This is page numbers 861 - 906 of the Hansard for the 15th Assembly, 5th 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 health.

Revert To Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Revert To Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Written questions. Returns to written questions. Replies to the budget address. Petitions. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Tabling of documents. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bell.

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled, Doi T'oh Territorial Park and Canol Heritage Trail Management Plan, January 2007. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Tabling of documents. Notices of motion. Notices of motion for first reading of bills. First reading of bills. Second reading of bills. Before I go to the next item on the Order Paper, I would just like to remind Members that there is a short reception happening in the Great Hall. Hopefully, when we take a break, it would be a very short ceremony. The Aboriginal Headstart Council is having a launch of their evaluation booklet, 10 Years of Aboriginal Headstart in the Northwest Territories, from 1996 to 2006. Members are welcome to join them in the Great Hall for this launch.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bills 18, 19, 21, Committee Reports 7-15(5), 8-15(5) and 9-15(5), with Mrs. Groenewegen in the chair.

Item 17: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 17: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

I would like to call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of the committee this afternoon? Mr. Lafferty.

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Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty North Slave

Mahsi, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, it is the wish of the committee to consider Bill 21, Appropriation Act 2007-08, specifically dealing with the Department of Health and Social Services. Mahsi.

Item 17: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 17: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Does committee agree?

Item 17: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 17: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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Item 17: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. Then we will resume with that right after the break. Thank you.

---SHORT RECESS

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

I'd like to call Committee of the Whole back to order. We are about to consider the main estimates of the Department of Health and Social Services. At this time, I would like to ask Minister Roland if he would please like to present the department's opening comments. Mr. Roland.

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am pleased to present the Department of Health and Social Services' main estimates for fiscal year 2007-08.

The department is requesting just over $277 million, an increase of approximately $12 million, or approximately 4.3 percent, over last year. The funding will be allocated to the following main areas of activity:

  • • $156 million for health services programs that include public health, chronic care clinics, inpatient and outpatient care, and physician services;
  • • $69 million for community health and social programs that promote healthy lifestyles and community wellness, and services for at-risk individuals and families;
  • • $28.2 million for program delivery support, including $12 million for authority administration and $5.9 million for specific recruitment and retention, and training initiatives system-wide;
  • • $18 million for supplementary health programs; and
  • • $6 million for system-wide support.

New investments will be made totalling $2.269 million, including:

  • • $1.1 million to fund enhanced rehabilitation services;
  • • $510,000 for homelessness initiatives including a small communities contribution fund;
  • • $360,000 for the Aboriginal Wellness Program at the four NWT hospitals;
  • • $150,000 for an additional nurse practitioner; and
  • • $137,000 to promote reduced use of tobacco through the First Nations and Inuit Tobacco Strategy.

The department's capital investments of $10.1 million include:

  • • a consolidated clinic in Yellowknife;
  • • renovations to the Fort Smith Health Centre;
  • • technical upgrades for Stanton Territorial Hospital;
  • • funding for continued work on electronic health records; and
  • • funding for medical equipment and workspace upgrades for front-line Health and Social Services staff across the NWT.

The 2007-08 budget for Health and Social Services follows the direction outlined in the department's updated strategic and action plans. We are proposing to focus our resources to improve:

  • • services to people;
  • • support to staff and trustees;
  • • system-wide management and accountability; and
  • • development of the integrated service delivery model.

We are continuing to invest in mental health and addictions services. To date, 77 positions have been core funded to deliver these services. We will continue to work with health authorities, Members of this House, community agencies and aboriginal governments to address the need for mental health and addictions services in our communities.

That concludes my opening remarks. I would be pleased to answer any questions Members may have. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Roland. At this time, I'll call on the chair of the Social Programs committee, Ms. Lee, if she would bring the committee's overview of the main estimates for Health and Social Services. Ms. Lee.

Department Of Health And Social Services

Introduction

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Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the committee met with the Minister and his officials on Thursday, September 21, 2006, to review the draft business plan of the Department of Health and Social Services.

Members considered the draft main estimates, including the changes to the budget of the Department of Health and Social Services since the committee reviewed the business plan in September, on January 16, 2007.

Committee members made note that the department is proposing to spend $277.395 million in operations expense and $10.109 million on capital projects in fiscal year 2007-2008.

Committee members offer the following comments on issues arising out of the review of the 2007-2008 budget planning cycle.

Non-Governmental Organization Funding

The committee was pleased that the department has provided extra funding for forced growth for some of the first tier non-governmental organizations that provide programs and services to NWT residents. While Members are sure that each affected NGO will be pleased they are receiving additional funding, it is not clear whether the funding will be adequate to meet the actual forced growth costs being experienced by the NGO.

It is the hope of Members that the examination of NGO forced growth requirements would become part of the annual business planning exercise for the department.

Another aspect of our relationship with NGOs is that most operate under short-term, one-year agreements. Many of these are renewed, but only through annual, exhaustive renegotiations and full-blown audits that sap the energy of NGO volunteers and bureaucrats alike, and chew up scarce administrative dollars.

Members and committees have long advocated multi-year contracts where continuous services delivered by NGOs with good track records are the norm. Ministers have assured us that FAA rules do allow it. It is time the government direct its staff to proactively seek out these opportunities and act on them.

At this time, Madam Chair, I'd like to ask the Member for Monfwi to continue with the report. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Lafferty.

Homelessness Funding

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Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty North Slave

Mahsi, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the government has finally incorporated the funding that it has been providing to address short-term winter homelessness into the base for the department. This allows the department to provide funding to the SideDoor Youth Centre in Yellowknife and the Turning Point Shelter in Inuvik to deal with the homeless during the coldest months of the year. It also provides funding through the homeless contribution program to help communities with homeless programs, and the homeless travel assistance fund, which will pay for a person to return to a community where they have supports that include a place to stay.

There is also an additional $200,000 included in the base funding that was not present in previous supplementary funding. The initial approach of the department was to allocate this fund to do community needs assessments in 2007-2008 and roll out the funding to the communities in subsequent years. The committee is pleased to have been able to work with the department and reach an agreement to put the funds toward the contribution funding allocation for community programs so that communities would be able to access the funding for the programs that meet their needs. We would like to thank the Minister and the department for working with the committee on this funding allocation.

Dementia Facility And Other Territorial Long-Term Care Facilities

Members continue to support the building of a dedicated territorial dementia facility in Yellowknife.

---Applause

The committee believes it is important to keep patients in long-term care as close as possible to their families for as long as possible. The recent and ongoing renovations to long-term care facilities will accomplish this.

However, it is clear to Members that there is a need for a territorial facility that can accommodate high-need dementia patients who can no longer be safely cared for in a regional long-term care facility.

The department is encouraged to continue working with the Yellowknife Association of Concerned Citizens for Seniors in developing a reasonable facility that can meet the needs of northerners.

Madam Chair, at this time, I'd like to turn it over to my colleague Calvin Pokiak to conclude this statement. Mahsi.

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Pokiak.

Dietary Needs Of Northern Residents

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Calvin Pokiak

Calvin Pokiak Nunakput

Thank you, Madam Chair. There is the potential that the declining caribou herds will have an impact on the ability of residents in some communities to eat a healthy diet. In isolated communities, it may be too expensive for residents to replace caribou with store-bought meat, and the availability of other country food may be limited or foods not readily adapted to the local diet or culture. The committee believes there is a clear need for the government to develop contingency plans.

The department has agreed to provide the committee with a draft summary of options in the near future.

The committee will continue tracking this issue and will discuss the impact that potential conservation efforts will have on community health. This issue will also be mentioned in the transition document to the next Assembly.

Revitalization Of Social Worker Profession In The NWT

During discussions on the business plan, Members expressed concern about the state of the social work profession in the NWT. It was acknowledged the Northwest Territories is well served by members of the profession, however, many of these professionals, particularly at the community level, are nearing well-deserved retirement. The problem is there is reluctance on the part of northern students to consider social work as a profession. In some years, Aurora College has been unable to deliver the social worker diploma program because of a lack of interest. The committee notes that the Social Work Program will be delivered at the Yellowknife Campus this year.

The department's response indicates that it is willing to work with the other departments that employ social workers and the Department of Human Resources to come up with a strategy to meet the needs of the social worker profession.

The committee notes that there is important ongoing work relating to the on-the-job safety of social workers, a review of the Social Work Program at Aurora College and, in conjunction with the Association of Social Workers in Northern Canada, the development of a legislative proposal and the regulation of the social worker profession in the NWT.

The committee looks forward to the results of these important initiatives and progress on the development of an interdepartmental working group.

Madam Chair, Members strongly encourage the department to be aggressive in staffing these positions. Recent media reports seem to indicate that audiologists are in high demand and that the NWT's pay scale may no longer be realistic or a sufficient incentive to attract experienced and qualified candidates. The department, within the context of the Collective Agreement, will have to look for solutions to this dilemma.

Once the teams are in place, it is expected that wait times for rehabilitation services should be dramatically reduced and that services to children in the school system will improve. It is extremely important that the rehabilitation teams establish a close working relationship with schools, educators and child psychologists.

The one area of concern for the committee was the workload that the Yellowknife-based team would have in meeting the needs of the residents of the Tlicho, Sahtu and Deh Cho regions. Some members of the committee believe there should be regularly scheduled visits to each community within these regions, while others would prefer the workload to determine the service patterns. The department is encouraged to monitor the workload of all the rehabilitation teams to ensure there is a proper distribution of resources and that extra help is provided to those teams that require it.

That concludes our comments, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. At this time, I would like to ask the Minister if he would like to bring witnesses into the Chamber. Mr. Roland.

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Yes, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Is committee agreed?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Agreed, thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, if you could please escort the witnesses to the table.

Minister Roland, for the record, could you please introduce your witnesses.

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have with me, on my left, the deputy minister of the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Chuck Parker; and to my right I have the director of finance services, Mr. Derek Elkin.

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Minister Roland. I'll open the floor now for general comments. Any general comments? Mr. Ramsay.

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David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'd like to thank the Minister and staff for being here with us this afternoon. In terms of general comments, I will try to keep them fairly general. I know the issue of health care and the provision of health services in the Northwest Territories is an issue that is brought to the floor of this House almost daily when we are in session, and I think the importance can't be underestimated. I know we are going to be spending a substantial amount of dollars, millions of dollars at Stanton in terms of renovations. We're looking at a consolidated clinic here in Yellowknife. Earlier today I again brought up the dementia care facility, which I think, as the Minister heard me mention earlier, is a much, much needed piece of infrastructure in our health system that is long overdue and urgently required.

Back in October, a lot of the issues in health, for myself, came from staffing in those areas. The concerns were in the areas of morale, working conditions, staffing levels. I guess I'll just start off with asking the Minister, from October, and I know he's still relatively new in the role as the Minister of Health and Social Services, what has he done since October to try to address the concerns that staff had brought forward late last year? Mahsi.

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.