Lesa Semmler on Question 1131-20(1): Spending on Contract and Agency Healthcare Staff

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I stated that the reliance on agency nurses is declining in the Northwest Territories as we are strengthening the way that we are recruiting and the type of -- you know, we're recruiting half-time positions and job shares and we're looking at different ways to meet the needs of the workforce today. So that is one of the most important pieces is that we're not solely reliant on filling a lot of the needs. There's a lot of misunderstanding because there are casual term nurses that do come into the system but they are paid under the collective agreement the same as all the other nurses that are on the floor. And those are to ensure that we -- you know, we have enough staff to be able to take care of the residents when they're in our hospitals and our facilities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.