Debates of August 20, 2007 (day 13)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated in my Member's statement today, we are very pleased to have two nurse practitioners practising in Hay River. But in a recent meeting with our nurse practitioners, Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention, our attention, that there is a level of support that is provided to other nurse practitioners in the Northwest Territories. Granted, our nurse practitioners work for the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority, which is under a different regime and under a different union than the rest of the NWT health care system. But having said that, it escapes me why the same support and interaction and networking would not be available to the nurse practitioners in Hay River as it is to every other nurse practitioner in the North. I'd like to ask the Minister firstly today, what is the support for professional development and resources that is ongoing currently available to nurse practitioners? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 155-15(6): Support For Nurse Practitioners

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the Nurse Practitioner Program there are a number of areas that we are working on. One is through the education progress through Aurora College, setting up a program so we can have nurses enter into that program and receive bursaries. The other one is more through the process itself of once we have nurse practitioners in the system, and I must say that Hay River pioneered, I guess, with the processes. They hired the first nurse practitioner that came out of our program and has continued to work in that environment. We are, within the system, going through some growing pains where we're trying to find the proper fit for nurse practitioners throughout our system and we'll continue work with nurse practitioners in all of our authorities, including Hay River Health and Social Services Authority, in that area. The networking side of it, as well as the conference side, I've been informed that the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority falls into that program and works with all other authorities in the same area. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 155-15(6): Support For Nurse Practitioners

Well, that is -- Thank you, Mr. Speaker -- a bit curious, because there are conferences, there are professional development workshops and things that are available, but apparently there is no funding under the health and social services authority in Hay River to allow our nurse practitioners to access things like that. There's no money for travel, accommodation, any tuitions or fees for workshops, there's no money for resources, books that they may need in order to enhance their practice in Hay River. So I'd like to ask the Minister, is he aware of any specific contribution to the budget of the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority that is specifically allocated for that type of thing? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 155-15(6): Support For Nurse Practitioners

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm not aware of a specific budget line that is transferred to the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority, but I've been informed by a public administrator down there that they're working with the senior management to encourage the networking that needs to happen throughout our system. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 155-15(6): Support For Nurse Practitioners

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as with so many health care providers and professionals right now that are in short supply and in high demand, there are recruitment and there are retention bonuses that are offered. Are there any such incentives or inducements being offered to other nurse practitioners in the Northwest Territories right now that are not being offered to ours in Hay River? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 155-15(6): Support For Nurse Practitioners

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in our process, there would be a bit of a difference between through the Government of the Northwest Territories workforce and the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority workforce, because both would, if there are, and I'd have to check to see if in fact there are some differences, but because there are negotiations through their negotiation processes, there may be some differences, but I'm not aware of any and I will look into that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 155-15(6): Support For Nurse Practitioners

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do appreciate the Minister's offer to look into that, because we have been dealing, for some time in Hay River, with the issue of fairness and equity. Although we are an anomaly with our own health board and our own union -- we're different in Hay River -- at the same time, we want to make sure that we are not at a disadvantage when it comes to the professional development, the recruitment, the retention and wage parity, and parity on every level for our health workers in Hay River. So I would like to ask the Minister if he will assure us and that he supports the concept and the philosophy of fairness and equity to all health care providers in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 155-15(6): Support For Nurse Practitioners

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this issue around the health and social services authority and the workforce there has been one that has come up from time to time as it is in an anomaly in the Northwest Territories health care delivery system. It is something I do believe we need to look at. The fact is, through the department, through the Nurse Practitioner Program, the training initiatives, we're trying to incorporate all authorities into the same training criteria and standards as well as the networking that's available. So we'll continue to push that and work on that. But I think, as I had stated I believe earlier during a number of questions from the Member, that the Government of the Northwest Territories does need to look at overall what's the best way of delivering health care to all the residents in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.