Sandy Lee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think the Member is well aware, and everybody here is well aware, that we have just gone through a three-day Caucus planning session. We are to conclude that by the conclusion of next week. Coming out of that we will make priorities, as a Legislature, as to where that sort of project will fit into our overall objectives. So it will be very premature on my part to speak about that specifically because it involves capital planning process, as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we do have a consensus government, and we need to work together to achieve this. Mr. Speaker, I don’t have an exact dollar figure on the money that we spend down south for the treatment. I will be happy to get that specific information and get back to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. November is National Adoption Awareness Month. It is an opportunity to recognize adoptive families in the Northwest Territories who have opened both their hearts and their homes to children in need of a family.

Adoption provides a child with permanence and security. All children need roots and a feeling that they belong to a family. This feeling of belonging affects a child’s sense of self-worth. It helps to determine how children see themselves in relation to others and to their communities.

The face of adoption has changed over the years and there are now children of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a sneaking suspicion that I might have to say more than hi when I visit the community. I welcome any invitations from Members to visit their communities because I really think it’s a good way to learn about issues, facilities and concerns of the people. I have travelled to every community except for two so far, but not as the Minister of Health. I think I’ve already overbooked myself, because I’m going to Fort Resolution in two weeks and Inuvik, but I’ll try to cover as many communities as possible around Inuvik. I don’t know if I can make it to Tuk, but I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Absolutely. I make a commitment to be in Tsiigehtchic at my earliest possible opportunity; perhaps in January. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Luckily for us, the communities nearby usually come to the rescue and do provide services and we have to recognize the fact that municipal governments and health authorities are absorbing the costs as they come about for both Hay River and Inuvik. I believe they are covered by the health authority and the level of cost that’s being absorbed by health authorities, either health authorities or municipal governments, are very different and that’s what I mean by a patchwork approach that’s being done that we need to look at. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is well known that we continue to experience pressures in all of our communities, especially in small communities, in terms of being able to recruit and retain our nursing staff and other health care professionals. I do remember most recently that there were even more pressures in the community of Tsiigehtchic. The Beaufort-Delta Health Authority has, they try to do their best to respond to coverage necessary and the communication plan and I think until we can staff that community with nurses, that’s what we have to do. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I could advise the House that the situation on this file is as it was in the last Assembly. There was a comprehensive study done on this issue and the work is being done between MACA and Health and Social Services to enhance what we have now and to be able to expand as the resources permit. So, Mr. Speaker, it is under progress between the two departments and I would be happy to update the Members of the Assembly on where we are with that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the space issues at the hospital I acknowledge impact on the treatment services for the patients as well as for staff. It’s something that’s been brought up, I believe, in the latest human resource review process. I have visited the facility recently, as Minister, and I can attest to that fact as well. I can advise the Member, Mr. Speaker, that there has been an RFP issued to look at the space issues and the report of that RFP, the contract work done, we’re hoping will be concluded by April of next year. They’ve been asked to focus specifically on...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t have a specific number of patients with diabetes that require dialysis services in Deh Cho. I know there is most definitely a need to have that service in Simpson and we are working to make that happen in Simpson in that area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.