Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 13)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just the last item on the page. I see we’re down about half a million bucks for health promotion and prevention activities by the authorities. I guess I’m wondering why the drop there from $715,000 to $221,000 there in this fiscal year. How’d we do with the $715,000 in terms of promotion and prevention activities in ‘12-13 and why the cut there by 70 percent? Thank you.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 13)

I guess I’m disappointed that we’re not identifying new dollars for this year, but I appreciate the Minister’s answer there. I will just mention that the Healthy Families program is what I consider promotion and prevention. It’s the number one program in the promotion and prevention. I know we’re going to be speaking to that throughout the department here, but I want to raise that flag.

I guess my last question. Do we have regional programs? I know in Yellowknife we have a number of homes for people who require supportive living. It’s almost independent supported living, but often in groups. I...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 13)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess I just want to start by saying I support my colleagues on this demand for midwifery service now in Hay River. I recognize that we could do public consultation on this, but I don’t see any conflict with getting something going now. I am surprised by the Minister’s question about why are we pushing this. I wish he’d had time to go out and speak to the young ladies, young families, moms and dads and kids that were walking outside the building here a couple days ago. The demand is there. People want it and they want it now.

We have had programs. We’ve cut back on our...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 13)

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.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 13)

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?

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 13)

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.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 13)

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.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 13)

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?

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 13)

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?

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 13)

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...