This is page numbers 845 - 886 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 services.

Topics

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. Let me just find it here. The community clinics and health centres, this funding is for primary care services, which is considered the first level of contact for individuals within the health system. These are going towards the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority; also, some of the other hospitals, the Stanton hospital. Yes, they are going to regional health authorities. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Thebacha.

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Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Thank you, Madam Chair. Then there's a line there, hospital services, for $134,607,000. There's an increase in there of about $14 million. That would be the two designated hospitals, which is Inuvik and Stanton. Am I correct, Madam Chair? Just wanted clarification.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will ask Ms. Mathison to respond back to that. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Mathison.

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Mathison

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, the hospital services line does include Stanton, Hay River, and Inuvik hospitals. The line that's called community clinics and health centres, that includes all the health centres across NWT, including also physician clinics and public health clinics.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Ms. Mathison. Member for Thebacha.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

I need more clarification, Madam Chair, for the $134,607,000. That includes the Hay River, considered a hospital, the Inuvik hospital, and Stanton, and then I want to see the breakdown. I would like clarification on the breakdown.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

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Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. Hospital services includes our UNW collective agreement increases and also some of the supplies. Sorry, maybe I'll ask Ms. Mathison if she can help me here. I'm not finding it on the page. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Mathison.

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Mathison

Sure. Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, hospitals services includes Hay River, Inuvik, and Stanton. I don't have the breakout as to how much goes to each authority with me, but the increases in that area are mostly related to collective agreement impacts for the new collective agreement that was settled within the past two years. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Ms. Mathison. Member for Thebacha.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Thank you, Madam Chair. You have page 171 in front of us, and I am being told that I can't get clarification on where the money is going? That, to me, is very unacceptable, but I will keep on with my statement. What I am trying to point out is the disparity between health centres and community clinics compared to three designations and possibly only one designation with Stanton. I would like to see how much is spent south of the lake at the hospital designated there. I would like to make comparisons. That's the way, usually, budgets are done. Obviously, I am being told that the numbers are not here. I think that I would like that clarification as soon as possible, because I think there are a lot of disparities in this whole COVID-19 situation that we are in. A lot of procedures were lost at some health centres just before the pandemic hit. I think that it is extremely important that we, as MLAs in this Assembly, understand that a lot has to be improved to ensure that the communities and the regional centres are also looked after to our very best of our ability. Considering that I can't even get breakdowns of figures that are put in here is unacceptable. Again, I am going to ask you the question. I would like to know, with the $134,607,000, how much is being spent at Stanton, how much is being spent at the Inuvik hospital, and I want to know how much is being spent at the Hay River hospital.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

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Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will look to Mr. Cooper to see if we have that number for the breakdown. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Cooper.

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Cooper

Thank you, Madam Chair. We will certainly get that information. The reason it is not part of the package is that there is a process. After we go through the departmental budget, this money then gets dispersed to the authorities, and they have their own budget process that we participate in approval. We certainly will get that information and make it available to the MLA.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Mr. Cooper. Member for Thebacha.

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Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Thank you, Madam Chair. Let's go back to the $73,936,000 for all of the community clinics and health centres. I would like a breakdown of all of communities and how much each community gets and the health centres and how many they're allocated. That is part of my question. There is too much disparity here, and I am concerned about healthcare access by all members of the Northwest Territories equally, especially in the communities. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

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Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. When we're looking at the budgets, the majority of the budget goes to authorities. Like Ms. Mathison and Deputy Minister Cooper have mentioned, once we do the breakdown, then they have their own separate budgets. This is something that we could look to the authorities to get more detail. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Thebacha.

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Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Madam Chair, I think I am making myself very clear. I am not saying I want a breakdown of every little item that goes to -- I just want to know the exact amounts that are being allocated, okay, for each community, each health centre, and all the hospitals.