Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Health and Social Services in regard to mental health and addiction services, especially in my riding, and also the commitment made by governments to enhance programs and services in our communities, especially in the area of mental health and addictions.
The whole intent of the change was to ensure that we had wage parity, that we were able to provide benefits to individuals in that particular field and bring them in line with the rest of the public service. There is still a definite disparity between how people are being treated, especially people who work for NGOs like, in my case, the Tl’oondih Healing Society. For over 10 years they’ve been receiving a contribution of $70,000, which includes the wages and benefits and the operational costs of the office. A community 60 kilometres away in Tsiigehtchic, a mental health worker who has less clients received full benefits and full wages comparable to the rest of the public service.
I’d like to ask the Minister -- this issue has been around as long as I’ve been around here -- what are we doing to ensure that we do provide parity when it comes to people providing public services on behalf of the government.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.
There have been studies on this issue over the years that I’m aware of and I’m sure the Member is as well. The challenge of NGOs to offer competitive wages and some of the other benefits like pensions and sick leave. The issue of parity has not been resolved. There is a huge price tag to that.
The issue that the Member is specifically referring to, I’m familiar with that position. There is the whole issue, as well, of the positions that are run through a contribution agreement and what happens with the job descriptions, as opposed to those where they’re formally put in place as indeterminate positions with the government. There is a difference between NGOs and the government, and it’s a gap that I don’t see being closed anytime soon just because of the sheer cost of that particular issue.
Again, it does come down to a question of service. Like I stated, individuals in the community of Fort McPherson service 800 people. You have an individual in Tsiigehtchic who is serving 170 people. He’s making almost twice as much as the person that’s serving 800 people. I think you have to look at it in the confines of the service delivery system and the number of clients you are having to provide that service to. Would you consider a per diem ratio system of how you charge under the medical programs and services on those, like services that you charge on a per diem basis?
The Member raised this specific issue with me a couple of days ago. I’ve asked the deputy minister to get me the information so that I could get updated on the file, but I believe the circumstances are very similar to what were there when I was last Minister and the Member and I were having this discussion.
I have no quick response that I can give the Member in this House today, unfortunately.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister consider looking at some sort of dispute mechanism to resolve this issue between the parties and the person that basically is in the situation of basically doing a job, being paid way less than other types of people doing a similar arrangement, either through having that individual become a government employee providing government services? That is the situation that you’re going to find yourself. If that NGO walks away, that position will have to be filled by the government as a government employee. Is that the only situation we put the employee relationship in, that you have to walk away from this service and have the government take it on and it will cost you more money to do that? Is that the only option you’re leaving to the community of Fort McPherson?
As I committed to the Member when he raised this issue a number of days ago, I would get the latest briefing. The Member has articulated probably the one option, probably the main option, but I will get up to speed on the file and I’ll commit to sit down with the Member and see what possible options there are over and above the current circumstance.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 9, written questions. Item 10, returns to written questions. Item 11, replies to opening address. Item 12, petitions. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
