This is page numbers 5413 - 5452 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 3rd 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. View the webstream of the day's session.

Topics

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Can anybody tell me what the current staff level is at the hospital and how many new positions are being added as a result of this funding? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Minister McLeod.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you. The current staff complement, by my understanding, is 411 staff members in there, and I think, through the process, we are adding an additional 44. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I don't object in principle to this, but I know that I have had at least two tours of the new hospital where I have been told that the new facility would be run with the exact same number of employees as the old one. Can someone explain to me why I was told that on at least two occasions, and then we have this supplementary appropriation in front of us now for an increase of about 10 percent in terms of the staffing at the hospital? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Minister McLeod.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Again, through you, I would like to defer to Minister Abernethy. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Minister Abernethy.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would certainly like to know who told the Member that. I have always been very consistent. I have never said that we are not adding new positions; I have always said that we are not adding new programs. When I have been asked in other situations, I have said that there will definitely be some growth in positions, but we did not add any new programs.

The facility is quite a bit larger than it used to be. We have made it more effective, more efficient, but there are additional complications as a result of the additional floors and the additional space between. We need to make sure that the sightlines are appropriate to ensure safe patient care.

I would be happy to sit down with the Member to figure out who told him that there would be no new positions, but that is not consistent with the messaging that I have given. I have always been consistent that there are no new programs. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Far be it for me to complain about new positions in a facility that is in my riding, but certainly the messaging that I have been giving to my constituents was what I was told, was that the facility would operate with the same number of staff. So I will certainly correct my messaging. I am happy to sit down with the Minister to try to figure out why or who may have passed that information on. I just want it clearly understood now, and I regret if I have misled anybody, that it is going to require more staffing to run the new facility. That is all I have. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Further from committee? Seeing nothing, I will begin to call this activity, which spans two pages, so buckle in. Supplementary Estimates, (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2018-2019, Health and Social Services, administrative and support services, not previously authorized, $2,864,000. Does committee agree?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, committee. Health and Social Services, ambulatory care services, not previously authorized, $2,171,000. Does committee agree?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Health and Social Services, community health programs, not previously authorized, $1,010,000. Does commit agree?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Health and Social Services, diagnostic and therapeutic services, not previously authorized, $175,000. Does committee agree?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Health and Social Services, nursing inpatient services, not previously authorized, $74,000. Does committee agree?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Health and Social Services, supplementary health programs, not previously authorized, $501,000. Does committee agree?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Health and Social Services, total department, $6,795,000. Does committee agree?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.