This is page numbers 833 - 910 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

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Return To Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, to get a new program approved would depend upon what is being proposed. It would take some work. If it is a request similar to those we have on the table right now from a number of regions to have alcohol and drug facilities built in their region or communities, then that is a situation that has to be looked at through the capital planning process, our alcohol and drug strategy that is tied into the family violence and the mental health strategy that is currently being completed. We also look at that.

We also have to make the fundamental decision about whether we want to put money into bricks and mortar or do we want to put money into programs at the community level?

In relation to this particular issue, there is also the factor that we are trying to come to grips with the socio-economic impact of major resource development. We want to have a frame for that as well as some funding to start working with communities to address some specific issues, many of which tend to be linked to alcohol. Thank you.

Return To Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Supplementary To Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, right now in the community of Inuvik, we have people who are working in the field of counselling, the drug and alcohol area, trying to come up with support for individuals in the community and have selected some individuals that can go to a program that is offered I believe here in the city and is already there, so there are no bricks and mortar that need to be put together for this. It is a matter of an approval.

There seems to be a silent wall out there running up against something here that we cannot seem to get people sent to the next level. What other drug and alcohol programming is available in the Northwest Territories for residents today? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Further Return To Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the program offered by the Salvation Army, the Withdrawal Management Program, is one of a kind. The process that is supposed to occur is that an alcohol and drug worker at the community level should do a referral. When that is approved, travel is covered through medical travel. They have to come down to Yellowknife with a return ticket. The program is anywhere from five to 14 days. It is a six-bed program. People can also self refer, but if a person chooses to self refer, the costs are the responsibility of the person doing the self referral. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary question, Mr. Roland.

Supplementary To Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are a number of other programs related to the area of drug and alcohol. Can they be combined so that we are not spending a huge amount of money for somebody to come down for five to 14 days? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Further Return To Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that is and should be a possibility. The Salvation Army program, for example, would be a first step. If there is, through the case planning for the particular individual client, further need determined to use Nats'ejee K'eh or some residential resources or other kind of support outside of the alcohol issue, something to do with anger or other related issues, then yes, it would be good planning, as my colleague indicated, to make sure that when the person is in Yellowknife, they make use of those other ancillary services that would further supplement their program. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Supplementary To Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister has stated that an alcohol and drug worker in the community would have to refer the client. Who would he refer the client to? Who would do the approval of travel like this? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Further Return To Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is a process for referral through residential addictions treatment. The process is laid out. Once that is approved, then the medical travel through the process that normally approves medical travel would be done, and that person's travel would be covered, the airline travel to Yellowknife, for example, from Inuvik. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Question 285-14(5): Drug And Alcohol Treatment Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Question 286-14(5): Student Hiring At Hay River Hospital
Item 6: Oral Questions

June 17th, 2002

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Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services. It has to do with an issue I raised with the Minister some time ago regarding the student hiring policy at the hospital in Hay River.

I have reason to believe the original information I received was a little short of accurate. For example, Mr. Speaker, I was told the department does not fund the Student Hiring Program as a separate item on the budget allocation to the hospital. I was wondering if the Minister could confirm whether or not there is a separate line item for student hiring at the hospital? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Return To Question 286-14(5): Student Hiring At Hay River Hospital
Question 286-14(5): Student Hiring At Hay River Hospital
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member and I have been in discussion on this particular item as we attempted to come up with the facts. What happened last year was that there was some funding available. Hay River ended up being eligible for approximately $33,000. My understanding is they only spent about $21,000 or $22,000. This year, the funding that was made available was, as I indicated to the Member, $17,000, so there is money for student hiring.

There was a circumstance last year that they had more money available. The initial information I gave to the Member in committee was not accurate. I did share with him that information. I do apologize for any misinformation. It was unintentional. We did sort through this to come up with the facts. Thank you.

Return To Question 286-14(5): Student Hiring At Hay River Hospital
Question 286-14(5): Student Hiring At Hay River Hospital
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Supplementary To Question 286-14(5): Student Hiring At Hay River Hospital
Question 286-14(5): Student Hiring At Hay River Hospital
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at a time when this government is putting a lot of emphasis and importance on hiring students and putting our post-secondary students to work for the summer, why would the department look at cutting a line item that is dealing specifically with hiring students in the summer? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 286-14(5): Student Hiring At Hay River Hospital
Question 286-14(5): Student Hiring At Hay River Hospital
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Further Return To Question 286-14(5): Student Hiring At Hay River Hospital
Question 286-14(5): Student Hiring At Hay River Hospital
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is a fund that is the same as last year. That is the $17,000 that I am referring to. What happened last year was that there was some extra money that was apportioned out and made available to the authorities, which accounted for the increase up to $33,000 and that was made eligible to the Hay River Authority. They only made use of about $22,000. The amount of money that is actually in the budget is still the same. We just had the good fortune of having some extra last year. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 286-14(5): Student Hiring At Hay River Hospital
Question 286-14(5): Student Hiring At Hay River Hospital
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Supplementary To Question 286-14(5): Student Hiring At Hay River Hospital
Question 286-14(5): Student Hiring At Hay River Hospital
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, could the Minister inform me if there were any conditions attached to this money in previous years or in this year, as far as the health board having to commit to matching funds, or was the money given to the health board with no regulations? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 286-14(5): Student Hiring At Hay River Hospital
Question 286-14(5): Student Hiring At Hay River Hospital
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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