Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. Look, I want these services to continue, obviously, for people in Hay River. They're required services. However, it looks like the new building, then, has been delayed. Is that what I take, because you're here with a supplemental appropriation, that the construction of a new building has been delayed somewhat? Is that what has happened? Thanks.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. There were some delays over time. Again, no delay at this point in terms of the expected May 2021 date, but I would suggest, if I could, to direct it to the deputy minister to speak to the delays, just briefly, that they have encountered in the past getting to today. Thank you.
Thank you. Deputy Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. When the build of the new leased facility was announced, there was a short delay with some of the foundation work, so it did delay the start, but as the Minister has indicated, it is on track to be completed in May 2021. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Are there any other questions? Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes. Just talking about delays there, I think there were some heavy rains which caused some delays with the foundation and then probably some of the cold weather that we had this year. I'd like to ask about the old hospital. If we're looking at the reduction in the number of beds, a smaller facility, does that require knocking down the old hospital prior to starting construction, or will the old hospital be able to remain intact while the new facility is going up? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to make sure I'm understanding correctly. These programs and services that are currently still sitting in their old positions, those are going to be moving into the new building which is going to be opened May 2021, so construction is already under way. I'm not sure if that answers the question, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Member.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess I wasn't clear enough. What I'm talking about is the extended-care facility that we're looking at that is going to go on that property. If we're looking at a smaller footprint, does that require knocking down the old hospital prior to construction of that new extended-care facility? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I will commit to getting that information to the Member. My information before me right now is specific to what is needed to house these services until the new facility is ready, but I'll certainly commit to getting an answer for the interconnection or not as between the long-term care facility and the old hospital. Thank you.
Thank you. Member.
Thank you. No further questions.
Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I am just looking at the $90,000 that is for the wastewater monitoring program. Given that we've recently expanded that to allow for more people to isolate in their community and, perhaps, there will be some future expansions of that program, is $90,000 going to be enough? As this is offset by the federal government, if we need more, do we have the ability to go back to them to get more money, or are we going to be expected to cover any additional costs? Thank you.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. That's an excellent question. As we do look to expanding which communities have people potentially self-isolating, wastewater sampling certainly is one of the ways in which we are protecting citizens. Look, for the meantime, much as when this first rolled out, we were looking to GNWT funds to provide the funding. As the program expands, whether locally or to other communities, as any of the COVID-19 efforts may need to still expand or modify as the pandemic evolves, they are being funded if they need to be by GNWT dollars and we continue to go back and speak to the federal partners about what we're doing, and they remain, I would say, very receptive and supportive. That's probably the best answer I can give, that, yes, we'll continue to go back and we'll see what we get. We've done very well so far, and I've been very grateful for it. Thank you.
Thank you. Member.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I probably know the answer to this, but I'll ask the question anyway: is the Minister ensuring, then, that all of the departments are coding and tracking additional costs related to COVID properly so that we can go back to the federal government and properly characterize how much money it has cost us to deal with this and including the additional special circumstances, given the North's remoteness and lack of basic infrastructure? Thank you.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes. Absolutely, that was something that we really rolled out early, early on in the pandemic. That is the only way we really can tabulate and figure out the total costs, is by ensuring that each department that is contributing to the effort is coding what they are spending that is specific to COVID. That information is what has allowed us to go to the federal government with a clear ask, with an explanation of what we are spending money on and why. Again, we have really done very well and been very well supported, which I think is a reflection on the facts that the departments are, in fact, doing exactly that. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Are there any further questions? Supplementary Estimates (Operation Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021, Department of Health and Social Services, administrative and support services, not previously authorized, $269,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. Supplementary Estimates (Operation Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021, Department of Health and Social Services, not previously authorized, $12,847,000. Questions? Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Turn to page 7, Supplementary Estimates (Operation Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021, Department of Health and Social Services, long-term and continuing care services, not previously authorized, $998,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. This is almost a million dollars, and I'm just wondering: where is it actually going and what is the money being used for? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. This funding was received as part of what is called Northern Bundle 3. Madam Chair, I just want to make sure that I am properly referencing the correct long-term services. Madam Chair, perhaps I might propose that we direct this to the deputy minister, as he might have it handy, to outline that.
Thank you. Deputy Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess I wasn't typing fast enough. The majority of the costs were for infection control measures in our long-term care facilities and also to assist them to purchase PPE and things like that. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Deputy Minister. Anything further? Supplementary Estimates (Operation Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021, Department of Health and Social Services, long-term and continuing are services, not previously authorized, $998,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Supplementary Estimates (Operation Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021, Department of Health and Social Services, out-of-territory services, not previously authorized, $3,458,000. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I am specifically looking at the increased costs for out-of-territory supportive living services. My understanding is that, essentially, this budget line just keeps going up and up as more and more people get placed into southern facilities, and in fact, it has something like doubled in the last five years, the cost of it. I see we have another $1.5 million as more and more patients end up in southern care. Can the Minister speak to what is driving that cost? Are there fewer and fewer of the needed services available here, or are we just simply having more people who require these services? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. What is driving the costs is twofold. Number one, certainly, is in the number of individuals who require that care, and then the second simply being the increase in costs of care. Just speaking briefly to the volume, the volume does go sort of up in increments over time. With respect to the nature, though, of care, I'm not sure if that's the direction that the Member is seeking some information on. If it's that level of departmental detail, if I could just confirm it, then I would suggest that that's actually a question for the department of health.
Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I know the health Minister is well aware of this area, as is the department, that this continues to go up. I just want to flag this as a priority area for review, given the increase in costs, and perhaps there is a way to repatriate more of these people. When I look at the amount of money being spent here, I want some sort of commitment that there has been a review of what is being provided down south versus what we could provide up here for the amount of money being spent here, because, by all projections, it will just continue to climb. I'm wondering if such a review is occurring. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. There is, of course, the sustainability plan that has been put forward just in the last couple of months on behalf of the department of health, and to the extent that this is a significant cost driver, I am quite confident that this will be but one part of the larger investigation into what is driving the healthcare costs. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Any other questions? Supplementary Estimates (Operation Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021, Department of Health and Social Services, out-of-territory services, not previously authorized, $3,458,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Supplementary Estimates (Operation Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021, Department of Health and Social Services, supplementary health programs, not previously authorized, $841,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
