Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, much of that is actually legislated. One of the differences between the old system and the new system is, there are actually some lines of clear accountability that never really existed in the old system. In this system, the Minister is ultimately responsible. The Minister is responsible for selecting a chair and board members of the Territorial Authority who are providing some management direction to the operation of the healthcare system, the delivery system.

In the delivery system, there is a COO, or a CEO at the top of the authority who is the supervisor of...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I like it. That's a target, not a definition, but I’m prepared to work with it. We still need a definition of poverty, and I think the Member's point is valid. I mean, that's a good target, but we still need to define what the poverty means in order to meet that target. There are so many different definitions out there, so many opinions, but we have to do it. It's not going to be easy; it's hard work. Like I said, I know the Member is passionate about this, so I'm open to some suggestions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, this is something that we're committed to, and I'm happy to say we've actually had some success in this area. Success that even I didn't actually anticipate that we would see this quickly. Although Hay River is technically not in the Health Authority because of the issues that have been discussed already, through memorandums of understanding and agreement we are acting and they are partnering as if they are.

One of the benefits we had out of that is, although K'atlodeeche was traditionally in the Deh Cho as far as health services, Hay River has been working really...

I'm pretty sure that's a new rule, Mr. Chair, but I'll do my best. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, I hear the Members loud and clear, and there are definitely a couple of recurrent themes in there. Earlier this year the Minister of Finance and I had an opportunity to meet with the Member from Kam Lake and the Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh to discuss budgets and try to negotiate our way forward. At that time we clearly articulated that we agree with committee 100 per cent. The areas of homecare, mental health and addictions, and poverty are areas that we want to invest in. We believe...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are not working at it that way. We are looking at where the priority lies. We need to get the issues done in Yellowknife, because that is where the greatest demand is. The next greatest demand is in Inuvik, and then Hay River and Fort Simpson are about the same. Ultimately, our goal is to have those facilities open and in operation during the year of 2026 or sooner, but, obviously, we need to start rolling these out quicker. Yellowknife Avens is an opportunity that we think we might be able to move on quicker, depending on the results of the business plan.

Then...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, on the homecare line you will see a slight reduction from 2015-16. What it was, was we were actually overspent and we had to seek a supp to cover some of the shortfall. In that fiscal year the budget has been basically the same. It's gone down a little bit this year because we reduced some of our duty travel in the programming to reduce the amount of travel to meet our similar reductions, but we're confident that we'll still be able to provide the same degree of services with that budgeting, with that reduction in travel.

There is a slight increase in community...

Ten minutes?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I had homecare on the brain. What I am referring to is the Continuing Care Action Plan, and I apologize for the confusion, but it is the same thing. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. I am not 100 per cent sure that I understand the question, but I will try to answer the question that I think I understand, if that makes any sense.

Laughter

Listen to everybody laughing over there. The contracts differ because every one of our residents who is going down for residential care in the south  this is where people are often going for permanent stays or longterm stays  really depends on the magnitude of services that they need as individuals, the care they are receiving, so the costs are different for every one of them. We continually, at least definitely on an annual...

I do.