This is page numbers 6259 – 6290 of the Hansard for the 17th 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 work.

Topics

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Minister Abernethy. Ms. Bisaro.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair, and thanks to the Ministers for that info. The other item here that I have questions about is the health centre in Norman Wells. It’s a large amount of money, almost $15 million. It suggests that that project wasn’t even started. Could I get an explanation as to why we are carrying over such a large amount?

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Minister Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There were discussions and negotiations with the contractor that extended farther than was anticipated, which precluded us from taking advantage of the previous season. Hence, it’s all been sorted out and everything is operational now, but hence the requirement for the carry-over. Thank you.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thanks. Just one last question. So, is this carry-over going to have an impact on the intended opening date for this facility? Thank you.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

No, we are still going to hit the schedule as laid out. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Next on the list I have Mr. Dolynny.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’d like to talk about the line entry for the $4.687 million that was lapsed under the title or descriptor called medical equipment - various. If I can get an explanation as to what that is. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Mr. Kalgutkar.

Kalgutkar

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That was some diagnostic imaging equipment that the department had planned to purchase during the fiscal year. They had some delays in starting the RFP process and are now requesting that funding be carried over into this fiscal year to enable the department to purchase that equipment. Some of the equipment that they’re purchasing is a mobile radiographic unit for the Stanton Hospital, for the Inuvik Hospital and for the Hay River Health Centre; general-purpose radiographic unit for the Stanton Hospital, the Hay River Health Centre and the Fort Smith Health Centre; CT scanner for Stanton and the portable radiographic unit for some of the various health care facilities within the Territories. If

you add this carry-over to the current existing budget that the department has of $3.25 million, it should provide them with the funding needed to complete their medical equipment plan for this fiscal year. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Kalgutkar. Mr. Dolynny.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess to the question, does any of this carry-over or lapsed funding… Is there anything attributable to the electronic system, which we’ve heard has had significant project challenges in the last year or so? Does that have anything to attribute to this number? Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Deputy Minister Aumond.

Aumond

Thank you, Mr. Chair. No, not that I’m aware of.

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, deputy minister. Mr. Dolynny.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you. With that, I’ll go a couple lines down and I will speak to the line that is indeed called electronic medical records, EMR various, for $2.496 million. Again to my earlier question, we knew that there have been a number of project challenges, changes of the vendor system that I believe was acquired by Telehealth, delays with contract negotiations and vendor negotiations.

So, to the question, this has been something that I’ve been tracking for a number of budget cycles here in terms of the total dollars spent, total dollars lapsed, and if you start adding up the numbers, it is actually quite confusing. Some of these monies were federal monies that we had at the beginning and some of them were lapsed over multiple years.

I guess to the question, this $2.496 million that has lapsed, is this the final completion stage of the so-called original budget of the EMR process? Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Deputy Minister Aumond.

Aumond

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, the Member is correct.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you. If that is indeed the case, then I guess as a member of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and as a Member of this House, would we be able to get a final cost accounting? I believe this is over at least five or six years for the department. Could we also get a full cost accounting of all the federal monies involved just so we can get a complete financial picture of what EMR cost the taxpayers? Thank you.

Aumond

Yes, I think that information was provided to committee earlier this morning. Thank you.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

No, I appreciate it. I haven’t had a chance to read it, if it has indeed been given. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Committee, we’re on administrative and supportive services, not previously authorized, $33.139 million.

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you. Total department, not previously authorized, $33.139 million.

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.