Mr. Chairman, as the Minister stated, in making this motion and needing some more information…. I would encourage the Members, before we read the next motion if there is more to follow, let’s have that clarity or ask about the detail before we actually make the motion, because now we only speak to the motion.
Speaking to the motion, we can't support this action, as the Minister stated earlier. The integrated services delivery model has been in the works for many years. The department had worked on how it would deliver health care across the Northwest Territories, with Stanton
being a Territorial facility
and then, for example, Inuvik being another major facility and Fort Smith and Hay River also fitting into that integrated services delivery model — and Fort Simpson as well. It has all been part of the plan.
We've heard Members say, for example, when we talk about the dementia facility here in Yellowknife, that we're now keeping patients in the hospital here at a higher cost per bed. Well, the same scenario has been worked out with this facility — working with the community, moving some of those seniors out of that facility and going back north to the program that was developed for it and run it.
This has been many years in discussion. This isn't just as a result of last year’s budget exercise. This was even a few years before then.
So for the record, I just wanted to inform Members that this process has been in the works for quite a number of years. It addresses a plan that's been put in place and adopted by the Department of Health and Social Services. From there, the department has worked with each authority in this area as part of this master development plan for that community and region. That's been put in place.
A number of communities did not get agreement, so they were deferred in a number of areas until that agreement can be put in place.
This time the agreement has been signed off by the authority, and the department has advanced this to the stage where we're now ready to do the work that's required. It’s already existing — some work has been done — and this would continue on with that effort.
I would encourage Members to support moving forward with this, as the work has been done. It’s part of a plan. The Department of Health and Social Services can provide Members with a briefing, at some point, on the integrated services delivery model, as it has been discussed in previous governments as well.