Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Members will have heard of the fantastic progress that Nunavut is making this week towards meeting the need for new locally trained doctors. The federal government Memorial University program will see eight new interns trained in Nunavut; $5 million injected into Iqaluit’s Qikiqitani Hospital upgrading to accommodate the training, and return practice provisions of two years for each doctor. That’s 16 years of committed physician service. Fantastic. Can the Minister tell me what our Health department is doing to bring such bounty here?
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have received the information in that and I am in communication with the federal Minister to see how we could take advantage of such a program.
Thanks for that comment from the Minister. I’ve been in touch with the Minister recently on the case of a trained physician in our community, a doctor who only needs this government’s help to give us a physician for the future. Briefly, she is asking only for this government to arrange an internship here for her. She says she’ll intern in any specialty so that she can qualify and live here with her family, all of whom are committed to the NWT. Today I learned that she has contacted Memorial University with regard to this program and they were very enthusiastic to move her to the front-line of the next round of the inductions to the Nunavut program, which closes April 7th. We have a hard deadline. I know the Minister’s staff is working hard on this. Will the Minister commit to urgent action so this opportunity isn’t stolen out from under our very noses?
I am not able to speak about personal individual situations here, but as the Member knows, we have met on this and I have instructed my staff to follow up. They have been meeting and getting information to evaluate the situation. I am aware of the urgency.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to stress that this is an opportunity that requires an enthusiastic response. Somehow I’m not getting those vibes. I’m looking for those vibes. My constituent has said that the department is concerned with the costs. My constituent is willing to chip in from her own pocket. When I look at the cost of recruiting staffing and moving a new physician, this prospect seems to save us a bundle right off the start. Will the Minister commit to taking these costs into account and applying our savings to this golden opportunity?
We are reviewing all aspects of this file. We are giving it due consideration. I expect to have an answer for him shortly.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. Final supplementary, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have been urging the Minister to get going on this, because I know that it’s an ephemeral opportunity that’s going to walk out the door on us. I appreciate the Minister going after this. I have to ask why this is so hard. Why are we dilly-dallying about when the long-term cost benefits are so clear here? Why aren’t we working these opportunities aggressively when they show up on our doorstep?
The situation is not as simple and clear cut as the Member suggests. It’s complex to evaluate a medical professional and we are consulting with individuals and bodies to help us evaluate the situation. As the Member knows, my staff have made it a priority to meet with the person in question and we are putting in all energy to evaluate the situation. I am going to get back to the Member shortly.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.
