Debates of February 20, 2024 (day 6)

Topics
Statements

Question 55-20(1): Territorial Regional Wellness Councils

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I had mentioned the review on regional territorial regional councils. My first question to the Minister of health is can the Minister explain the governing structure of the Territorial Leadership Council and the regional wellness councils? Mahsi.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Member from the Sahtu. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in I think when like the Member said, in 2016, I think we transferred into the territorial NTHSSA, and they are governed by the leadership council. So the leadership council Board of Management is made up of regional wellness council chairs. So every region in the Northwest Territories that used to have a board or an authority amalgamated into the NTHSSA, and then they created regional wellness councils. So the regional wellness councils are basically the advisory council for that region but their chair is the member that sits at the leadership council which is the governing council, the management for the NTHSSA, and then they have a chair and all of the members are appointed by the Minister that sit there. And so that's the makeup of the NTHSSA governing council. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks for the reply to the Minister. My next question there, Mr. Speaker, is looking at the structure and how to update that from 2016, will the Minister conduct a governance review of the TLC and regional wellness councils to review on recommendations for updating this current system? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, and a review has been done. I think it was a recommendation from the 19th Assembly that a review be done on this, and there was a review done. It was finalized late in the end of the last Assembly and so the department right now is working the department of health is working with NTHSSA and the Department of Finance to review and analyze the report and its recommendations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister share that review with this side of the House here so we can see what work has been done and what policy recommendations, particularly the recommendations themselves, to the review? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned, it is my intent to share this review with to share this review publicly. I think right now what we're doing as a department is taking the review and reviewing it with different pieces with the recommendations that have been provided, and then we'll be sharing that publicly. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When?

Well, Mr. Speaker, as I got elected and got my portfolio and had my last briefing before I arrived here for session, session will be completed the end of the month, and then I'm hoping that I, myself, the NTHSSA, my department, the finance department, will be able to have a fulsome review of the recommendations and the report and then we'll be able to get that information out to the Members and to the public. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.