Michael Miltenberger

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is an ongoing search and recruitment for doctors and nurses especially to provide service outside of Yellowknife. The challenge is, of course, filling the positions, finding the staff that is trained. There is work being done in terms of trying to better coordinate and centralize the decision-making so that we can look at the coverage with doctors.

We’ve invested millions of dollars in training northern nurses. The issue is to get them trained up enough to work in the small communities so that they can provide the services and that we don’t have this issue of gaps...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the Member’s comments of support. Clearly, it is a starting point. The fund is structured to remain untouched for the first 20 years so it can build some critical mass, and then there will be ongoing debates, I’m sure, among citizens of the Northwest Territories and future legislators as to the best way to touch this money. You just have to look around the world at some of the other funds besides Alaska. You could look at Norway. You can look at other funds, as well, to see what may be in the best interests of the residents of the Northwest Territories...

That and a number of other issues have been discussed. The money that was identified to do things like cumulative impact studies and assessments. The main fundamental concern is that there be no significant changes, or changes of any kind while we’re in an election process. Now, since we’ve signed the AIP and we’re in a transition phase where we’re going to be taking over from the federal government that there not be any significant changes until that process is concluded so that it will be Northerners that will decide on what changes are necessary, if any, once that process is complete.

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This issue of regulatory reform and changes to the process have been under discussion now for many years. Our request to the government, to Minister Duncan, has been that there be no changes initiated now that we’ve signed the agreement-in-principle so that the devolution process can take place, and then at that point, once there’s been a transfer, if there are changes necessary to sign on by Northerners, that Northerners would have that right and authority to make those changes, whatever they may be, should it be so determined by Northerners.

I’ll commit to have a discussion with the members of the Financial Management Board to look at what might be possible in terms of trying to meet the request from the Member. Thank you.

Once again, some of those services are available usually at the larger centres, the health centres, the larger facilities, the long-term care facilities. The issue of translators in the small communities is more problematic. Once again, if the front-line staff is experienced and from the region, it’s a different issue than if they are just in town for a few weeks. The Member, once again, raises an issue where we don’t have the complete solution. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to move that we extend sitting hours to conclude the item currently before committee.

We share the urgency of the Member in terms of resolving this issue. The capital plan for next year is $75 million for the whole Government of the Northwest Territories. The majority of that money is already subscribed to with multi-year programs. I agree we need to have this issue resolved. We’re working with the Department of Finance, the federal Department of Finance, and the Premier will be taking the opportunity when he meets with the Prime Minister here on Thursday to raise the issue, as well, to impress upon him the urgency of this and that the North stands ready to invest in a lot of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is the intent, recognizing, of course, as the Member pointed out along with other MLAs, that one of the challenges is the rapid turnover in staff and often the use of locums or casual nurses. It is a challenge.

I appreciate the Member’s comments and feedback. I intend to follow up with the board chair and the deputy minister. Thank you.