Debates of August 20, 2007 (day 13)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to continue along my line of questioning I had earlier today about my constituents who are being pulled down into poverty because our government doesn’t seem to want to help them.

Mr. Speaker, it is obvious the Minister of Education wishes to protect the bureaucratic approach when there is a special circumstance here that is required. So I am going to hopefully look towards the Minister of Health to maybe see some sensitivity in addressing this serious issue. Mr. Speaker, extra home care will help this family get on their feet. Would the Minister of Health and Social Services help this family with more home care so that the other partner can get out and work so they don’t lose their home and family, because it is cheaper to keep them in their home together than it is to put this family in a hospital or break them up? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 160-15(6): Increase In Home Care Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department has some flexibility. In fact, what we have found in a number of cases where we work on case management with either Education, Culture and Employment or the Housing Corporation is to look at the case and work together on trying to find solutions. It is not our practice to deal case by case in this scenario. But as the Member is aware, all departments have been very involved in this and looking forward to try to find some solutions that fit. That doesn’t mean, as was stated earlier, that we can go beyond what our programs are, but we have been working together to find a solution that would work. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 160-15(6): Increase In Home Care Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will make it simple for the Minister because that sort of preamble didn’t work. Will he send a message to his department to increase the home care services provided to this family so we can allow them to go to work, save their home so they don’t lose their shirt and we end up having to take care of them through the income support process and this other person who is disabled in the hospital, so it is going to cost us a lot more? Will he increase the home care support? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 160-15(6): Increase In Home Care Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member raises some important issues around that, but I think, at the same time, he should be, as we respond to some of his inquiries here, we have worked on different cases and we have allowed flexibility. That is over and above what we have as our standard program. We will do that on a case-by-case scenario. The Member is aware of that. We are doing what we can, but there has to be some acceptance of the limits that we face as a government. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 160-15(6): Increase In Home Care Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I have to admit that was a mirthless answer but yet I was intrigued because there sounded like something there. But, Mr. Speaker, the fact is this Minister could say today, yes, we will look into this and, yes, we will make something happen. That is all that we are asking for, because this family is about to lose everything. It is going to cost us a heck of a lot more if we mop up the mess later. So let’s do something today. Let’s be proactive and let’s not see this family destroyed. Yes. That is all the Minister has to say. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 160-15(6): Increase In Home Care Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, quite easily I could stand up and say, yes, we will look into it. But as the Member is well aware, we have looked into this situation. The fact is, as a government, as I stated earlier, we are not in the situation of dealing in this public forum on a case-by-case scenario. There are avenues for that. We have sat down as departments to work on a case management situation. We are trying to be as caring as possible, but there has to be some acceptance. There are limitations to what we can do as the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Time for question period has expired. I will allow the Member a final supplementary. Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 160-15(6): Increase In Home Care Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister is correct; a number of people have talked about this situation, but nothing has been put forward to solve the problem. The problem is that this lady in the wheelchair cannot be left alone. Her doctor says she cannot be left alone. We can do all the fancy designs, schematics, and make some adjustments in their house, but it doesn’t change the fact that she requires full-time care. So does the Minister want to state today that we are going to give her 10 hours and that is it and we will let the family fall apart, or is he going to say today, Mr. Speaker, it is better to have this family broken up and put her in the hospital? Because he is also the Minister of Finance and he should be able to tell me which is cheaper. We should be able to do a better job by helping with better home care. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 160-15(6): Increase In Home Care Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member continues to not have listened to what is being done and provided. I am sorry. I guess in this scenario, we are doing what we can. We are offering…and as I stated, we are going beyond some of our programs to try to be caring in this situation, but there are limitations. I am sorry; I can’t help the Member’s campaign strategy. Thank you.