Michael Miltenberger

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, this is indeed a very sensitive, crucial area. There is capacity in Stanton on the long-term care side, as well as other facilities I have been in that have capacity with families who may have an individual, as the Member indicated, who is dying and where there is capacity for the family to be together where it is set up to be as comfortable and as soothing as possible so that the family can be supported along with the individual. In Stanton, as I indicated, the capacity is there and since we have the public administrator here, I’ll ask if he would...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the process has been for the CEO in the Sahtu to work with the CEO in Inuvik. They have been working not only on the delivery of services, but on being able to finalize the transfer of administration of services so that the Sahtu is basically self-contained. I understand that very recently, they believe they have reached the point where they should be able to do most of that transfer by April 1st. As the Member knows, we are going to be staffing the CEO position in the Sahtu. If we can fill the remaining few positions that have been left to run the...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, when dealing with individuals, often assumptions are made based on behaviours. There are times, depending on when alcohol was ingested by the mother, when there may be some clearly visible features that are indicative of an individual with FASD which would be a clear indication of what may be at issue with this individual. But the Member is correct that there are assumptions made that the high number of FASD people are individuals that there may be in the Northwest Territories, but there isn’t a lot of testing done.

On the time frame for the partnership to...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I can commit to provide to the Member, through the Social Programs committee, the usage numbers for the Telehealth sites we do have, as well as the existing communities, those who are on the books for this year and coming years. I can show them what we are projecting with the funds we have available. I will commit to share that with committee. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, once again, we’re aware of the committee’s recommendation and we’re going to be looking at responding to that. I would also, as I did in committee, point out that we have been dealing, even though it may not have had the label FASD, I would suggest for generations now that we are in the midst of it. We are becoming more aware of it. There’s more and more effort being put into the research side. We’re just heading down next Friday to meet with the Pacific Northwest FASD Partnership which is comprised of the three territories, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department over in Centre Square is working with the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority. Those are two major players in the health and social services system. The board is responsible for services in Yellowknife, and the Department of Health and Social Services, which has oversight and responsibility territorial-wide, is working with the SideDoor. They are there in good faith and they are there to try to work with that operation to see if they can establish a program for youth on the weekends. So I think the fact that they are at the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is a facility in town called the SideDoor that has been providing services to youth, and it’s my understanding that the department and authority are working with the SideDoor to look at a weekend program for youth that will help address that issue. They have targeted the weekend nights as the most important time for that service. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have, as I’ve indicated, a number of initiatives underway that are going to address the quality of care and access issues in Yellowknife. With regard to the Member’s assertion that he’s heard this rumour, I’m not in a position in this House to speak to that rumour. I have not heard that. I know what arrangements we do have with the doctors and I do know all the many plans we have underway to address the quality of care in Yellowknife. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of wait times in Yellowknife is one with a number of components. The Member is correct that when we switched from fee-for-service to salary, the number of patients seen did drop. We have added doctors. In addition, we’re also looking at some of the other complexities; for example, the fact that the doctors are employees of the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Board, but spend the majority of their time working at Stanton. We’re looking at how the emergency room is structured. We’re looking at the possibility of integrating the three downtown...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is correct; housing for staff has been an issue, but the marking initiative, phase one, saw five units moved into Norman Wells. I understand that there are eight units this coming year to assist with the shortage. Hopefully that will help in the staffing of these remaining six positions. Thank you.