Thank you, Madam Chair. There’s one central operation for blood services. They circulate it. They create the products. It’s a high-tech, highly specialized, very carefully controlled process. One of the reasons being, as I’ve indicated in some previous answers, were the concerns about infection and the Krever inquiry. We’re part of the Canadian Blood Services Board and we sit at the table with the other provinces and territories and the federal government, and we buy from a central location where these highly specialized products are made.

Thanks to the Minister for explaining it to me.

I want to move on to the notion that at one time the operation of all the health boards was talked about. I think what the Minister said, if I understand it, is that they’re having some discussions to see if we would look at how do we all work together to cut some costs where it seems logical and beneficial if those cuts mean that we’re going to get more programs in our communities and regions. It is a delicate issue and it means people’s jobs, it means family, it means a lot of things. So if there’s a step or process that Cabinet has already looked at and the Minister has designed some type of strategy to see if this could pass through the Assembly, I think I’m all up for how we work this out. How can we help you make those difficult decisions? But you need to include us in that process. I know the last time it happened, I had some, I don’t know what you call it, from my constituents. They weren’t very happy. Something never went right there for us. So we’re willing to look at it again because we have to stop the leak of these deficits. Somewhere we have to stop the leak on our health board authorities. They do the best job they can. Like I said, we need to be funding our authorities and hospitals properly. That’s a lot of pressure on this government and ourselves.

Just looking at the sheet here, there’s money in here for costs to contain and remediate mould and air handling units on the fourth floor of Stanton Territorial Hospital. That’s dangerous. There’s mould there. In the air handling units on the fourth floor. We need to contain and remediate. It’s almost shock and awe. You’re going to look at that there. Those things I support, because there’s also mould in some other people’s houses in the Northwest Territories. I hope we have that kind of money for units, public and private.

I made some visits to the communities and there are people who live in the houses that have mould there. I don’t see any extraordinary funding to go to helping those people. I can see it for the hospital.

We send a lot of people there from the Sahtu and other communities. More importantly, we have staff people working there day in and day out. I’m surprised nobody has come before us for any type of lawsuit with those types of conditions. That’s crazy. That I can see, I can justify that cost. It makes sense. Even for the sterilization of equipment in the central supply processing unit there’s money there. Those kinds of costs I understand and can justify.

Not looking to spend too much time on this, Madam Chair. I just wanted to raise those concerns. When I see contain and remediate mould in the hospital, what’s going on there? There are many other things that are not told to us. We don’t know; they’re not on the record. With our health facilities in the communities, mould in our houses in the communities, I don’t see any extraordinary funding to help fix it and to remediate it.

I’m going to leave it there. It’s been a long day. I think I’ve said enough already to the Minister. I think he’s got the gist of what we’re talking about. That’s the end of my comments.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Madam Chair. This is not a board reform. We’re talking about reforming governance essentially in the way that the authorities are governing their various authorities, the way we’re governing the hospitals and health centres and so on. Even though this is governance reform, there will still be a requirement for a lot of consultation and that’s what we’re proposing. We’re not proposing to do any board reform at this time, or there’s no plan to do any board reform in the future either, for that matter.

The concern with the mould remediation was raised because the mould was between the air handling units located on the fourth floor of the hospital. There was an issue raised of possible infiltration into the entire hospital. The mould remediation was done with the Department of Public Works and Services and the remediation followed the Canadian Standards Association. We have a standard to remediate mould. The Member is right; there is a potential liability had the mould become airborne. I think that was avoided when the mould was remediated.

Just to close off, I’m glad the Minister clarified that it’s not a board reform initiative. I’m very happy that he clarified it. We’re looking at governance. The same comment to the Minister and Cabinet colleagues is working with us on governance issues and how do we deal with it. It’s important because the money is not going to be there all the time, so we need to do what we have to do with the money that we have.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Next on the list I have Mr. Moses.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just a really quick question on a comment made by the Minister of Health and Social Services earlier in regard to the joint replacement surgeries. That was the one that has been on hold and we’ve had questions in this House about it in the past. With the funding being contributed to the repairs and modifications to the sterilization steam equipment and central supply reprocessing unit, does the Minister foresee any further delays in these surgeries or does he still feel that we’re comfortable and going to start performing them come April?

Thank you, Mr. Moses. Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Madam Chair. On August 15th of last year the operating room

where there was an issue was resumed to capacity. However, the aging equipment continues to present challenges to maintain consistent pH levels and the optimum sterilization results. So we’re not anticipating that there will be further issues, but given the age of the hospital and the operating room itself, it is possible. At this time, like I said, we’re operating at full capacity and it should be okay. I can’t make a prediction on that, Madam Chair.

Okay, thank you. Nothing further? Department of Health and Social Services, operations expenditures, health services programs, not previously authorized, $4.790 million.

Agreed, thank you. Community health programs, not previously authorized, $2.126 million.

Total department, Health and Social Services, not previously authorized, $8.887 million.

What’s the wish of committee? We’re nearing our adjournment time of 6:00. Don’t want to rush through things that you might regret and ask questions about tomorrow. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Madam Chair. After extensive and diligent review of the government’s books, I’d like to move that we report progress.

---Carried

I will now rise and report progress. I’d like to thank the Minister and his witnesses for their attendance here today.

Report of Committee of the Whole, Mrs Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee has been considering Tabled Document 3-17(2), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2011-2012, and would like to report progress. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The motion is in order. To the motion. Is there a seconder to the motion? Mr. Nadli.

---Carried

Item 22, third reading of bills. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The motion is in order. To the motion.