Debates of January 20, 2004 (day 1)

Mr. Speaker, I make reference to my statement this afternoon. My question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services in regard to supporting the people in the Sahtu region in terms of dealing with many of their losses in November and December and just recently, a couple days ago, an elderly lady passed away in Fort Good Hope that the Sahtu people need to be acknowledged and, I guess, to recognize that we’re carving out our own territory. In many aspects of what we’re discussing this afternoon and that we have the resources to reinvest in our people here, we want to develop a model with the department to deal with these sensitive issues, such as losses to our communities.

The question to the Minister is, would he consider meeting with some of the people in the Sahtu to develop a regional model to deal with the crisis and losses in our communities? Thank you.

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 9-15(2): Dealing With Loss Of Residents In The Sahtu Region

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we’ve been engaged in a process now for some months in terms of setting up a separate, standalone Sahtu authority to deal with health and social services. We’re currently in a state of transition, separating from Inuvik. There have been, as my colleagues indicated, a number of unfortunate deaths in the Sahtu, and the staff in the communities have been under a lot of pressure to deal with them.

The Member, as well, has been very persistent in terms of requesting that I come into the region and meet with the community leaders and we, in fact, intend to do that the second week in February with the Member. I’m talking to officials from the Sahtu authority, as well as some staff from the department, and we will sit down and we will talk about what’s possible as we look at how we’re going to structure services in the Sahtu so that they best reflect what are identified as critical issues by the people of the Sahtu. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 9-15(2): Dealing With Loss Of Residents In The Sahtu Region

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess on the short-term notice here, would the Minister consider dealing with the losses in the Sahtu region with our communities? I understand the long-term goals and aspirations are the separate health board for the Sahtu, however, when we’re looking at losses such as what we’re having in the Sahtu and how it contributes to many other areas in someone’s life, we’re looking for some guidance on this issue from this government here to take the measures to deal with it as soon as possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 9-15(2): Dealing With Loss Of Residents In The Sahtu Region

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d be happy to hear the specific suggestions that the Member may have. I can tell the Member that the staff from Inuvik, from Norman Wells and the staff in the various communities have been working extensively with the communities right now to deal with the issues surrounding the many deaths currently happening in the Sahtu. As well, the RCMP have been involved. As the Member has indicated, the communities have been affected. So if he has suggestions over and above what is already being done and the longer-term stuff we’re looking at, I would be more than happy to talk to him so that we could have discussions with the people in the Sahtu and with the authorities in the Sahtu to make sure we’re doing everything possible. Thank you.