Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Mr. Chair. While one of my colleagues was talking reductions, I’m looking at increases in this table for the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority and Tlicho Community Services Agency. There’s some large increases in staff, and those are good things, I think. I just want to hear from the Minister the reason behind this. I think the Hay River situation probably has something to do with this opening of the new health centre there, but can the Minister and his staff explain the rather large increases there? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. There are a number of reductions here, and I’m just wondering if the Minister and his staff can describe what these positions are and whether they’re vacant or not. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess the Minister can probably detect some frustration from this Member. I don’t know where this Federal Engagement Strategy is. There’s been a lot of talk from the Cabinet about this for months. I still don’t have an idea about when it’s going to be completed. We already spent $2 million a year for these health benefits, which people should expect, and that’s the way that we’ve carried out our health care system here for a number of years. This is not a question of lobbying the federal government anymore. This is a question of the law, that the Supreme Court of Canada...

Mr. Chair, I appreciate that the Minister raised the issue at the last federal/provincial/territorial meeting of Health Ministers, but it sounds like we’re waiting. I guess I was looking for something a bit more proactive where our Premier or the Minister would actually write to the federal government and put it in writing. Has that happened and, if not, why? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don’t want to jump ahead to page 198, but that’s where it looks like we spent $2.08 million last year on Metis health benefits. Can the Minister tell us when we might hear something from the federal government, during 2016-17 or in time for the next budget or do we have any sense at all when we might hear from the federal government on this? How is he following it up as well? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I will be very interested to see how this rolls out over the next while. Some in this House have called for the development of large hydro projects that could even flood communities to export power. Earlier, I spoke of another vision for the NTPC where it would basically be doing itself out of a job by building energy self-sufficiency in communities and households across the NWT. Can the Minister explain: what is the current vision of NTPC? Will it become an instrument of this government for big hydro for export or build energy self-sufficiency? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. The reason why I’m asking these questions about midwifery here is because it’s community health programs, that’s where midwifery was found in the business plan.. I don’t know why the Minister is talking about nursing when I want to talk about midwifery, but anything he can do to help clarify would be great because if I wasn’t confused before by his explanation, I certainly am now.. If he’s got a diagram that’ll help that would be great. I guess at the end of this we still don’t have midwifery services in Yellowknife, and that’s why we had a person in the gallery earlier...

I thank the Minister for his response. The recently released North Slave Resiliency Study did not consider climate change and made no predictions of future water levels. Low waters have caused this government to burn through more than $60 million in diesel subsidies in recent years. That is money that could have gone into renewable energy development. What role does the Minister see the NTCP playing in building capacity for wind, solar, and biomass in the North Slave region?

Okay, thanks, Mr. Chair. While I encourage the department to find more money for early childhood development and for working with the Minister on the 2017-18 budget. I want to go back to one of his favourite topics which is midwifery. Earlier the Minister talked about how there was a consulting position that was sun setting around for midwifery. Then I understand that there’s two people doing work that had been hired as consultants on midwifery.. Can the Minister explain what position was sunsetted and why we hired two other consultants? I think I know the answer to the second part, but can...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. We have some advocates for midwifery in the Northwest Territories in the gallery with us today, some constituents, Sue Posynick with her son Uri and her daughter Eleanor I believe are up there. Lindsay Arseneau is also in the gallery. She recently travelled to Hay River to have her baby Aveline and she’s also here with her son Felix. She had to go to Hay River because there’s no midwifery services available in Yellowknife, Mr. Speaker. But welcome to the gallery and they’re here to watch our debate and discussion when we come in Committee of the Whole about our Health and...