Debates of August 16, 2007 (day 11)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask my questions today to the Minister of Health and Social Services. It’s following up on the issues of space use of the hospital and other health care facilities in the city. Mr. Speaker, we know about the master plan of the Stanton Hospital that’s been in the works for years but it hasn’t really moved that far, but they’re having other activities happening. There have been major renovations at the Frame Lake health care facility there, in Great Slave, and there’s also a major initiative to consolidate Yellowknife clinics, but what is happening I think is that there has not been adequate consultation or at least the people are not aware of this facility and why what’s going to happen to it and how it fits into the master plan or how it fits into the hospital. I’ve had health care professionals, as well as the users, asking or making suggestions about how to do this better. So I’d like to ask the Minister to give an update as to what the department has in the works in terms of consultation and public input process? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 135-15(6): Public Review And Consultation On Consolidated Health Clinics

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct that there is work done on this and part of the problem is we’ve worked with a lot of organizations, the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority, Stanton and other groups, but a lot of the work has been done quite some time ago. The idea of the consolidated clinics has been on the books for some time within the department looking how we can proceed with this and if there’s an opportunity to move it forward. It goes back into an annual basis where when we do our budget planning, if we don’t have a contract let on a facility, all of our projects go back into the mix and get re-evaluated. At this point, we’re back into the business planning session and we have to make our arguments once again how to proceed and go on that basis. So right now there’s more discussion on that, looking at what options there are and we’ve made some investment in the number of clinics trying to do some of that work up front, but there is much yet to be done and we’re still a ways away from that as we continue to plan and proceed on that front. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 135-15(6): Public Review And Consultation On Consolidated Health Clinics

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t know if the Minister is aware of this, but the last information I received, probably early in the summer, was that Yellowknife Health and Social Services Board, which I believe is the driver of consolidating Yellowknife clinics, was going to set up a steering committee that would look at this consolidation of Yellowknife clinics. Part of their responsibility was to find a space whether to build a new space or to use existing space, but the important point I got out of that was that there was going to be a steering committee. I would like to ask the Minister if he would talk to them to make sure that that steering committee will include a meaningful consultation process from the users so that everybody could have a say on what is to happen to these consolidated clinics. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 135-15(6): Public Review And Consultation On Consolidated Health Clinics

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as stated earlier, we will work with the appropriate bodies in place to try and come up with a plan on how we can proceed with this project and how, in fact, we can do that. That is why the work is being done in the manner it is. We would consult with the appropriate groups to ensure that there is input gained as we go through this whole scenario. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 135-15(6): Public Review And Consultation On Consolidated Health Clinics

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not clear what the Minister means when he says "we," because I am assuming that is the Government of the Northwest Territories, but my understanding is that the driver of this project is really Yellowknife Health and Social Services Board. I believe there is a distinction. I am going to ask the specific question again to the Minister. Would the Minister commit to asking the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Board to provide us with the information on what the terms of reference or the work plan and consultation plan is with respect to this project as soon as possible? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 135-15(6): Public Review And Consultation On Consolidated Health Clinics

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When I say "we," ultimately, working with the Health and Social Services authorities and when we talk about infrastructure dollars and how we proceed in the delivery of service in any community, the department gets involved in that process. Of course, different authorities take the lead on a number of initiatives. In this case, the Yellowknife Health and Social Services is the lead on this initiative, but, as a department, we are definitely plugged in on that and we will work with them. We will pass on the information. As we proceed, we would, being the department, make presentation to committees as we proceed down this path. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 135-15(6): Public Review And Consultation On Consolidated Health Clinics

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just to be more specific, I believe that the government has already approved money for this, so this sort of plan should already be in place, really. Could I ask the Minister to get back to us as to exactly how the stakeholders such as doctors and other people who are going to be providing services and the users' specific information on how they are going to be consulted as to what is the best way to do this consolidated clinics in its relation to the hospital and other health care facilities that is going to be the key component of service delivery? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 135-15(6): Public Review And Consultation On Consolidated Health Clinics

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will get more detailed information so that I can provide it to the Member. As the Member stated, a lot of work has been done. This is not a new idea. Yes, as a department, we have allocated what we think would be the necessary amounts, but we haven’t, as I stated earlier, as we go through business plans, unless we have a contract initiated and dollars approved by this Assembly, we have to go back into the whole plan and the mix and then justify our plan as we proceed forward. But I will get the latest information and provide that to the Member. Thank you.