Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I won’t be long on my question. Could the Minister, if it is possible, give us the breakdown on the hospital services by way of $73,000 and health care centres, $27.456 million? Could I have a printout of that? I don’t want to get the response now, but if she can give us a printout for all the Members here so we can see how that money is broken down, if that is possible, thank you.
Debates of Feb. 16th, 2009
This is page numbers 2215 - 2266 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 3rd 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
Committee Motion 1-16(3): Strategy To Improve The Health And Social Services Programs In Small And Remote Communities Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Motion 1-16(3): Strategy To Improve The Health And Social Services Programs In Small And Remote Communities Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Motion 1-16(3): Strategy To Improve The Health And Social Services Programs In Small And Remote Communities Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Motion 1-16(3): Strategy To Improve The Health And Social Services Programs In Small And Remote Communities Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under physician services to NWT residents, does that include the local fees under the $32 million figure? If it does, can I get the breakdown between the local costs and the local physician, the groups there
versus how much is spent on local doctors? Thank you.
Committee Motion 1-16(3): Strategy To Improve The Health And Social Services Programs In Small And Remote Communities Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Sandy Lee Range Lake
We don’t have that with us, but I will undertake to provide the Member with the breakdowns. Thank you.
Committee Motion 1-16(3): Strategy To Improve The Health And Social Services Programs In Small And Remote Communities Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre
Although I am sure the Minister will provide all Members, but if she could provide all Members that information and make that known on the record, it would be appreciated. Thank you.
Committee Motion 1-16(3): Strategy To Improve The Health And Social Services Programs In Small And Remote Communities Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Motion 1-16(3): Strategy To Improve The Health And Social Services Programs In Small And Remote Communities Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Motion 1-16(3): Strategy To Improve The Health And Social Services Programs In Small And Remote Communities Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Norman Yakeleya Sahtu
In line with those requests, I would like to ask the Minister, Mr. Chairman, too, if she could provide breakdowns for the health centres and the medical equipment under $50,000.
Committee Motion 1-16(3): Strategy To Improve The Health And Social Services Programs In Small And Remote Communities Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Motion 1-16(3): Strategy To Improve The Health And Social Services Programs In Small And Remote Communities Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Motion 1-16(3): Strategy To Improve The Health And Social Services Programs In Small And Remote Communities Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Motion 1-16(3): Strategy To Improve The Health And Social Services Programs In Small And Remote Communities Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake
I have to apologize in advance if this question has been asked and answered already, but I have no recollection, unfortunately. I wanted to reference funding for nurse practitioners. It was quite an issue last year when we considered the budget, that we had nurse practitioners and that they weren’t funded, basically. That was a struggle for the department to try to find funding to keep these nurse practitioners in the system and fully funded for. My question to the Minister is, I think our information is that we have a fairly large number of nurse practitioners at this point. I can’t remember exactly how many. But I would like to know whether or not all of these nurse practitioner positions are now funded or if we are relying on some federal funding, for instance, which might lapse in the future, or if they are being funded from a program other than the Health department budget. Is this permanent funding and ongoing for the foreseeable future? Thank you.
Committee Motion 1-16(3): Strategy To Improve The Health And Social Services Programs In Small And Remote Communities Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Motion 1-16(3): Strategy To Improve The Health And Social Services Programs In Small And Remote Communities Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Sandy Lee Range Lake
All of that nurse practitioner funding is being funded under THAF and they are expected to sunset under the year. Thank you.
Committee Motion 1-16(3): Strategy To Improve The Health And Social Services Programs In Small And Remote Communities Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake
Okay, thank you. I understand that THAF funding is subject to renewal. I guess, if it is not renewed, we don’t get a renewal of THAF funding. How does the Minister propose to keep
these NPs in our workforce and doing the great job that they do? Because I think they bring efficiencies to our system. Thank you.
Committee Motion 1-16(3): Strategy To Improve The Health And Social Services Programs In Small And Remote Communities Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Sandy Lee Range Lake
That is a challenge that we need to meet or consider as we budget for the next year. We are working, as a department and me, with the federal government to give us an indication within the next four to six weeks so that we can plan accordingly. Obviously we will have to try to find the funding from within, but it will take a lot of work to do that. It will take a lot of coordination with the authorities to see if they could absorb these positions. It would depend very much on what is available on the ground. Thank you.
Committee Motion 1-16(3): Strategy To Improve The Health And Social Services Programs In Small And Remote Communities Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake
I guess, just for clarification required from the answer, the THAF funding is expiring at the end of the 2008-09 fiscal year or the 2009-10 fiscal year? Thank you.
Committee Motion 1-16(3): Strategy To Improve The Health And Social Services Programs In Small And Remote Communities Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Motion 1-16(3): Strategy To Improve The Health And Social Services Programs In Small And Remote Communities Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
The Chair David Ramsay
Thank you, Minister Lee. Thank you, committee. We are on page 8-24, health services programs, grants and contributions, total grants and contributions, $134.051 million.
Committee Motion 1-16(3): Strategy To Improve The Health And Social Services Programs In Small And Remote Communities Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 1-16(3): Strategy To Improve The Health And Social Services Programs In Small And Remote Communities Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
The Chair David Ramsay
Page 8-26 and 8-27, activity summary, supplementary health programs, operations expenditure summary, $22.977 million. Ms. Bisaro.
Committee Motion 1-16(3): Strategy To Improve The Health And Social Services Programs In Small And Remote Communities Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On page 8-26, the activity description references supplementary health benefits and catastrophic drug benefits. It is a little presumptive, perhaps, on the part of the government to put those two programs forward when they haven’t actually been put into place. I recognize that it is a name change probably for benefits which are currently in existence, but I would ask the Minister if the documents or the budget, whatever needs to be done, but that the name not to be changed to reflect the program which actually is operating, because these two items are not correct. Thank you.
Committee Motion 1-16(3): Strategy To Improve The Health And Social Services Programs In Small And Remote Communities Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Motion 1-16(3): Strategy To Improve The Health And Social Services Programs In Small And Remote Communities Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Sandy Lee Range Lake
The Member is correct; the budget went to print before the government made the announcement that we will delay pending consultation, until April 1, 2010. Thank you.