Debates of May 23, 2024 (day 14)

May
23
2024
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
14
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, Mr. Edjericon, Mr. Hawkins, Hon. Lucy Kuptana, Hon. Jay Macdonald, Hon. Vince McKay, Mr. McNeely, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Morse, Mr. Nerysoo, Ms. Reid, Mr. Rodgers, Hon. Lesa Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Mr. Thompson, Mrs. Weyallon Armstrong, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Mrs. Yakeleya
Assembly Members
Topics
Member’s Statement 155-20(1): Supporting Families with Disabilities
Member’s Statement 156-20(1): Liquor Tax
Member’s Statement 157-20(1): Mackenzie River Water Levels
Member’s Statement 158-20(1): Residents Affected by Enterprise Wildfire
Member’s Statement 159-20(1): Inadequate Housing in Mackenzie Delta
Member’s Statement 160-20(1): Health Care Workers
Member’s Statement 161-20(1): Aurora College
Member’s Statement 162-20(1): Hamlet of Fort Resolution Fire Plan
Member’s Statement 163-20(1): Carbon Tax
Member’s Statement 164-20(1): Education
Member’s Statement 165-20(1): Supports for Senior Citizens
Member’s Statement 166-20(1): Eulogy for Roy Joseph Mouse
Minister’s Statement 32-20(1): Mandate of the 20th Legislative Assembly
Minister’s Statement 33-20(1): Notice of Budget Address
Motion 26-20(1): Appointment of Ombud
Motion 26-20(1): Appointment of Ombud, Carried
Motion 27-20(1): Referral of Tabled Document 67-20(1): Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories 2023 to 2027, to Committee of the Whole
Oral Question 154-20(1): Status of Aurora College Transformation to Polytechnic University
Oral Question 155-20(1): Liquor Tax Regime
Oral Question 156-20(1): Carbon Tax
Oral Question 157-20(1): Affordability of Seniors Housing
Oral Question 158-20(1): Collaboration with Indigenous Governments on Mackenzie Delta Home Renovations
Oral Question 159-20(1): Adult Literacy in the Northwest Territories
Oral Question 160-20(1): Notices of Assessment Collection for Income Assistance Clients
Oral Question 161-20(1): Fuel Resupply for Northern Communities
Oral Question 162-20(1): Nurse to Patient Ratios
Oral Question 163-20(1): Supports Available for Residents of Enterprise
Oral Question 164-20(1): Supports Available for Hamlet of Fort Resolution
Return to Oral Question 62-20(1): Consultation with Members of the Legislative Assembly on Policies and Strategies
Return to Written Question 2-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Public Sector Positions
Return to Written Question 3-20(1): Extended Health Benefits Policy
Return to Written Question 4-20(1): Private Agency Nurses
Return to Written Question 5-20(1): Municpal Funding Gap
Tabled Document 71-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 152-20(1): Public Safety
Tabled Document 77-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 133-20(1): Policy on Indigenous Hiring
Tabled Document 85-20(1): Additional Information for Return to Written Question 4-20(1)
Tabled Document 86-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 12-20(1): Children’s First Society Funding
Tabled Document 88-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 105-20(1) and Oral Question 112-20(1): Municipal Funding Gap
Tabled Document 91-20(1): Speaking Up for Fairness – 2023/24 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Ombud
Statements

Return to Written Question 4-20(1): Private Agency Nurses

Speaker: Mr. Glen Rutland

Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Written Question No. 4-20(1) asked by the Member for Range Lake on February 28th, 2024, regarding Private Agency Nurses.

The Member asked for a breakdown of the total costs for agency nurses by fiscal year since 2019-2020. The health and social services system did not start using agency nurses until 2021-2022. For 2021-2022, the total cost was $531,568. For 2022-2023 the total cost was $5,330,579. For 2023-2024 the estimated cost was $4,441,235. This is an estimate as actuals are not yet finalized.

The Member asked for a breakdown of the total costs for agency nurses based on expenditure categories, those being salaries, overtime, per diems, travel, accommodations, performance bonuses, and any other form of remuneration. This information is quite detailed and later today I will table this information.

The Member asked for the total number of nursing staff positions in the public service that could be funded from an equivalent expenditure as on agency nurses. For 2023-2024, the total expenditures by Health and Social Services system on agency nurses was $$4,441,235. The average cost of a registered nurse position in 2023-24 was $143,000. Based on the 2023-2024 expenditure on agency nurses, this was equivalent to 31 registered nurse positions. It is important to note that the need that required the use of agency nurses is a direct result of not being able to fill critical functions. Recruitment efforts to fill all nursing positions is of the utmost importance and continues in a labour market that is both limited and highly competitive across the country.

The Member asked for the total number of registered nurses recruited to the public service since 2019-2020. Later today I will table this information.

And finally, the Member asked for the total number of registered nurses who have been terminated, retired or otherwise left their employment since 2019-2020. This information will be included in the information I will table later today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.