Michael Nadli

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I made my statement on the status of the Deh Cho Health and Social Services that affects my constituency. My question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services.

Could the Minister explain what is the anticipated timeline for reinstating the board of management in the Deh Cho Health Authority? Mahsi.

Can the Minister explain what kind of steps they’ve made to improve the situation? Was there an addition added?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That’s all.

That’s all. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, I am encouraged by the Minister’s reply. The other area that I was interested in is the proposed pullout between I believe it’s Paradise Gardens and Enterprise. What is the project scope, the details, the schedules in terms of seeing it realized? Perhaps before the summer?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to make reference to the matter in terms of how it is that priorities are set in terms of the highways and construction and, of course, the maintenance.

How does the department deal with the various winter roads across the North? Some perhaps could be a higher priority than other areas. Some could be abandoned. What is the position of the Department of Transportation?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is significant that Bill 24 provides the Finance Minister may hold a plebiscite if certain conditions are met; it does not require the Minister to do so.

Following the amendment mentioned earlier, members of the Standing Committee on Government Operations support Bill 24 as presented and recommend it as ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.

The committee understands the Finance Minister’s decision that under circumstances specific to this bill, Cabinet will not support it. The committee therefore respectfully requests that Cabinet abstain, or allow a free...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister had indicated and stated that there will be a level of consultation preceding, more likely, the advancements towards the discussion of reinstituting the health board.

Can the Minister provide an update as to what it is that he will be consulting and the term of the consultation period before the Deh Cho Health and Social Services Board is reinstituted? Mahsi.

It seems that there is going to be a wait period of two years until the board structured.

Within the current structure of the Deh Cho Health and Social Services, what assurances could the Minister provide that the level of public accountability to the residents of the Deh Cho will be held in highest regard, ensuring that the health care services will continue to be delivered at a scale that is fairly efficient and, at the same time, meets the needs of the public? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Deh Cho Health Authority was just placed under a public administrator. That makes it the fourth regional authority to experience a board takeover. In the Deh Cho case, a slew of resignations had left the board with eight vacancies and only two spots filled. There had also been questions about the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery.

This shift toward public administrators is a kind of litmus test. It’s an indicator of genuine problems with health care governance. Existing health care legislation is vague on the respective roles of the health authority...