Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Members were concerned with the reduction to the professional development funds available for health care workers. Although it is apparent that the department did not expend the total funding available over the last two years and that this would be a logical activity to consider for cost-cutting measures, committee members have heard anecdotal evidence that one of the reasons for poor uptake was the inability of the department and the authorities to provide the short-term relief necessary for nurses to take advantage of the program.
One solution that was discussed at committee was the possibility of allowing health professionals to accrue their professional development funds for two years. More money would allow the health professionals a wider choice in training opportunities, and having some professionals attending every two years could make it easier to schedule replacement coverage.
The department has made it clear to Members that nurses' salaries in the Northwest Territories are competitive with other Canadian jurisdictions. While this is an important component of any recruitment and retention plan, it has become important to include items such as professional development opportunities, which allow nurses to upgrade their skills and interact with their peers, to ensure retention of valued employees.
The onus is on senior management at the departmental and authority level to ensure there is sufficient staff on hand to cover off those nurses who want to take advantage of relevant professional development opportunities.
Members are concerned that the use of contract nurses is contributing to the turnover of nurses in the NWT. Why would a nurse take a permanent position and pay rent and travel costs, when he or she could take a contract position and have rent and removal costs paid for?
Committee members will be tracking these issues through the next business planning cycle.
Homelessness
The committee supports the new position proposed in the main estimate to develop a long-term strategy to deal with the homelessness issue. This two-year term position is important in coordinating information and programs within the social envelope to ensure a consistent government-wide approach in working with our NGO partners to develop a new long-term strategy.
In recognition of the fact that NGOs are, and probably will be, doing most of the program delivery related to homelessness on behalf of the government, committee members expressed concerns that this new position would become a first step in the development of a bureaucracy to work on the homelessness file. Members want to see spending on programs rather than on bureaucracy.
Supplementary Health Benefit Programs
As more and more of their time is spent helping constituents access supplementary health benefits, committee members look forward to further briefings and discussions on the redesign of this program.
The issue of third-party coverage for the small segment of our population without private health care insurance or coverage under the federal Non-Insured Health Benefits program is of concern to Members. As it stands now, the coverage available through the Supplementary Health Benefit Program is insufficient to meet basic needs in some circumstances and does not adequately deal with the use of medical escorts. These issues must be addressed in any program redesign.
Some of the complaints that MLAs have heard through constituents deal with the problems they have experienced in trying to determine the level of benefits they are entitled to. Members have heard of decisions taking up to five weeks. This is unacceptable in this time of instant communications and clearly points to the need to establish concise program eligibility guidelines for staff to follow as part of any program redesign. Program delivery staff must be sensitive and diligent in helping clients access the benefits to which they are entitled.
Members also look forward to reviewing the criteria for the inclusion or exclusion of any disease or condition under the Supplementary Health Benefit Program. How we determine and apply any such criteria can have a profound effect on the wellbeing of a family with a loved one suffering from a chronic condition or disease.
As previously stated, Members look forward to further discussions with the Minister in the spring.
Madam Chair, at this time, Mr. Braden, will complete the report.