Debates of June 7, 2006 (day 7)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I just want to ask the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources and Health and Social Services a question just referring back to October last year when the Minister has committed, as a department, to do a review of the health and social services arrangement that they have with the Yellowknife Health Authority as far as the relationship with people of Deninu Kue. I just want to know what the status of that review is and, if it's completed, is it available for public consultation? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the review was done. They are just finalizing the consultation with the communities. They've been in there with the various stakeholders and trying to set up meetings with the community leadership to go over the content of the review and the recommendations that were made, and I'd be more than happy to get a copy of that for the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess back in October during the session the Minister said that he would commit to the Member that this review would be done in the first week of January. I'm hoping that it probably was done in January sometime, and that was four months ago. The community consultation; is there any specific dates that the Minister can tell me and my constituents when they're going to be in the communities to do this consultation, because it's already four months past when the review was supposed to be completed. When do we start the consultation process, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that consultation has been underway. They have been meeting with various groups, individuals and organizations in the community. The one group that they were having some difficulty getting it all together was the actual community leadership comprised of the chief and the mayor and the Metis president. But they have been working on this and we're going to finalize the report, but they were going over the recommendations as well as the content of all the interviews and work that was done. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The most important people you want to consult with in these communities seem to be the ones they haven't touched base with yet. I'm sure that the Minister has probably met with the Yellowknife Health Authority and gone over some of the recommendations of the review. Maybe just for the public record and for my constituents' peace of mind, what were the views of the Yellowknife Health Authority so far as the overall recommendations that the review recommended? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I haven't seen the final draft. I know that the work's been done, as I've outlined. But I haven't seen the final draft and I am waiting for that to come across my desk. There has been extensive efforts made to connect up with the leadership and I do believe that if they didn't do it as a group, they've managed to meet with them individually. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Your final supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister is in the same boat as I am. It's a review that was done four months ago; he hasn't seen it and neither have I. The leaders haven't been consulted; it hasn't been shared with the community yet. Can I just get some kind of a commitment, a statement from the Minister from his department to say that, yes, we are going to move forward on this and we are actually going to go in the community sometime hopefully soon and bring in a public document in the community and hear everybody's concerns on what some of those recommendations could be? Could we get some kind of a timeline when that's going to be completed? It's already four months overdue, Mr. Speaker. You know, how long does it take to travel to Res? It's only half an hour away, you know, by plane. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 74-15(5): Health And Social Services Review In Deninu Kue

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there has been extensive community consultation and I indicated to the deputy minister and the folks involved to keep contacting the community leadership and if we can't get hold of them, track all the efforts we've made to in fact get hold of them. So I will check with the department, but I will commit to the Member that I will have a copy of that report for him and for myself so we can go over it together before the end of this week. Thank you.