Lesa Semmler

Sorry, Mr. Chair. Just trying to get that. Are you asking -- I'm going to have to get back to the Member unless he can clarify which line item are you?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, anybody who's leaving the Northwest Territories has health care coverage. Like, we have agreements across Canada that if you have your health care card and you can prove that you have health care insurance in your home province, you can have access to health services, insured health services anywhere in Canada. But you also have to be aware that some of the things that we cover in the Northwest Territories are not covered outside of -- in some provinces so those things, you may be billed for. And medical travel is not something that -- you know, that's not...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's currently ongoing right now. So that's the process, and that's what we're hoping that we will be able to phase out, the use of agency nurses, you know, in that area. And so it's currently -- we had a forced growth submission, and that's in this budget. So we're hoping that, you know, that will support that -- those additional nurses in that unit. But we are actively doing that training and I think recruiting, and I think there are LPNs now being trained into that unit. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. So the labour market supplements, those ended March 31st and I think to the Member, you know, there's only so much I can talk about those because we're in collective bargaining right now and so that's a reduction that will, you know -- what comes out of collective bargaining. As per the COVID endemic funding, that sunset funding, I can turn it over to the deputy minister to fill you in with more details in that area. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think as of right now for aftercare, what we have is the budgeted for THARP. Up until now, I don't believe we -- you know, we provided wellness, you know, for homeless and things like that but we haven't had fund up until this budget for aftercare, and that is where the THARP program falls into that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is no policy for helping residents return home in the case where a resident has been travelling in another province, anywhere in Canada, anywhere in the world. Like, if the patient -- or if the person has left the territory on their own, there is no policy that covers that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That agreement expired on March 31st, and that agreement was decided during an urgent need, during COVID, and so it's now part -- you know, I mean, now there's collective bargaining on, and so that's as much as I can say about that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is the area where there is some sunsetting funding, so from some federal funding. There were a number of programs -- a number of sunsetting funding that's equivalent to that, which was $6.5 million. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I hear what the Member says, to keep putting more money in here but, you know, Members keep asking for more stuff we keep needing more money. But no, you know, and I think one of the things that I will say is that, you know, within the department, it is -- there are many things that haven't been budgeted, you know, and they -- I guess for health, knowing in the health authorities, this is all the frontline workers. So when we think about health centres, when we think about, you know, staffing the units, making sure that there's always -- like, it's not a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in-person appointments for urgent referrals within the Northwest Territories and telehealth appointments will continue with the staff that we do have. Services will be maintained for students with priority needs. But we also, I want to let the Members know, that NTHSSA and the department are working together with the Department of ECE as they explore ways to support the learning needs of children who may be impacted by the reduction of school speech and language and OT services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.