Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first let me reassure the Member that I was not questioning her motives. I was just making an observation that there is a political arena, but there is also the health and social services arena that affects all the people in the Northwest Territories. As Minister, I am obligated to look at it from that perspective and not just through the political lenses.

Mr. Speaker, we are very committed in the Northwest Territories to service this ICU. There are about 500 staff at Stanton. It is about a $54 million operation. We are talking about a four-bed unit that is currently facing some problems that have been addressed. Steps have been taken to ensure that patient safety needs are first and foremost. They will be met and continue to be met during the time that staff are being trained up until the fall. So yes, Mr. Speaker, I am aware of this and I am working with the authorities to ensure we provide the services necessary. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I submit to the Minister that the Minister has not dealt with the problem. That the problem is shortage of staff and that it is not because of a political session, or whatever is happening. What would the Minister tell those nurses, for example, who have logged 150 hours of overtime last year, who are at the front line of taking care of patients? What would he say to those nurses, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are working with the nursing association. We are working with the authorities to try to deal with the issue of adequate staffing. I do not want to create the impression that there is not a staff shortage and that it is not a problem, and that we are not trying to deal with it. In fact, we are very clearly aware that there are shortages. I hear it every day from every community, from every authority. We are taking the steps to try to deal with it.

In the case of the Stanton ICU unit, I believe the steps have been taken to deal with the issue. I know that some staff have been putting in long hours, for which I am greatly appreciative, as are the people of the Northwest Territories. We are working to fix the situation. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was not asking whether or not he was consulting with the nurses association. I am not just talking about the ICU. I need to know, and he keeps saying that steps are being taken, but as we speak now, the surgery unit will be closed, ICU is closed. The nearest centre for an intensive care unit is south of 60. Is that acceptable to the Minister? Is that taking care of the patients? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee, two questions there. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, each patient's needs are assessed on an individual basis. Some can be looked after within the confines of Stanton through other wards that are there, and other services and medical staff that are there. Should ICU facilities be required, we have arrangements with the Capital Health Authority to ensure that we have access to those services.

I do not believe that patient safety has been compromised. We have to take the steps necessary to deal with this particular situation and we are doing that in a very careful, considered way. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister responsible for Education regarding questions raised in the previous session about the position of the assistant deputy minister of Education. We all know the individual was laid off some time ago. By last count it was almost five months. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for Education, what is the status of that position? What action has been taken?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, the assistant deputy minister position in Education is currently being filled on a term basis, since the previous incumbent has accepted a similar position in another department. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my concern, and also the concern of my constituents shown by a petition that was given to the Premier when he was in Aklavik, is the moral reality that women are facing in this government, especially having to deal with the pressures of having to be laid off for such a period of time.

I would like to ask the Minister responsible, what was the outcome of this? Is there going to be an investigation in regard to why this was handled in this fashion?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, in my capacity as the Minister for the Public Service, I met with the person involved several times. We had a lot of discussion about it. We looked at what her options were. She made a choice herself of which option she wanted to exercise.

Mr. Speaker, just to clarify the record, she was not laid off. She was off work with full pay, so there was no financial loss to her. It may have been a very frustrating exercise for her, but there was no financial loss at all. She was not laid off. She was on paid leave. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this event was tragic in the way it was handled, but yet, Mr. Speaker, it has had an effect on individuals and the people I represent, especially the constituents in the community of Aklavik. I would like to ask the Minister here today, will the Minister make a formal apology to the individual mentioned and also to the community of Aklavik?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, in my discussions with the person involved, I think she has been able to exercise her option. She has decided that she would like to try a parallel position in another department. The last time I talked to her, she was quite satisfied. There were a few outstanding issues that had not been fully cleared up, but I am sure they are being worked on right now. If I were to make an apology, I do not know what the apology would be for, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think that is the problem with this government. It does not have a heart or a soul, yet it does things knowing that there are people out there who are covering up the mistakes that we make.

I would like to ask the Minister, or the Premier, will you apologize, write a written apology to the community of Aklavik regarding this matter?