I am just going to ask these two questions, just in regard to the budget. Can the Minister provide figures on paid overtime just so we can get a picture of what we pay in overtime in the health authority for 2018-2019, if we don't have the calculations from 2019-2020? Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister, do you have that detail available?
Thank you, Madam Chair. I just quickly looked it up, and I am able to share some of the numbers. Overtime costs include both overtime and lieu time that are paid for 2018-2019. The Department of Health and Social Services has paid $143,000 and change. The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority has paid $8,629,000 and change. The Tlicho Community Services Agency has paid $796,000 and change. The Hay River Health and Social Services Authority has paid $962,000 and change. Thank you.
Thank you for that detail, Minister. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Last question: can the Minister provide me with the number that it costs to pay for job shares and travel associated within these departments for the 2019-2020 year, if she has that? Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. It's $686,000.
Thank you. Anything further, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes? If there is nothing further, then we will move on to page 186. This is the active positions summary. Are there any questions on page 186? Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I just wanted to know, with the child and youth care counsellors that the territory is anticipating adding to all of our regions, with the recent developments of COVID and the anxiety and added mental health concerns that this will cause for the children of the Northwest Territories, is there an added emphasis to get these positions all in place across the territory quicker? Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Other than we are actively recruiting, I don't know anything further, but I can look to Deputy Minister Cooper to see what the impacts would be. I hear what the Member is saying. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Deputy Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. It is still our plan to advance with the four-year child and youth care counsellor rollout. We're just finished year two. We're at the beginning of year three. I believe the plan is for the needs for year three, for rollout, will be considered as part of the supplementary appropriations review process.
Thank you, Deputy Minister. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Should the Minister hear from her colleague from the department of education that there are substantial concerns coming out of schools about kids really struggling with the new COVID world, is the department willing to speed up the process of putting the child and youth care counsellors into schools across the territory? Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. When we initiated that project, we did it in a phased approach. Right now, we are in a phase where we're looking at expanding by region. We have heard a lot of positive feedback. It's a partnership with Education, Culture and Employment and health, where we are providing some funding, but the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and the schools are able to utilize extra supports. However, we are ensuring that children are getting good services. It also includes virtual options. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Are there any further questions on page 186? Seeing none, we will now move to page 187, lease commitments. Are there any questions on this information item? Seeing no questions on page 187, we'll go to pages 188 and 189, which is work performed on behalf of others, pages 188 and 189. Are there any questions on these pages? Seeing no questions on these pages, we will now return to page 163, the department summary. I am going to call the page. Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. I have one quick question that I would like to ask the Minister about. What is happening with the regulations to prohibit the sale of vaping materials to youth? I am sure the COVID stuff has, maybe, put a delay in that, but it was a very, very important issue when the changes to smoking legislation was brought forward in the last Assembly. I think it's something that we have to deal with and we still need to deal with quickly. Can I get an update from the Minister? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The vaping regulations came into effect at the end of March, so our department is still looking forward to move in consultations regarding the banning of vaping flavours at a later date. We do have to go out and consult, and that is where we are at right now. We had planned for the end of March; however, COVID interrupted. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Any further questions? Go ahead, Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. Can I respectfully suggest that you probably really don't need to do a lot of consultation? There was extensive consultation during the development of the bill itself. Juul Labs, the vaping industry was there; the health folks were there. There was vigorous debate and discussion, presentations. People know it's coming. Can we please just get on and do the right thing for our youth? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I hear the Member's concern. I have heard it on the floor several times. I agree. I am all about making changes. However, the process is still for us to do consultation, so that is what we will do. We could look at ways of speeding it up, if that's what it takes. I see the Member nodding, so I am assuming he is quite happy with my answer. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. That was a lot of white teeth. Are there any other further questions for this department? Seeing none, I am going to call the page. Health and Social Services, operations expenditures, total department, 2020-2021 Main Estimates, $522,011,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, Members. Thank you to those witnesses who have appeared before us. We will ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort them out. Thank you. Members, what is the wish of committee? Mr. Norn.
Marsi cho, Madam Chair. I move that this committee defer further consideration of the estimates for the Department of Health and Social Services at this time. Mahsi, Madam Chair.
Mr. Norn, I don't think that's possible. We just passed this department.
My mistake. Sorry, Madam Chair. I move that we rise and report progress.
Thank you. The motion is in order. The motion is non-debatable. All those in favour? Are any opposed? Thank you, Members. The motion is carried.
---Carried
I will now rise and report progress.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee has been considering Tabled Document 30-19(2), Main Estimates 2020-2021. We have completed the review of the Department of Health and Social Services. We need to pass a motion to say that we're done with this. I recommend it be concurred with. Sorry, I'm a bit short on details.
The motion is in order. Do we have a seconder? Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. All those in favour? All those opposed? Any abstentions? The motion is carried.
---Carried
Orders of the day for day 25, Monday, June 1, 2020, at 1:30 p.m.:
Prayer
Ministers' Statements
Members' Statements
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Returns to Oral Questions
Acknowledgements
Oral Questions
Written Questions
Returns to Written Questions
Replies to Commissioner's Address
Petitions
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Tabling of Documents
Notices of Motion
Motions
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
First Reading of Bills
Second Reading of Bills
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
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Tabled Document 30-19(2), Main Estimates 2020-2021
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Bill 6, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act
Report of Committee of the Whole
Third Reading of Bills
Orders of the Day
Thank you, Madam Clerk. This House stands adjourned until Monday, June 1, 2020, at 1:30 p.m.
---ADJOURNMENT
The House adjourned at 1:45 p.m.
