This is page numbers 965 - 1056 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.

Topics

Further Return To Question 315-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialist Services
Question 315-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialist Services
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 980

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said yesterday the plan is, should the locums be required, should the specialists, hypothetically speaking if I may use that word, resign July 1st, then the money that is currently put towards their salaries will be used to cover locums. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 315-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialist Services
Question 315-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialist Services
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 980

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, a number of my constituents have told me that when they have been referred to Edmonton for medical service, they had to pay not only the $250 deductible for travel each way, but were stuck paying for hotels and meals as well. Mr. Speaker, I know some other constituents have been able to access a place to stay and weren't charged for it. Could the Minister advise us why some people have accommodation and meals provided when referred out of the NWT and others don't?

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Return To Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 980

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the way that medical travel is currently structured, those people without third party coverage, an issue raised in this House by Mr. Bell and Mr. Dent and many others, is such that their coverage is not the same as those who do have third party coverage. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 980

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 980

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am aware that we have an institution in Edmonton called Larga House. Could the Minister advise which patients who have been referred down south are able to access the accommodations at Larga House?

Supplementary To Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 980

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Further Return To Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 981

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is geared for the use of aboriginal patients, but they do have a policy that , if there is space, it's open for all Northerners.

Further Return To Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 981

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 981

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That just highlights the capricious nature of the charges that we have because we've had people in Yellowknife who have wound up being sent out because of staff shortages at the hospitals and had they, for instance, gone into labour a few hours earlier, they wouldn't have had to travel. Is the Minister planning to deal with this issue of almost whimsy in the system so that there will be a consistent approach?

Supplementary To Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 981

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Further Return To Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 981

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I commend the Member on "capricious" and "whimsy," those are two very fine descriptive words. Yes, I will have a document to the Members tomorrow that will outline what we are proposing on an interim basis to deal with the co-payment medical travel issue while we conclude the long-term supplementary healthcare review. It's been to Cabinet today and I will commit to having it to the Members tomorrow.

Further Return To Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 981

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Your final supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 981

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister has anticipated my final question which would have been when, but since he's left open one other part of it, when we will see the final version of this document?

Supplementary To Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 981

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Further Return To Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 981

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, the document I will be sharing with the Members tomorrow covers medical travel and covers room and board for patients referred, whether in the territory or out. The longer-term supplementary healthcare review will be worked on. It's more complicated and there's a significant number of programs that are under review. It will be done over the summer and we will have that available as well in the next couple of months. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Question 316-14(6): Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 981

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement, I outlined for everyone in this House the plight of the Hay River Heritage Society and their ongoing quest to keep the Hay River Heritage Centre operational. Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is absolutely critical that the Hay River Heritage Centre remain operational and that it stay that way for many years to come. Will the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment please indicate for this House if he is aware of the plight of the Hay River Heritage Society in securing ongoing funding for the operation of the Hay River Heritage Centre?

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Return To Question 317-14(6): Hay River Heritage Centre
Question 317-14(6): Hay River Heritage Centre
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 981

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, I have become aware of the situation in Hay River with their historical site building and museum through the media, through the Hay River paper. So I am familiar with the efforts that are being made in Hay River to continue with an organization, with a facility where they can continue to house their artifacts and I recognize the importance of that for the community.

Return To Question 317-14(6): Hay River Heritage Centre
Question 317-14(6): Hay River Heritage Centre
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 981

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Supplementary To Question 317-14(6): Hay River Heritage Centre
Question 317-14(6): Hay River Heritage Centre
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 981

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think if I went back in Hansard, I could find where I have brought the plight of the heritage centre in Hay River to this House on a number of occasions. Would the Minister indicate what preference the department puts on whether it is a heritage centre or museum? Are they both funded with equal importance or does one generate more importance than the other? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 317-14(6): Hay River Heritage Centre
Question 317-14(6): Hay River Heritage Centre
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 981

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Further Return To Question 317-14(6): Hay River Heritage Centre
Question 317-14(6): Hay River Heritage Centre
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 981

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the term "heritage centre" is used in Yellowknife for the Prince of Wales Heritage Centre. It was a name that had to be allocated back in 1979 by the federal government who would not fund museums. They would fund heritage centres. That is the basis under which it got established. In the Northwest Territories, communities have their museums or heritage centres, heritage sites, and I believe they have the freedom to do that and name them heritage centres or museums, Mr. Speaker.