This is page numbers 491 - 519 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 education.

Topics

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I received a letter from the Fort McPherson Joint Council which is made up of the Band Council and the Hamlet Council. Mr. Speaker, the letter is in regard to concerns with the social worker in Fort McPherson. Mr. Speaker, the letter states that at the present time there is only one social worker in the community, and that person will be leaving the position on May 14th, which will leave the community with no social worker to deal with the social services and problems in our communities.

Mr. Speaker, the letter also states that at present the social workers are seeing an increased workload and administration in regard to client visits. They state that it is due largely to the closure of the Tl'oondih Healing Centre and having limited consultation resources to assist social services in the area of care. Mr. Speaker, I sent the Minister a copy of this letter to make him aware of the issue, so I would like to ask the Minister, what can his department do to assist the community of Fort McPherson so that they can continue to deliver health and social services programs in the community of Fort McPherson? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister of Health and Social Services Department, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 173-13(7): Social Services Delivery In Fort Mcpherson
Question 173-13(7): Social Services Delivery In Fort Mcpherson
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member raises a very important point, that social workers all over the territories are feeling the pressure that we have in the system of demanding services or increases in the demand for services and increasing difficulty to complete their tasks. I did receive a copy of the letter from the Member this morning. The department is in contact with the regional health board to see what is occurring and how we can help to reduce the concerns and have qualified workers in the communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 173-13(7): Social Services Delivery In Fort Mcpherson
Question 173-13(7): Social Services Delivery In Fort Mcpherson
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 173-13(7): Social Services Delivery In Fort Mcpherson
Question 173-13(7): Social Services Delivery In Fort Mcpherson
Item 6: Oral Questions

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David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the community of Fort McPherson has almost 800 people, yet we are leaving the responsibility to one individual. I would like to ask the Minister if he can also consider looking at the increased workload on other social workers in, say, Aklavik and also in Tsiigehtchic, who presently have to depend on limited resources for social workers. Can he also look to assist those other communities and see if there is also a problem with shortages of social workers in those communities?

Supplementary To Question 173-13(7): Social Services Delivery In Fort Mcpherson
Question 173-13(7): Social Services Delivery In Fort Mcpherson
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 173-13(7): Social Services Delivery In Fort Mcpherson
Question 173-13(7): Social Services Delivery In Fort Mcpherson
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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have to go back to the department to get more information in that area. I am sure that, as the Member and the Members of this House are aware, that we are quite concerned with the number of workers we have in the smaller communities. We are struggling to try and deal with that and come up with a solution. I think we have showed, as an Assembly, we are committed to that by approving the $3 million which is part of the retention package for health and social service workers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 173-13(7): Social Services Delivery In Fort Mcpherson
Question 173-13(7): Social Services Delivery In Fort Mcpherson
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 173-13(7): Social Services
Question 173-13(7): Social Services Delivery In Fort Mcpherson
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Delivery in Fort McPherson

Supplementary To Question 173-13(7): Social Services
Question 173-13(7): Social Services Delivery In Fort Mcpherson
Item 6: Oral Questions

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David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to the joint letter, it clearly states that they would like this treated in regard to the concerns as the serious matter and that it be urgently dealt with. I would like to ask the Minister, how soon can he get back to the community and try to assure them that they will not have no one in the Department of Health and Social Services and they will ensure that there will be a social worker in the community?

Supplementary To Question 173-13(7): Social Services
Question 173-13(7): Social Services Delivery In Fort Mcpherson
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 173-13(7): Social Services Delivery In Fort Mcpherson
Question 173-13(7): Social Services Delivery In Fort Mcpherson
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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department has been working with all boards and the Inuvik Regional Health Board, as well, to try and deal with the shortages of nurses and social workers in the communities. We do take this very seriously. As I said earlier, I think this Assembly has shown the importance that it places on the quality and care of residents in all the communities, so we are doing what we can. I will get back to the Member as to the information I receive. The calls are just going out early this afternoon to try and get more information as to the specifics of these concerns. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 173-13(7): Social Services Delivery In Fort Mcpherson
Question 173-13(7): Social Services Delivery In Fort Mcpherson
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 173-13(7): Social Services Delivery In Fort Mcpherson
Question 173-13(7): Social Services Delivery In Fort Mcpherson
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David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also note in my letter with regard to the increased workload that the social workers are having that they are also finding, that with the closure of the Tl'oondih Healing Society and the limited consultation resources, people in other portfolios, the alcohol and drug providers, will the Minister also look at ensuring that when we talk about community empowerment, we also allow the community to take on these responsibilities and have the resources to assist the social workers so that we can decrease the workload of the social workers?

Supplementary To Question 173-13(7): Social Services Delivery In Fort Mcpherson
Question 173-13(7): Social Services Delivery In Fort Mcpherson
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 173-13(7): Social Services Delivery In Fort Mcpherson
Question 173-13(7): Social Services Delivery In Fort Mcpherson
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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the area of human resources, the health boards have been block-funded, and on a formula basis, it is worked out as to the amount of funding they would receive that they can apply to the different areas, whether it be nurses or social workers and facilities-wise. That is all included. We do not have more funding to go over and above what has been delegated to the health boards. As I stated earlier, we are trying to deal with the issue of the shortages that we are seeing throughout the territory and the extra funding we got will go a long way to ensuring that we can try and meet the needs of our residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 173-13(7): Social Services Delivery In Fort Mcpherson
Question 173-13(7): Social Services Delivery In Fort Mcpherson
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are also for the Minister of Finance, Mr. Dent. They also are concerning the Working Together Program, which is a program that was part of the budget. My question relates to the Interim Supply Bill that we passed in April, Mr. Speaker. I believe, on this budget, it was for three months of supply because we anticipated that we could not pass the budget until May or June, depending on when we would meet. Therefore, I am wondering if the Minister could tell me why the Working Together Program was not a part of the interim budget that we passed, the Interim Supply Bill?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 174-13(7): Working Together Program
Question 174-13(7): Working Together Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The last time the budget was presented to the committees, the Working Together Program had been presented as a sunsetted item, meaning one that would not have any funds attached to it. The decision to continue the funding for that program was made, I believe, seven or eight days before the budget speech. Therefore, it was not included in the Interim Supply Bill.

Return To Question 174-13(7): Working Together Program
Question 174-13(7): Working Together Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Supplementary To Question 174-13(7): Working Together Program
Question 174-13(7): Working Together Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

That confused me, Mr. Speaker. Perhaps the Minister can just restate that for me because I guess the question I have from that is, was that a Cabinet decision not to include it in the budget, or was it a committee recommendation not to include it in the budget?

Supplementary To Question 174-13(7): Working Together Program
Question 174-13(7): Working Together Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 174-13(7): Working Together Program
Question 174-13(7): Working Together Program
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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when the program was initiated, it was presented as an initiative for two years, which expired on March 31st, 1999. In the business plans that were presented to committee and in the detailed budget presentations, that program was shown as having no funding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 174-13(7): Working Together Program
Question 174-13(7): Working Together Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.