the way I see it, there are evolving needs and you cannot put finality to a lot of these things. But what I think is important to recognize though, is that services are continuing to be provided and as programs change, those program changes will hopefully be beneficial to the constituency that they are trying to serve.

As many service providers are impacted when you try to change policies, and quite frankly, you have boards involved, you have non-profit agencies, you have communities and other deliverers of services. It is very complex if you are trying to mitigate any potential detrimental impact on any of these groups or organizations, that you have to try to coordinate some of these changes and make sure that they work. Thank you.

Return To Question 28-13(7): Health And Social Services Strategic Planning
Question 28-13(7): Health And Social Services Strategic Planning
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 76

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 28-13(7): Health And Social Services Strategic Planning
Question 28-13(7): Health And Social Services Strategic Planning
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 76

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister for that plain English response. My understanding of what the Minister said to us, if I can try to interpret it, is that you have to keep this process going and that you cannot really ever finalize it, you cannot come to the point where you make decisions; in the meantime, the department of Health officials will take care of business. I am concerned as a member of the Social Programs Committee and as MLA, of course, that in fact, we have heard year after year from our officials about all of these strategies. There are child welfare issues that are unresolved for instance.

There has to be a point when there are documents on the table that we can all look at so that we know that we are moving ahead in a planned way. Can the Minister indicate if there is a plan to bring some finality to these strategies at least on an interim basis so that, in fact, recommendations are on the table and we can look at them and move ahead as a department, as a government and as the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 28-13(7): Health And Social Services Strategic Planning
Question 28-13(7): Health And Social Services Strategic Planning
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 76

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Ng.

Further Return To Question 28-13(7): Health And Social Services Strategic Planning
Question 28-13(7): Health And Social Services Strategic Planning
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 76

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is finality and terms of reference of work plans and timelines for all of these strategies and quite frankly I do not have the specifics of each one with me, but I would be more that willing to provide that to the honourable Member. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 28-13(7): Health And Social Services Strategic Planning
Question 28-13(7): Health And Social Services Strategic Planning
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 76

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 28-13(7): Health And Social Services Strategic Planning
Question 28-13(7): Health And Social Services Strategic Planning
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 76

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister indicate when he would be able to do this? Is it before Friday, after Friday, I know the time is tight, but this is an important issue and I know he is going to have other responsibilities soon, but the problems are going to remain behind for us. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 28-13(7): Health And Social Services Strategic Planning
Question 28-13(7): Health And Social Services Strategic Planning
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 76

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Ng.

Further Return To Question 28-13(7): Health And Social Services Strategic Planning
Question 28-13(7): Health And Social Services Strategic Planning
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 76

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you. I will try to provide it as soon as

possible. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 28-13(7): Health And Social Services Strategic Planning
Question 28-13(7): Health And Social Services Strategic Planning
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 77

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Morin.

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a very short question to the Premier. Tomorrow there will be a motion in this Legislative Assembly on the appeal of the Supreme Court decision on the Electoral Boundaries, Motion 5-13(7). Will the Premier allow the Western MLAs that are Ministers in his Cabinet a free vote or will Cabinet be abstaining from that motion? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. The Premier, Mr. Antoine.