Michael Miltenberger

Thank you, Madam Chair. I don’t want to quibble with the Member. The change to STI is very, very recent. The numbers of what we are talking about in terms of what used to be STDs have been accumulated for many years when they were called STDs. So the disease label clearly didn’t really hold anybody back from unsafe sex practices, I would submit. Maybe STIs will, combined with all the other work we intend to do. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the Member is correct; we’ve had numerous discussions on this issue and it is, as the Member said, water under the bridge. There were 476 positions affected by the review; 201 of the positions were -- pardon me while I put my glasses on -- re-graded with salary increases, 24 positions were downgraded, 235 positions remained in the same salary range, and 16 positions were new. There were some grievances and appeals filed. There are still about 21 outstanding.

Why did we do this? Because, in my mind, there was pressure from the nurses and in their opinion a...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, those of us at this table are unaware of plans to do any major capital projects. We know there is no money in the budget for that. Yellowknife Health and Social Services may be doing some required renovations, but they are, as well, fully apprised and aware of what is being contemplated in terms of possible consolidations. We will follow up with the chair and the CEO. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, this is another case where technology and the way the world is unfolding far outstrips the legislation and policy that governs the circumstances. We’ve identified two key pieces of legislation. One of them is the Public Health Act and the other one is the Pharmacy Act, which are both significantly out of date and need to be updated. We have the process underway to do just that and there is consultation on the Pharmacy Act. One of the questions that we’re looking at is that very question within the legislation and the legal base that we have to operate on...

Thank you, Madam Chair. There are some general directions laid out in the STI document that was in this House for discussion. It will better guide the services we have in place with nurses and social workers and public health nurses and the folks dealing on the frontlines in the communities with individuals, to be more vigilant and to be more assertive in dealing with the issue of right choices, safe sex, those types of things.

As well, we’ve indicated there is work going on with Education, Culture and Employment to revise curriculum. We have buy-in from the Dene Nation, the Status of Women...

Yes, Madam Chair. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, of course the direction that the health numbers are traveling will be our biggest outcome and are measurable. With regard to over and above what we are attempting to do right now, one of the proposed uses of the federal money is to put an additional $1 million towards prevention and promotion activities to deal specifically with issues related to youth, active living, healthy living, right choices, education on all those critical personal choice items that we’ve talked about extensively in this House. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, there is work going on with Education, Culture and Employment to look at revising curriculum and it is my understanding that the revised curriculum requires feedback and there is a process of input between the departments, the authorities, the DEAs and DECs where the service is going to be delivered and provided. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the numbers I gave the Member are from the current information in the briefing book put together for this process and are the best numbers we have. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, this is a companion issue or a related issue to the issue of the STIs and the statistics that we were talking about in this House as well. The issue of unprotected sex is not just an issue of disease; it’s an issue of unwanted pregnancies. The plan that pertains to STIs will have a direct impact as well when you’re talking to young people both male and female.

The issue of abortion, which deals with the education issue, is an issue that’s dealt with between the doctor and the individual patient. We have no plans to place any strictures on that particular...