Chris Puglia
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 06/02) - Almost a month behind schedule the GNWT recruitment and retention strategy is expected to be made public next week.

The strategy, which has been under development since the end of summer, is intended to offer solutions to help solve the NWT's ongoing staffing difficulties.

Staffing problems have caused significant problems at the Stanton Territorial Hospital, including the temporary closure of the intensive care unit and problems with scheduling in the obstetrics and surgery wards.

Miltenberger said he recognizes that the promised strategy is behind schedule, adding the delay is an effort to ensure "due diligence."

"For us to put a document on the table and say here's our recruitment and retention strategy, if we haven't taken the time to consult the nurses...the union...allied health care professionals... MLA's...(and) the social program committee, then the issue wouldn't be what's the content, it would be the process. Then they would shoot it to doll rags just because of the process and we want to avoid that. We want to take our time and we want it to work and that's what we've tried to do," said Miltenberger.

The minister wouldn't comment about the details of the strategy except that it would require additional funds.

"I can't make any public comment on the cost until cabinet has the chance to look at it and make some decisions," he said.

Miltenberger said there will be some tough decisions made to fit any new or additional funding into the budget with a deficit expected this year.

"We're going to take all the steps necessary to make sure our system is competitive and encourage people to stay and make them want to stay because it's a good place," said Miltenberger.

-- with files from Nathan Vanderklippe