Debates of March 10, 2005 (day 53)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Health and Social Services, further to my statement. Mr. Speaker, I believe, by all accounts, the Women and Children’s Healing and Recovery Program being delivered by YWCA is very well regarded. I believe that the Minister thinks of this program really well, as well.

We have learned lately that this program may be halved in its funding and I know that any kind of decisions like that have been done by mistake. I know that if the Minister knew that this was going to be the impact of his budget cuts, this is not what he would have supported, because I know that Cabinet and government understand that this is a very important program. Could I ask the Minister whether he would be prepared to see if the cuts to this program being proposed could be minimized or less than what is proposed? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 589-15(3): Women And Children’s Healing And Recovery Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There were cuts proposed that were laid out in our business plan and in the draft main estimates; the details which were shared fully with the committees. It was also initially reviewed by the COs and the authorities and we reviewed the areas where we anticipated we could meet the targets that we set as a department.

Mr. Speaker, with regard to the specific cuts to Yellowknife; there were some cuts to the wellness funding, but Yellowknife Health and Social Services has about a $33 million budget. They already inject additional funds over and above what wellness funding is there. There have also been meetings with NGOs in the community, but there is sufficient latitude. If Yellowknife Health and Social Services determines within their global budget that they want to identify funds within that $33 million, they have the capacity to do that. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 589-15(3): Women And Children’s Healing And Recovery Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What the Minister has just stated has always been my understanding, but my information is that the Health and Social Services Authority is not willing to use any of their global budget to enhance this program. I could also tell you, Mr. Speaker, in all of the discussions that we had in Social Programs committee or in any other areas, it was always understood that any reductions that we were agreeing to were monies that were not being used. It was money that -- what is the formal name for that -- was underused. The funding for this program was at $554,000; it was my understanding that the cut would be as much as what was not used last year, but the information that I now have is that the program is being cut by half of what they need.

I don’t know if the Minister understands, but I don’t believe it was ever understood that we would agree to that much of a cut. This program is being cut by half of what they have spent. My understanding was that they were being cut for what they didn’t use. Could the Minister revisit this? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 589-15(3): Women And Children’s Healing And Recovery Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be happy to review and take the concerns of the Member to the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority. As I have indicated, they have already had meetings with the various NGOs and their own officials to look at the targets and the budget figures that we have for the coming year. At the Member’s request, I would be happy to visit that with the Health and Social Services Authority for Yellowknife. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 589-15(3): Women And Children’s Healing And Recovery Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister’s commitment to do that and I think that the Minister understands that the Social Programs committee cooperated with the Minister with regard to many of the budget items. I would be the first one to admit that this was one of them. It was always understood that this program was funded for $550,000 or near there last year and that they only spent $350,000, so we agreed that for any amount that they didn’t spend, we would agree to cut that.

What I am understanding now is that the funding will only be half of the $350,000 needed, which will only be $180,000. Would the Minister talk to the board about reinstating that $180,000? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 589-15(3): Women And Children’s Healing And Recovery Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Clearly, the authority has significant flexibility in some areas when it comes to funding and the $33 million that they administer. They have made some determinations already. They’ve met with the NGOs but, as I just indicated to the Member, I will talk to our department and we will get in touch with Yellowknife Health and Social Services on this issue.

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

Supplementary To Question 589-15(3): Women And Children’s Healing And Recovery Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe the Minister understands better than anyone else how hard it is to manage a health budget. The Minister continuously comes back here for supplementary funding. It is not reasonable to expect a health board to eat up a cost like this. I would just like to get a commitment from the Minister that he would ask the board to find the money from within. If not, would the Minister consider helping them out a little bit?

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 589-15(3): Women And Children’s Healing And Recovery Program

Mr. Speaker, this particular area of reduction, about $900,000 and some, was spread across all the boards and authorities across the Northwest Territories. So I will raise the issue with the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority, but clearly if there is any move on this, it will have to be territory-wide because it would be unfair to assume there would be any less problem or suffering or difficulty in Inuvik or any other authority. However, I will raise the issue with the Yellowknife Health and Social Services keeping in mind that they have a $33 million budget. Stanton has about $60 million and some, so basically there is about $100 million in health and social services dollars located in Yellowknife. This is an overall cut of about $600,000. The board has made the determination of how they want to deal with that, but I will revisit it with the board. Thank you.