Thank you, Madam Chair. I am here to present the 2022-2023 Main Estimates for the Department of Health and Social Services. Overall, the Department's estimates propose a decrease of $2 million, or 0.3 percent, over the 2021-2022 Main Estimates. These estimates support the mandate objectives for the Department of Health and Social Services while continuing to meet the GNWT's fiscal objectives to prioritize responsible and strategic spending.
Highlights of these proposed estimates include:
- $1.55 million for initiatives, including resources to expand Healthy Family Programming as well as an allocation to continue the implementation of the territorial cancer care program;
- $2.08 million to address Forced Growth; and,.
- $26.3 million for other adjustments, the most significant being collective agreement increases and funding agreements with our federal partners offset by a $485,000 reduction to our travel budget.
The department anticipates a $32.14 million decrease in the budget because of the wind up of the COVID Secretariat. The rest of the decrease is a result of sunsetting agreements with funding partners, and 2021-2022 one-time budget allocations.
We continue to focus on our mandate and the priorities of the 19th Legislative Assembly by:
- Increasing supports for meeting health and wellness needs and priorities of Indigenous people in the NWT;
- Improving access to home and community care services in all NWT communities and ensuring services are provided in a culturally-safe manner to improve independence and quality of life;
- Increasing supports for mental wellness and addictions recovery;
- Improving early childhood development indicators through the renewal and expansion of the Healthy Family Program to support expecting parents and those with young children;
- Enhancing culturally-safe relationship-based care through primary healthcare reform initiatives;
- Engaging Indigenous governments regarding the implementation of federal legislation respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis children, youth and families;
- Increasing attention to initiatives that improve the sustainability of the health and social services system; and finally
- Increasing the stability and representation of the workforce by identifying labour force needs along with recruitment and retention strategies.
That concludes my opening remarks. Thank you, Madam Chair.