Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. During my fall constituency tour, residents and communities are very concerned about the potential changes to the structure of our Deh Cho Health and Social Services. Rumour has it that the Minister and the Department of Health and Social Services are contemplating major changes since the health board was not reappointed in March of this year. The plan, we hear, is to have a new CEO appointed in Hay River, and then this individual would then run both the Hay River Health Board and the Deh Cho Health Board. This is incredible.
Communities and regions want more autonomy, not less. My leaders and constituency are asking for information and consultations on this. When Health was devolved in 1988, it was the worst of all Aboriginal communities for authority and autonomy. Hence, the creation of our health boards; and this has worked very well up to this date.
In fact, I as the MLA have never been officially briefed on this plan. Now that I have heard from my constituency, I stand here and let the Minister of Health know that I unilaterally oppose this plan.
This change makes no sense. We cannot continually strip responsibilities and authorities away from our communities and send it to a community that has no idea how small communities operate.
I know, as a seasoned MLA, how government operates. If this was allowed to go through, it won’t be much longer and they would want to centralize more responsibilities, which means my region and communities will be losing jobs.
I cannot imagine the infinite wisdom that went into this plan. A constituent of mine said there is no hope that this is the right thing for taking care of our health needs in the Deh Cho. You cannot and will not take this responsibility away from my communities.
Later today I will be asking the Minister of Health – as my colleague Mr. Dolynny said, the man with the plan – when will he put an end to this one. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Blake.
