Mr. Speaker, I will look at the legislation and the whole governance around the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority. As you and Members of the House are aware, each authority has their own governance at this time. I will look at that legislation, look at the governance surrounding that and see if it’s possible to appoint an advisory board through that model. If it is possible, I will certainly consider that. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I am thankful to the Minister for looking into that. My other area of concern I had in my Member’s statement was the flexibility of funding. As I indicated, we have funding for permanent doctors in Hay River. We currently don’t have any, but we have been using nurse practitioners, but the funds to fund those nurse practitioners are column funded so we can’t use the doctors’ funds to do that.
Has the Minister come up with a solution and been able to allow the community, the authority for Hay River to do some flexibility in these funds?
Mr. Speaker, we have not come up with a solution to provide flexible funding for Hay River. At this time, interestingly enough, we are waiting for a business case from the Hay River Health Authority senior management and two other health authorities that will give us the business case returned back to the Financial Management Board who restricts the funding for physicians. Once we are able to develop a business case for these authorities, then we will present that to the Financial Management Board to determine whether or not we will be allowed to build flexibility into physician funding to allow us to hire others like nurse practitioners in a system with the physician funding. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Bouchard.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have been asking the Minister this question for quite a long time about this flexibility, and he keeps going back to the FMBS and the solution. I am wondering when the Minister will commit to completing this process.
The community of Hay River wants to have coroners, nurse practitioners, wants to be able to use their funds so that the community can have a better health care system. When will the Minister commit to getting this flexibility in funds?
Mr. Speaker, I will ask the department to provide me a business case on all three health authorities by the end of April. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Interestingly enough, Mr. Bouchard and I are on the same page today. I have some questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services and they are also about nurse practitioners. It was last June and also when we were deliberating the budget a year ago last February that there was quite a bit of talk about nurse practitioners and funding nurse practitioners, using them and so on. At that time in June, the Minister of Health and Social Services talked about a lack of doctors and using nurse practitioners. He mentioned that there were funding obstacles and it’s the difficulty with FMB, I gather, but at that time in June, the Minister, I take it from Hansard, promised us a plan. I just have heard the Minister say that there is currently no solution and that we’re waiting for a business case from authorities. So I’d like to know from the Minister along the lines of what Mr. Bouchard has just asked. We’re getting a business case at the end of April, I think the Minister said. Could he clarify that? Is this business case coming from the authorities or is it coming from the departments? What are we expecting and from whom at the end of April? Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I said I would ask the authorities to provide the Health and Social Services with a business case by the end of April. Just for lack of not having the information and feeling that there’s been plenty of time for the authorities to put that information together, I’m suggesting that that would be a good date for them to provide the business case to us. As soon as the business case is in our hands, then it would not take us long to maybe have one discussion with the Joint Leadership Council, and then over to the Financial Management Board to see if the funding for physicians can become flexible. Thank you.
Thanks to the Minister. My next question I was going to ask him was whether FMB had given any consideration to changing the policy and, obviously, they have not if it hasn’t gone to them already. So I need to ask the Minister if last June, that’s over six months ago, almost eight months ago now, if last June the Minister was promising us a plan to deal with this lack of flexibility, why has it taken this long to get to a point of no solution. Thank you.
Thank you. I don’t know why it’s taking this long, but I do know that we have a governance system where the health and social services authorities operate with a board, independent board or through a public administrator. So we are trying to set up a system now where we’re changing the governance.
As we stand up in the House here as Health Ministers to answer questions, there’s something that’s a little bit out of our control and that is that the management of the authorities. So we ask the authorities, we’ll work with the authorities and try to get that information. I will put appropriate pressure on them to get that information to us quickly. Thank you.
I want to thank the Minister, although I’m not quite sure I appreciate his response. However, I’ll look at Hansard tomorrow and check it out.
One of the other concerns that I have with nurse practitioners is the way that we fund them, and my understanding is that we have about nine nurse practitioners that we as a government are funding. I’d like to ask the Minister how these nine NPs are funded. Are they all funded from the base funding from the department or are some of them funded by federal funding? Thank you.
Thank you. Nine of the nurse practitioners are funded through the THSSI, the Territorial Health Systems Sustainability Initiative. That’s federal funding. The rest of them are funded through O and M. So not through any other funding other than just regular O and M through the health and social services authorities. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final, short supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the Minister said we have nine that are funded by THSSI funding. I thought we had nine in total. So I’d appreciate clarification on how many NPs we have. But of these nine NPs who are funded through THSSI funding, what is the Minister doing to ensure that when THSSI funding runs out, I think in a year, that we will be able to continue these nine nurse practitioners within our system? Thank you.
Thank you. I apologize, I thought I said six of the NPs were funded through THSSI, and it is six NPs funded through THSSI. The plan is to, of course, continue to negotiate with the federal government on sustaining that funding. If that funding is no longer available, if that funding has been eliminated, then the department would have no option other than to go through this process of going through the mains to be able to see if we can’t get funding to retain our nurse practitioners in the system. So at this time our hope is that that funding will continue. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I raised a question in terms of heart and stroke, and it being Heart Month, so my question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services. What is the department’s approach, in terms of addressing the heart and stroke disease, from diagnosis to treatment? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this time we look at heart disease along with all other chronic diseases; lung diseases, diabetes. So with the heart disease, what the department wishes to do at this time, recognizing that it is quite a cost-driver in our system, is to develop a strategy by first examining the pilot projects that we have run. We have run I do believe it’s three different pilot projects across the territory to then evaluate how the results of those pilot projects were, and from that we’re trying to develop a chronic disease strategy. So within that disease, like I said, we would have lung disease, heart disease, diabetes and any other disease, including cancer, that is considered to be a chronic disease. Thank you.
Thank you. I know one of the priorities of the 17th Assembly was to try to take some preventative steps in terms of trying to address the health and social issues. So my question to the Minister is: What are some of the preventative measures that are in place to try to curb? He’s indicated that heart disease and other afflictions are cost-drivers. What are some of the measures in place to try to curb the rates of heart and stroke disease in the North? Mahsi.
Thank you. The department works with the Department of Education in healthy foods in schools and so on, hoping that this type of thing will carry on from the schools to the home. We support the anti-smoking campaigns like Don’t Be a Butthead as an example. We’re also in a federal campaign called Healthy Weights, so we deal with that as well. So these are some of the areas that we see as preventative. But just the whole nature of chronic disease management would be based on prevention that we feel is the best bang for the buck. Thank you.
Thank you. Lacking an ambulance in most small communities, what emergency measures do the health centres have in responding to heart and stroke situations? Mahsi.
Thank you. I don’t know if all of the health centres have the equipment to deal with a heart attack or a stroke. I don’t have that information with me. I know that we are, in some of the larger centres, able to deal with it, we have the equipment to deal with that, but I can’t commit to saying that we have that type of equipment in all of our smaller health centres. So it would be difficult for me to answer that question.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final supplementary, Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final question is just in terms of the long-term horizon. I know it’s probably improbable for every community to have an ambulance, but is it within the department’s plan, in terms of long-term objectives and goals, to ensure that at least, at the very minimum, communities such as Fort Providence would have an ambulance?
Yes, the department has had some conversations with some of the key communities in strategic areas of the highway system that may benefit from having a service such as an ambulance service. We are working with an interdepartmental group, along with MACA and the Department of Transportation, to try to get the people trained. We are also looking at including one of the people that are required for emergency measures that would work in the ambulance under the umbrella legislation that Health is now trying to bring to the House as a legislative proposal. Within there, we would have the emergency measures people who would be able to also be riding the ambulance and so on. There are a few things in play. We just don’t have the timelines here, but I’m sure we would be able to get the timelines to the Member.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I enjoy hearing some of my colleagues today and I’m trying to be in line with some of their comments. Those like listening to our people, and we heard about listening to our kids. I’d like to build upon that.
With reference to my Member’s statement earlier today about allowing students to grade their teachers as part of the overall reform change for education effectiveness, my questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment today will be focused on what the department is doing about northern education reform. There are many barriers and factors that are impeding our students from achieving success in our school system. Can the Minister elaborate as to what are the things that are pulling us to focus on the change we require?
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would, first of all, like to thank the Member for that question. He raises several key topics and important issues. I’m glad to have the opportunity to address the NWT education renewal initiative that my department has undertaken. There are many factors. Several factors indicate that education in the NWT must change. As the Member puts it, pulling us to change. There are several types of assistance and large scale services that show our students are not achieving at anywhere near the levels that they should be. These also include Alberta Achievement Tests and functioning grade level assessments, international early development instrument and also healthy behaviours. Those are just some of the factors that we are contemplating. In summary, we are hearing from all corners, including the students, that change is needed and we are embarking on that.
I appreciate the Minister’s response to that. Can the Minister give us a recap of all the informing initiatives we have at this time and what future initiatives can we expect during the life of this Assembly, as the Minister put it, as we prepare for this renewal?
One of our focuses is the Early Childhood Development Framework that we’ve been working on for quite some time now. It’s been over a decade and it is now before us as a result of the research that we are seeing. Those are some of the focuses that we are currently working on. That is why we are engaging into our plan to renew the Early Childhood Development Framework that’s in the process.
Just having an elders gathering, I think we had roughly 80 to 100 elders from all regions gathered for two or three days to hear their input. The following week we had over 80 stakeholders to listen to their input, ideas, suggestions how we can improve and streamline the Early Childhood Development Framework. There’s also a Safe Schools Strategy that’s before us in terms of addressing bullying in the Northwest Territories schools. Our children need to be safe whether at home, in the community, in the region. Those are some of the areas that we are tackling as we speak. The Anti-Poverty Strategy that’s before us in this House and the Minister of Health’s Addictions Strategy, those are just some of the elements that we are currently working on.
I appreciate the Minister’s recap of some of those initiatives here. We have many competing hurdles within the education system as of today. Some of them were mentioned by the Minister. From disparity of student achievement in small community schools, from poor results from Alberta Achievement Tests, to poor functional grade levels, staff development and retention issues, and some system accountability. Can the Minister elaborate how allowing students to grade teachers can fit in the overall assessment tools to help evaluate better educational outcomes?
This is a very interesting idea and suggestion. We have done some research in this area, too, and the Member provided some information on this particular subject. This is information that will be shared through engagement on the NWT educational renewal. I’m looking forward to that input from the general public and stakeholders as we move forward.
Accountability is one of the key issues that the Auditor General report specifically highlighted in her 2010 report. As we know, we need to hold students accountable for their learning and we measure through the Alberta Achievement Tests and other assessment that’s before us. One of the six pillars through the education renewal process that I presented to the standing committee is professionalism. Those are the teachers; they are our assets. We have to do what we can to support them and move them along in the process. This particular area that the Member is alluding to will be addressed in the renewal process as well.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final supplementary, Mr. Dolynny.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, again, appreciate the Minister’s response. Finally, northern education reform success or renewal success will, clearly, depend on the progress of dealing with poverty and other social factors. As we heard today, residential school impacts will also require an ongoing collaboration with the departments of Health and Social Services, Justice, NWT Housing, MACA and Human Resources. How will the Minister quarterback all these initiatives with so many departments in order to see real progress during the life of this 17th Assembly?
It’s very important that we collaborate and form partnerships with interdepartmental discussion on this important matter because it will take more than just one department. We have to work with the Department of Health and Social Services and other departments. It has a ripple effect, as well, and we’re very positive that we want to deliver the key messages that we need to make some changes that reflect on these important areas.
This is an area that I need to work with closely with the Social Programs committee and also with my department and the other departments as well. My department and DM are working closely with other DMs as well. We all have to be on the same page when we’re talking about education renewal. We’re going to make some changes that will reflect and benefit the students in the Northwest Territories and for the betterment of a lot of people.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to follow up on my Member’s statement today and ask questions directed to the Premier. The federal government is the resource manager and the co-signatory of the land claim agreements. Two Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada environmental audits say under-resourcing of the boards is a barrier to speedy and thorough completion of reviews.
Does the Premier agree that it is, at least currently, the responsibility of the federal government to adequately resource the boards to carry out this work?
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member recognizes that we are the responsible government. We are all elected to represent the people of the Northwest Territories, and we’re doing that to the best of our ability. We’re not the official opposition to the Government of Canada or we’re not going to be out picketing about cuts to different areas. We are doing our job. We are writing letters to the Government of Canada, asking them questions about the activities that the government undertakes. Right now the Government of Canada is responsible for the funding of the MVRMA boards.
Of course, the reason I’m asking these questions – I appreciate the Premier’s response there – is that the public is not hearing about this. It’s the people, our people who are being affected by these decisions which are only affecting the Northwest Territories. We’re talking about boards within the Northwest Territories. I think we very much have a role here. We have the prospect of seven new mines, the fibre optic link, the Mackenzie Valley Highway extension, and possibly hydro development in the offing.
The government has complained past reviews were too slow. We haven’t hesitated to speak out there. We know a big problem has actually been delayed decisions by the federal Minister, but does the Premier agree that cutting the Environmental Review Board staff in half, from 12 to six, will cripple the board’s ability to complete reviews promptly and thoroughly and has the potential to delay projects that this government wants to see proceed speedily and responsibly?
The administration of the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board indicated that through job shadowing and the fact that there was a decrease in the amount of work that they will be doing next year to last, that they felt that it was within their level of resources to be able to handle the workload. Obviously, reduction in resources at this time is probably not very helpful as we go forward.
The Premier and I are on the same page with his last statement there. The previous bit, though, is only partially correct. The board said they had shadow people for this project that’s coming up but not for the rest of the work. There’s also the federal duty to consult and accommodate to meet federal fiduciary in Section 35 responsibilities. These may be federal but they are the constitutional rights held by more than half of our NWT citizens. When the federal government reneges on them, I believe we have a duty to lend support to NWT citizens under assault.
Was this government even informed in advance of the planned funding cuts, and is the Premier aware of consultation with our Aboriginal partners?
