Glen Abernethy

183.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we share the Member's concerns. We feel that these positions are similar to positions that already exist, the adult mental health and addictions, so much of the criteria, the knowledge, skills, and ability to do the jobs is similar. So we are hoping that, given that there are some reasonable comparators, that the evaluations proceed quickly.

Having said that, ultimately at the end of the day they have a tool that they use to evaluate and the evaluators will assess accordingly, but I do share the Member's concerns. We are doing everything we can in the department...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, with me today is Jeannie Mathison on my right, who is the director of Finance, and Mr. Bruce Cooper, for his first time at this table, is our new deputy minister of Health and Social Services.

Yes, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, there are a number of things that obviously need to be done here. I have had a conversation with a large number of leaders in communities across the Northwest Territories and had the conversation about how we get the message out in your community, recognizing that the vehicle in one community might not be the same as the vehicle in the other community. I have had some good feedback. In other areas, I haven't heard too much.

We are trying to reach out. I have directed the authority, through the deputy minister and the CEO, to reach out to the communities to...

The Member is aware that we have processes that we utilize in this Assembly, including business planning, and that we have to have solid business cases if we are going to pursue or ask the Department of Finance and the FMB for additional resources. Currently, until we build that particular case, we are utilizing existing resources from the Department of Health and Social Services. We have identified staff to go and help the office meet their demand and provide work they are doing. All of this is helping us build a business case. We will be submitting the business case during the business...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, like I said, the first thing we have to do is figure out the pension cost of bringing the Hay River into the public service. I agree with the Member. This is something that's incredibly important. It's something that needs to be done. We're hoping to have that analysis done in time for the next round of budget discussions at the FMB level, and so before the next business planning I'll work with the Member. I'll keep the Member informed. I know that he's very interested in this area and, as soon as I know something, he'll know something. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we've really seen the benefits of pooling some of our resources as part of the On the Land Collaborative and getting larger, more comprehensive programs out there. I know Justice has been involved in different programs in the past. I'll absolutely endeavour to make sure that that information is shared both with the Minister and the deputy of Justice. Should they see an opportunity to come in and benefit from that collaboration, I'm sure they'll certainly explore it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we did have, I think, a fairly detailed public presentation on this area with the standing committee. Basically we're in the same position we were then. We need to get this budget approved, at this point we will begin to establish positions, get the job descriptions written, get them evaluated, and then pursue staffing. We are reaching out to schools right now to try to find people. If the schools have people who are qualified who are doing similar work now, we are certainly absolutely open to equivalencies. Hopefully we will get some of the existing people to...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents entitled "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 73-18(3): Alcohol Harm Reduction Measures"; and "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 114-18(3): Medical Travel Coverage." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.