Debates of October 25, 2004 (day 27)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Health and Social Services, the Honourable Michael Miltenberger. I would just like to ask the Minister how the government could knowingly allow the re-evaluation of nursing positions at Stanton Territorial Hospital to happen when they knew that it would result in wage segregation to the nurses at Stanton. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The Minister of Health and Social Services, the Honourable Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 291-15(3): Re-evaluation Of Nursing Positions

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health and Social Services of the Government of the Northwest Territories has a very competitive and, I think, progressive pay and benefits package for nurses. We see it as a very positive step, all the work that has gone on in the last number of years, the work with the nursing association and the work with the unions, the work with the government, to come up with a fair remuneration package. So the Member and I have a different point of view on the value and the benefits of that particular issue. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 291-15(3): Re-evaluation Of Nursing Positions

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am just wondering, through you to the Minister, how, under the definition that I have been supplied by the department, does a float nurse, who is required to have the skills, knowledge and ability to work in various specialty areas, not earn as much as a nurse in a specialty area. That does not make sense to me, Mr. Speaker. I am just wondering if the Minister had an answer for that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 291-15(3): Re-evaluation Of Nursing Positions

Mr. Speaker, the intent here is to recognize the complexity of the work in different areas; that a nurse is not necessarily a nurse any more than a pilot is, or that doctors all seem to be the same or remunerated the same. In this case, that is a similar circumstance. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 291-15(3): Re-evaluation Of Nursing Positions

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I mentioned in my Member’s statement that this practice does not happen anywhere else in the country. I am just wondering, through you to the Minister, why is Stanton Territorial Hospital any different than the way they do this anywhere else across the country. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 291-15(3): Re-evaluation Of Nursing Positions

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to think that the Northwest Territories is a very progressive jurisdiction as is the Stanton a very progressive hospital, but it is also my understanding that Newfoundland and P.E.I., as well, pay nurses in this similar way. Every other jurisdiction, in one way or another, recognizes that a nurse is not a nurse; that there are different levels. There are higher skill requirements in some areas. In the work that we did here as a government, no nurses’ salaries went down, but there was a recognition, clearly, that there are some higher levels of skill requirements. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Your final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 291-15(3): Re-evaluation Of Nursing Positions

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that is all fine and good. However, I am just wondering at what value the Government of the Northwest Territories places on education and certification of nurses. From what the Minister said, there really is not a value on education and certification. That is how it is done in other jurisdictions, Mr. Speaker. I am just wondering, to the Minister, what value he places on education and certification for nursing professionals. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 291-15(3): Re-evaluation Of Nursing Positions

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we place tremendous value on the nurses and their skills that they bring to the job, and that is recognized by the way they are paid, the amount they are paid, the value we place on them in terms of other benefits that we give them, the work that we've done to update and modernize the Nursing Act, the way we've moved to bring in nurse practitioners, and the way we are going to move to incorporate LPNs as well. Mr. Speaker, I think the proof for us is demonstrated by our actions and the reality that is there today, when you look at how well nurses are compensated. Thank you.