I’d like to respond to the Minister’s remarks here with some general
comments and I’d like to start by just saying I greatly welcome her announcement regarding the supplementary health benefits. As all of us in the House, I think this has been the hottest item that I’ve received feedback from constituents on and the response that the Minister has offered is totally appropriate and very welcome. I’m looking forward to participating in that process.
Reference is made to maximizing efficient use of our health care providers in a way that is congruent with our small population size. I’ll look forward to hearing further what that means. I welcomed the Finance Minister’s statement on strengthening prevention programs and that they will be a major focus of our work. The Minister of Health made reference to that. I totally support that approach. Of course, one brief word on the milk subsidy, that would be appropriate there, but there are many good programs that we can see happening. I am also intrigued with the Minister’s action plan on reforming the way we deliver health and social services in the Northwest Territories and the opportunity to discuss this with the Standing Committee on Social Programs. It sounds like an intriguing document. I’m wondering if the program review office was involved at all or whether this is within the context of board reform and so on. Regardless, I think a community approach, community involvement, a community perspective in delivering programs is going to be key. I’ll look to that. I think the comments we heard from my colleague, Mr. Menicoche, are relevant there.
Again, I’m just highlighting a few things that I’m happy to see and anxious to get more details. The mental health and addictions issues we’ve heard about before. Social marketing, resiliency programming and life skills programming -- very glad to see that. I’m assuming they’re going ahead. I see they’re developed, but no statement has been made about putting those programs in place. I am assuming that that’s going ahead.
We’ve heard about how our seniors will continue to build and become a significantly large proportion of our population, so some attention to them is clearly needed; some increasing attention. I think there’s some indication that this is happening here. The programs that are being implemented now, the Hay River Supported Living Campus and so on are, I think, already proving to be of interest to our people.
Just wanted to mention that phase two of the program on family violence, Framework for Action, I’m very happy to see the funds dedicated to that program.
The new annual water quality report, again, I will be welcoming. I’d like to see what that might be covering. Is there federal involvement in that? I
know there are other departments likely to be involved in that. I think the Minister indicated that. Further details to be discussed there.
Chronic disease management, Diabetes Strategy...Again, is this our first strategy? I wonder. We definitely need one and we need to get it implemented. We are following the predicted increase, I understand, in the incidence and potential for diabetes. I know there was a decision to cut a dedicated person in Inuvik last year with, apparently, the understanding that existing positions could take on that work. Anyway, I will be very much looking forward to the details of that strategy and seeing that gets in place.
Again, cancer screening was highlighted and, yes, as the leading cause of our mortality, there are some really good screening programs, I know, happening now on that. We’ve learned a lot over time. That, combined with milk to prevent cancer, of course, vitamin D, and so has some opportunities for some synergy.
Sexually transmitted infections have got a lot of press lately. Not a lot of cases involved but the trend is obviously of concern. I think some resources in that direction are wise.
The community-based addiction aftercare services, again that’s something we’ve been talking about for a while and I’m happy to see some resources dedicated to that, and particularly to the extent that they can include the on-the-land treatment and healing camp approach. I think that for a lot of our people that’s a real opportunity for some holistic healing that can be substantive and get at the underlying issues.
A number of people have mentioned the added focus needed on small communities getting our stations staffed up. That’s been highlighted since this Assembly began and I have to say that that’s something I’d really like to see focused on and some solutions in place.
Some of the funding issues, I also support those comments. We’ve talked about the rate of increase in costs and so on and the federal role and failure to come to the table on some of those issues. That needs to continue to be a focus and hopefully get some resolution happening there.
Finally, I just want to mention the recreational position that was cut to half-time last year. That’s still proving to be a trial for people working at Stanton and it’s a key position in terms of focusing the efforts on recreation, an important part of healing in the hospital and for bringing other volunteers, effective and dedicated volunteers, to the table. I’m hoping with the efficiencies we’ve seen here we might be able to bump that back up
at some point soon here to a full-time position in response to those pleas for help.
Not to belabour many of the things that have been mentioned already, I think I’ll leave it at that, Mr. Chair, and look forward to the detail. Thank you.