This is page numbers 887 - 916 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 going.

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. We are hoping that our plan will identify areas where we are under-funding and areas that we can improve. The plan is not to not provide adequate services. That is never going to be our intent. You look at the COVID virus right now, and some of the ways that our department is increasing efficiencies. We're doing healthcare through virtual care. We're doing it through telehealth. There are areas for improvement where we can reduce some of the budget. This is something that our department will look at as a result of COVID-19 and how we have cost-saved. Right now, we are going to the federal government on everything; whatever is related to COVID in our department, we are getting federal funding for. I'm not saying our budget is going to decrease next year, but it's just ways where we're trying to find efficiencies. This is just one of many ways that we can look at. 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 Julie Green

Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.

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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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair, and thanks to the Minister for that. Can the Minister tell us when this plan is going to be ready and if it can be shared with MLAs even in a draft form? Thanks, 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 Julie Green

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister.

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. Sorry, can I ask what he wants shared?

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 Julie Green

The Member asked if you could speak to the timing of the plan being completed and whether it would be shared with Regular MLAs.

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. I'm going to look to Deputy Minister Cooper as I don't have the exact dates other than we want the authorities to come back with us. Maybe he can speak to a specific timeline so that we can come back to AOC. 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 Julie Green

Thank you, Minister. Deputy Minister.

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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Cooper

Thank you, Madam Chair. Our plan is to have a first deficit recovery plan in tandem with the authority by fall 2020. We had originally hoped that this would be done, we'd have some options in place for the end of March. Of course, things changed radically in the last little while. We needed to be realistic, given the intense focus at the NTHSSA on COVID. We need to have a plan that cannot have the focus on a potential wave two diluted. We are hoping that fall 2020 will be realistic for us, and it will absolutely follow normal protocols for engagement.

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 Julie Green

Thank you, Deputy Minister. Member for Frame Lake.

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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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. I appreciate the words of the Deputy Minister and the Minister. I often don't say "thank you," so thank you for your hard work.

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 Julie Green

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Are there any other questions on this page, funding allocated to health and social services authorities? Member for Thebacha.

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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Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

I just want to ask a couple of questions on page 185. The $295 million, I would like the allocations in detail. You don't have to give it to me today, but I would like to do that. There are a couple of things that I am concerned about with some of the answers from the Minister, and that is going back to the communities and regional health authorities to try and cut budgets. I do not agree with that, especially in the situation that we are in. We should be adding. There are a lot of things that have been taken away from regional healthcare facilities that are not okay. Once I get all these figures together that I have been promised yesterday and today, I will be using my time during the Members' statements to make my case very clear. On the positive side, because I did say some positive things today, we are very lucky to be living in the Northwest Territories. Not only at the local healthcare system and the Stanton one, and also with my recent illness with Cross Cancer, the care that I got, you can only get in Canada. It was incredible, and the people on the front-line are there to make sure that we are served properly. It's easy to sit here, and it's hard to criticize. Sometimes, we have to give those bouquets to the people who really count. The care that we get is exceptional. I want to thank all those who worked the front lines because they are special people. With that, 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 Julie Green

Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister, where can the Member find the detail of the MTHSSA budget?

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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. We will request the authorities to provide us detailed budgets, and then we will share that with the Member. 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 Julie Green

Thank you, Minister. Further questions on this area? Member for Hay River South.

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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Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just a question on page 185 with respect to Hay River Health and Social Services Authority. We see an increase of $1.542 million. Can you give me an explanation on that? 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

May 29th, 2020

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The Chair

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister.

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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 am looking at my paper, and it says that it is from other revenues. I am just going to get clarification from Ms. Mathison. 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 Julie Green

Thank you, Minister. Director of finance.

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Mathison

Thank you, Madam Chair. The bulk of that is for the increase in the collective agreement that was newly negotiated. 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 Julie Green

Thank you. Member for Hay River South.

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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Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

No further questions. 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 Julie Green

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Are there any further questions? I see the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes would like to have a second round. Let's give it to her because it's Friday.

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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Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

I am just going to ask these two questions, just in regard to the budget. Can the Minister provide figures on paid overtime just so we can get a picture of what we pay in overtime in the health authority for 2018-2019, if we don't have the calculations from 2019-2020? Thank you.