Sandy Lee

Mr. Speaker, I think it would be very helpful when we have detailed discussion about THSSI funding and what is included, because we are subject to the rules and the funding that has been negotiated between the federal government and territorial government.

Like I stated before, the federal government has extended THAF as THSSI for us to transition and exit other programs. There are very, very specific criteria on how we should use that funding. So I will be bringing that forward to the standing committee. That just got finalized, the federal Minister just announced that. We’re just in the...

Mr. Speaker, I will be coming forward to the Standing Committee on Social Programs on details of THSSI funding that we had received. We are just finalizing that and transitioning, Mr. Speaker, but that does not mean finding ways to extend the program. We need to understand very clearly that THAF and THSSI funding will expire at the end of 2012. We need to come up with an exit program. Transition does not mean finding ways to extend, it means exiting. I will be coming forward as a supp to deal with THSSI. I will be putting forward a proposal to the committee members for everybody to review...

Mr. Speaker, I agree with the Member that this is an important program. This is not the matter of debate. The program was a pilot project. The funding was time limited. The Yellowknife Health Authority is being responsive and responsible in letting them know so that they could engage, and they are talking about all options that are available to assist the families. I understand that the executive director and the authorities are willing to discuss all options with the authority, and we should give them a chance to do that.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have often spoken about the importance of making careful change within the Health and Social Services system. Our 2009-2012 Action Plan: A Foundation for Change provides the foundation for this careful change.

Mr. Speaker, I launched A Foundation for Change a year ago and I’m very pleased with the update I’m able to provide you with today. The Health and Social Services system has remained very committed to this plan and with very few exceptions we are either on track or ahead of schedule.

The plan is divided into three main goals: wellness - that communities, families...

As I stated to the Member for Great Slave, one of the criteria for the new funding is for us to exit THAF funding. This new funding ends at the end of 2012. We fund doctors, we fund midwifery, we fund diagnostic imaging. We fund lots of other things under THAF right now and we’re finding ways to work out the details on how we spend THSSI funding. Part of transitioning means system change as well. This is why it’s important for us to get details on exactly what the federal government has asked us to do with THSSI, what we have agreed to do.

Once again, the respite care is a small program that’s...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’ve been working with all the authorities to come up with a comprehensive plan on transitioning from THAF to THSSI, because the pot of money we’re getting from the feds is not the same, the criteria is not the same, the amount of money that we’re getting is not the same. It was important that we work with the authorities to come up with a plan; a plan so that we don’t work to cross purposes, that we do a full analysis of how we’re spending this money. It did come as a surprise to me that this letter went out and it was communicated in that way. I have a commitment...

I have to agree with the Member that all of the programs that we fund under THAF are very valuable programs and the programs that we will be funding under THSSI are valuable too, and anything that we will not be able to continue because of the criteria and lack of funds, I need to let everybody know that THSSI funding is a lot less than THAF funding. So we will be faced with discontinuing and not being able to continue on with some programs. That’s why it’s important that we find time to discuss in detail what this transition means, and I totally respect the role that the Standing Committee on...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure if that information is not before the House. We know -- and I want to be totally clear -- that having Yellowknife Health having advised YACL that this funding will not continue, that is public information. We need to address that, but I believe the information on business plan and the future budget issue is not something that we could discuss in detail.

For the benefit of the Members, Mr. Speaker, as I stated to MLA Abernethy, I will be coming forward to the Standing Committee on Social Programs on the detailed information about THSSI and I think we will...

Mr. Speaker, the Member and the Members across have an input. We have a consensus system of government here where we see all of the details of these funding mechanisms.

THAF funding was for five years and it was to expire in March of this year. We were able to extend the program with the federal government, which we appreciate very much. The federal government is supporting us in a big way. But the new funding program or package is not identical to the first THAF. It is an extension and it has a specific criterion that has earmarked all of the money that they are funding. The extension of THAF...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a program that Yellowknife Health has been funding the Association of Community Living. I believe in talking to the authority, they wanted to engage YACL so that they could have discussions on how to go forward in light of the fact that the funding will expire at the end of 2011. I think we should give them time to discuss and look at options. I believe that is what they are doing. Thank you.