Michael Miltenberger

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated yesterday in this House, there was about $8.4 million put into hiring doctors and nurses and midwifes late in the 14th Assembly. I also submit that the agreement that we’ve reached with the Medical Association factors in the quality of life issues, referenced by my colleague, and that is an issue of concern for the doctors. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with the bridge it is my understanding it is a P3 project that’s going to generate revenue through tolls. With this facility we are talking about building a facility that’s going to address a very specific need. It’s not a revenue-generating item. It’s one of providing a needed service not only in Yellowknife, but across the Northwest Territories. I’d like to remind the Member that, yes, she speaks as a Member for Yellowknife, but we are a government for all people of the Northwest Territories and it’s an issue that is a problem across the Northwest...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to point out that the government has been very committed to working with YACCS. The Department of Health and Social Services has given them money to do their studies. As a government we’ve turned over land worth $1.6 million to them to assist in their planning, and at this point it’s part of the mix when it comes to the final report that’s going to be coming out in November. There is a lot of money at stake that’s being requested. The YACCS facility is a multi-million dollar proposal with the territorial government being the sole funding...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that applies to both general practitioners and specialists. It’s a four-year agreement that will expire, I believe, in 2007 or 2008. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have just in the last number of months, in our first year, signed a four-year agreement with the Medical Association of the Northwest Territories, that gives the doctors a very competitive pay and benefits package. We have many perks in there that make it very competitive. The pay is good. There are lots of good benefits. As well, we are also funding and helping to assist some northern students who are currently in medical school, who will hopefully be graduating in a number of years. I think there are four currently in school that are going to be...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the reality is at the end of the day that the territorial government will be the sole funding agent for any development that goes on with dementia units, including the Yellowknife one. The reality is what they are looking at is a different variation, but the fundamental dollar requests come to the department, come to the government, and we are going to guarantee and through the O and M costs pay the mortgage costs for whatever construction takes place. So the reality is we’re going to work with YACCS. It’s going to be in the plan, but when the YACCS...

But the fact of the matter is, Mr. Speaker, we are. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this situation has resolved itself in terms of the accreditation issue. We no longer have, have not had I believe since last May, any kind of relationship with the facility in question or the program in question. Arrangements have been made both in Edmonton and in the North for the folks that were involved or staying at that facility and in that program. The issues that were raised in terms of mistreatment and other concerns that were raised by some of the former staff of that facility are being dealt with. It’s in Alberta. It’s a situation that occurred in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first I want to point out that, when this fee was instituted, it was clearly anticipated and it was planned to leave the elders sufficient amount of money that they would not be left without any means to have looked after some of their personal needs. So I made a commitment to the Member. I would also like to point out that, under the federal government, it has a fiduciary responsibility for aboriginal and treaty people and Inuit people, so this $750 would be, if they are treaty, covered through the federal government.

I will commit once again in this...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first, I would just like to point out that we have some of the best long-term care facilities that I have seen anywhere. They come at a cost that will not be bettered in any jurisdiction in this country. The reality is that there was a decision made, I think in the 13th Assembly, that there would be a modest charge for that high level of service in those specialized facilities. That has been the policy that has been in place. It is the one that we continue to follow today. Thank you.