Debates of January 20, 2004 (day 1)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am following up on my Member's statement today and being the very fair person that I am I wanted to give Mr. Miltenberger a chance to perhaps clear up any misconceptions, apprehensions, fears that may be out there in the public with respect to the direction that his department may be going with the health board. I would like to ask the Minister if he could tell what perhaps precipitated this report that appeared in the media today and is there anything going on in the department right now, specifically and recently in this direction? Thank you.

The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 1-15(2): Minister’s Comments On Board Restructuring

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the interviewing question was precipitated around the issue of the Stanton board and an update in terms of what was happening with the Stanton board that dissolved prior to the end of the 14th Assembly. A decision was made to leave it empty for the life of the 14th Assembly, because it was anticipated there would be a broad review of governance of boards and agencies at the start of the 15th Assembly. I was asked what the status was; I indicated that the plan was still the same, that there was no plan to change the current arrangement where we have a CEO reporting to a public administrator, and that the issue of boards and agencies and governance was an issue of interest to the legislature of the 15th Assembly, and that we were currently in the process of deciding how we intended to address the issue. I was asked if we were intending to use southern consultants. I indicated no, we weren't, and in fact that there was some work from the 14th Assembly that was on its way to conclusion; that specifically being the review of the Dogrib Community Services Board, which is a board that has been in place now for a number of years, and in fact where health and social services and education are delivered under one board. I indicated that, in fact, that review would be part of the decision-making information that's put on the table for the legislature in terms of what we were going to do to address the broader issue.

Mr. Speaker, that was my recollection of the interview. As I indicated, the issue was precipitated by a question about what is happening with the Stanton board. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 1-15(2): Minister’s Comments On Board Restructuring

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for that answer. I would like to, without getting into debating the merits of health boards versus community service boards, just ask the Minister to outline for us what process would be undertaken if this were to become a topic of discussion. What kind of consultation would take place, and would it take into account the direction and aspirations of some of the self-government negotiations currently underway? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. I heard two questions there. Mr. Minister.

Further Return To Question 1-15(2): Minister’s Comments On Board Restructuring

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, clearly as a legislature we have not come to grips with the specific plans of action for a lot of these broad areas. I indicated to Ms. MacDougall that in fact it was an issue before the legislature and we were still in relatively early days and we hadn't come to any decision on how we wanted to proceed on reviewing that issue, but the intent was to address this issue hopefully in the coming months. So regardless of what approach is taken, clearly it will come before this House. It will be at the direction and understanding of this House how we're going to proceed, and will involve consultation, it will involve clearly accommodating whatever self-government arrangements are currently in existence or will be coming into existence. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 1-15(2): Minister’s Comments On Board Restructuring

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, just in view of how much education and health services do impact people's lives, I wonder if the Minister would commit to this House and to the public to defer any further discussion and work on this until perhaps we could put it on the agenda of the Circle of Northern Leaders meeting that we anticipate we'll be having, so that a broad direction could be set in reference to this as a governance issue. Thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services.

Further Return To Question 1-15(2): Minister’s Comments On Board Restructuring

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the one piece of work that is drawing to a conclusion is the review of the Dogrib Community Services Board. At this point, as I've indicated, we haven't as a legislature agreed on any particular course of action. So clearly we are not going to be moving until that is clear. I, as Minister, will be coming back to Cabinet with the results of the review. We've heard the concern of the Member, and clearly we have some work to do before we're ready to move in any particular direction. Thank you.