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

Supplementary To Question 241-14(6): Elder Abuse
Question 241-14(6): Elder Abuse
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 789

Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, we know that one of the things this Assembly is going to address in this area will be legislation to help authorities address areas of violence as we talk about the family violence legislation. What other definitive steps does the Minister and his department have in terms of addressing elder abuse? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 241-14(6): Elder Abuse
Question 241-14(6): Elder Abuse
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 789

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Further Return To Question 241-14(6): Elder Abuse
Question 241-14(6): Elder Abuse
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 789

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there was a family violence action plan that was done and includes extensive references in all areas and outlines elders, capacity building, training that's required, prevention, as well as education awareness. Mr. Speaker, these are all areas where there is a need to make people more aware of the issue that my colleague has raised in this House along with some of his colleagues and it is being addressed with NGOs, with government and the Department of Health and Social Services, as well as other departments in government. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 241-14(6): Elder Abuse
Question 241-14(6): Elder Abuse
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 790

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, further to my Member's statement today, my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services and it's in regard to the contingency plan that he's announced in the media and elsewhere. Mr. Speaker, it appears to me that the two prongs of his plan are to rely on the locums to provide specialist services. As well, he's stated on many occasions that he expects the GPs, the general practitioners, otherwise known as family doctors, to fill in where the specialists may vacate.

Mr. Speaker, I can tell you that this plan is so weak that I could put a hole through it as big as Great Slave Lake. Mr. Speaker, I am aware that there are at least 12 sets of parents expecting babies this month and I know that at least one of them is being asked by the family doctor to induce labour, so that they don't have to travel and they don't have to rely on this locum that is unqualified.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Ms. Lee, may we have a question, please?

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In light of the fact that the family doctor and the expectant mother have no faith in the locum that he has in place for July and August, how can he ensure the health of mothers and babies? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Return To Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 790

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we, as a health and social services system, working with professionals that run the system, are coming up with a contingency plan. We have coverage for July and August. We will hire qualified people and services will be there and, if necessary, if there is more extensive support required, an arrangement will be made with the capital health authority. Thank you.

Return To Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 790

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Supplementary To Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 790

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am going with the information the Minister provided and, no disrespect to this locum who I am sure is doing his best to serve, but my understanding is he is a 76-year-old man who is retired who doesn't specialize in obstetrics and gynecology and he's going to be asked to deliver babies for July and August and the mothers and family doctors have no faith in this doctor. I want the Minister to answer to these expectant mothers and these families how he is going to ensure the health and safety of these babies and mothers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 790

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Further Return To Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 790

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I stand ready to answer to this House and to the people of the Northwest Territories. We are in a situation that is unfortunate, but we are taking steps to provide coverage that is required so that the health of Northerners is not jeopardized. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 790

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Supplementary To Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 790

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the only answer he is giving is empty words. We are going by the information that he has provided and there is no assurance there that the medical services required for something as simple and routine as delivering a baby will be provided. So can he be more precise about what he's planning on doing to take on the health of expectant mothers and babies? I need an answer to that question, Mr. Speaker. He hasn't answered it.

Supplementary To Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 790

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Further Return To Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 790

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, I have answered the question. Unfortunately, the Member does not like the answer. But I will restate that we will provide, we are going to have coverage, we have obstetrics coverage for July and August with qualified, trained personnel and they will see to the needs of the people of the Northwest Territories. We also have arrangements with the Capital Health Authority. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 790

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Supplementary To Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 790

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Mr. Speaker, I do not believe the issue is whether or not I like his answer. I do not believe the Minister is a medical doctor. I am going by what family doctors are saying. They have no faith in the locums that he has in place for July and August. They are advising mothers to either induce labour or travel to Edmonton. What is he doing about it? He is not answering my question. It is not about whether I like the question or not, he has an obligation to provide the services to the mothers to deliver their babies safely. What is his answer, Mr. Speaker?

Supplementary To Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 790

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. Just for the information of the House, the Minister has a responsibility to answer the question or not to answer the question or to take it as notice and it is up to the Minister however he wishes to answer the question. It is not up to the chair to decide whether he has answered it or not, suffice it to say that he does get up and answer. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Minister Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 791

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My job as Minister is to ensure to the maintenance of the health and social services system, to deal with issues in a careful, measured way, not to promote fear and concern and needless apprehension among the people. Mr. Speaker, the Member has raised and thrown out a number of third hand comments that I have no knowledge of, I have no context, I have no way to verify what she has said, so I am not in a position to address what may be considered hearsay at this point. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Question 242-14(6): Contingency Plan For Specialty Physician Services
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 791

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik-Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Question 243-14(6): Supplementary Health Benefits Consent Form
Item 6: Oral Questions

June 3rd, 2003

Page 791

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question as well would be directed to the Minister of Health and Social Services in the area of the advertisement that has been out in the media for quite some time on television and radio about the consent forms that the federal government is looking for aboriginal people of the Northwest Territories to sign. I would like to know from the Minister if they have looked into this form. There have been issues raised around the nature of the questions and information being provided. So, I would like to know if his department has had a chance to look at that form and respond. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Return To Question 243-14(6): Supplementary Health Benefits Consent Form
Question 243-14(6): Supplementary Health Benefits Consent Form
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 791

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in fact, yes, we are very clearly aware of this particular form that the federal government has put forward and is attempting to implement. We have looked at it, we have heard the concerns of the affected stakeholders and the aboriginal governments. We are also aware very clearly that the Government of Nunavut has taken a position in support of the concerns raised by their constituents, that this form, as it is constructed, is problematic. It has a lot of potential impact that has not been addressed. We share the same concerns and we are currently working on a response, a public response, that will be as supportive as we can to those concerns raised by the aboriginal people and the aboriginal governments and the Government of Nunavut. Thank you.