Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee has been considering Tabled Document 188-17(5), NWT Main Estimates 2015-2016, and would like to report progress. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to thank the many fine folks we have working for our public service who have dedicated many hours of effort to bring forth our last budget of the 17th Legislative Assembly. Your hard work is definitely a reflection of the polished product we have before the House and it is important that this House respects this. So, thank you from all of us from the Assembly.

Sometimes we forget, and it is worth noting, the budget is not just an expression of numbers but an expression of our values and unique culture, a culture that everyone in this room cherishes and holds true...

With that last question, if we are going to be implementing something of that magnitude, I would assume that there’s going to be some program dollars associated with it. Looking at this activity as being the guiding directorate for this activity, I don’t see much in terms of allowances for this new program to roll out, that it would go through the proper performance-based management assessment, putting all the risk matrix, everything that has to go with a program rollout of this magnitude.

Can the Minister indicate to me where he will be seeking these funds in order to create this new program...

One year later and it’s still not concluded, as we’re hearing from the Minister. We know our first point of contact folks such as nurses, physicians, mental health and addiction counsellors, social service workers, child protection workers and RCMP require ongoing training with withdrawal management best practices, harm reduction and the use of a full range of assessment tools, not just awareness from what we heard today.

Can the Minister affirm that this is indeed in place?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I didn’t realize that that was going to be such a complicated question to respond to and I do appreciate the information forthcoming from the department.

I believe we have some coordinators out there dedicated to occupational health and safety. I also believe we have a lot of coordinators out there that run this on the corner of their desk. That is not their entire positon. I think we’re doing a disservice if we are not giving that proper consideration. So I will be asking the Minister if he can provide a complete listing of how many coordinators that we have by department...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I spoke about the issue surrounding our lack of progress on withdrawal management services. Clearly, the department has been given guidance and reporting to make realistic changes in its approach for Northerners. We are constantly reminded by our Health Minister that the economies of scale prevent us from finding a made-in-the North solution when it comes to withdrawal management and treatment addictions as a whole. This argument is used far too often as a means to justify bureaucratic policy. In essence, nothing would be done in the North if one used the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to introduce, to you and through you, a resident of Range Lake, Ms. Candace Johnson, and of course all participants of the NWT Campaign School. Good luck this weekend; have fun. Of course, the NWT Status of Women Council, great job for hosting. Good luck with that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. By all accounts, it’s estimated that 10 to 25 percent of our Canadian population is uninsured or underinsured for prescription drugs. When unforeseen illnesses, disability and medical complication strike, this portion of the population is vulnerable to financial hardship. In essence, those unable to afford these drug costs are placed in serious situations of life or death.

To put in perspective where drug costs are going, just last week I saw a bill for a new Hep C drug, called Harvoni, for the 12-week therapy of $92,000. Shocking, I know.

Efforts both nationally and...

At this point I’d like to thank our witnesses here for joining us today. Could I get the Sergeant-at-Arms to please escort our witnesses out of the Chamber. Thank you. Committee, I will now rise and report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Moses. In keeping with our convention protocol today, we’ll go to Minister Miltenberger to see if he can reply to Mr. Bouchard, Mr. Nadli and Mr. Moses. Minister Miltenberger.