Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In June I received a response to my written and other questions to the Ministers responsible for the WSCC and Human Resources. They revealed the extent of penalties we pay for failed safety programs and claims payments, but they also reveal core management issues that need to be addressed.
In July we paid over $500,000 in penalties for exceptional claims and safety management practices last year, with another large penalty expected this year. Looking at the departmental safety and claims records over the past four years, improvements in positive trends are evident for almost all departments.
In contrast to the Health and Social Services department, which declined from 39 percent to less than 1 percent in claims, we have seen no improvements whatsoever in five of our six health authorities. The Sahtu Health and Social Services Authority has remained at a very low level of claims experience. The high claims and lack of progress in this area for health authorities are alarming. For example, the proportion of claims experience at Stanton Territorial Health Authority rose from 1 percent in 2008-09 to 20 percent of our claims in 2011-12; Fort Smith authority from 1 percent to 15 percent over the same period; the Yellowknife Health and Social Services from .1 percent to 7 percent; Beaufort-Delta from 2 to 10 percent, and the Deh Cho from less than 1 percent to 7 percent. It is a small wonder that penalties are increasing.
Who is responsible for managing this situation, or is that, in fact, the essence of the problem here? What I am getting at is the vital issue of control and accountability for a safer GNWT workplace, particularly within our health system. Unlike all departments – almost all departments – our regional authorities are failing to reduce claims experience costs. Does the Minister of Health not have clear lines of authority and control here? If the responsibility of the authorities is the authorities, where is the authority for ministerial oversight required?
Our various departments have had spotty records meeting the legal requirements for health and safety committees. The Minister responsible for cross-government human resources development can provide guidelines to departments, but delivery is the responsibility of each department. Meanwhile, penalty costs continue to mount.
I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Mahsi.
---Unanimous consent granted
We pay penalties as one government, but clearly regional health authorities’ failure to deliver safety programs and manage claims is generating these penalties now.
I’ll have questions for the Minister of Health regarding management of claims for performance by regional authorities. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
