Glen Abernethy

Thank you for this opportunity to appear before Committee of the Whole to present the Department of Health and Social Services’ main estimates. The proposed operating budget for 2014-2015 is $391.929 million, which represents an 8 percent increase from the current fiscal year.

This budget includes $19.1 million in forced growth and $16.5 million in key initiatives. The initiatives increase our investment in a number of areas that target priorities identified by the 17th Legislative Assembly.

Our system continues to face many challenges, including fiscal sustainability, an aging population...

Mr. Speaker, I’ve committed to having the department do a review of the ISDM with respect to the mix of professionals in our smaller, more remote communities and I’ll do that. We do need to be clear: all these communities do receive support and do receive health care services from the Department of Health and Social Services and its associated health and social services authorities. Colville Lake, by way of example, has a CHN in there for three days a month from Norman Wells and they do have community health workers, so there is some level of support there.

We are trying to enhance our ability...

I know the Member doesn’t want to hear the same old same old, but the truth is we can’t put a nurse in the community on a permanent basis unless there’s an RCMP in the community, but I am interested in finding solutions and I’m sure there are solutions. If we work with the community, I’m sure we could find a balance that will give them the support and the coverage they need.

I have had an opportunity to talk to the public health nurse who goes in there on a regular basis and she talks about her interactions in the community and the good work that’s happening there, and I am interested in...

The services for air ambulance in the Northwest Territories are currently up for a request for proposal. It is being overseen by a fairness commissioner. The fairness commissioner will ensure that all aspects of this process are fair, transparent and equal to all. As a result, I will not talk about this contract or this proposal at this time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that number is 10: Sachs Harbour, Tsiigehtchic, Colville Lake, Jean Marie River, Kakisa, Nahanni Butte, Trout Lake, Wrigley, Wekweeti and Enterprise. So 10, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. An RFP is currently out for air ambulance services in the Northwest Territories. It is being overseen by a fairness commissioner. As a result, I will not speak publicly about this tender at this time. Thank you.

A number of the health promotion activities that we are undertaking indirectly address some of the consumption of sugar. I’m not sure and I can really speak to the specifics of whether we have programs aimed just purely at sugar, but I will get that information for the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We haven’t passed the Health and Social Services Professions Act. We are doing that work now. Our focus to date has been completing and drafting the bill, as this is critical in advancing profession-specific regulations. This legislation will identify and include criteria for the development of regulations, which is what we are talking about here.

As the Member knows, the top priority for regulations under Health and Social Services Professions Act, which we will move forward immediately after conclusion of the bill, is emergency medical services providers, licenced practical nurses and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Based on the reality that we have high rates of diabetes in the Northwest Territories, I would say our rate is high. I’m agreeing with the Member. Unfortunately, I don’t have any statistics available on hand to indicate what the consumption of sugar is in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

There are a number of different things that happen depending on the location you’re at. The NWT Community Counselling Standards Manual has a standard on crisis intervention, which would respond to crisis situations similar to suicide or attempted suicide. The standard identifies suicide protocols and procedures for action to be taken, documentation and screening, such as the mental status examination and suicide risk assessments. So those happen in the community if somebody presents with an attempted suicide. The manual also includes suicide prevention resources that an individual may access.

W...