Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I spoke about medical travel and some of the issues I had to deal with this past week with medical travel and the policy. First of all, I would like to thank the staff. The patients were able to work with the staff given the numbers and they worked really well together, so I thank them for that. However, Mr. Speaker, this question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Can the Minister please advise this House if his department is looking at the Medical Travel Policy as it pertains to ensuring that anyone over the age of 65 has a non...

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I'm going to speak about medical travel policy. This past week, I have been dealing with three different medical travel issues. Each issue involved individual patients over the age of 65. Mr. Speaker, the first patient had to move from a small community to a major center because of medical challenges their family was facing. Recently, this individual had to go out for medical travel. Because of the move, this individual does not have the support system in this community.

Mr. Speaker, to make matters worse, this patient was informed that non-medical...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and I thank the Minister for that answer. It's great to hear. So we're waiting for negotiations in Alberta, but it still doesn't help the residents of Fort Liard. So will the Minister give us a timeline when he expects to talk to the BC government, so that the residents of Fort Liard can be prepared to get service in BC? Closer service, I should say, because it's great service in Simpson and Yellowknife; it's just the distance. Thank you.

I appreciate the Minister for his answer. I guess we're talking to two different people or different people out there because the people that are coming to me with issues are over the age of 65 and say they want to have a medical escort, and some of the challenges that I understand with the Minister saying, however we need to work with our seniors and our elders because when they come to us they should be treated with respect. However, I'm going to go onto my next question 'cause instead of arguing we could spend days on this issue together.

Mr. Speaker, last sitting I spoke about patience from...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks colleagues. Mr. Speaker, the issue is the ministerial policy on Medical Travel Benefits. I was directed to Section 6 provisions for clarification on benefits of approved non-medical escorts. Mr. Speaker, nowhere in the policy does it state that past the certain age a person requires an escort, nor does following up with our HSS System Navigator looking for help if the people are not computer literate.

Mr. Speaker, we were very lucky that these three elders made it home safe and sound thanks to staff and people working together, and I'm thankful for that...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to go on to another area regarding Highway No. 1. The highway goes from the border all the way up to Wrigley. So could the Minister please explain exactly what section of the roads are going to be looked at through this fiscal plan? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister for that answer. In regards to that road, and the next bridge is the Trout River Bridge, and I've been on it a couple times and I've seen pylons and access limited to one side. Has the department looked at this as part of the capital plan? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker

Because a key role of standing committees’ is to hold government accountable, much of the committees’ work is driven by action (or lack of action) by the government. Members note that the Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019 includes pledges to:

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establish an Open Government Policy to enhance civic participation, increase the availability and accessibility of information about government activities, and...

I thank the Minister for that answer, and my colleague for bringing it to my attention where it was, so I thank him for that. Just the last one, the Lafferty Hall upgrade, when will this work be done? Is it going to be after the season is over or before the season is over? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister for that answer. I guess the second part is if it's not part of this year's plan, when are we looking at fixing the section of the road? Because I've been up and down that road a few times and some days it's good and some days it's an interesting drive. Thank you, Mr. Chair.