Great Slave

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 19)

We have estimated some costs for enforcement-related activities that Health and Social Services are responsible for, complaints-based reviews of cannabis use in communities and whatnot. We believe we have enough money in our existing budget to do that work. If the demand proves higher than we expect as far as complaints, we will certainly have to explore new options.

When it comes to advertising, we do have the application out to the federal government for $2 million. The federal government announced in their budget that they do have some money available for this type of thing. We are hoping to...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 19)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, to start off, I just want to be very, very clear. Not all residents of the Northwest Territories who require chemo have received care or chemo in the Northwest Territories. Many of our residents have always gone south for chemo, depending on the nature of the cancer, the type of treatment they receive. We did provide chemo services in the Northwest Territories, in Stanton in particular, for certain types of cancer and certain types of treatment.

Since we have come to a single authority, we have been reviewing operations and delivery of services in different...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 19)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The territorial health authority has a deficit about $67.3 million. That deficit is the territorial health authority deficit, but the territorial authority falls under the Financial Administration Act, so it ultimately is a GNWT debt. The Finance Minister has told me I have to pay it back. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 19)

We have a standing agreement with an airline to be the first airline that we go to in cases of medical travel. That airline has provided good services. We have a really good relationship with them where we get discounted rates and, if flights are cancelled at the last minute, we don't hit a financial penalty on that.

Recognizing that, we know that it doesn't always work, and we have the freedom to go to other airlines, but our priority is to go to the airline of our standing offer agreement. We do use other airlines from time to time if we see these cancellations occurring, because our...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 19)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, honestly, I can't say. That would be presuming a solution. I don't think we have reached that conclusion. I think we need to do the work. Conceivably, yes, but let's do the work and figure out what we can do to address our challenges and develop a plan. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 19)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I don't have the actual usage rates in front of me, but I will endeavour to get that to the Member as quickly as possible. Thank you.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 19)

As I said, there are a lot of organizations out there like Drug Free Canada who have already done really, really good work as far as putting together information in a readable, usable format. The materials that the Member has referred to are actually available on the Drugs Free Kids Canada organization website where you see the brochure, but you can also order it online and get copies for yourself.

I do have a copy myself. I have talked to the department since the Member and I have talked to see what we can do to get a quantity of those materials to distribute among stakeholders throughout the...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 19)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I spent a significant amount of my life standing in front of an incredibly loud speaker. I didn't have the microphone in my ear. Rock and roll kills. Can I get the Member to repeat that question?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 19)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, that is because the Hay River authority got a bunch of money as part of the transition into the hospital, into the new hospital, and the fact that Woodland and the old hospital had to be opened to cover the long-term care for a period of time.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 19)

Once again, the Department of Health and Social Services' responsibility is to provide care to residents of the Northwest Territories. Medical travel is an incredibly important program, and we rely in good faith on airlines who have scheduled flights. We have to make choices about when to book people and how to move people into their appointments as quickly and appropriately as possible. If appointments are cancelled, we take immediate action to rebook and to arrange flights accordingly. If there is urgency, there will not be a three-month delay; we will find ways to make it happen as quickly...