Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a question on page 6-14 with regard to population health and it relates to vaccinations and what, in fact, the department is covering so that people do not have to pay for them themselves. I did ask the Minister earlier in this session about meningitis vaccinations. He assured me that the department will be covering the cost of vaccinations for school trips that go south, and sports teams that are on official school functions. However, I am wondering about other clubs, such as minor hockey and gymnastics, our children who are going into the south, particularly Alberta, whether or not we are offering to pay the cost of vaccinations for those young people. Thank you.
Debates of Feb. 25th, 2002
This is page numbers 121 - 155 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 5th 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 chairman.
Topics
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, first, I think we should be clear that the idea of a vaccination is something that has to be taken carefully. If there is a risk, the commitment has been made that we will cover the cost for the areas and the groups touched on by my colleague. That will be done in conjunction with the medical staff, the doctors. If there is an identified risk in the type of sport or activity, maybe one where there is a greater chance of possibly contacting meningitis, then we will definitely look at that.
The other issue we keep in mind, of course, is that there have been almost province-wide inoculations or vaccinations in Alberta because of the issues they have had down there with meningitis. Yes, that is the process we will follow. Thank you.
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Brendan Bell Yellowknife South
Thank you. Just quickly then, just confirmation that if a risk is identified by the medical staff, we will pay for the vaccinations? Thank you.
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 24th, 2002
Page 143
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 143
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 143
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Lee
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have one short last question on the same issue that I was pursuing. Mr. Chairman, we have been provided with a copy of tables that show vacancy rates of different occupational groups, registered nurses, social workers and physicians. I see that whereas the nurses and doctors are showing a vacancy rate of 12 to 17 percent, social workers here are at 7 percent.
Also, Mr. Chairman, the Minister has recently provided the Members with information showing that the allied health workers might not be experiencing as much of a vacancy rate as these ones, so I am just wondering what the purpose of that communication was. Is that to indicate that the Minister may think that it is not as much of a problem, or was it just for information purposes?
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the point of sharing the information was to do just that. It is to make sure that we all have as much information as possible to deal with the issues before us and to help us address the concerns, so that we are dealing from the same information base. The numbers you have are the numbers I have. It just helps us look at how we are going to deal with the issues in terms of recruitment and retention and the comprehensive Human Resources Strategy; the issues raised by my colleague in terms of equity and all these other types of things.
We just want to give all the information we can so that we can all have that information to make the best decisions possible. Thank you.
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Lee
So could I concur from that the Minister will not just consider the vacancy rate as a criteria on which to work the recruitment and retention enhancements? That he would look at questions such as inequities or equities, who works with whom and the work place morale and such? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, very clearly as we look at the human resource side of this very complex system, we are going to consider all factors and variables that impact on the human resource strategy and human resource component of the health and social services system. Thank you.
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 144
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Lee
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. While I have some time remaining here, may I ask a question on page 6-14? I see a reduction in the budget of board support and health services administration this fiscal year as compared to last year. May I get an explanation as to why there is a reduction? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 144
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The board support director's position was not funded, so that is not reflected there. Thank you.
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Lee
May I have an explanation as to why there is a reduction in health services administration?
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There is a deletion of a health policy consultant's position. It was unfilled and then deleted. Thank you.
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 144
The Chair David Krutko
We are dealing with program delivery support, grants and contributions, contributions, total contributions, $14,485,000. Mr. Dent.
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 144
Charles Dent Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under contributions to boards of management, I see $1,525,000, and this is funding for nurses' market supplement and recruitment/retention. I thought that we had put approximately $3 million into the recruitment and retention program. Is this all of the money that we put into recruitment and retention, $1.5 million, or is some of it shown in another line in the budget?