Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services if she is aware of a rating system that rates all hospitals in Canada. If she is, could she tell us where the U of A sits on that rating? I think they sit at the top.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t have that information. I’ll be happy to get that information to the Member. My understanding is that U of A and the Government of Alberta are investing a huge amount of money to make the U of A and the University hospital a centre of excellence and research in the country.
I realize we’ve had an unfortunate circumstance here, but I do want to say, too, that I have constituents who have received medical services through Capital Health Authority and thought that if they moved to Edmonton, they would get better service. They found out it was better to move back to the Northwest Territories, where they were given a priority status when receiving services at the U of A.
For the Minister’s information, the London, Ontario, and Edmonton, Alberta, university hospitals are the top two rated in Canada. I guess I’m just a little bit concerned that maybe with the rich economy in Alberta, they might decide to give us the heave-ho hearing a discussion like this. I mean, they’re very busy with their own people, and they have a lot of money in Alberta. It’s one of the richest provinces in Canada now.
I’d like to know: has there ever been any tone from the negotiations with the Capital Health Authority that maybe they’re just too busy to take us on?
In light of the Member’s statement, I have to say I was quite surprised when I went to the FPT Health Ministers meeting to hear the Alberta Health Minister talking about the pressure on their system. They spend more money than anybody else in the country, but they have a growing population and a huge demand on services.
Obviously, the Minister took some drastic measures to address that. I don’t know the details of the government’s plan, but I took every opportunity I had to let him know of the importance of that Capital Authority and Alberta service in delivering health care services for the North. He’s well aware of it, and he assured me that if they were ever to contemplate any changes, he would talk to and consult with us.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 9, written questions. Item 10, returns to written questions. Item 11, replies to opening address. Item 12, petitions. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled NWT Business Development and Investment Corporation 2006–2007 Annual Report.
Document 104-16(2), NWT Business Development and Investment Corporation 2006–2007 Annual Report, tabled.
I wish to table the following document entitled GNWT Response to Committee Report 3-16(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2006–2007 Annual Report of the Languages Commissioner. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Document 105-16(2), GNWT Response to Committee Report 3-16(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2006–2007 Annual Report of the Languages Commissioner, tabled.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, Minister’s Statement 80-16(2), Tabled Document 93-16(2), Bill 14, Bill 15, Bill 16 and Bill 17, with Mr. Krutko in the chair.
