This is page numbers 69 - 100 of the Hansard for the 15th Assembly, 4th 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 communities.

Topics

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to ask questions today to the Minister of Health and Social Services, Michael Miltenberger. I would like to know what the current disposition of the sleep centre at Stanton Territorial Hospital is and I am wondering if the Minister can tell me how much it costs to operate that centre and how many patients it treats per year. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Three questions.

---Laughter

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Well thank you, Mr. Ramsay, for helping me with that observation. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, this program is under a lot of growth pressures. I can't tell the Member specifically what it costs. I can tell him that there is work being done to make sure that we can cope with the demand, that we can modernize equipment and make sure that the staff we have are trained. We are working with a doctor from Calgary to come up with a good plan; this Dr. Remmers has had experience in other jurisdictions, so we are looking at this area very closely. Thank you.

Return To Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Item 6: Oral Questions

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David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. That didn't really get to the exact disposition. Is the sleep centre actually going to close or is there a study? It sounds like there is a study at play here that will see something happen. I am just wondering if the Minister can tell me how the current and future clients of the sleep centre will be looked after. What portion of care will be at the individual's expense? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. That really was two questions, but we can stretch this out. Mr. Miltenberger.

---Laughter

Further Return To Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, this is a program and a service that is required, and we are going to take the steps necessary to ensure that we can provide the service required with as much of the service as possible delivered in the North in terms of full-scale testing, all that can be done as well as the follow-up that is needed. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Item 6: Oral Questions

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David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I guess we have an hour here. We are asking questions here for an hour, so I will ask more questions and then come back again. I am just wondering, because I did not hear the Minister say yes or no, is the sleep centre open or is it closed. What is happening with it? I need a definite answer and by the sounds of it they really don't know what is happening there. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, they know what is happening. Unfortunately I don't have the current briefing note in my book, so I am unable to provide the level of detail that the Member would like. I have the staff looking for the most current information that I received from Stanton and will be happy to share that with the Member when I get it. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Item 6: Oral Questions

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David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am wondering if the Minister can also tell me if he is at least considering making these CPAP machines part of the NWT insured services for clients that require them. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, there is a working group currently reviewing this issue and will be looking at all the recommendations. I am sure that they will be giving us suggestions on the best way for this program to be covered. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Question 38-15(4): Status Of The Stanton Sleep Centre And Its Clients
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I support the goals of the Department of Education. I believe that education should be within reach of every child and family in the Northwest Territories. Madam Speaker, it is somewhat different in the smaller communities that I represent in the Sahtu. I would like to ask a question of the honourable Minister. Generally on the education part in the Sahtu, what type of support is he giving the educational boards in terms of retaining good, qualified teachers in the Sahtu? For example, we have heard in the past of the teachers' housing situation that has been an ongoing issue in the Sahtu. Thank you.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 39-15(4): Teacher Recruitment And Retention In The Sahtu
Question 39-15(4): Teacher Recruitment And Retention In The Sahtu
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. There are a number of initiatives that the department undertakes to encourage the retention of teachers. One of the first and the most important is the mentorship program that is supported by the department. This is to help new teachers gain experience in the system with an experienced teacher and to call on when they need advice or mentoring.

The Member specifically asked about housing, as well. Last year the Housing Corporation installed market houses in a number of communities in the Sahtu. I met with the board chairs of all regions, including the Sahtu, and asked them to provide me with some information on housing needs, which I could then pass on to the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. That was provided in some detail by the Sahtu Divisional Education Council and that information has been passed on to the NWT Housing Corporation. They are taking that into account as they plan for the delivery of market housing. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Return To Question 39-15(4): Teacher Recruitment And Retention In The Sahtu
Question 39-15(4): Teacher Recruitment And Retention In The Sahtu
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 39-15(4): Teacher Recruitment And Retention In The Sahtu
Question 39-15(4): Teacher Recruitment And Retention In The Sahtu
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am very glad to hear the Minister mention the mentorship of the teachers. We have a number of local assistants, as I referred to, in the teachers' program. What specific types of programs are there? Can the Minister advise this House of promotions that would help these assistants get into a job that would be permanent in the smaller communities because of the hiring of northern teachers? We want to keep our teachers employed in the Sahtu region. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 39-15(4): Teacher Recruitment And Retention In The Sahtu
Question 39-15(4): Teacher Recruitment And Retention In The Sahtu
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 39-15(4): Teacher Recruitment And Retention In The Sahtu
Question 39-15(4): Teacher Recruitment And Retention In The Sahtu
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. There are people who have an interest in the education system who should consider, first of all, becoming teachers, taking the Teacher Education Program and getting a diploma and then moving on, hopefully, to take the Bachelor of Education Program. The college has put a lot of effort into making sure that people across the Territories can access that program.

As well, for those who are classroom assistants, it might be useful for them to consider taking the Aboriginal Language and Cultural Instructor Program. ALCIP is a program that is offered, when requested, by the college. We expect the divisional education councils to request the program, but the college is prepared to offer that to help people who may be working as classroom assistants be better prepared to work in classrooms, particularly in delivering language and culture programs. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 39-15(4): Teacher Recruitment And Retention In The Sahtu
Question 39-15(4): Teacher Recruitment And Retention In The Sahtu
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 39-15(4): Teacher Recruitment And Retention In The Sahtu
Question 39-15(4): Teacher Recruitment And Retention In The Sahtu
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the students and teachers really work well together in the Sahtu. The prime example of education is the small pilot project in Fort Good Hope where they have a shop program where there is a young Grade 5 fellow, Bradley Kelly, who makes pens. Different organizations contribute to the Fort Good Hope school and in the vision of the Education department, I want to ask the Minister when he foresees types of homemade shops that would be available for other schools in the Sahtu in terms of improving the students and the trades that can be improved in the smaller communities for future potential jobs that may be coming. Thank you.