Debates of May 27, 2005 (day 3)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In my Member’s statement I spoke of the transition home in Inuvik having to constantly fight for funding. I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services if he could inform me as to why the Transition House does not receive the full funding allocated by his department to the Inuvik Health and Social Services Board. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Return To Question 35-15(4): Inuvik Transition House Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Madam Speaker, I apologize. What happens is the money is sent from the department, once the budget is approved, to the authorities, then the authorities manage and implement the use of the money. So there are circumstances between the authority and the board and the Transition House that we are trying to sort out so the full amount of money is transferred. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 35-15(4): Inuvik Transition House Funding

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yesterday I questioned the Minister on another matter regarding the Inuvik Health and Social Services Board and it turns out that we were both under the wrong assumption. Would it be possible for the funding to flow directly from his department to the Transition House in Inuvik and not through the health board? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 35-15(4): Inuvik Transition House Funding

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the intent of our whole health and services system is to have a relationship and structure where the authorities and the boards administer and run the programs in the regions on behalf of the people. So in order for us to do that, we have to continue to stay with that process. We are undergoing operational reviews of all the authorities to make sure everything is working the way it’s supposed to be, and these are thorough, comprehensive operational reviews. There is one currently underway in Inuvik that is going to be finished in June and we will be sharing those findings with the Social Programs committee as well as Cabinet, with the goal being as efficient and effective as possible and to deal with issues such as this to make sure that the money that is voted by the Legislature gets to the program area it was voted for. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Earlier in my Member’s statement, I spoke about the need for a dialysis machine in the Nahendeh riding, particularly in Fort Simpson to take care of our elders over there. I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services how can we begin the process of bringing a dialysis machine to the Fort Simpson hospital. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche, for that concise question. The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 36-15(4): Dialysis Services Needed In Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, there is a saying that even a broken watch is right twice a day. Having said that…

---Laughter

…I would like to acknowledge that the Member has a very legitimate concern in terms of dialysis in his region and that I want to publicly state that the Health and Social Services department is going to be working with the authority to make sure we establish those services. We are looking at two communities outside of Yellowknife in addition to Fort Smith; Fort Simpson is one and Hay River is another because there is a need there. There are residents who currently require the service who cannot get it in their home community. The fundamental rationale is we are paying for the service somewhere, either in Yellowknife or Edmonton, and it makes far more sense to have the services as close to the people it serves as possible. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 36-15(4): Dialysis Services Needed In Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I hear the Minister and I am sure glad that the clock is ticking on this important subject for my constituents. Speaking about clocks, what is the timing like in moving a machine over to Fort Simpson? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 36-15(4): Dialysis Services Needed In Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, we are working on this as we now talked in this House. We have had meetings with authorities. We have talked to the department about it. The rationalization to do this is very clear; the rationale is there, the justification. We are working on the planning. We are in the business planning process and we are looking at putting some of our federal funds to use as well when those are finally flowing to us, so we can deal with this issue as quickly as we can. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 36-15(4): Dialysis Services Needed In Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. That’s exactly the kind of answer I was looking for, because I do have to see an elder this weekend. He is one of those captive by this disease in the Yellowknife hospital. Virtually, he’s in his room. So, once again, they will be looking at this. Is there an active team that has been set up in the region to look at the transition of such a machine? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 36-15(4): Dialysis Services Needed In Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. We have spent an extensive amount of time doing this for the first time getting the services outside of Yellowknife into Fort Smith. We have worked out an arrangement with Stanton, with the Capital Health Authority. We have worked on the protocol and procedures. So it should be much more timely. We are working with the CEO and staff in the Deh Cho region, as well as with Stanton and the department and Hay River. We have people who have worked through this process once. So to set it up in Fort Simpson we anticipate will be considerably less onerous than it was the first time.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 36-15(4): Dialysis Services Needed In Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Just with respect to the implementation stage, it’s my understanding that the training might be quite detailed for people who handle the machine. Maybe the Minister can elaborate on how much training is involved, because there is some confusion back home that it’s really quite extensive and some people have to take a lot of time out of their busy schedules to do this training. Perhaps the Minister can elaborate for me. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 36-15(4): Dialysis Services Needed In Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. There is about a six-week training component to get nurses and LPNs qualified and ready to provide this service. That service has been delivered out of Stanton for those individuals involved. Of course, we recognize this as a program expansion in the communities where the service is being delivered and recognize that it’s impossible to expect them to do it with existing resources, so we are moving to make sure that the appropriate resources are there, both in terms of human resources and fiscal resources. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The time for question period has expired. Mr. Krutko.

Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to go back to item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to have two Pages here from my riding. It’s the first time I have had the opportunity to bring them down from my riding. It’s a real opportunity for them to learn how the consensus government works and see how we operate here in the House. I would like to recognize Kayla Arey from Moose Kerr School in Aklavik…

---Applause

…and Jennifer Greenland from Chief Julius School in Fort McPherson. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Premier Handley.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to recognize a constituent of mine, Jim Lynn from Detah.

Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Bill, 3 An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Minister Bell. The motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Education Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Minister Dent. The motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Judicature Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Minister Bell. The motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Bill 6, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2005, be read for the first time. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Minister Bell. The motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that Bill 6, Personal Directives Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. The motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Minister Roland. The motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 9, Municipal Statutes Amendment Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Madam Speaker.