Bob Bromley

I think this is a big topic, but there’s obviously a very rich area for ongoing work here and I think I’m going to leave it at that rather than drill down into this, and I’m sure we’ll be visiting in committee about this further. I will leave it at that. That’s all I have on this page.

What I’m hearing is the review was completed, as stated on page 14, and in actual fact what is coming due in August this year is the clinical services plan, which takes off from the results of the review and addresses it, and that would be brought before committee. Am I correct there?

Thank you, Madam Chair. Certainly, and I think the Minister would agree with this, this means we are shouldering more and more of the costs because of this differential in real inflation rate versus what we are compensated for by the Government of Canada. I guess, at some point, I would be interested maybe in seeing the Minister provide a briefing on this and what the costs are. Just so I’m not so awkward next time, is there a name for this program and could it be shared? Thank you.

Really, that’s it. I can see that if we do care for our patients better, hopefully there will be some preventative aspects and the long-term costs will give us some savings as well. I will leave it at that. That’s all I have for this page.

Thank you, Madam Chair. There was a federal Health Transfer Fund and I don’t know whether it has to do with supplementary health programs or not, but the annual increase to the transfer was 2 percent. As the Minister knows, our health costs are going up about 7 or 8 percent. Does the Minister know what I’m talking about here?

I think the Minister said we can’t just stop the program when this ends. We have to fund it. How much of the funding, the THSSI funds are being used to fund core programs?

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just on hospital services, it seems like we’re really towing the line, and maybe even decreasing the budgets over time, for hospital services. Obviously, I think we are providing more services, the more medical procedures and so on.

I’m particularly concerned at Stanton where, as the years go by, we realize how poorly designed the hospital is for modern health care delivery in a hospital situation, how bad that is. So I can’t believe that we’re really delivering better care with this stagnant or declining budget. I’m sure we are gaining some efficiencies. Can I have the...

Thanks to the Minister. The Minister had some great ideas there. It shows the value of consulting with the artist, which I very much appreciate.

Concerns were also expressed that such an arrangement would create competition with art retailers, and I supported checking with businesses to see if they had a problem with this art display opportunity. Clearly, the government would not be selling the art.

In his early effort to develop the policy, has the Minister consulted with our business organizations to solicit their feedback and learn whether this would be a good promotion or a problem for them...

I see the $152 million, so in terms of fees and payments, the $35 million and the program delivery details, $198 million. So all the travel by the authorities would be within the grants and contributions. That seems strange, but I just want to get that clear. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are in follow-up to my Member’s statement earlier today and are addressed to the Minister of Public Works and Services. In May I raised the idea of providing space in GNWT buildings for the display of artist products supported with government policy. The Minister said he thought this was a great idea and that he would work with his colleagues and have conversations with some of the local artist organizations to gather their input. Could the Minister inform us of his progress on that work?