Lesa Semmler

Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. I'm just kind of confused, just knowing my process now. The main estimates in 2019-2020 were the same as the revised estimates, so there was no supplementary appropriation in that section to my knowledge. I'm trying to figure out what exactly did we spend, or what are we not spending, or where did we cut $2 million out of this budget? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Yes. Looking on page 183, the extended health benefits, can the Minister explain how, this year, they expect it to be less than previous years? Thank you, Madam Chair.

I am just going to ask these two questions, just in regard to the budget. Can the Minister provide figures on paid overtime just so we can get a picture of what we pay in overtime in the health authority for 2018-2019, if we don't have the calculations from 2019-2020? Thank you.

Knowing, within my past experience, looking through the collective agreement, when somebody is here for up to 48 months, they get 100 percent removal. If they choose to stay on past that and sign on as an indeterminate, then there is a removal, and this is what staff look at: the years that you stay within the government, you get so much percentage of removal. When it used to be up to 48 months, if they decided they loved the place that they're living, they would comfortably move into an indeterminate. Can the Minister explain to me why this change was made?

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to know if the department can tell me, in the 2018-2019, just so I can get a picture of what extra costs in overtime the NTHSSA had to come back for, to this government, well, not this government, but the previous government, to ask for, just related to overtime in the NTHSS? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to discuss the nursing shortage in the NWT and how our hiring process is working against us. As someone who is very familiar with the hiring practice in this area as well as the difficulty in staffing healthcare professionals, we need to look at how we do things. In my experience, it's more beneficial to be hired as a locum than it is to sign on as indeterminate. There are also times where staff choose not to extend terms or do not want to take on an indeterminate position, and instead choose to become a locum or work short-term casual contracts because...

There is a line item in that $295 million for estimated overtime? Or is that something that is going to come later? Thank you. Just clarifying, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The $295 million is what operations and staffing for our hospitals, health centres, and that all fall under the NTHSSA throughout the Northwest Territories, just to be clear? Thank you.

No, that's all I have. Thank you.

Thank you. Under this medical travel benefit, I know that we have contracts. Does that fall under this budget? Just to clarify, for Larga and for Vital Abel and for the different homes, does that fall under this chunk of money? Thank you.