On the previous page, the Minister gave us a breakdown on the number of incumbents in each of the health authorities and I noticed that as she was going through the list the number of employees exceeded the total number of positions in virtually every case. I’m curious if she could just give me a bit of an explanation about that.

Also, in the eight authorities, the number of established positions has gone down in three of the authorities. It went down in the Tlicho by four positions; it went down in the Beau-Del by seven positions; it went down in Stanton by eight positions. I’m curious if the Minister could also tell me in those reductions, and I’ll also point out in some of the authorities the numbers did go up, but in those authorities where there were reductions, did those reductions result in the loss of people or were they the loss of vacant positions. Basically what I’m asking is, are there affected people in those authorities where we are losing positions? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Mr. Elkin.

Thank you, Mr. Elkin. Mr. Abernethy.

Not sure I caught that. One employee resigned or one employee was affected. Okay, with that one, were we able to find him another job or have they since left the system? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

It’s hard to talk about one person without being specific. I could advise the Member that she’s on the affected status. I don’t have the latest...I remember signing a letter about

six weeks ago that she was under affected status. I could get an update on that information for the Member.

I just wanted to hear that the employee was on the affected status. I think the government did a really good job coming out of the last budget, with the number of positions that had been eliminated, to result in 14. I think the government did a really good job finding those people on the affected list jobs. I hope that they continue and I’m certain that they will.

You didn’t address the question about, you know, in most of the cases you identified more employees in established positions. Since I’m talking, I might as well keep talking. Earlier, when we were going through the business plan, it was identified that one of the positions in your authority in Stanton was being reduced to half time; it was a recreational position. We continued to hear an awful lot about that position and the value that it provides within the authority. Can you tell me a little bit about what the plans are for that position? Is that position off the list of positions that we hope to affect someday or is it going to be moved somewhere else after, say, the construction of the Dementia Centre? What are the plans for that position? If you can tell me, that would be great. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

With respect to there being more bodies than PYs, I think the Member knows from being in the HR world, that is common practice that there might be more bodies because vacancies and people moving around and such, that explains that.

With respect to the position at Stanton Territorial Health Authority, that is one of the parts of the mitigation measures. Members understand that all of the authorities were required to balance their budgets last year and Stanton Territorial Health Authority has had to actually climb high and a long way to bring their financial situation to where they are. That’s just part of the mitigation measures. I know that the Members expressed their support for maintaining that position and the CEO worked to keep that at a half-time position. As the Minister, when I am asking the authorities to balance their budgets, I do have an obligation to accept the proposals that the authority provides because they’ve had to make very difficult decisions, they’ve had to go through all of their positions to see where they could mitigate without undue hardship, understanding of course that every mitigation measure that the authorities have had to take have implications. Thank you.

I get that. I’ve heard you and I know that you have reduced that position to part time. What’s the long-term goal for that position? Is that position going to be transferred to the dementia

facility...(inaudible)...when the dementia facility is finished or...Because the service they provide is quite important. I mean, I’m of the opinion, and it might be an assumption, but I’m assuming that once that facility is built that a number of the people that are staying in our extended care ward can be transferred there. The need for that physical activity and that activity continues. What is the plan? I guess I’m trying to get to that. What are we going to do with that position and will it continue to support the physical activity of patients who are currently in our extended care, once they are no longer in our extended care? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Member is correct in understanding that once the Territorial Dementia Centre opens and becomes fully operational that many of the residents who are in extended care at the hospital will be moved there. Will there be a direct transfer of employees from the Stanton Territorial Hospital to YACCS? That’s a different question. Stanton authority is government, YACCS is not. I think it’s reasonable to think that because YACCS will be looking for people with that sort of skill set that that is possible, but we wouldn’t be...What I would say is anybody who’s under affected employee status will have the first choice of employment with any jobs that are open within the government. Thank you.

One last question. The position, the recreation position, it only ever did half-time recreation; the rest of that job, I’m under the impression it was doing other things like volunteer coordination and a few other things. Now that it is just basically focused on the recreation stuff half time. What happened to those other responsibilities? They didn’t disappear. Did they go to other positions? How are we ensuring that those things are still being done within the authority? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The mitigation measures had to...All of the authorities try to mitigate and work with positions where some of their responsibilities could be assumed by others. That’s not always possible because we can’t assume that. That’s not the way we work. I mean, all of the mitigation measures had impact somehow. I do recall that in getting this information about this specific position that that work was going to be done by others. I understand that’s not the ideal situation; it is a difficult situation but it’s something that had to be done. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Thank you, committee. Mr. Hawkins.

I appreciate the Member bringing up the issue of recreational therapist, as I had intended to raise it as well. I’d like to know from the Minister what work is being done from the point of

view of trying to re-establish it as a permanent, full-time position. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Ms. Lee.

There is no plan to reinstate that position on a permanent basis. As I have indicated, Stanton Territorial Health Authority was experiencing an almost $9 million deficit last year. There was a lot of pressure in this Assembly to balance the budget but at the same time I think the Assembly, and myself as Minister and the officials, wanted to ask the authority to balance their budget but do it in a way that was not going to severely impact programs and services. Mitigation measures that the hospital took were upwards of about $4.5 million. This position was part of that. I understand that there are people who feel that this is not the best way to go forward, but it was a choice between reducing half-time nursing or...I mean, you just can’t make choices but it was something that the authority had to do. They have had to, where they can, come up with ways to reduce the deficit. I’ve accepted that mitigation measures package from Stanton as well as all the other authorities. There are no plans right now to reinstate that position. Thank you.

What are the actuals when it comes to active positions at health and social services authorities? As noted earlier, I wrote some of the numbers down and the totals didn’t actually add up. I’m just trying to understand what are the actuals of funded positions versus staff positions. Can we get some type of breakdown for that? It was difficult to follow. I’m well aware, as everyone else here is, that sometimes funded positions that aren’t filled, they use that money elsewhere. This year is becoming more important than ever to focus in on making sure money is delivered to...(inaudible)...positions, that they’re actually going to that purpose. Can I get a breakdown of the actuals of indeterminate positions through those health authorities as well as assuming full-time and then breakdown of part-time positions? As well, I’m curious on what each authority is carrying for casual employment. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I don’t have that information on me right now. I will undertake to get that for the Member. At any given time, authorities could have all kinds of different bodies not only because they would use vacancy positions to hire other bodies but also some authorities get funding from other sources, as well, and keeping track of casuals and people on leave. We will have to do some work on that, so we will undertake to get back to the Member as soon as possible. Thank you.

I’ll accept that. I just want to make sure it’s clear that I want to know how many positions are funded, how many positions are staffed, the breakdown between full-time, part-time and casual. While that is being done, I would like to know of the gross difference between positions, if there is a difference, to be noted. Again, pointing out that the end result of the change may not be reflective of the actual event that has taken place. I would like to get that sense as well. If I could have that as soon as possible, that would be sincerely appreciated. I’m not sure if other Members are interested in that but I certainly am. Thank you.

We’ll do that. Thank you.

Committee, we’re on page 8-11. Ms. Bisaro.

I just wanted to clarify that I would ask the Minister to provide information to all Members when she provides it to one. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Ms. Lee.