Ronald Bonnetrouge

Does the department conduct annual evaluations of healthcare services provided by each health centre?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My Member's statement today is regarding healthcare service in my community of Fort Providence and in the communities in my riding, which include Kakisa, K'atlodeeche, and Enterprise. This may also go for the other communities in the Northwest Territories, which may or may not have health centres. I believe the level of healthcare is concerning for the residents of the Northwest Territories. This issue most likely has been raised in every prior Assembly, with Members stating the problems with healthcare in our communities or lack thereof.

Everyone talks of fixing the...

Thank you. Just a final comment regarding the regulatory framework, that I hope they really keep the small communities in mind when you are setting your legislation and everything, because I know that government has a hard time thinking of the small people and how they can move forward, when they are thinking about locally produced and harvested foods. Mahsi.

My final question to the Minister: does the department conduct investigations into complaints made against health centre staff in terms of the treatment received by patients?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My questions are directed towards the Health Minister. I am not certain that the health Minister is aware of ongoing problems with healthcare in the small communities. However, does the health Minister have any aspirations to fixing the healthcare system? Mahsi.

We're all hard of hearing.

---Laughter

I was asking about the mentorship program, and I'm kind of wondering what that entails. What are they talking about when they're saying "mentorship program"? What will it look like, and what positions? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Madam Chair. I'd like to ask about the working group. What is going to be the makeup of the working group for looking into creating employment for the small communities? Mahsi.

What you're stating there is to work with qualified tradespeople, but at the same time, too, you have to remember that, in our small communities, we don't have qualified tradespeople in the communities. I'm really wondering how that's going to work, or if it's even going to do any good for the small communities, unless you bring in a tradesperson from outside into that program.

I'm also looking at, you know, it's kind of ambitious and I'm really looking forward to this, the working group that is going to develop employment opportunities. Like, we're looking at fall of 2020, 30 new jobs. Is that...

Thank you for that. Also, "Develop mentorship programs"; can you elaborate on that point, also? Mahsi.

Is it possible to go back to page 15, "Increase employment in small communities"?