Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For 61 years the Conference Board of Canada has been a think tank, providing research advice on economic trends and organizational performances on public issues.
Knowing what the Conference Board of Canada has given the Northwest Territories government, what is the Department of Health going to do with this D minus? Are they going to accept it or are they going to dispute the D minus given to this government? If they choose to dispute it, which specific areas are they disputing? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister of Health, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the intents or purposes of the Conference Board of Canada’s How Canada Performs report is to provide decision-makers with tools and assessments they can use to help improve their system. We are going to take these recommendations that have been provided by the Conference Board of Canada to help improve the system. As I’ve already indicated to the Member and to the House, we are doing a number of things here to improve the results for Aboriginal people as well as all people in the Northwest Territories. We will continue to work with our Aboriginal partners, our Aboriginal health and community wellness division, to make these positive changes for all of our people. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would kind of like to hear the answer whether the department either disputes the findings of the Conference Board of Canada or accepts them. If they dispute them, I think Northerners need to know what areas they are disputing and they also need to know the truth of the matter.
Does the department accept the fact that it has received a D minus, which is barely a pass? Thank you.
As I’ve indicated previously, there are large disparities between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people across Canada. The reported health outcomes in the report are partially due to the proportionately larger Aboriginal population that we have in the Northwest Territories. The health outcomes are measured using assessment tools for health outcomes, not health care systems. Mr. Speaker, we are not challenging these results, but we are taking them in the intended from which they were provided. They were to provide us with an opportunity and tools to help improve our system. We are addressing the recommendations. We are reviewing the recommendations to make improvements here for all residents of the Northwest Territories.
The Minister has just said they are not challenging the results, so let’s get it on the record.
Does the Minister accept that the Government of the Northwest Territories Health Care Program has received a fair mark at a D minus? Thank you.
We are not challenging the Conference Board of Canada’s assessment of D minus for health outcomes here in the Northwest Territories. We acknowledge that the health outcomes for our Aboriginal people are less than our other residents in the Northwest Territories. This isn’t something that we’ve been hiding. Members in the House have been very clear about the challenges they see in their communities. We’ve been working with Members and we will continue to work with the Aboriginal governments. We have made improvements such as the Aboriginal health and community wellness division which is working with all the communities in the Northwest Territories on individual community wellness plans to start addressing the root causes of some of these health outcomes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister says he’s not challenging them. It sort of sounds like they are accepting the results the government has received of the barely passing mark of D minus. A D minus is a reflection of the department, its leadership and its management, and I would like to hear how this government is going to change this D minus mark and turn it into an action plan that delivers results specific to the areas targeted and identified by the Conference Board of Canada.
May I remind this House, this is an organization that has been in Canada for 61 years providing good advice, non-partisan advice for guidance of governments like ours. Thank you.
The Member keeps talking about the health care system, but I do need to remind the Member that the Conference Board of Canada’s report, How Canada Performs, is a snapshot at a point in time intended to provide governments with recommendations on how they can improve their systems by providing a snapshot. Health outcomes, once again, are measured using 10 indicators that recognize or evaluate health outcomes, not the health care system. We have to deal with the root causes and here in the Northwest Territories, and today I have clearly articulated that many, many actions and activities that we, as the Department of Health and Social Services, in cooperation with our partner departments, are working towards improving the health outcomes of residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
