This is page numbers 659 - 708 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd 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 community.

Topics

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. Since the program and the service has just been available to us since November, we have had I don't want to say staffing issues, but it's a very unique education that you need to fill these positions. There is just a limited number of people who come forward with this expertise. Looking at training, as well, I did emphasize that, as well, that we do have the centre available, and we would be open for training. It's very specific, and the level of training required is very different. That style of training is not available in the North, but I will have Ms. Young elaborate on the response. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Young.

Young

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just a couple of things to add to the Minister's comments in terms of what we've observed. Obviously, the question of staffing, the staffing was identified based on what we assumed would be typical call volumes, so we have to measure what we're actually receiving against the model that was used to predict the number of staff and see if we are adequately staffing. We have had things come up like staff requesting parental leave, which, of course, when you design a staff model, you're not anticipating somebody being away for a long period of time, so how to cover that kind of situation.

It was designed in a way to meet national accreditation standards, so there have been some growing pains in just how calls are received and communicated to dispatch centres in communities. We are working through those with a number of communities. In some cases, communities have hired some additional support; in other cases, we're working with the community to try to go through and iron out exactly what the issues are and resolve those. I am working quite closely, for example, with the City of Yellowknife on some issues that they have identified and trying to work through what's causing the issue and then what the resolution to that issue is. We will be doing a report every year within 90 days of the end of the fiscal year, so I am looking forward to seeing the first report and some of the numbers and the analysis about how many calls we're getting, how much time our staff are putting in to be able to really get a better handle on: is it the right amount of staff? Are we getting the right expertise? Are there any other issues coming up? Those are the initial things that we have noticed. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Ms. Young. Member for Kam Lake.

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Earlier, you gave some fabulous stats to my colleague in regard to trends in calls, specific to how many were fire, ambulance, and police. I am wondering if you also track data in regard to what type of calls, specifically: are they domestic violence? Are they car accidents? Are they suicide-related? I'm wondering if you're tracking trends in data related to that type of information. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, we are. It's a new program. It's a new rollout. There is a lot of information that is out there, but just looking to see what identifies this program and what comes with it, yes, we do identify those different types of calls. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Kam Lake.

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am wondering what the Minister does with this data, and do they share it with Health and Social Services? Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. This data determines how we are going to roll out the program and what we need to improve. We do share the information with the department of health. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Kam Lake.

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. You mentioned national accreditation, and I'm wondering if the department audits the calls that they have through 911 and, with the auditing, what specifically they look at. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. Looking at asking about an audit, the program has only existed since November. It hasn't been a year yet, but looking at the types of calls that we have determines the quality and the style of service that we are going to be providing. Going forward, auditing, the program has to be at least alive for a year for us to get those real numbers and those real stats. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Kam Lake.

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. With my final couple minutes here, I would like to switch subject matters, but still under public safety. We had a conversation with EIA in regard to the SPCA and the funding that was given through EIA to the SPCA. Last term, we saw MACA give funding to the SPCA. I am wondering where that piece of the puzzle fits within the GNWT. The SPCA is more than just a place for animals. It has a huge public safety component to it. I know that we have an expectation for community governments to handle that, but we are underfunding community governments. There is nowhere for people to take their pets in a lot of these communities to be spayed or to be vaccinated. One bad dog bite can turn into a hugely expensive medical travel bill. I am wondering where this fits within the GNWT. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. Right now, it has been brought up before, and even during the campaign, that we're looking at the SPCA and who is responsible for the animals. We need to look at and consult with the local communities and see what level of service is provided. Also, this is what the Premier had committed to, as well, too, so our department will be following up and trying to find solutions on how we are going to be working with animals in the SPCA within the communities. I just want to say that because there is no SPCA within the communities, but we need to have some kind of control and service provided at the community level. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will reiterate my colleague's comments that the NWT SPCA does do work in all of the communities. I think, more and more, we're realizing that animal health is just a part of human health, and if you see rabies transmit between species, it can have devastating effects. It's a huge public health thing. I'll just reiterate that. That is the aspect that I find most concerning about the gap.

I wanted to switch. I heard the Minister say that, currently, all calls are being answered in the NWT. My understanding is that there were some dispatch centres, and that may actually be community dispatch centres, or there was talk of us, I believe, hiring Alberta to take over phone calls if medical services can't. Can I just confirm whether that's happening?

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, the Member is correct. We do have Inuvik and Hay River, but these services were established before 911, and we work with them in conjunction, as well. Yes, we work with them. Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Member, for your comment.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Chair. I look forward to seeing this first 911 report. I know that there have been some growing pains, and there are a number of conversations. I was wondering if the report will have a comparison of dispatch times post-911 and pre-911.