This is page numbers 195 - 230 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 6th 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 communities.

Topics

Return To Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 209

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will try to elaborate with the information briefing that we got over the phone and the work our staff is trying to compile of this news. We know there is a commitment. It's a short-term one-time commitment of territorial funds of $60 million to be divided equally between Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon of $20 million each. There are other details on how it's going to work but I don't have it at this point in time. The Premier is on his way back today. He should hopefully be in the House tomorrow. Thank you.

Return To Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 209

The Acting Speaker

The Acting Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Supplementary To Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 209

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

I think I heard the Deputy Premier saying this is a short-term, one-time deal. So as of now we don't have dollar figures. Do we have certainty that this territorial fund that's been set up is for just one time? There is no question about it being continued any further than this year or one time? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 210

The Acting Speaker

The Acting Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Deputy Premier, Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 210

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to also add that there are other components to the meeting from this morning. I understand there is also a commitment to work towards a longer-term solution, which addresses health funding on a per capita basis. I think I said that. Also, there is commitment to ensure that the territories can access federal health reform funding as well. There is a commitment that solutions must be developed with the territorial Ministers and officials within a set time frame. What the Prime Minister is committed to do is to provide in the short-term real money that will provide real help to our constituents. We can't ignore that. We have accepted on good faith the assurance that more will be done in the future. But for the territorial fund itself, it's a one-time help to help the three territories and it's $20 million a year. I think it's over a three-year period or you could use it upfront as well, that's my understanding. Oh, sorry, it's a five-year period. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 210

The Acting Speaker

The Acting Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Supplementary To Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 210

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Then it appears that there is a lot more to be done in terms of following up on the commitment made by the Prime Minister. Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the Deputy Premier could elaborate on something else he said today on the same topic. Could he say any more about the fiscal challenges, the commitment on the part of the Prime Minister to work out the fiscal challenges faced by the territories by 2004? It's in the same statement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 210

The Acting Speaker

The Acting Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Deputy Premier, Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 210

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, according to our Premier and the other two Premiers from Yukon and Nunavut, they view this as a start in addressing the needs of the territories in a number of ways, both in the short-term and long-term basis. Also, the Prime Minister indicated to them he understands there are many systematic problems in the way the territories receive federal funding and that the Prime Minister has indicated that he wants solutions to these problems, not only for health care but for other northern priorities like infrastructure, for example. Dealing with these systematic problems is especially important for us here in the Northwest Territories because of all the different resource developments that are occurring around us as we speak. So I think the Prime Minister has started a process here with us. We intend to work very closely, our officials, and the federal officials. They have assigned the top federal bureaucrat to oversee this on behalf of the Prime Minister, so for us it's a good sign and we are going to take up the challenge to push this envelope further. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 210

The Acting Speaker

The Acting Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Supplementary To Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 210

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given the work that still needs to be done to follow up on the agreements reached this morning and we are looking at deadlines on the territorial fund details by March 31, 2003, developing a process to address per capita funding by April 1, 2003 and another one until April 1, 2004, on fiscal challenges, I am wondering if the government has any plan on how to go about addressing this? Is there a task team, is there a senior bureaucrat that is going to sit in Ottawa? Will there be a Minister? Is it going to be brought to the House? Can he indicate any plan as to what we are preparing to do? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 210

The Acting Speaker

The Acting Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Deputy Premier, Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 210

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, these are all the crucial questions we also have here in Cabinet. As you know, the Prime Minister and the Premiers' meeting just took place this morning. Our Premier is en route and as soon as he is back, we will tackle these same questions. The answer is it's too soon to come up with detailed replies to her questions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Question 64-14(6): Territorial Health Care Fund
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 210

The Acting Speaker

The Acting Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Question 65-14(6): Residential Alcohol And Drug Treatment For Youth
Item 7: Oral Questions

February 19th, 2003

Page 210

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services and it's about the need for residential youth treatment, Mr. Speaker. The recent Chalmers report, I think it was called State of the Emergency, had maybe 29 recommendations. We are in the process of trying to implement the first number of those and obviously we don't have enough money to implement them all. I can accept that. Certainly one of the major recommendations was a need for residential youth treatment. Given that we've just come into some new health care funding, I am hoping that this will be considered a top priority. I recognize we will get a better bang for our buck if we focus on programs and services first, as opposed to bricks and mortar. But at some point, we can't avoid the obvious fact that we need a residential youth treatment centre in the North. Will the Minister consider this with the new dollars flowing from Ottawa? Thank you.

Question 65-14(6): Residential Alcohol And Drug Treatment For Youth
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 210

The Acting Speaker

The Acting Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 65-14(6): Residential Alcohol And Drug Treatment For Youth
Question 65-14(6): Residential Alcohol And Drug Treatment For Youth
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 211

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First I would just like to point out that we have just increased the health budget by 13 percent and we are spending money, which is adding to our deficit, trying to run the programs and enhance them where possible. So the money we get from the federal government, it's not new money, it's just the federal government finally starting to pay part of their share and help cover some of the investments we have made. The funds that do come available will be added to the mix. We will be working with Cabinet, the Legislature, the Social Programs committee to look at the priorities, both in terms of program development and whatever bricks and mortar that may be urgently required. The Member knows, as do I, that there are some pressing areas, specifically youth, as well as the cognitively impaired. So our pressing list is still there, so if there is a potential to do any other things and someone's got the money, we will work together to do that.

Return To Question 65-14(6): Residential Alcohol And Drug Treatment For Youth
Question 65-14(6): Residential Alcohol And Drug Treatment For Youth
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 211

The Acting Speaker

The Acting Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Supplementary To Question 65-14(6): Residential Alcohol And Drug Treatment For Youth
Question 65-14(6): Residential Alcohol And Drug Treatment For Youth
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 211

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think Members on this side of the House certainly applaud the investments this government has made in the area of health. They have been critically needed investments, but we need to do more, Mr. Speaker. I wonder specifically then how something gets on the capital plan. We know in education, if you hit 85 percent capacity, you are over that, you are to plan for building new schools. What do we do for alcohol and drug facilities because clearly we see a need here, but I am wondering how we decide that something gets on the capital plan? How bad does it have to get?

Supplementary To Question 65-14(6): Residential Alcohol And Drug Treatment For Youth
Question 65-14(6): Residential Alcohol And Drug Treatment For Youth
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 211

The Acting Speaker

The Acting Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 65-14(6): Residential Alcohol And Drug Treatment For Youth
Question 65-14(6): Residential Alcohol And Drug Treatment For Youth
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 211

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in this particular area, as the Member knows from the briefing yesterday, there were 29 recommendations brought forward under the area of alcohol and drugs, mental health and family violence. We had to prioritize to spend the $1.4 million that we were given. It was on the list. As we look at the upcoming business plan process, we will be looking at our priorities and how to adjust them. The Social Programs committee will be fully involved in that particular process. We know that we are going to have to keep adjusting. Some issues will become more pressing than others and we will adjust accordingly. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 65-14(6): Residential Alcohol And Drug Treatment For Youth
Question 65-14(6): Residential Alcohol And Drug Treatment For Youth
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 211

The Acting Speaker

The Acting Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Supplementary To Question 65-14(6): Residential Alcohol And Drug Treatment For Youth
Question 65-14(6): Residential Alcohol And Drug Treatment For Youth
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 211

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Until such time as we get adequate youth treatment facilities in the North, we will continue to ship our youth out to facilities in the south. What can the Minister offer to the families of these young people? How is he prepared to work with the families of these young people who are undergoing treatment in the south? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 65-14(6): Residential Alcohol And Drug Treatment For Youth
Question 65-14(6): Residential Alcohol And Drug Treatment For Youth
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 211

The Acting Speaker

The Acting Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 65-14(6): Residential Alcohol And Drug Treatment For Youth
Question 65-14(6): Residential Alcohol And Drug Treatment For Youth
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 211

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the plan is to continue to work with the youth and the families according to the practices and protocol that is currently in place and try to address the needs as they arise with the most appropriate placements that we can find with the resources we have available. Thank you.