This is page numbers 4555 - 4576 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 5th 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 health.

Topics

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

One example that I can think of is we’ve been reviewing the specialist services to see what services we provide, how they are being provided. The Stanton CEO and the department and refocusing government have been working on that. We have also done a review on medical travel, because that is a part that is completely dependent on demand and the requests that are made from the doctors and other service providers. That’s under review, and supplementary health benefits. We just went through a very detailed analysis on exactly how many people accessed that, how much it costs and who’s accessing that. That’s not a cost-cutting measure. It is about learning what the program that we provide looks like, who is using it, how much does it cost.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

If we were talking about Rio Tinto or BHP, they have staff dedicated specifically to look at resources and how the system is being done to make sure they can do them in an efficient way. What proof does the Minister have that she can lay before this House that the Department of Health and Social Services examines the way it does business on a regular basis to ensure that we’re getting the best value for our dollars?

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There’s a lot of difference between Rio Tinto or BHP and the public health system. Our system is demand driven. People put the highest priority on their health and social services. On a daily basis, whether it’s Friday night, Saturday morning, midnight, I get calls from Members and the general public asking us to do something more for health and social services or extra services they would like. You cannot compare a health care system to a private corporation who needs to check the bottom line all the time. We have finance people in our authorities and our department. Cabinet keeps a close eye on our health care expenditures, because every government in Canada is concerned with making sure we find and spend our health dollars wisely.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement I highlighted the fact that we’ve got doctors acting like either summer students or clerks. In my statement I also pointed out that we’re not billing properly. So are we like a diamond mine? No, we’re not. But the strategy and process and thinking is exactly the same: wise resources and good use of them. Would the Minister re-examine the issue of establishing a position that looks at how we use our resources to make sure we’re using them in the most efficient way? It’s not about the question of providing resources, it’s how we spend the money. Thank you.

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Mr. Speaker, the entire Foundation for Change is based on making sure that people in our health care system do what they’re most suited to do. So I can’t answer to the Member’s question about doctors looking at files. I can’t imagine that we would ask them to look at their files for any other purpose than for which they are being paid to do, which is to provide doctor services.

Mr. Speaker, he’s asking a very general question. I’ve answered already. The primary care clinic consolidation might be requiring the staff to look at their files, but, Mr. Speaker, I can say once again that my preoccupation every day is to see how we can spend our $326 million as well as possible so that we benefit the people on the ground. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 8, written questions. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister responsible for Human Resources.

In regards to the number of positions that were staffed through the use of direct appointment:

1. What was the number of direct appointments

made in each department during this fiscal year to date and fiscal year 2008-2009?

2. What reasons were given for the appointments

being made directly?

3. What was the number of positions that were

vacant up to and/or at the time of the direct appointment in each of these years?

4. What was the number of direct appointments

that were made after the staging of competitive staffing actions in each of these years?

Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Justice.

How many inmates on remand at North Slave Correctional Centre are awaiting professional psychiatric assessments?

Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Item 9, petitions. Item 10, reports of standing and special committees. Item 11, tabling of documents. The honourable Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document titled Today’s Resources, Tomorrow’s Legacy: NWT Heritage Fund Public Consultation, February 2010.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 12, notices of motion. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, March 3, 2010, I will move the following motion: now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that the Government of the Northwest Territories take immediate action to alter the Beverage Container Program by eliminating the collection of the non-refundable handling fee for milk containers and provide a corresponding and suitable level of financial assistance to the Environment Fund, if required, to assist in covering program expenses and improvements to waste reduction and recovery programs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, March 3, 2010, I will move the following motion: now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, that the Government of the Northwest Territories establish assessment services for adults who have FASD; and further, that a multidisciplinary team based on the examples of the Territorial Assessment Team or the Child Development Team at Stanton Territorial Hospital be developed to provide these assessment and diagnostic services in the NWT; and furthermore, that programs and supports for individuals and families living with FASD be enhanced to be available to NWT residents who need these services; and furthermore, that the government provide a response to this motion within 120 days. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Item 13, notices of motion for first reading of bills. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.

Bill 1: An Act To Amend The Veterinary Profession Act
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, March 3, 2010, I will move that Bill 1, An Act to Amend the

Veterinary Profession Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 1: An Act To Amend The Veterinary Profession Act
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.

Bill 2: An Act To Amend The Dental Auxiliaries Act
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

Range Lake

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Minister of Health and Social Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, March 3, 2010, I will move that Bill 2, An Act to Amend the Dental Auxiliaries Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 2: An Act To Amend The Dental Auxiliaries Act
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Lafferty.

Bill 3: Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2010
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

Monfwi

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Minister of Justice

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, March 3, 2010, I will move that Bill 3, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2010, be read for the first time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 3: Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2010
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Bill 4: An Act To Amend The Social Assistance Act
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, March 3, 2010, I will move that Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Social Assistance Act, be read for the first time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 4: An Act To Amend The Social Assistance Act
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.