Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to address an issue that is affecting a great number of Hay River residents, and ultimately all residents of Hay River.
The issue I refer to, Mr. Speaker, is the pressing matter of the Hay River Community Health Board and how health care in Hay River will be managed in the future as a result of recent changes announced by the Department of Health and Social Services.
Mr. Speaker, the Hay River Community Health Board has been in existence in one form or another for some 40 years. The health board employs over 175 people in the community.
Mr. Speaker, the Hay River Community Health Board was transferred to the Town of Hay River from the Pentecostal Church on September 1, 1996. The transition from the Pentecostal Church to the Town of Hay River was seamless and resulted in no disruption to the health services to the residents of Hay River.
Mr. Speaker, the residents of Hay River have some real concerns about the future of health care delivery in the town. One recommendation that has come forward and is being proposed is the creation of a new super board to be run out of Yellowknife.
This is very disconcerting to the employees in the region. I thought that this government was trying to get away from the big-brother-is-watching scenario. However, this does not appear to be the case.
The Hay River Community Health Board employees have been told that having one employer would reduce competition for staff and improve orientation training and clinical supervision.
Mr. Speaker, the employees of the Health Board are not in agreement with a super board for several reasons. One reason is recruitment and retention. Employees are very concerned that if recruitment is done out of Yellowknife, then the other smaller communities will just receive the leftovers, so to speak. In addition, Mr. Speaker, if clinical staff of health boards are reporting to the super board in Yellowknife and administration staff are reporting to their respective individual boards, this will result in fracturing the staff.
Mr. Speaker, I have had several meetings with the Hay River Community Health Board union and staff and they have told me, in no uncertain terms, that they are very unhappy with the proposed changes. Mr. Speaker, the 175 employees of the Hay River Community Health Board and their families represent a significant proportion of Hay River's population. I intend to protect the interests of these residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause