Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This section covers, obviously, an area that is important to a number of us, community health programs, which also includes the Child and Family Services Act. I thank the Minister for providing us with the department’s or, rather, government’s response to the Child and Family Services Act in time that we could discuss it as we get to this section.

A lot of work was put into the review by committee and a lot of work was put into the responses by the department. Although we may have some differences of opinion on some of the wording within and we may not fully understand...

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Ms. Meade.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yesterday in this session there was some talk about the extended health benefits and the Minister indicated that she was going to be bringing back their direction on that. I look forward to that, but there were also questions on how the department plans to provide support for what we once categorized as low-income families who didn’t receive insurance or any support for health benefits from their employer. Now I understand fully that that is gone. That policy was rescinded, but there are still employees out there who do not have health benefits or whatnot from their...

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Next on my list is Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will tell the Minister where I am going and then I will ask a question. Mr. Speaker, the department has money for and runs a program called Community Health Nurse Development Program which is designed to help northern nurse graduates transition from school into community health centres. We have used it in the past. In fact, I know that we have placed at least three northern nurse graduates into community health centres in the Northwest Territories in the last five to seven years, but I haven’t seen it working lately. I haven’t seen northern nurse graduates entering...

Thank you, Ms. Meade. Mr. Beaulieu.

Mr. Speaker, I know that HR delivers the programs on behalf of Health and Social Services, who actually administers or actually holds the budget for health recruitment and retention. My question was pretty specific. I want to know what the Department of Health is doing, even if they are doing it through the Department of HR, but what is the Department of Health and Social Services doing to facilitate the placement of northern nurse graduates into community health centres throughout the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to item 7 on orders of the day.

---Unanimous consent granted