Glen Abernethy

I’ll call Committee of the Whole back to order. Prior to the break committee agreed that we would review Tabled Document 66-16(5), NWT Capital Estimates 2011-2012. First we’ll go to Mr. Miltenberger for opening comments.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. I’ll go to Minister McLeod for a response.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Is committee agreed?

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am well aware of the costs associated with running an individual through the program. I know the program covers a portion of the salary, but it also covers some training O and M. But I guarantee you it is not $750,000 for one nurse. If there is only one nurse in the program, I see no reason why we can’t have any intake on that program immediately. I would like the Minister to commit to reviewing the program and if there is only one employee or one nurse enrolled in the program, I want her to commit to having an intake immediately to put some people in that program.

The...

I’ll go back and read Hansard, but I’m pretty sure I’m talking about some action, not just a request for some information. I’m asking the Minister to commit to actually taking one of the medical travel officers back, putting him in that vacant office as part of the transition plan. If eventually we want that person to move out because we want to move to a phone and digital service, that’s fine, but help us understand and build a transition plan so it’s not a turn off of the switch, it’s not a no service from service. So will the Minister commit to putting somebody back in that office?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our face-to-face services for medical travel have been critical and expected, especially where language and communication barriers exist. Up until now the medical travel office has been located in Stanton on the main floor directly across from the intake booths, which has been a great location especially for individuals coming in from out of town, from the small communities, the grannies from Nahanni who wish to have actual communication with the medical travel office. Now it’s gone. Now we’ve moved it behind locked doors, security windows, and there is no face-to-face...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I look forward to working with the Minister on that. I understand this base issue and I’m glad the Minister brought it up, because it’s my understanding that they’re taking the medical travel out of there, which is a face-to-face and has traditionally been a face-to-face sort of service, and instead they’ve put the director of medical services in there, which isn’t a face-to-face service type position. In fact, the services that that director is responsible for is ophthalmology, clinical services and medical travel, all of which are out of Stanton. So why did we take a...

I’m quite happy to hear that. I’m glad that the information is going to be sent to them. I’m more interested in getting a commitment from the Minister that she will have Stanton implement a comprehensive transition plan. Given that there is an empty office out there and I saw with my own eyes that there was nobody in there, it was completely vacant, no sign of anybody using that, I think it would be good if the Minister would commit to bringing back one of the medical travel officers and putting them in that office for a transition period to give the people an opportunity to transition from a...