Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’d just like to quickly follow up. As the component the Minister just recognized, one of the largest of the health and Social Services delivery costs, that’s physician salaries and benefits. I’d like to request of the Minister what are physician salaries and benefits in comparison of that with other jurisdictions in Canada, by category, of course. I think that’s information that we’ve expressed an interest in for some time now. I appreciate that we’re managing this talent better and making some good advance on how we’re able to maximize their contributions to really...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will keep it short here. This is my last question. I guess I would ask the Minister to be prepared to give the Standing Committee on Social Programs, perhaps, a briefing on how the department is fulfilling that obligation the Minister made to Members. Mahsi.

Thank you. Moving to page 8-11, Health and Social Services, information item, active positions, health and social services authorities. Agreed?

Thank you. Ms. Meade.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a specific question here in the area of audiology services. This seems to be a perennial topic because we have had such problems delivering these services and I want to ask the Minister where we are at with this in the Northwest Territories, specifically with the positions we have here at Stanton and in the Yellowknife Social Services Authority, if any. Where in this budget are we addressing the gaps and filling them, knowing what we must know by now? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I speak today on the need to maintain Aurora College’s vital Nurse Practitioner Master of Nursing and Introduction to Advanced Practice programs. The introduction to the Nurse Practitioner Program offered since 1989 is a six-week program running three times a year with an average of 12 nurses attending. Graduating nurses gain advanced health assessment skills and techniques needed to practice in remote rural communities.

According to the course instructor, this training has been proven to prevent the sometimes disastrous treatment and cost consequences when “nurses were...

Page 8-17. Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you Mr. Elkin. Committee, again, we are on page 8-18, Health and Social Services, activity summary, program delivery support, grants and contributions, contributions, $17.619 million. Agreed?

Moving to page 8-9, Health and Social Services, information item again, revenue summary. Agreed?

Thank you, Minister. Next on my list I have Ms. Bisaro.