Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the issues that I wish to highlight have been broadly raised by previous speakers, but I
would like to highlight a few in particular that are sincere interests.
First and foremost, the shift in the Minister’s position needs to be applauded and recognized in the fact that it’s a representation that government is listening that this needs a full and comprehensive review and we’ll start from there. In my view, that unlatches the chains of bias and predetermined results but yet gives them the spirit and the intent of saying we have some concerns with this policy, they want to go look at it. By listening to the simple point of suggesting that moving it back a date that’s more reasonable, I think, is understated here. The fact is it’s a bold recognition of how important this issue is, so I want to compliment the Minister for doing that. My view is that consultation won’t be rushed in the context of getting to the finish line. Consultation will be brought forward in a reasonable amount of time certainly, but not for an endless amount of time. I want to look at it that way.
Mr. Chairman, just really quickly, I would have liked to have heard something about how the Minister plans to deal with the debt at Stanton and as well, of course, the Beau-Del. I, too, don’t support board reform and I certainly have said for years that I’d like to see Stanton have a board of its own overseeing that. I’m pleased with the progress that the new downtown clinic is coming forward with. I certainly look forward to seeing that open. I think that will take a much needed stress off the system over at Stanton which will allow people to have a great ease of getting treatment for simple things, whether it’s a simple blood test, a quick X-ray, seeing a doctor. I think the other thing about the downtown clinic is it provides the synergy of having all the doctors together and allows more of a sense that if one’s free, they can certainly calculate their time in a more efficient way that we’re...It’s not necessarily putting them on a treadmill, but if somebody walks in off the street and says I need to see a doctor, can I see one today, that option then becomes a reality.
Mr. Chairman, like other Members, I’m concerned with billing with Nunavut, but I also have concerns that I’ve heard that there seems to be internal billing problems with a certain area. I will address that directly with the Minister. As well as, of course, I was hoping for the opening remarks somewhere to mention some highlight about the work that’s been done on the NIHB money, the $100 million that’s outstanding by the federal government.
Some new areas with these, I look forward to questioning the Minister on developing a policy and a program certainly for organ donation. I’ve had some experience with that problem lately with some people in the community and them trying to get
assistance and sometimes the theory works good, but we need a fair bit of work on that area.
Mr. Chairman, talking about synergies, there’s a respiratory therapist position that I believe has been rolled back to half time and when the dementia facility comes up to full speed, you know, it causes me concern that it’s been rolled back at Stanton. But the fact is it may be an important and critical role, or play an important and critical role, sorry, at the Dementia Centre. I would hope that the department, when they roll back or make adjustments to positions, that they’ve taken an eye to the future at the same time, because I think positions like that that have been hit hard for...I think, there wasn’t long enough thought gone out to see where the picture is on our needs and the impact it has.
I’m glad to see the Dementia Centre moving along. I drive that Avens Court loop quite regularly just to see the progress.
I just want to finish off by saying, you know, Mr. Krutko has brought this issue up many times, which is the health centre nursing and I couldn’t agree with him more in the principle that we should be trying as hard as we can to get nurses out into the communities to make sure we can help people there. That would probably take a lot of pressure off our great system.
Mr. Chairman, I’m going to close with an addictions area that I’ve been raising, which is I look for more leadership to the department of coming up with solutions as addictions treatment. I proposed during the October session that they consider investigating coming up with a program for the Gwich’in Wellness Centre outside of Inuvik. I think that would make a good compendium to the many services we offer here in the Northwest Territories. I think it could integrate in such a way that we could still offer treatment in the North, still help support groups that are working well and taking care of our people rather than sending them south. If I may compliment them in an area here, in my closing area, which is there’s recognition that youth options need to be developed for treatment for them. I look forward to seeing a bit more.
Mr. Chairman, I’m going to say that as the budget as a whole, I’m happy with the progress to date. Other than a few specific areas which I’ve highlighted, I’m relatively pleased. If I was to say one thing, the delay on the supplementary health benefits implementation is a significant and bold move and I was glad to see that the Health Minister has listened to the concerns of this side of the House. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.