Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Feb 04/02) - Mirroring the federal provincial health-care debate, the territorial government is negotiating to retain some control over health care with regions who want more power to deliver their own health.

Land claims and self-government negotiations are at different stages across the territory and some regions have a head start creating independent wealth.

After self-government this could mean richer regions will have the resources to invest in health care, creating a multi-tier system in a territory of 40,000 people.

Unlike the prime minister, territorial Health Minister Michael Miltenberger does not believe in a strong central government, but a smaller more flexible centre.

"The days of the centre dictating the way it should be doesn't work any more," said Miltenberger.

But even if Miltenberger was a centralist the territory's regions would have none of it.

Miltenberger said he needs "soft hands" to strike a balance between the interests of each region and the interest of equitable health care for all residents in the territory.

"We have the processes in place," said Miltenberger.

The department already funnels $147 million from a $200-million budget into regional boards.

The Thebacha MLA resident sees his background playing a vital role in the way he approaches the department's role in the future of the territory's health care.

"I am from a small community and I have an interest in keeping a balance," said Miltenberger. "There is a role for the centre and an important role for the communities.

Sharing the financial wealth regions will reap is vital if the territory's health department wants to get off the federal begging line, said Miltenberger.

"(Health is a) big underlying focus of the intergovernmental forum so we can get our fare share of resources," said Miltenberger. "So we don't stand cap in hand in one the biggest resource storehouses in Canada."

Big provinces like Alberta and Ontario want to loosen restrictions on privatizing the delivery of health services.

Alberta is planning to raise health-care premiums and de-list some of its public services on the heels of a report commissioned by its government.

The territory is currently negotiating a new contract for health services with the province. The two have not negotiated services since 1996. Miltenberger said he expects costs to rise.

Over the last five years the territory sent around 2,000 patients for treatment in the province. In 2001-02 the department spent $9.1 million on medical travel from a health-care budget of $200 million -- 22.8 per cent of the territory's total budget.

Despite its close ties with the province, Miltenberger said he is not pulled by the privatization gospel.