Glen Abernethy

It’s a very complex issue and I know the Member knows this. I mean, there are health and safety issues for our staff, we have to make sure that we’re meeting certain standards, but there are also the health and safety issues of the community and we have to find that balance. As I’ve indicated, I’ve directed the department to look at their ISDM to ensure that the right balance exists within all of our communities throughout the Northwest Territories, including the small and rural and remote as well as the isolated communities.

We have to think outside the box, we have to look at other options...

Thank you for this opportunity to appear before Committee of the Whole to present the Department of Health and Social Services’ main estimates. The proposed operating budget for 2014-2015 is $391.929 million, which represents an 8 percent increase from the current fiscal year.

This budget includes $19.1 million in forced growth and $16.5 million in key initiatives. The initiatives increase our investment in a number of areas that target priorities identified by the 17th Legislative Assembly.

Our system continues to face many challenges, including fiscal sustainability, an aging population...

Mr. Speaker, I’ve committed to having the department do a review of the ISDM with respect to the mix of professionals in our smaller, more remote communities and I’ll do that. We do need to be clear: all these communities do receive support and do receive health care services from the Department of Health and Social Services and its associated health and social services authorities. Colville Lake, by way of example, has a CHN in there for three days a month from Norman Wells and they do have community health workers, so there is some level of support there.

We are trying to enhance our ability...

I know the Member doesn’t want to hear the same old same old, but the truth is we can’t put a nurse in the community on a permanent basis unless there’s an RCMP in the community, but I am interested in finding solutions and I’m sure there are solutions. If we work with the community, I’m sure we could find a balance that will give them the support and the coverage they need.

I have had an opportunity to talk to the public health nurse who goes in there on a regular basis and she talks about her interactions in the community and the good work that’s happening there, and I am interested in...

The services for air ambulance in the Northwest Territories are currently up for a request for proposal. It is being overseen by a fairness commissioner. The fairness commissioner will ensure that all aspects of this process are fair, transparent and equal to all. As a result, I will not talk about this contract or this proposal at this time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that number is 10: Sachs Harbour, Tsiigehtchic, Colville Lake, Jean Marie River, Kakisa, Nahanni Butte, Trout Lake, Wrigley, Wekweeti and Enterprise. So 10, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. An RFP is currently out for air ambulance services in the Northwest Territories. It is being overseen by a fairness commissioner. As a result, I will not speak publicly about this tender at this time. Thank you.

A number of the health promotion activities that we are undertaking indirectly address some of the consumption of sugar. I’m not sure and I can really speak to the specifics of whether we have programs aimed just purely at sugar, but I will get that information for the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We haven’t passed the Health and Social Services Professions Act. We are doing that work now. Our focus to date has been completing and drafting the bill, as this is critical in advancing profession-specific regulations. This legislation will identify and include criteria for the development of regulations, which is what we are talking about here.

As the Member knows, the top priority for regulations under Health and Social Services Professions Act, which we will move forward immediately after conclusion of the bill, is emergency medical services providers, licenced practical nurses and...

The ASIST program, we have put dollars in the budget so that every authority can deliver two ASIST programs or two training workshops. To date, in ’12, ’13, ‘14, 144 individuals across the Northwest Territories have taken that training, and we will continue to encourage the authorities to use the dollars they have received to deliver that program in as many communities as they can over time.