Just in order of questions the way the Member raised it. On chronic disease management, which includes diabetes support, the Member asked if we were spending more money in the Sahtu. I answer that we’re not spending more money, but that is not to say we’re not doing the work, because that is part of our core business. The nurses and health care workers in our communities are equipped to help our people with managing chronic diseases, and diabetes is one of them. We use technology, if necessary, to support that. I am aware, in all of my travels in the Sahtu communities, that they have men clinic, women clinic, baby clinic, and then diabetes clinic. Those
are all within the mandate of our health care professionals to do that every day. Diabetes management and chronic disease management is part of our Foundation for Change action plan. It is our priority.
The second thing is midwifery. We’ve had this discussion last week. We are working on a territory-wide strategy. I strongly support expansion of midwifery in communities. I think there is a strong case to be made to expand it to regional centres like Norman Wells, Fort Simpson, Hay River and Inuvik. I think we need to look at a less medical-oriented model. The one we are practicing right now is heavily doctor centred, to use a layperson’s language. We want to look at what Nunavut is doing, which is to use more traditional midwives. We have begun our work. With the opening of a new health centre and wellness centre in Norman Wells, I think there is an opportunity for us to look at the long-term view of working on a Midwifery Program for the Sahtu region. It will take careful planning and investment in resources. We need to train and find interested women who would be interested in doing that. It is something that I strongly believe in, especially for communities where there is just not a lot of help for pre- and post-natal support for mothers and babies.
The department is not engaged in thinking and talking about a super board. I realize that this topic has come up. We are reviewing the governance model. We will be talking to the committee on how to go forward from there. I can tell you, from working with the Joint Leadership Council and working with the chairs, we are working more toward how to work together as one unit. We come as two PAs and the health authority chairs, but we have worked really hard over the last year to work as one unit, work with each other, support each other and understand deeply that changes we make in one area and one authority and one region affects everybody else and we need to work together in making the changes for the benefit of the whole.
Residential school programming. I appreciate the Member’s comments on that. It is something that our department is involved in many ways, because our mental health and addictions programs and other aspects of programs that we deliver are directly or indirectly related to the impact of residential school. The huge summit that’s going to happen in Inuvik we are involved in working with the local communities to support the people that will be attending that residential school gathering, which will be a national gathering. I’m also aware that although it was slow in getting started, the federal program that’s available to support residential survivors is gaining ground. I was in Inuvik and talking to some of the Gwich’in leaders who are supporting residential school survivors. I think there is less intake than there should be. Even
the Dene Nation leadership and other Aboriginal leaders have said that people are taking up that program more and more. I would encourage everybody to tap into that federal program. Obviously I am in regular contact with my federal counterpart and I’d be happy to advocate, and I do, on issues that are important and that the Member has raised.