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.

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?

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.

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.

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?

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.