This is page numbers 6419 – 6480 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 public.

Topics

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

First and foremost we should be working with the residents of Fort Liard and Nahanni Butte to restore their confidence in the health care system. We are moving forward to make significant changes in how we provide services. I did have an opportunity to visit Fort Liard and Nahanni Butte and I have been working closely with the public administrator and CEO, trying to find ways to restore that confidence.

If somebody is sick, they should use the health centre. But as a resident of Canada, they do have the right to go wherever they chose and we do have reciprocal billing agreements.

Our challenge isn’t with our ability to ensure that those medically necessary services are paid for, because we have agreements in place. Our challenge is if an individual chooses, under their own choice, to go to, say, Fort Nelson for a doctor’s appointment and then that doctor in turn refers that person to home care or some other diagnostic process, they will often refer within their own system for which we don’t have reciprocal billing agreements. If somebody wants to receive home care and it’s ordered in BC but they want it delivered in Fort Providence, we actually have no records of that order actually taking place, which is, I think, the point the Member is trying to get to.

We need to make an arrangement with BC. But before we do that, we’re actually working on refreshing our agreements with Alberta and Nunavut and that’s going to help inform the discussions with BC, should we choose to go in that direction.

I’ve asked the department to complete a bit of a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether it’s actually going to be feasible to establish this specific service agreement for residents of the Deh Cho between the NWT and BC and that will also help inform the discussions. But in the meantime, somebody who wishes to go to BC will not be billed for medically necessary services.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

I think the Minister touched briefly about one of the core issues. The core issue is that they’re being turned away from the health centres; they are being given aspirins and they don’t have the confidence to say… In fact, in a couple of cases – the Minister was there – we heard residents just say, “Okay, fine. I’ve got a sick child. I’m going to Fort Nelson to get my sick child’s needs taken care of.” That shouldn’t be, Mr. Speaker. Our health care system should pay attention to all of our constituents who are out there, take care of their needs, identify what exactly is the problem and that’s what I’m getting at. I’m talking about that they should be getting referred over to Fort Nelson for quicker attention and for their health needs. Thank you.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, I did visit Fort Liard and Nahanni Butte with the Member and we did actually have this conversation and we want to have the best health care possible here in the Northwest Territories. We want to make sure that when an individual goes into that Fort Liard Health Centre, they’re getting proper treatment and diagnosis and referral as appropriate. Currently, it’s a referral within the Northwest Territories or to Alberta, and as I indicated, we’re going to finish our work with Alberta and Nunavut which will help inform future discussions with BC.

But, Mr. Speaker, in the meantime, when we were in Fort Liard and Nahanni Butte, I asked those residents who were expressing their concerns to work with us. We have a quality assurance professional in each of the authorities who can help us make improvements within the local delivery systems and address those concerns that have been raised.

I strongly encourage residents who are having issues to please get in touch with the quality assurance staff in the Dehcho authority so we can look into the issues that the residents are bringing forth so we can fix them and work with the communities to restore the confidence in the system.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The residents, when I go there, speak loud and clear. In Slavey they say...[English translation not provided.]…and also they say…[English translation not provided.]…which means they’re not helping us and they’re not caring about us. That’s why they go into Fort Nelson.

If I can ask the Minister one last question, Mr. Speaker, can our health care care for these people in the smaller communities? There’s got to be a core issue there. Can we find out what that is? Mahsi.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

All health and social services are available to all residents of the Northwest Territories. They don’t always occur in the community where somebody lives, but we have mechanisms to bring people to care or provide care by individuals coming in from time to time. We can meet the needs of our residents.

I recognize there are some challenges, but I would once again say, work with us. Get the Members who are having their concerns talk to the quality assurance so that we can investigate the individual issues to identify the root causes for some of these problems and work with the communities.

I’m committed to working with the communities to help restore confidence and bring back some confidence in the system for those communities where they’re struggling. I’ve made that commitment in Fort Liard. I made that commitment in Nahanni Butte. I’ve made the commitment to the Member. I’ve talked to the public administrator. We all want what’s best for the people of the Northwest Territories. We want best health, best care, for the best future here.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Mr. Blake.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

In follow-up to my Member’s statement, I have a few questions for the Minister of Justice. I’d like to ask the Minister, what is the holdup on having the RCMP spend the weekend in the community of Tsiigehtchic?

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Blake. The Minister of Justice, Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Initially, there were some concerns about the accommodation. I am happy to say today in the House that we have worked with the NWT Housing Corporation. We’re in the process of installing a two-bedroom portable unit that will allow the RCMP to use it overnight for accommodations for its members who are on patrol in the community of Tsiigehtchic. We expect the installation to be complete and members able to overnight in the community this coming fall.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

By the fall, I believe, is too late because by then we’ll have freeze-up. Just this week the ferry just went in in the community.

Why can’t we have this portable trailer in the community starting this summer?

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

We will do our best to ensure that that accommodation unit is in Tsiigehtchic at the earliest possible time. We’re looking at the fall. But if we can speed that up, we will do that. The RCMP made 21 patrols to Tsiigehtchic between January 1, 2015, and the end of April, and there were 14 calls for service in the community during that time.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

We also have issues of nursing, and the department has been working with the community. Every fall and spring they send a nurse into the community to spend – whether it’s breakup or freeze-up – with the community.

Will the Minister work with that department to set up some sort of arrangement like that?

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

We can certainly have that discussion with the Department of Health and Social Services on coordinating times those services are provided in the community.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the press release issued recently by Northland Utilities, it identifies a number of government policies as a reason for the rate disparities in communities, particularly in Hay River and Fort Smith. It also states its willingness to meet with this government, NTPC and First Nation groups to discuss and fix these policies. Is the Premier prepared to do this?

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course, we’re always prepared to meet with anybody who wants to meet with us.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Can the Premier explain why NTPC has been knowingly overcharging customers in Hay River power since 2008, and actually, looking at the records, overcharging them roughly $6 million in the last six years alone? Can the Premier explain that?

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

I’m not sure where he’s getting his numbers from but my understanding is it’s only a difference of one or two cents.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Everything is public record. The Minister of NTPC and the Premier have said many times during the session that the government has no intention to expropriate Northland Utilities from the NWT. It’s hard for me to believe that when this government has introduced government policy after government policy and has penalized Northland Utilities’ customers just because of who serves them. For example, when this government eliminated community-based rates and moved to seven rate zones in 2010, this government allowed NTPC to inappropriately transfer $4 million of its costs to Northland Utilities’ customers without any cause or reason.

Is the Premier ready to accept responsibility for Northland Utilities’ customers who are being overcharged on their power bills?

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

I’m not aware of these numbers that the Member is putting forward. I don’t know who’s feeding him this information, but if he sends it to us we will deal with it.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Dolynny.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, public record. A number of government policies obviously exist to penalize Northland Utilities’ customers throughout the NWT. There seems to be very little action on the part of this government to do anything to fix these NTPC overcharges and disparities, given its recent directive to the PUB to not allow these disparities to be corrected.

Will this Premier meet with Northland Utilities and First Nation groups before the territorial election in November to speak about these specific policies and to work together to address them?

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

All of the rates that are approved have to go through the PUB process.