Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce the establishment of a Minister's Forum on Health and Social Services. There has always been a high degree of public interest in health and social services issues in the Northwest Territories. This is understandable. All of us come into contact with the health and social services system at some point in our lives. The quality of health care and support services, especially at the community level, has a significant impact on individuals, families and communities.
There have been several reviews and studies of health and social services issues over the past several years. In 1992, the Legislative Assembly initiated the Special Committee on Health and Social Services. One of the primary recommendations from the special committee was for the GNWT to consolidate the Department of Health and the Department of Social Services. The main purpose of the consolidation was to improve services to clients by eliminating overlap and duplication, and by integrating program and service delivery. In June, 1994, the Departments of Social Services and Health were amalgamated. Over the next two years, regional health boards added social services functions to their mandates.
In 1995, the department undertook a comprehensive review of its programs and services with the Community Wellness Initiative. This initiative involved aboriginal organizations and over 50 non-governmental organizations and women's groups. The directions outlined in the Community Wellness Directions document provided a foundation for the integration of health and social services at the community and regional levels.
In 1996 and 1997, in response to continuing challenges within the system, the department consulted again with the public, boards, professional groups and non-governmental organizations. Health and social services boards also undertook extensive consultations in their respective communities. The department also commissioned the Med-Emerg Group to conduct a comprehensive review of the health and social services system. As a result of these consultations and the information gathered from the Med-Emerg report, the Department of Health and Social Services released "Shaping Our Future: A Strategic Plan for Health and Wellness" in June, 1998.
Mr. Speaker, as I have just outlined, the department has been under almost continuous review since its establishment in 1994. One might question why another review is needed at this time. I believe a Minister's Forum on Health and Social Services is needed, for a number of reasons. First and foremost, I want to make sure that our health and social service system continues to offer high-quality services to people in all of our communities, not only today, but also in the future.
I am concerned about sustainability. Since assuming this portfolio, I have been briefed by my department on a number of key cost-drivers, which are escalating the costs of the system at an alarming rate. These cost-drivers threaten the future sustainability of our system, and we must address them. Some of these cost-drivers include:
- a severe shortage of nurses and social workers - particularly at the community level;
- increased national and international competition for physicians and nurses; - increased costs of operating the system;
- increased incidence of preventable illnesses and conditions; and
- growing public expectations for more services, better services, faster access and more choices.
I want to emphasize that this Minister's forum is not a fishing expedition to generate a wish list of new programs and services. In light of the government's fiscal situation, we cannot expect major increases in funding for health and social services in next year's budget. We all need to understand this at the outset. What we can do is share information with the public about the current state of our system, and discuss how we can sustain and improve the system in the future.
I will ask the Minister's forum to focus on the directions in the strategic plan related to sustaining and improving the system. These are: governance, human resources, financial sustainability and program and service delivery.
Mr. Speaker, health and social services are expensive, especially in the north and they cost more each year. We need a system we can continue to afford; one which makes use of our relatively small economies of scale. We need to maximize service levels and eliminate unnecessary administration and overhead. We also have to review program and service delivery. Many health and social problems, and costly demands on the system, could be avoided or greatly reduced. Mr. Speaker, it is often said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The forum will provide information to the public on current health trends in the Northwest Territories, and, I hope, generate discussion on more effective ways to support healthy lifestyles, prevention and health promotion.
The Minister's forum will consult with the general public, boards, professional associations and non-governmental organizations. I will be calling for nominations of individuals with past experience in the health and social services system, either as a frontline worker, in a governance role, or as an advocate. The Minister's forum will represent a broad cross-section of the NWT population: north to south, east to west. Ideally, I would like to see a balance of both professionals and lay people on the forum.
I hope to appoint forum members within the next three weeks. Community consultations will be held as soon as possible. At least one community meeting will be held in every constituency across the Northwest Territories.
A Health and Social Services Conference will be held in the fall. Delegates from across the NWT will be invited to meet with forum members, representatives of the professional organizations and the boards, to hear the results of the community meetings and discuss the findings. Following the fall meeting, the forum will finalize its recommendations. Mr. Speaker, depending on the date of the next election, the results of the Minister's forum will either be tabled in this House or provided to the next Legislative Assembly. I hope that MLAs will be able to attend the meetings in their constituency and I look for their support in promoting the work of the forum. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause