This is page numbers 645 - 700 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 chairman.

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Further Return To Question 209-14(6): GNWT Hire A Student Program
Question 209-14(6): GNWT Hire A Student Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can certainly take it under consideration. I don't know what the implications of that would be, but certainly, as I mentioned earlier, our interest is there to ensure opportunities are provided for the businesses and organizations in the communities and that we ensure if there are students who wish to work in those particular circumstances, that we try to promote that. I can certainly guarantee to the Member, that we will make our best efforts to ensure that we promote in these communities, in all of the communities, and that we ensure that the information is out there for companies and students to know about this. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 209-14(6): GNWT Hire A Student Program
Question 209-14(6): GNWT Hire A Student Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question would be directed to the Premier, along the lines of my Member's statement. Mr. Speaker, we became aware early in our session that DIAND has announced it is getting ready for the pipeline by putting $10 million towards the Pipeline Readiness Office. They mentioned that it would be established in Yellowknife. Has that been done? Is that an agreement that is signed and is proceeding? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 210-14(6): Diand Pipeline Readiness Office
Question 210-14(6): Diand Pipeline Readiness Office
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is an announcement that came from the federal Minister, Robert Nault. It is money that the federal government is putting in place to open an office, to hire staff to help them get ready for the real possibility that a Mackenzie Valley pipeline will be proposed by producers and aboriginal groups in the next few months. So we are not privy to the information. I believe it has been announced, the money has been allocated and the office will be opened and staff will be hired, as far as I understand, all based here in Yellowknife. Thank you.

Return To Question 210-14(6): Diand Pipeline Readiness Office
Question 210-14(6): Diand Pipeline Readiness Office
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Supplementary To Question 210-14(6): Diand Pipeline Readiness Office
Question 210-14(6): Diand Pipeline Readiness Office
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, along the line of capacity, for example, business goes where the activity is and it's proven, Mr. Speaker, through the petroleum show that's put on in Inuvik. It's sold out now, two years in a row, and again this coming June. It just shows business will go where the activity is. I am just wondering if the Premier will, on behalf of this government, discuss with the Minister of DIAND to see if there is a possibility of moving that office to other areas. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 210-14(6): Diand Pipeline Readiness Office
Question 210-14(6): Diand Pipeline Readiness Office
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 210-14(6): Diand Pipeline Readiness Office
Question 210-14(6): Diand Pipeline Readiness Office
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the initial discussion I had with Minister Nault was two years ago. At that time, we indicated that our preference would be to see this office and the staff placed in communities other than Yellowknife because the oil and gas activity is along the Mackenzie Valley. We mentioned Hay River, Fort Simpson, Norman Wells and Inuvik as possible sites that they should consider. He indicated at that time that he was prepared to look at that, so we can have some communication with the Minister to determine whether the additional staff and resources that are going to be coming to the North to fulfill the oil and gas responsibilities of the federal government could be placed in those communities that I named. I don't think they are open to relocating the present office at this time, but we can ask that question as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 210-14(6): Diand Pipeline Readiness Office
Question 210-14(6): Diand Pipeline Readiness Office
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Supplementary To Question 210-14(6): Diand Pipeline Readiness Office
Question 210-14(6): Diand Pipeline Readiness Office
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Premier has stated publicly that the federal government has to come to the table and provide resources and capacity building in communities in the North and I think that's very good. Hopefully he will be able to put this into that basket. Can the Premier provide us with information as to what new jobs might be established and provide that to Members? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 210-14(6): Diand Pipeline Readiness Office
Question 210-14(6): Diand Pipeline Readiness Office
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 210-14(6): Diand Pipeline Readiness Office
Question 210-14(6): Diand Pipeline Readiness Office
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I understand it, in the '70s, all the staff were in Hull, Quebec. So it can be seen positively as a change in attitude perhaps by federal officials. We can contact the Minister's office and continue to send the message that we want oil and gas pipeline development resources located in places other than Yellowknife, to make sure that along the right-of-way, in the regions where oil and gas development is occurring, that those will be the places where federal officials should be located. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 210-14(6): Diand Pipeline Readiness Office
Question 210-14(6): Diand Pipeline Readiness Office
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Question 211-14(6): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals
Item 6: Oral Questions

March 10th, 2003

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, several months ago, there was quite a crisis in the health field because of a lack of qualified personnel. It was a big public issue. The Minister announced that the government would be putting $8 million-plus into recruitment to try to deal with that. It was welcomed by the public. Could the Minister tell the House if we have seen any results now from the recruitment that was promised with this $8 million?

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 211-14(6): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals
Question 211-14(6): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the vacancy numbers as of December 31, 2002, overall combining GPs and specialists, were 24.4 percent. Mr. Speaker, we've since added 19.5 positions; 16.5 GPs and three more specialists. We are in the process of working with the medical association to stamp those. We just signed a good agreement with the general practitioners which has been put on the medical association's web site, which is part of a recruiting tool, I understand, that lays out in detail the package, but at this point, while we have the resources in place to add to the doctor complement, the issue is finding doctors. These numbers as of December 31st are somewhat dated. We still have positions to fill. Thank you.

Return To Question 211-14(6): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals
Question 211-14(6): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 211-14(6): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals
Question 211-14(6): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, is the Minister aware if we have filled any of the new positions that we brought the funding in for?

Supplementary To Question 211-14(6): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals
Question 211-14(6): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 211-14(6): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals
Question 211-14(6): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am aware that they -- I don't have the specific positions - have had some successful contacts and commitments at Stanton. Also, in some of the communities, there have been some unfortunate situations where we have lost the services of some of the doctors due to personal circumstances, but there has been some success. I know the medical community, along with management at Stanton, are working to staff all positions we have. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 211-14(6): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals
Question 211-14(6): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 653

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 211-14(6): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals
Question 211-14(6): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister sounds very optimistic that we are going to fill all the positions, but it seems like it's been quite some time and it doesn't sound like very many of them have been filled. What is the Minister going to do to improve the recruiting efforts that are now underway?

Supplementary To Question 211-14(6): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals
Question 211-14(6): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 653

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 211-14(6): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals
Question 211-14(6): Recruitment Of Health Care Professionals
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we want to successfully conclude an agreement with the specialists, which is an outstanding item. Then we are going to continue to work with the medical association. We are looking at the services of a qualified, specialized recruiter as another option to try to assist us, given the new resources we've put in and the number of positions, nearly a 30 percent increase in positions of doctors that we have added to the system. So we are going to try to wrap up and I would like to point out that this is a very competitive market. While we, as a government and as a Legislature, voted the money in, the number of doctors available to fill the positions across the country has not increased. We just have to be more aggressive. Thank you.