Communities fear losing powers
Dehcho health authority speaks out against regional health boards being absorbed into super board
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Thursday, April 30, 2015
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Communities don't want to lose power in health and social services, a committee of Northwest Territories MLAs heard in Fort Simpson last week.
Jim Antoine, public administrator for the Dehcho Health and Social Services Authority, speaks from the audience in a committee meeting April 22 in Fort Simpson. Government representatives were touring the territory soliciting feedback on Bill 44, an act that substantially increases the health minister's powers. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo
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"People want to have a stake in the system," said Jim Antoine, public administrator for the Dehcho Health and Social Services Authority, from the audience.
Politicians were in town to hear feedback on Bill 44, an act that would make the health and social services system operate as one unit.
"It will allow for the establishment of a single territorial authority for the entire health and social services system by amalgamating regional health and social service authorities and the Stanton Territorial Health Authority," said Glen Abernethy, minister of health and social services, in opening remarks for the standing committee on social programs.
Under the new system, the territorial authority would be governed by a board of management composed of chairs of regional wellness councils. Committee members noted that the bill substantially increases the health minister's power.
"There has been an expansion of ministerial power in this bill," said Daryl Dolynny, Range Lake MLA.
Antoine said the concern he's heard in the community is people don't want to be amalgamated.
"People in the community would like to be involved in a board or advisory council," said Antoine.
"They don't want Yellowknife to grab the power away."
Much of the discussion at the meeting revolved around how the regional councils would be composed.
"The question we have in this bill is the issue of positions being elected or positions being appointed in some of these senior roles," said Dolynny.
Meanwhile, Frame Lake MLA Wendy Bisaro admitted she didn't understand some of the bill's wording.
"In terms of the regional councils, I don't really understand yet what the minister is really proposing," she said, wondering how councils would be populated and what area they would represent.
"Those things are not hard and fast."
At one point she asked Antoine if people in the community wanted the Dehcho Health and Social Services Authority to remain separate.
"We don't want to get sucked into another region," responded Antoine.
The committee will use these concerns voiced at the meeting to advise the government on the bill as it moves forward.
