Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from the Deh Cho.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are, can the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs detail what programs and services, whether federal or territorial, that were provided to the residents of Enterprise displaced by last year's wildfires? Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Deh Cho. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks for the question from the Member from the Deh Cho. I don't have a full detailed list, but I can get her a full detailed list. But what we did do is we -- some of the programs and services that were available for the residents, so the federal DFAA was available, or the DAP program for us, the GNWT Evacuation Assistance Program, the Red Cross, and the United Way are just some of the programs that were available to evacuated residents. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Member for that. Mr. Speaker, the Minister has stated in the media that MACA has exhausted all options to support displaced residents who lost their homes and businesses.
Can the Minister confirm if all options have been, in fact, exhausted and also explain what those exhausted options are? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The GNWT has engaged with many federal departments. We've also worked closely with the territorial departments to see what options we have, what avenues we have to work with the residents of Enterprise. We've worked with the Privy Council Office, Public Safety Canada, CIRNAC, and Indigenous Services Canada. Those departments have reached out to all their federal counterparts to see what other options are available for residents. And we've also worked with -- they've also worked with departments such as CMHC for the residents that are affected in Enterprise and Behchoko. Thank you.
Thank you. Any other avenues that have not yet been exhausted within the federal government that may be available to provide support to the displaced residents of Enterprise? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I stated previously here, we did work closely with the federal government. As far as I'm aware, we've basically gone down every avenue that we could. You know, I'm willing to ask the department if there's any other directions we can go in but at the time, as far as I know, we've basically resourced out every federal department that we could to find any assistance for our residents. So I'll work with the Member to see if there's any other options. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Oral questions. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was listening to CBC Radio this morning, and Minister McKay was on the radio talking about the fire season from 2023. And he also spoke about the uninsured homes in that community and they're not able to help them.
So, Mr. Speaker, I'm deeply concerned that the hamlet of Fort Resolution has no fire plan for the 2024 fire season, and we may find ourselves in the same situation going into the 2024 fire season.
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of MACA Jay MacDonald. Mr. Speaker, I'm not sure what are the issues in the last year to put in place a 2024 fire plan. Will the Minister commit to put in place a 2024 emergency fire plan as soon as possible for the community of Fort Resolution? Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I assume this is for me as it related to community emergency plans.
So when it comes down to the emergency plans for wildfire, the communities don't normally in their emergency plans, like the territorial emergency plan, doesn't get specific into an emergency or a specific event. It goes through what to do in that type of emergency. So when it comes to wildfire, that is ECC. So that would be an issue with -- or a topic with ECC.
The community emergency plan that was being worked on here, most recently they had a meeting back in April. There was engagement with the Deninu School, the RCMP, the nursing station. There was one more that was there. But they did have a meeting where they went through the community emergency plan, and that is still being finalized and we're hoping that the community emergency plan will be released here within the next -- by the end of the month, so within the next week or two. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I apologize for getting the wrong Minister.
Anyway, the hamlet of Fort Resolution has one fire truck that needs complete servicing, including all equipment on the fire truck. The water truck also needs complete servicing and not to mention getting a backup water truck.
Will the Minister commit to discuss these issues with the hamlet of Fort Resolution as he's also responsible? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I did ask for an update from the department in regards to the fire truck in Fort Resolution due to being asked about it previously. And the last update I got was that the fire truck located in the community was in working order and is capable of being operated. However, there may have been some confusion with the operators at the time when operating it in an emergency. So the fire truck is there. It's available. It's going to be looked at. In fact, MACA's in the community right now, going to have a look at it hopefully today, and hopefully we should have some news by the end of the week -- or tomorrow, or the end of next week, the status of that truck.
As for the water truck that's in the community, there is one operable water truck in the community working right now delivering residential water. And there is a backup water truck, which most communities don't have, which I was very surprised with. But there is a backup water truck that the community has. It is currently out of order but, as far as I heard yesterday, that the parts had arrived at the dealership in Hay River and is being repaired, and hopefully should be back in the community any time now. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Minister. Will the Minister commit to holding a public meeting with the SAO and the GNWT emergency management officials, local leaders, and community, going into the 2024 fire season and to give comfort to the residents of Fort Resolution? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So as I was saying earlier, the community emergency plan is just being finalized. They have worked with the community -- have done community engagements. They worked with the agencies in the community to upgrade it and update it. So as soon as that is completed, there is a plan to have a community public meeting. And, again, that would probably be within the next couple weeks or so because they're calling for that community emergency plan to be done here in short order. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Final supplementary. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Minister. Mr. Speaker, I just got back from Fort Resolution; I had a meeting with my constituents. And at that meeting, I just wanted to know that if the hamlet of Fort Resolution is getting a new SAO? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We were notified a while ago, a month or so ago, that the current administrator is completing his term. And we have looked for a replacement SAO for MACA, because they are the public administrator, and the individual is agreeing to work there so far and I am hoping we could -- if they haven't been notified, the community should be notified here soon of who's going to be in there working for MACA as the public administrator/SAO. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Colleagues, our time is up. Member from Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to item 7 on the orders of the day. Thank you.
Member from Range Lake has asked for unanimous consent to come up with orders of the day number 7. Any nays? We have a nay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a Return to Written Question No. 2-20(1) asked by the Member from Range Lake on February 27th, 2024, regarding the public sector positions in the Government of the Northwest Territories.
The Member inquired about the total money value of all job positions added to the Government of the Northwest Territories public service since 2019-2020.
The Member also requested a regional breakdown of all job positions added to the Government of the Northwest Territories public service since 2019-2020; the vacancy rate of all job positions added to the Government of the Northwest Territories public service since 2019-2020 by fiscal year; the total money value of all vacant job positions added to the Government of the Northwest Territories public service since 2019-2020 and the approximate length of time job positions added to the Government of the Northwest Territories public service since 2019-2020 have been vacant by fiscal year.
Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table this information.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I also have a Return to Written Question No. 3-20(1) asked by the Member from Range Lake on February 28th, 2024, regarding Extended Health Benefits.
The Member inquired about the changes to the Extended Health Benefit Policy, and I am pleased to provide the following information in response to his questions.
The Member asked for an explanation of the income assessment process to determine eligibility for all benefits, including exact income amounts in dollar values.
To access the new Extended Health Benefits Policy, residents must submit an application that includes their Canada Revenue Agency, or CRA, income statement. This statement will be used to assess and adjust their net income on Line 236000 based on factors such as the region of residence, cost of living, and family size, that includes total number of dependents.
The adjusted income will then determine the benefits for which the individual or family are eligible, as well as any cost sharing arrangement that may be applied.
When applying as a family, both the applicant and their spouse's CRA Income Statements will be used to determine the net income of the family unit. Seniors' eligibility and benefits remain unchanged.
For each application submitted, the Department of Health and Social Services reviews the applicant's CRA Income Statement, determines the region of residence, and adjusts the net income by family size, placing the individual or family in one of 30 income bands in the approved Income Thresholds and Cost Sharing Arrangement.
Each dependent reduces the net income of the family to account for additional family expenses. Then the individual, or family as applicable, will be assigned an income band which will set their cost share requirements for the benefit year.
If a resident's adjusted family income is under the low-income threshold band, they and their family members will be eligible for vision, dental, prescription drugs, and medical supplies and equipment benefits under the Extended Health Benefits Program, at no cost. Medical travel to access eligible dental and medical supplies and equipment benefits is also covered.
If a resident's adjusted family income is above the low-income threshold band, they and their family members will be eligible for prescription drugs and medical supplies and equipment benefits. They may need to pay for a portion of their family's drug costs through a deductible and then co-insurance payments, up to their family maximum amounts. They will also need to pay co-insurance payments for medical supplies and equipment benefits up to a family maximum of $500, $1000, or $1500, depending on income level.
Eligible Persons who have employer or similar plans offering health, vision, dental, or transportation benefits must continue to seek reimbursement from the employer or similar plans prior to accessing Extended Health Benefits.
The income threshold levels and cost sharing arrangement by income threshold band and region will be publicly posted in the near future.
The Member asked for an explanation of the cost-sharing model for residents above the low-income threshold, including defined reasonable family maximums and a list of all eligible benefits.
Eligible residents assessed above the established low-income threshold band will receive prescription drug and medical supplies and equipment benefits and will be required to make a financial contribution towards the cost of these benefits. Medical travel to access medical supplies and equipment benefits will be covered.
Regarding Drug Benefits, the Extended Health Benefits Policy uses the federal government's Non-Insured Health Drug Benefits List as the Northwest Territories pharmacare formulary, with some exceptions.
The total out-of-pocket expenses paid by Extended Health Benefits eligible residents will not exceed 4 percent of the individual's or family's net income.
Regarding Medical Supplies and Equipment Benefits, the Extended Health Benefits Policy uses the federal governments Non-Insured Health Benefits' Medical Supplies and Equipment Guide and Benefit List and Maximum Price List as the approved NWT Medical Supplies and Equipment Benefit list and price list.
A wide range of Medical Supplies and Equipment benefits are available to eligible Northwest Territories residents including hearing aids, bathing and toileting aids, mobility aids, prosthetics ostomy supplies, compression garments, orthoses, incontinence aids, medical supplies, oxygen and respiratory equipment and supplies, and visual aids.
Benefits also include freight/shipping of eligible medical supplies and equipment.
This means that eligible Northwest Territories residents will need to pay a 25 percent co-insurance payment for each eligible Medical Supplies and Equipment cost up to their assigned family maximum.
The Member inquired about how many Northwest Territories residents will no longer receive extended health benefits after September 1, 2024, and requested a regional breakdown of how many Northwest Territories residents will no longer receive extended health benefits after April 1, 2024.
Effective September 1, 2024, the new Extended Health Benefits Policy reduces barriers to access of health-related benefits to Northwest Territories residents who are not covered under the federal government's Non-Insured Health Benefits program or the Metis Health Benefits Policy.
According to Non-Insured Health Benefits data, in 2023 there were 28,000 Non-Insured Health Benefits eligible clients in the Northwest Territories. Additionally, the Metis Health Benefits Policy currently has 1,700 registered clients. In total, approximately 29,700 Northwest Territories residents are covered by these two programs. The residual population is eligible for the new Extended Health Benefits program.
Residents currently accessing benefits under the Seniors and Specified Disease Programs are eligible to apply for benefits under the new Extended Health Benefits Policy provided they continue to hold an effective registration with the Northwest Territories health care Plan. Seniors over the age of 60 will continue to receive the same extended health benefits they currently receive.
The Member requested the total reduction in expenditures anticipated from the changes to Extended Health Benefits after September 1, 2024?
The new Extended Health Benefits Policy represents a change to better align with the key objectives of good public policy: Equity, fairness, and sustainability.
We expect the costs of the new policy, which provides benefits to those that did not previously have access, will be sufficiently covered by cost-sharing and effective drug cost management. These changes are about providing more access to benefits with the available funds. We will be monitoring the costs and the trends in benefit recipients as the updated program rolls out.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Written Question No. 4-20(1) asked by the Member for Range Lake on February 28th, 2024, regarding Private Agency Nurses.
The Member asked for a breakdown of the total costs for agency nurses by fiscal year since 2019-2020. The health and social services system did not start using agency nurses until 2021-2022. For 2021-2022, the total cost was $531,568. For 2022-2023 the total cost was $5,330,579. For 2023-2024 the estimated cost was $4,441,235. This is an estimate as actuals are not yet finalized.
The Member asked for a breakdown of the total costs for agency nurses based on expenditure categories, those being salaries, overtime, per diems, travel, accommodations, performance bonuses, and any other form of remuneration. This information is quite detailed and later today I will table this information.
The Member asked for the total number of nursing staff positions in the public service that could be funded from an equivalent expenditure as on agency nurses. For 2023-2024, the total expenditures by Health and Social Services system on agency nurses was $$4,441,235. The average cost of a registered nurse position in 2023-24 was $143,000. Based on the 2023-2024 expenditure on agency nurses, this was equivalent to 31 registered nurse positions. It is important to note that the need that required the use of agency nurses is a direct result of not being able to fill critical functions. Recruitment efforts to fill all nursing positions is of the utmost importance and continues in a labour market that is both limited and highly competitive across the country.
The Member asked for the total number of registered nurses recruited to the public service since 2019-2020. Later today I will table this information.
And finally, the Member asked for the total number of registered nurses who have been terminated, retired or otherwise left their employment since 2019-2020. This information will be included in the information I will table later today.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
And, Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Written Question No. 5-20(1) asked by the Member for Range Lake on February 28th, 2024, regarding the Municipal Funding Gap.
Increases approved by the 19th Legislative Assembly totalling $5 million to the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs Community Government Funding budgets was distributed according to three Ministerial policies: Operations and Maintenance Funding Policy, Water and Waste Services Funding Policy, and Community Public Infrastructure Funding Policy. While the $5 million investment may not have kept up with the inflation as measured by the consumer price index, the additional funding represented a significant proportion of the funding the 19th Legislative Assembly committed towards initiatives.
To the Member's question regarding the current value of the overall municipal funding gap for the Northwest Territories, the difference between total territorial calculated costs and community government funding for 2023 is approximately $52 million, of which an estimated $18 million is related to general operations and maintenance, $19 million is related to water and waste, and $15 million is related to capital.
The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs acknowledges that the department's budget is lower than the full cost-calculation. However, because the GNWT is not the only source of revenue for community governments, the department calculated costs are not an appropriate measure of community need or a funding gap. The department uses this as a tool to allocate its community government funding budget based on the relative share of that community government to ensure that funding is distributed equitably.
The objective of the policies is for community government funding to be distributed in a fair and equitable manner. The distribution formulas measure the total cost of typical programs and services for all 32 community governments and each community is allocated their proportionate share of the budget.
Each community government makes its own unique decisions on the types of programs and services they offer to their residents and how they will generate revenue to cover the difference between costs and funding provided by Municipal and Community Affairs. Community governments have the same financial realities and challenges faced by all levels of government and must take these into consideration when budgeting and planning for the priorities of their residents. The challenge of sustainable community governments is a shared responsibility across all levels of government. As such, MACA does not attribute any parts of its funding calculations toward inflation. I will provide a summary of funding provided by the department by community once the 2024-2025 Main Estimates are finalized. It is well established that all levels of government are in a period requiring both fiscal constraint and well-planned priority setting. It is important for us to tackle our shared challenges together with community governments and to focus on how we can collectively best serve the residents of the NWT. The department continues to advocate for increased funding to community governments and remains committed to supporting community governments to implement their identified priorities and needs.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following five documents: Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories 2023 to 2027 Draft Inquiry Establishment Order (2023 Wildfire Season Preparedness and Response); Response to Petition 1-20(1): A Ceasefire and End to Canadian Support for the Plausible Genocide in Gaza; Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 23-20(1): Call to Uphold Human Rights in Gaza; and, Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 152-20(1) Public Safety. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Premier. Tabling of documents. Minister of Finance.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following six documents: Government of the Northwest Territories Public Sector Positions since 2019-2020; Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 9-20(1): Home Heating Rebates; Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 19-20(1): Carbon tax Revenues Spent on Climate Change Adaptation; Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 41-20(1): Lutselk'e Road Access; Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 46-20(1): GNWT Carbon Taxation; and, Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 133-20(1): GNWT Policy on Indigenous Hiring. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Finance. Tabling of documents. Minister of Health and Social Services.
