Debates of October 27, 2006 (day 17)

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 205-15(5): Impact Of Labour Shortages On Small Businesses

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the big issues that Ministers across Canada are trying to address is how to measure prior learning and the whole field of prior learning assessment, and how to recognize the qualifications that immigrants to Canada bring to the table is not something that we’re struggling with in our jurisdiction alone, but it is a problem all across Canada. I would be quite happy to continue to work on this file. One of the big issues that we have is we have a lot of professions that are self-regulating. It’s been somewhat of a challenge to get some of those professions to come to the table to deal with prior learning assessment and try and ensure that we can see professionals from other regions or other countries come into Canada. But it is something that I’m prepared to keep working on.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 205-15(5): Impact Of Labour Shortages On Small Businesses

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As my final supplementary, there are so many different aspects of this and at the same time this is not new. I’d like to know if the Minister of labour and human resources, if the Minister will undertake reviewing this issue and come up with some sort of discussion paper or position paper for the communities to get engaged in. I think this is a very important area for the future of many industries here where we already have had a lot of people coming from all over the place looking for jobs and such. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 205-15(5): Impact Of Labour Shortages On Small Businesses

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d be happy to take a look at whether or not, I would undertake to attempt in the next couple of months to develop such a discussion paper that would deal with both immigration issues and challenges that we’re seeing in the North as well as prior learning assessment for immigrants and other challenges that they may face and see if there aren’t some ways in which we might work with the federal government to address those. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question this morning is for Mr. Roland, the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, our government, this government, recently advised the Yellowknife Association of Concerned Citizens for Seniors that it has decided not to commit to funding for a new dementia centre in our three-year capital plan. We cited other competing needs, Mr. Speaker, and the bulging costs of construction that are affecting virtually anybody who wants to get anything built in the North these days.

Mr. Speaker, the need for this kind of facility is amply demonstrated. It is not, I would say, and many others are saying, it is not an option anymore. Mr. Speaker, when we return here in February we will be signing off on that three-year capital plan for the Department of Health. Will the Minister take a fresh look at the desperate need for this centre now and book this project in that three-year plan, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 206-15(5): Territorial Dementia Centre Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department has worked cooperatively with the Yellowknife Association for Concerned Citizens for Seniors and we will continue to do so. The department has met with them on a number of occasions, has worked and provided money for the planning, have received a plan for a new facility which is far and above the initial discussions that were put in place. The department has been in contact with them since the news was initially given by the previous Minister regarding the facility itself. As our capital plan works, as we put our plans forward, it is reviewed by this Assembly, as the Member has stated. Any new plan or capital project that is to go into the plan follows the process and then gets ranked and we then deal with it as a budget. Of course, this department has committed to put that plan, put the project back in the capital plan from the Department of Health and Social Services side, but at this time it did not make the cut for the next go around, but we’ll continue to pursue it as an important project to see if we can get it onto the plan. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 206-15(5): Territorial Dementia Centre Funding

Mr. Speaker, what is it going to take to convince the government that this is not something that can continue to be sidelined? The costs of providing care for these people in facilities that are not designed for it is, that is a very real aspect of the fiscal side of this, plus the impact on these people and their families. Mr. Speaker, what else is there in this whole agenda that the government needs to see that will convince it that this must be treated as a priority and not an option?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 206-15(5): Territorial Dementia Centre Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as our process works, each department would put forward its capital plan and then it goes through a capital planning process which meets with seniors' capital planning committee, then through the deputy ministers and then forwarded to the FMB and Cabinet for a decision to build the business plan and present the Members in this House. The department has included it as an important facility. It did not make the cut through the process, so we’ll have to go back to the phase and put it back in. It remains a priority for this government. Ultimately it comes down to the fact that as a government we don’t have the dollars in the capital plan to address all our needs and then it becomes a matter of ranking. If this Assembly feels that there needs to be some other projects put off to make room for this, that is something that can be considered, but at this time it has not made its way onto the capital plan. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 206-15(5): Territorial Dementia Centre Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am well aware and I know my colleagues are well aware of the process. It is the struggle that we’re all engaging in to get those most needed facilities, those most urgent to the top of the process and that’s what we’re engaged in. Now, Mr. Speaker, the YACCS organization has provided an alternative by which they would finance the construction of this facility as an option to the government itself financing it. Is that a proposal that is under active consideration along with our own financing, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 206-15(5): Territorial Dementia Centre Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a number of options were looked at for this facility. Ultimately it still comes down to the fact that even if we enter into a leasing arrangement we have to account for those dollars in the leasing agreement and build that into the plan. Because it is a very specified facility for a very specific group of individuals and people and how that would be served, we would look at that as being a facility that we would rather own than lease. So I know it’s been worked about, discussed. I have directed the department to contact the organization to look at the plan again to see what we could do to come up with an arrangement that would be something that might be able to fit in in the plans as we go forward. A letter has just gone out recently from the deputy minister. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 206-15(5): Territorial Dementia Centre Funding

Mr. Speaker, as we continue then to go along without a facility for these people and at least in the given future, there is certainly a desperate need now for these people and their families to provide home care, day programs, support for this extremely debilitating and devastating situation in their lives. Is our government going to look at establishing and enabling more of this kind of support to go along at least until we have a facility able to care for them, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 206-15(5): Territorial Dementia Centre Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department continues to do its best to provide a level of service for people who are in this area. It is very difficult for families who have to work with their own family members as well as adapting our existing resources to try and help out where we can and we will continue to do that within our existing resources to try and help those families who find themselves in this situation, as well as continue to work cooperatively with the YACCS group to try and come up with a solution that can hopefully meet the needs as we move forward. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’ve shared some information, and again it gets back to my Member’s statement, with a constituent who continues to suffer, not being given a diagnosis yet as to his condition. I have shared that information with the Minister of Health and Social Services. I’d like to again question the Minister on this case. The first question I have, Mr. Speaker, is does the Northwest Territories have a policy to deal with what we would deem acceptable levels for wait times for a diagnosis and subsequently a treatment? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 207-15(5): Medical Treatment Wait Times

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the acceptable wait times and reducing wait times is an issue that all jurisdictions are facing; in fact, working together with the other jurisdictions and the federal government to try to come up with a program that would reduce wait times people face throughout our systems. As for the Northwest Territories, I don’t have the specifics and I’d have to get some detail on that, then I can provide that to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 207-15(5): Medical Treatment Wait Times

Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the Northwest Territories doesn’t have a policy that states quite clearly what acceptable levels of wait times are, then I’d suggest we get one immediately. Because my constituent has been suffering for three years, the Department of Health and Social Services' answer to that is to put him on another wait list to make him wait another two years. it’s completely unacceptable, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, precedent has been set in other provinces across this country where if an individual has to seek medical attention outside the country they do so. When they come back, the cost of the medical treatment for that individual is covered by the province. I’d like to ask the Minister, could he have his staff at Health and Social Services look into this practice that takes place in other provinces? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 207-15(5): Medical Treatment Wait Times

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we already follow a similar pattern and process that other jurisdictions do. If a service is not available in our jurisdiction in the Northwest Territories, then we would set up a process where an individual can receive those services out of our jurisdiction. The majority of patients that move from the Territories, if we can’t provide a service, would go through Alberta, sometimes into B.C. or other jurisdictions. As well, if there are not services available in Canada we would look at providing that service outside of Canada and being covered by our health care system. That is all within the system that is in place, and, again, the approvals have to be made and referrals made by the doctors. In this case it’s not like the individual’s been out there without seeing a doctor. There’s been numerous visits, numerous levels of checks. Unfortunately the wait times in some of these other facilities are high because they are very specific in nature and they're a high level of specialty, and it’s something that we continue to try to work with and come up with a solution. There have been solutions made; unfortunately not to the satisfaction of this individual. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 207-15(5): Medical Treatment Wait Times

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister what steps he, as the Minister of Health and Social Services, can take for my constituent so that he doesn’t have to continue to be on a wait list for a program in Calgary so that he can get some treatment. I’d also like to ask the Minister if in fact he can sit down with his staff at Health and Social Services to come up with a more effective game plan for the treatment of this individual. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. A couple of questions there. The Minister may answer one or both. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 207-15(5): Medical Treatment Wait Times

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the process works for referrals from one doctor to another, one jurisdiction to another, it requires having a doctor in our jurisdiction make that referral. As Minister, the process as established through our professionals is something that I would endorse. As for the department meeting, myself sitting down with the department to look at this specific case, I’ve begun that process to look at this. Ultimately again, as I stated earlier in another round of questions, I would work with the professionals in this field to see what we can do. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 207-15(5): Medical Treatment Wait Times

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This individual’s been in pain and suffering for three years. He’s in the process of going to India, all the way to India, to get treatment for a condition in his back. Mr. Speaker, I want the Minister to make a commitment. It’s been three years and I think it’s an acceptable level of service if that individual has to take that step to go to India when he comes back that this government cover the medical portion of his visit to India so that he can get the help that he obviously can’t get here in Canada. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 207-15(5): Medical Treatment Wait Times

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our process for dealing with patients who cannot receive care in Canada is one that’s laid out. It’s used by other jurisdictions as well. In this case there are programs available in Canada that can be accessed and I’m not willing to go into a blow-by-blow scenario of what’s been done in this specific case. Much has been done and we will continue to work with this case to try and bring some conclusion to it. But, as Minister, I will not intervene and direct our medical staff to send individuals to different countries and so on. I will still be using the established practice that is in place but, as I already committed previously, I will sit down with the department to see what we can do in this case to try and help expedite that. But it’s not a case of not being referred. We have had doctors in our jurisdiction make the necessary referrals to try and help this patient along. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My questions are to the Minister responsible for Human Resources with respect to the Human Resources amalgamation. Just as I was stating in my Member’s statement today, Mr. Speaker, my first question to the Minister is, the affirmative action policy since it was first mandated in 1989, there was a policy in there to put together an affirmative action advisory committee, which was an objective, independent committee that had a gender balance and a racial balance to oversee the operations of the affirmative action policy. I think if that committee was implemented when it was supposed to be implemented, Mr. Speaker, we wouldn’t be here today talking about human resource equity or employment equity in the government. I think the percentage of indigenous aboriginal employees in the government hasn’t changed over the past 10 years. It’s been pretty constant and it’s actually on the decline. The percentage of indigenous in management has also declined slightly over the past five years anyway.

I just want to ask the Minister, is there any appetite for the Human Resources department to set up an employment equity advisory committee that oversees the operations of the Human Resources department to ensure that the policies in that department are being followed up and that the representative workforce that this government is committed to establish is being worked on? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. The honourable Minister responsible for Human Resources, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 208-15(5): Affirmative Action Advisory Committee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Being relatively new to the file, I know that I’ve talked to my colleague, the previous Minister, about the status of this and I understand that he’d gone to the standing committee with a proposal for moving to an employment equity process, but the committee isn’t in favour of that. So clearly we’re in a position where we have to take a look at the affirmative action plan and see if we can come up with something that Members of this House are supportive of, if we’re going to make any changes. As things stand right now, the affirmative action policy is the one that governs the operations of this government and I will certainly look to work with Members of this House to see what we can do to improve on its results. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 208-15(5): Affirmative Action Advisory Committee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t recall the committee, I don’t know if it was AOC or maybe the Social Programs committee wasn’t in total favour of it, but I know the affirmative action policy as it stands today calls for an affirmative action advisory committee to oversee the affirmative action policy and make sure that the government is committed to developing a public service that is representative of the population of the NWT; namely, women in management and indigenous aboriginals in government, in the public service. So I just don’t see what’s wrong with having a totally independent, objective body to oversee the operations of our Human Resources department are to ensure that the government is building our public service that is totally representative of the population. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Not sure if I heard a question. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 208-15(5): Affirmative Action Advisory Committee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I was saying, the government had looked at the affirmative action policy and had agreed that it wasn’t delivering on the results that were expected from it and had looked at other options, including moving to an employment equity position. That proposal was taken to the standing committee and proposed. We haven’t actually heard formally back from the committee, but we had the sense that there wasn’t support for it. If there’s not support for a change in the policy, then we are looking at the existing policy. If there’s a committee that’s called for in the existing policy and that’s what we’re going to continue with, then I’ll take a look at the policy and make sure that we’re living up to its terms. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 208-15(5): Affirmative Action Advisory Committee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Okay. Well, let’s review the policy again and we’ll go over what was mandated in that policy. I’m pretty clear that there was an advisory committee that was supposed to be established. That’s all I’m saying. I don’t see why we would sway from having an objective body to oversee the operations like that. Just with respect to Yellowknife alone, the population of Yellowknife comprises of roughly 51 percent of aboriginal population here and the public service here in Yellowknife only comprises 14 percent of indigenous aboriginals in the public service in a community which comprises 51 percent aboriginals, Mr. Speaker. That’s probably why there’s a lot of people out there that are always, you know, especially aboriginal northerners who are saying they’re not getting the consideration that’s based on their merit or experience or their education…

Do you have a question, Mr. Villeneuve?

Yes. Can we look at setting up an employment equity advisory committee? Yes or no and why not? Thank you.