Debates of October 18, 2006 (day 10)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I am going to begin discussing a very important issue and that is the state of health care here in the Northwest Territories. This, for me, Mr. Speaker, will be a recurring theme over the next three weeks. A guiding principle for any politician is they always strive to do their best to represent their constituents. I take this principle very seriously and that’s why, Mr. Speaker, I must stand up in this House today and say that I do not believe that we are, in fact, doing our best.

Is it fair or right that the Premier and the Members of this House are allowing the Minister of Health and Social Services to do double duty and also be responsible for the portfolio of the Environment and Natural Resources? In any other jurisdiction across this country, the Minister of Health is the Minister of Health and that is their sole responsibility. What does this say about our commitment as a government to our residents’ health and well-being? Why is our government different? Why is this not so important to us as it is in other jurisdictions?

We spend close to 30 percent of our annual budget in Health and Social Services and the best we can do is have a Minister that is half time on the case and half time on the environment. Mr. Speaker, our residents deserve better and as a Member of this House I deserve better. Is this fair to our front-line health care workers who are struggling with numerous staffing issues and management who are not intent on listening? Is this fair to my constituent who has been living in chronic pain for three years waiting for a diagnosis and is no closer to help today than he was three years ago?

Mr. Speaker, last week I met with 17 constituents, all of them health care professionals, who had some very distressing and disturbing issues that they brought to my attention. These issues are occurring at Stanton Territorial Hospital. Now, more than ever, we need and deserve the Minister’s undivided attention to correct the problems. These problems, Mr. Speaker, are eerily similar to those of 2002 when the Minister said that the problems would go away after an operational review was done. I’d like to know if any of the recommendations included in that review were in fact ever followed up on. Judging by the current state of affairs at Stanton, I would say no.

If the Premier and the rest of Cabinet can’t sort out priorities and responsibilities, then perhaps it’s time that the Regular Members on this side of the House help them do that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause