Sandy Lee

Well, an administration fee is different than a mark-up. Thank you.

Just in order of questions the way the Member raised it. On chronic disease management, which includes diabetes support, the Member asked if we were spending more money in the Sahtu. I answer that we’re not spending more money, but that is not to say we’re not doing the work, because that is part of our core business. The nurses and health care workers in our communities are equipped to help our people with managing chronic diseases, and diabetes is one of them. We use technology, if necessary, to support that. I am aware, in all of my travels in the Sahtu communities, that they have men...

As I recall, I believe we were talking about a campaign similar to Don’t Be a Butthead and there were some suggestions such as Don’t Be a Bottleneck or something like that. That was about two budget cycles ago. We were working on more investment money under Strategic Initiatives committees, but as the Member knows and the Legislature is aware, we’ve had to curb the money available under those initiatives. So the work that we do on addictions and dangers of alcohol abuse and such is done as part of our everyday business. We were not able to launch a whole new program similar to Don’t Be a...

Mr. Speaker, I don’t have that information right now, but the position is vacant, as the Member is aware. The community has different ideas on how to address community wellness issues. I am open to that proposal. We have written to the chief that we would like to take it to the next level and work with the local leadership along with Sahtu Health Authority. I am very interested in seeing this through. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, we could do that.

Mr. Chairman, I have to go to weeks back when that file was more alive than it is now. I just haven’t had the latest update on that, but I do believe Education, Culture and Employment was spearheading that file. I could say to the Member, you know, frankly, that we are hard pressed to come with new initiatives. I know that should there be choices for the Member to make, he will put this on top of probably lots of other things.

From where I stand, we are under a $36 million deficit. We have restraint in place in every part of our program. There are lots of things that we would like to be able to...

Yes, it’s true that there’s no new money in this budget but our response is that we will put it through the next business plan cycle, which is the way financial business is done.

As I stated earlier, we’ve had three definite infections and two possible other infections. Infection control in hospital settings is an increasing concern nationally. It is a discussion that all of the health care professionals are engaged in. This could break out at any time and the important thing is that we have the confidence in the staff that we have, that they are equipped and qualified and knowledgeable to address that. The public health officer has reviewed the process and we are meeting all national guidelines. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I believe the Member brought up that issue with respect to Beaufort-Delta and we had explained and we followed up on the Member’s request. We follow all of the purchasing rules. We have to follow the contract guidelines. We have to follow the northern preference purchasing policies. We follow all of that. Mr. Chairman, I don’t think that issue is alive. That was brought up way back when and I believe it was resolved. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, the four people that are located in Inuvik help our residents to weave through the NIHB program and some of our staff help with that too. Those four minimum that we could get, I think the Member referred to pan-territorial social marketing project later in the page or did I read that wrong? They are the four. They just strictly respond to our residents’ questions and the application process for the programs under NIHB. I’m sorry; I probably didn’t answer the question correctly. Thank you.