Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, these questions are for the Minister of Health. I'd like to ask the Minister who funded the two medical worker positions. Was it new funding through this government, or was it reprofiled from within existing Hay River Health and Social Services budget. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority has been able to fund these positions with internal funds at this point but that they are looking for a longer term solution to continue funding the medical social workers. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, that's my understanding that they were reprofiled and that the positions are probably only going to be for one year maybe. And I'd like to see, I guess, multiyear funding for it. So I'm hoping that, you know, the Minister will look at that, and I'd ask her if the department is actually looking at funding for those two positions so that they are ongoing and multiyear. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't have information on what the department has for an ask. I haven't seen that yet. But it's very unusual for us to offer a position like that for only one year. It's also very difficult to recruit people for a job that's only for one year. So my expectation is that the department is looking at other ways to fund this on a permanent basis. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, considering that these are medical social worker positions, will they be considered, I guess, more of an outreach service allowing for the workers to actually meet clients outside of a hospital setting. Thank you.
Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a better description of these positions is adult social workers, adult services social workers. So my understanding is that the operational situation for the two when they are hired is to have one available at the health centre and one who is doing outreach. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me whether these positions will be under the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority or under the NT Health and Social Services Authority? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, these are Hay River Health and Social Services Authority positions.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
