Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thanks to all the Members for their comments and thoughts.

There are a number of areas that the Members brought up that there was some clear cross-over. So I’ll attempt to address as many of the questions as I can with my comments and if I do miss any, please remind me in detail and I’ll make sure to answer them at that time.

MLA Dolynny started off talking about some of the challenges and indicating that there’s room for improvement and, quite frankly, I agree, absolutely. We need to have a system focused on better health, better care and a better future for all of...

I do, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d be happy to provide that information to the Member. Thank you.

An RFP is currently out for the delivery of air ambulance services in the Northwest Territories. It is being overseen by a fairness commissioner. As a result, I will not be speaking about this RFP. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Setting aside that particular business, which has its own issues and will follow the normal disposal process, as I indicated previously, if there are private organizations who are looking at setting up facilities in the North, we obviously strongly encourage that, recognizing that if it becomes a GNWT-funded institution as far as we’re paying for the clients, that might change some of the requirements that are placed on them. If they’re completely private and encouraging people to come in and pay a fair market rent to be in those facilities, they would have certainly a lot more freedom.

As I said, I would encourage anybody who is interested in starting this type of business here in the North to review the regulations that exist within their communities with respect to building and construction.

To the Member’s question, we do have the National Building Code of Canada, which requires that all facilities in the Northwest Territories that provide health care must comply with the National Building Code. We have the National Fire Code, the NWT Public Health Act and regulations, and just an important reminder that there are no regulations governing private long-term care centres in...

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health and Social Services is committed to publicly reporting on the performance of the health and social services system and our progress towards achieving the Legislative Assembly’s goal of an effective and efficient government.

The Department of Health and Social Services uses a number of different reports to ensure we are accountable to this Assembly and to the residents of the NWT.

The Northwest Territories Health Status Report is published every five years and presents updated information on the health status of the NWT population. It is an important...

By the dental therapists that we do have, yes.

Child and Family Services Act, Mr. Moses brought this up and I think a number of the other Members did bring this up as well. An Auditor General report is coming forward shortly. I haven’t seen it, the system works in such a way that I don’t actually see it until basically the same time you do, but I have heard anecdotally that it is going to be rough. We look forward to seeing the report and coming up with solutions to address the issues that are outlined in it.

A number of Members have talked about traditional foods and this is one I would love to...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. With me today are Debbie DeLancey, the deputy minister of Health and Social Services; and Jeannie Mathieson, director of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, titled “NWT Health and Social Services System 2012-2013 Annual Report: Measuring Success and Focusing on Results.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.