Debates of Feb. 25th, 2021

This is page numbers 2121 - 2162 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 health.

Topics

Oral Questions
Members Present
Prayer
Importance of Capital Investment in Aging Infrastructure
Supporting NWT Harvesters
Food Security
Incentives to Work
Mental Health Concerns in Small Communities
Fort Smith Regional Airport
Support for the Mineral Resources Industry
50th Anniversary of the Canadian Arctic Resources Committee
Developing the Northwest Territories Remediation Economy
Institutional After-care
Tribute to Nolan Swartzentruber
Incentives to Work
Fort Smith Regional Airport
Mental Health Concerns in Small Communities
Employment Standards Administration and Reporting
Developing the Northwest Territories Remediation Economy
Mineral Resources Industry
Toilet Facilities on Highway No. 1 and Highway No. 3
Aftercare and Supportive Housing
Toilet Facilities on Highway No. 1 and Highway No. 3
A New Day Program
Petition 1-19(2): Returning Fort Smith Regional Airport runway to former specifications
Tabled Document 320-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 4-19(2): Report on the Review of the 2018-2019 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report Tabled Document 321-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 5-19(2): Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories Tabled Document 322-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 559-19(2): FASD Support Services in NWT Correctional Facilities
Tabled Document 323-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 502-19(2): Seniors Housing Tabled Document 324-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 538-19(2): Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Safe and Secure Housing
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Orders Of The Day

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Member. Minister.

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Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. There is a Tlicho cultural coordinator who is listed in the same area, but to the best of my knowledge, there is not a separate coordinator for each Indigenous language. I'll just confirm that by asking the deputy minister if that, in fact, is the case. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Deputy Minister.

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Cooper

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, indeed. We do not have a corresponding category for Indigenous translation. We track French-language services in this way because it is linked to some of our federal funding. We get funding that offsets some of these expenditures. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you. Member.

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Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Would interpretation for any Indigenous languages also be found in this budget, and what line item would it fall under? Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you. Minister.

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Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll ask the deputy minister to answer that question. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Deputy Minister.

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Cooper

Translation services for Indigenous languages are integrated in our health system, so you'll find it in our hospital services budget line.

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you. Member.

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February 25th, 2021

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Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Since we're not in the hospital services section, I'll come back to that one when we get to the appropriate place, then. My next question is in regard to the Health and Social Services Authorities funding. I'm wondering if this is the appropriate place to ask about the deficit for the NTHSSA. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you. Minister.

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Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don't believe that this is the right area. I think that this doesn't represent the entire grant to the health authorities, but I'll ask Ms. Mathison if she can tell us more particularly what portion of their budget this figure represents. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you. Ms. Mathison.

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Mathison

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, the funding for the health authorities is distributed throughout all the activities, so pieces of their deficit would be showing up in various activities. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you. Member.

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Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I can either ask here or I can wait and ask my questions where the big chunk of the deficit sits, which is in Health and Social Services programs, so at your call, Mr. Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Wait until the later. Wait until the deficit area. Any further questions?

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Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

No.

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Questions? Member for Great Slave.

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Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm just wondering, I look at page 175, the active positions, and just note that all of them are in headquarters here in Yellowknife. I'm just curious if the Minister can speak a bit to whether or not there is any opportunity to move any of these positions outside of the capital and put some of this employment into our smaller communities. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Member. Minister.

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Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. These 82 positions in administration are out of a total workforce of over 1,800 people between the department and the health authorities, all of whom are represented in this budget. The department exists primarily here in Yellowknife, and then, of course, the health authorities are the front-line delivery for the programs. They exist in every community. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Member.