Bob Bromley

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.

I assume that holds for how long the program has been going too. Jurisdictions that have had this, as I mentioned in a Member’s statement several days ago and I profiled the advances and benefits that have been achieved with programs like this, I am wondering have we an evaluation program in place. If we do, when can we get the results on that and, if not, can we get that in place? I think, again, possibly this is our single biggest opportunity for savings and gains in both lives and consequences. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Minister Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciated the Minister of Health and Social Services’ commitment almost a year ago when we passed our resolution on the Anti-Poverty Strategy for her department to play a key role in an NWT-wide Anti-Poverty Strategy. I realize the Department of the Executive is the lead, but I am wondering how the Minister is directing her department to play a key role on this strategy and what sort of work is happening towards that. Mahsi.

Thank you. I appreciate the Minister’s comments, all of them, and also his commitment to consider that. I think it’s a good suggestion to work with the City and this could be done through the Capital Area Development Plan Committee. So I think that would be a great opportunity to reduce the cost as well. The City may be willing to participate. Can we expect that this would include, of course, the most energy-efficient LED lighting with the appropriate shading to make best use of the light as well? Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate those remarks. I hope we can deal with this fairly straightforwardly and get a consistent message out there to those 30 or so patients.

My last question, Mr. Chairman, is on pharmaceutical expertise within the department. I understand that we have vacancies. There are some challenges there. What are those positions that we have on staff that require the pharmaceutical expertise and where are we in terms of vacancies and getting those positions filled? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I discuss the government’s response to the recommendations to the Child and Family Services Act review. In a nutshell, I am disappointed. Of 73 recommendations, 10 are rejected; 28 accepted conditionally read yes, but no change required; and 13 accepted in principle read yes, but no money. The detailed responses offer obtuse and often quibbling comments claiming that the recommended actions given such priority by the committee are already in practice or implicit in the legislation.

Anyone who sat through those exhaustive, emotional public hearings must wonder how...

I don’t disagree with the Minister and I think it was a solid principle. I know there is a number of ways that have been contemplated for addressing it but I just want to make sure that it is addressed in this coming fiscal year, because I think it was something that everybody did agree to and I think there probably is some coverage, at least for pharmaceuticals out there to help everybody in the Northwest Territories and perhaps that information is getting out there.

On the question of pharmaceuticals, I wonder if the Minister is aware that in the Canadian negotiations with Europe right now...

Thank you Mr. Chairman. My first question is, though I recognize we have come a long ways in our extended health benefits discussions and that the grandfathering that was provided in the past has been dropped as of I believe this April, or maybe it has been already, and I am wondering if we know what sort of savings that will provide. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m just about there, but I don’t think things were clear yet on that last question and I’m interested in that too. The $79 million provided to hospital services for primary and secondary emergency care by physicians in hospitals is obviously much greater than the $47 million referred to on page 8-21. I would just like to get clarification on whether that $79 million is for physician services or not, including or excluding fee-for-service. Thank you.