This is page numbers 781 - 810 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 ---agreed.

Topics

Further Return To Question 249-14(6): Shortages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Question 249-14(6): Shortages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 796

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I will make that commitment to attempt to complete that request. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 249-14(6): Shortages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
Question 249-14(6): Shortages Of Alcohol And Drug Workers
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 North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

Leon Lafferty North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Premier, the Honourable Stephen Kakfwi. My question is regarding the capital planning process. I would like to ask the Premier if he and Cabinet have given direction to the deputy ministers to change the criteria so that small communities can benefit and enjoy some of the facilities that the larger centres now enjoy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 250-14(6): Capital Planning Process Ratings Criteria
Question 250-14(6): Capital Planning Process Ratings Criteria
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, no we have not. The capital planning process I thought was a process that the best effort was to get MLA input and support. We launched a new process. We've met with some criticism, but we are continuing to make the best efforts to meet the needs of the communities and the MLAs through that process. If there are suggestions that Members have, then we'd be pleased to receive those. Thank you.

Return To Question 250-14(6): Capital Planning Process Ratings Criteria
Question 250-14(6): Capital Planning Process Ratings Criteria
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 796

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 250-14(6): Capital Planning Process Ratings Criteria
Question 250-14(6): Capital Planning Process Ratings Criteria
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Leon Lafferty North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to ask the Premier if the second criteria, the protection of assets, is fair to the smaller communities that don't have any assets or capital in their communities. How can they protect something they don't have? I'd like to ask the Minister if he thinks that's fair. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 250-14(6): Capital Planning Process Ratings Criteria
Question 250-14(6): Capital Planning Process Ratings Criteria
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 796

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 250-14(6): Capital Planning Process Ratings Criteria
Question 250-14(6): Capital Planning Process Ratings Criteria
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I must admit I don't really understand the question. If there are communities that have no government assets, then where it is deemed that they qualify or are in need of certain assets, then our job is to make plans to provide those required assets through our budgetary planning process. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 250-14(6): Capital Planning Process Ratings Criteria
Question 250-14(6): Capital Planning Process Ratings Criteria
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 796

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 250-14(6): Capital Planning Process Ratings Criteria
Question 250-14(6): Capital Planning Process Ratings Criteria
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 796

Leon Lafferty North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to ask the Premier if he would agree with me that the health centre in Wekweti would have a higher priority than a campground north of Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 250-14(6): Capital Planning Process Ratings Criteria
Question 250-14(6): Capital Planning Process Ratings Criteria
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 796

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 250-14(6): Capital Planning Process Ratings Criteria
Question 250-14(6): Capital Planning Process Ratings Criteria
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 796

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When we provide funds and support to communities we try to follow certain criteria and priorities. Without being explicit, I believe that certain services and facilities such as health services would receive higher priority than others that are considered non-essential services and projects and facilities. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 250-14(6): Capital Planning Process Ratings Criteria
Question 250-14(6): Capital Planning Process Ratings Criteria
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 796

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Your final supplementary, Mr. Lafferty. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, just in follow-up to questions about the negotiations that are taking place with the specialists, Mr. Miltenberger indicated in a previous answer that there are three weeks left to go and this gave him some confidence. This morning on the radio I heard the president of the NWT Medical Association say that the person who was mandated to negotiate on behalf of the specialists was out of town until June 28th and would not be available. Is the Minister aware of that? Do we really have three weeks or is this discussion over? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, three questions there.

Return To Question 251-14(6): Negotiation For Physician Specialist Services
Question 251-14(6): Negotiation For Physician Specialist Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, we were aware that those were the only days that their person would be available should there be negotiations. However, we have made a final offer of arbitration and a counter offer with a 27 percent increase. We're responding to the July 1st deadline that was put out back in March by the specialists where they insisted that we have an agreement that suits them or they'll all resign. So we're working to that deadline. The specialists all have individual contracts. While they bargain as a collective, at the end of the day they all have to individually sign contracts. So we have the arbitration offer, there's also the 27 percent increase that was put out there and rejected. A lot has happened since last Friday. The specialists are going to want to take a look at the work that was done and we will be working through this particular situation. Thank you.

Return To Question 251-14(6): Negotiation For Physician Specialist Services
Question 251-14(6): Negotiation For Physician Specialist Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 797

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 251-14(6): Negotiation For Physician Specialist Services
Question 251-14(6): Negotiation For Physician Specialist Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 797

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have to assume that a 57 percent increase over three years is not typical in terms of any negotiations that we have undertaken with anybody else who works for this government either as employees or by contract. Could the Minister briefly tell us, since this number is out there now, this 57 percent, what kinds of things are the background for that number? Is it wage parity? Is it the relative gap between what GPs are paid versus specialists? I think the public deserves to know how a number like that is arrived at when you consider it in comparison to what we have settled with other groups. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 251-14(6): Negotiation For Physician Specialist Services
Question 251-14(6): Negotiation For Physician Specialist Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 797

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Further Return To Question 251-14(6): Negotiation For Physician Specialist Services
Question 251-14(6): Negotiation For Physician Specialist Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 797

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't want to engage in any kind of what could be seen as negotiations in the House. I will indicate to the Member that the average salary of the specialists right now is about $314,000. Our offer would put it very near $400,000, $399,000 and some. The specialists are asking for approximately $500,000, $499,000 total compensation. There are a whole host of different areas within that, but the quantum figures are what are separating us and there is the substance of the issue at this present time.

Further Return To Question 251-14(6): Negotiation For Physician Specialist Services
Question 251-14(6): Negotiation For Physician Specialist Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 797

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 251-14(6): Negotiation For Physician Specialist Services
Question 251-14(6): Negotiation For Physician Specialist Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 797

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister indicated previously that this is a supply issue, there just aren't enough specialists in Canada to meet the demand for them. So other jurisdictions, I have to assume, have the same pressure on them to look at what they pay their specialists. How does the 27 percent offer from this government to our specialists compare with the types of increases that are being seen in other jurisdictions in Canada? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 251-14(6): Negotiation For Physician Specialist Services
Question 251-14(6): Negotiation For Physician Specialist Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 797

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Further Return To Question 251-14(6): Negotiation For Physician Specialist Services
Question 251-14(6): Negotiation For Physician Specialist Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 797

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, we are of the opinion that we are competitive. We've checked with some other jurisdictions such as BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan. What we are offering, $399,000 for specialists, the range right now in British Columbia in Fort St. John, which was the comparative community is between $301,000 and $365,000. In Alberta, the range is $190,000 to $398,000 and Saskatchewan is $109,000 to $329,000. I must point out as well that those figures in those jurisdictions take off a significant administration fee and they work from12 to 30 percent. So, Mr. Speaker, we think the package we have on the table for us is affordable and sustainable.

With regard to the deal with GPs, that deal on their medical web site was referred to as one of the best deals in Canada. "The Long End of the Stick" was the title of the article, so we think we've been very competitive in our efforts to meet the needs, recognizing that it is a supply issue and it is a very competitive market. Thank you.