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Oral
Questions
June 2, 2008
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| In the House | Question
Period
MS JONES: Mr.
Speaker, Island Aggregates recently ceased operations
impacting 150 of its employees. The company has three
divisions, a construction division, a ready-mix cement
division and a limestone operation.
I ask the Premier today: is
government considering any loans to any part of this
operation or this company at the present time?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural
Development.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. TAYLOR: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
Actually, the company has
four divisions as I understand it, the other being a
trucking division.
Mr. Speaker, we have been
in contact with the company. As I said last week, we had
senior officials in my department meet with the company.
The Member for Humber Valley has met with officials from
the company and workers. We have been looking at the
situation to try and determine if we can be of any
assistance to the company in the form of offering advice
and guidance to help them get through this situation. We
are particularly concerned about the loss of 150 to 200
positions in this region.
Mr. Speaker, at this
point, I would have to say that from a loan or loan
guarantee perspective we think it would be very
difficult to go down that road.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
We are aware that the
Department of Transportation and Works last year let two
particular contacts to this company, one for roadwork on
the Trans-Labrador Highway, the other one for some work
on Riverside Road, I think it is, on the West Coast of
the Island.
I ask the minister today:
What impact will the financial
difficulties of this company now have on these
particular contracts getting completed in this season?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MS WHALEN: Mr.
Speaker, they do indeed have two contracts with
Transportation and Works. We have with that company an
insurance called Performance Bond, and we have notified
those people and the projects would have no impact. They
will be done.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Mr.
Speaker, we are also aware that the provincial
government has a five-year agreement with Island
Aggregates’ agriculture division to supply farmers
with agricultural limestone. I think in the media today
we have heard of a number of farmers who are looking for
limestone in the Province.
I ask the Minister of
Natural Resources: What were
the terms of that particular contract and how much of
the money in that contract has already been let to this
company?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MS DUNDERDALE: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
I do not have that
information at my fingertips here in the House, but I
would like to share, now that I am on my feet, that we
have not been able to identify another source of
limestone for farmers within the Province, but we have
been able to identify another source in the Maritimes.
That limestone will be moving tomorrow to Newfoundland
and should not hang up at all farmers’ preparation for
this growing season. We are looking at ways that we can
deal with the additional financial impact this might
have on farming operations.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
I am pleased to hear the
minister’s answer because we were looking to see what
emergency measures would be in place.
We understand that there
are about 75 to 100 farmers who may be impacted
immediately by this, and we also understand from our
discussions with them that importing limestone from one
of the other Atlantic Provinces - primarily the example
they used was Nova Scotia - they could see a jump of
about six times the cost to them to acquire that
particular product.
I ask the minister today:
what programs will you put in
place to offset this additional cost knowing that it
will not make their operations viable if they have to
pay six times the cost for that product?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MS DUNDERDALE: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
We have been working on
this problem over the weekend. The cost is actually
closer to three times the cost. The limestone from the
Maritimes will cost about three times more than the
limestone purchased here on the Island. We already have
almost $500,000 in our Budget, Mr. Speaker, that we use
to help subsidize the purchase of limestone by farmers
here in the Province. We are now looking at ways to
increase that budget to cover off deficiencies that
might occur as a result of this situation.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave.
MR. BUTLER: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
Over the past few weeks I
presented numerous petitions from residents in the
Torbay area related to the new proposed route for the
Torbay Bypass Road.
I ask the minister: have
you examined this proposal and are you willing to make
any of the changes that they have requested?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MS WHALEN: Mr.
Speaker, I have met with a committee from the Torbay
area that have expressed the concerns to myself and my
officials, and we have made a commitment that we will
review that file again. That file has been ongoing now
for thirty years and we have heard many concerns from
the area. Right now the best route that I have been told
is the route that is now proposed, but we are indeed
reviewing that file again.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave.
MR. BUTLER: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the minister for
her answer to that question.
I just ask her: have
any timelines been established as to when you may be
able to get back to them with any recommendations if
that is the route they will travel?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: The
hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MS WHALEN: Mr.
Speaker, right now that file is still being reviewed but
we will follow up with the committee when I am in a
position to give them some more answers that they asked
me in that meeting.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave.
MR. BUTLER: Mr.
Speaker, the current route proposes a five-lane highway
through a part of the Town of Torbay, and the major
concern the people have there is that school children
may have to cross this highway to get to the bus stops.
I ask the Minister of
Education: Is there a policy in
your department regarding situations like this, and
would children be expected to cross such a highway, or
have any plans been considered in that particular case?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Education.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MS BURKE: Mr.
Speaker, the school board who would provide the busing
services, whether it is through the board or through a
private operator, would certainly review the distance
that needs to be travelled by students, because we do
have the 1.6 kilometre radius for students who receive
busing.
I would think that once
the highway is in place, based on the situation where
the bus stops would be, that, between the busing company
and the boards, depending on who operates the bus, they
would certainly look at what would be the most
appropriate place for bus stops at that time.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave.
MR. BUTLER: Mr.
Speaker, in recent weeks our office has received
numerous calls from residents in Green’s Harbour, New
Harbour and Hopeall concerning the status of the tender
for removal of contaminated soil from the New Harbour
Barrens landfill.
I ask the minister: Have
the bids for this tender closed at this particular time?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MS WHALEN: Mr.
Speaker, I do not have that information readily
available but I certainly will get it and table it for
my colleague.
Thank you.
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave.
MR. BUTLER: Mr.
Speaker, we understand that the tender - and I just ask
the minister if she could follow up on this as well -
was to remove two tandem loads of contaminated soil from
the hot spots at this landfill. The residents have major
concerns because the contractor - back when the
transformers were buried there were hundreds of them -
has major concerns that only two tandem loads being
taken from the landfill will not correct the problem.
I was
just wondering, Minister, if you could check that out
and see why the limited number of contaminated soil was
considered to be removed from that site.
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MS WHALEN: Mr.
Speaker, we would be in consultation with the Department
of Environment with regard to the contamination of soil,
and we will take every measure to make sure that it is
safely removed.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave.
MR. BUTLER: Mr.
Speaker, in relation to the same situation, the
community surrounding the New Harbour landfill saw that
the department’s decision to allocate Crown Land for
cabin lots on Dennys Pond as a direct attempt to
minimize the concerns about the pollutants in this
landfill. That is what the residents are saying.
I ask the minister: Did
the department follow AMEC’s 2006 recommendation to
collect and test water and sediment samples from Dennys
Pond for heavy metal content? If so, could those results
be tabled?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Tourism, Culture & Recreation
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. JACKMAN: Mr.
Speaker, I cannot say if they have taken recent samples
or not, and it is something that I will follow up with
my colleague, the Minister of Environment &
Conservation, but I will tell you one thing: that
extensive work was gone in - the committee had met with
department officials, because I recall that in my
previous capacity, they had gone in and at the request
of the committee they wanted some more test holes
drilled, and they were, and the samples were collected
and the results were given, so extensive work was done.
Whether it fully satisfies the people of the area or
not, I cannot say for sure, but I know one thing:
extensive work was carried out to make sure that there
were not contaminants drenching down to the rivers.
That is were it is, Mr.
Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave.
MR. BUTLER: Mr.
Speaker, we have learned that the department’s plan
for closing the New Harbour landfill involves placing a
multi-layered, graded cell cap over the entire site, and
that was confirmed by the minister during the Estimates
this year.
I ask the minister:
Do you plan on holding some type of information session
so that the residents can feel secure about the science
behind this plan of action?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Tourism, Culture & Recreation.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. JACKMAN: Again,
Mr. Speaker, I will bring forward the question you have
posed as to where the minister intends to go, but he is
right in that if you are going to close a landfill site
then it has to be recapped to a certain standard, and I
would anticipate that is what will be done.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
I did have some questions
with regard to Bill 35, but I am going to hold them for
debate, seeing as we have extensive time to do debate
this afternoon.
Mr. Speaker, I would like
to ask some questions of the Minister of Health &
Community Services.
We have been contacted by
an individual with a major disability known as
osteogenesis imperfecta, which leaves her prone to
fractures of the bone. Mr. Speaker, this individual has
experienced great difficulties in finding quality home
care and has requested that her husband be hired as a
home support worker, but was denied by the Department of
Health & Community Services. We raised this issue
with the department on three particular occasions and,
Mr. Speaker, just recently the individual has suffered
another injury.
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
I ask the hon. member to
pose her question.
MS JONES: Yes,
I will, Mr. Speaker.
I ask the minister today:
Why is it that individuals with
special health needs, that have been documented by their
physicians and are being requested to hire family
members, are being denied within the department?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Health & Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. WISEMAN: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
There is a provision in
our home support policy framework to be able to allow
health authorities, under very unique circumstances, a
special circumstance, to evaluate individual requests
from clients, to consider family members providing paid
support to care for them while they are in their home.
That follows an evaluation by clinical individuals who
would be prepared to do that assessment or be available
to do that assessment within the health authorities, and
the health authorities are in the best position to make
that determination. That is not a determination that we
make within the department.
What we have done is, we
have created a policy framework to provide guidance to
the health authorities, and it is through their
evaluation and clinical assessment, and they make that
determination. That is exactly what happened in the
case, I believe, that the member may be referring to;
that, that evaluation was done within Eastern Health
after a clinical assessment, I say, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
MR. WISEMAN: So,
it was not the department because we provided the policy
framework that will allow individual consideration, Mr.
Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Mr.
Speaker, I am aware, the minister is talking about
section 7.3 of the Home Support Program which does allow
exceptions for these individuals whereby they can hire
family members; however, this individual spent a number
of years going back and forth to the Department of
Health and Community Services and not being aware that
there was a special circumstance available.
I ask, Minister: How
is this being communicated to these individuals, that
after several years they do not know that there are
policies that exist which can provide for these
services? This is a case where this individual is still
not accessing it, however.
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. WISEMAN: Just
so that the member opposite fully understands, and the
people of Newfoundland and Labrador, the regional health
authorities deal directly with individual patients and
clients in the system, Mr. Speaker, so when individuals
approach the department with a particular question or
looking for a resolution to a problem that they may
have, one of the things that we try to do is work with
them in connecting them to the appropriate people within
the health authority, because they are the people who
have the clinical expertise, they are the people who
have been mandated to provide the services and programs
to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.
As a department, our role
and responsibility is to create the regulatory and the
legislative and the policy framework that guides our
health authorities in the delivery of programs and
services, so we would have, Mr. Speaker, directed this
individual and others to one of the respective health
authorities who would have dealt directly with the
individual patients and their families.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
This is a case that is
very serious. This person has a brittle bone disease;
they have to be handled by people who are very
knowledgeable about their condition. Whether it is
Eastern Health or whether it is the Department of Health
it is a government policy in which they should have been
receiving an exemption.
Your
department is well aware of this, there are a number of
members in this House well aware of this particular
case, and I ask again: will an exemption be granted for
these individuals in circumstances like this, to be able
to access family members to provide their care?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. WISEMAN: I
am delighted that the member opposite, that anyone in
this House, would advocate on behalf of individual
constituents in the Province, but I think it is
inappropriate to stand and make a pronouncement as if
you have the medical knowledge to make a determination
that this person will get or should get or is entitled
to.
What I said earlier, Mr.
Speaker, is that the policy framework established by the
Department of Health and Community Services is there to
allow a special consideration after one of the health
authorities, whoever is responsible for that particular
region of the Province, after they have provided the
appropriate clinical assessment.
In this case and others
like this, there will be clinical individuals who would
have made an assessment, made a determination of the
individual’s needs, their requirements for home
support and the kind of training and special skills that
might be necessary for home support workers, and ensure
that that level of training and direction is provided so
that the individual gets safe and quality care while
they are in their home.
MR. SPEAKER: I
ask the hon. member to conclude his answer.
MR. WISEMAN: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
I am assuming in this
particular case that she is referencing here, because I
have had some discussion around cases similar to this,
that this would have happened. I say, Mr. Speaker, in
this particular case Eastern Health would have done just
that.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
I say to the minister, we
can only base our information on what the doctors and
the patients give us.
Mr. Speaker, this
individual as well, has had trouble obtaining
medications, Peridot and Lozac’h, under the
Prescription Drug Authorization Program, which she
requires because of her illness. In order to get this,
according to departmental policy, these individuals have
to have an upper and lower GI performed. Her doctors are
advising that she not have these particular tests.
Because she cannot have these tests, the department is
saying that she is not meeting the guidelines, and
therefore is not approving the medication.
I ask you, minister: are
there provisions provided for exceptional cases like
this, based on doctors’ or physicians’
recommendations?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. WISEMAN: It
is difficult to stand in the House and deal with very
specific cases. I am not prepared to talk about an
individual’s circumstance, but clearly, I say, Mr.
Speaker, within our Prescription Drug Program there are
mechanisms, through the involvement of family physicians
and other treating specialists together with the people
who work in our Medical Service Division, people who
work in our Prescription Drug Program, to look at
exceptional circumstance, and if there is a body of
clinical knowledge out there or clinical expertise or
clinical opinion that is suggesting something contrary
than what might be existing in the policy itself, there
is always an opportunity to have that kind of discussion
and it happens each and everyday. Family physicians and
treating specialists alike deal with our Medical Service
Division and our Pharmacy Division on a daily basis to
deal with exceptions like the ones being described now,
I say, Mr. Speaker., It is not an unusual event to deal
with exceptions.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. PARSONS: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
On April 17 we asked the
Minister of Justice if he was aware that inmates at Her
Majesty’s Penitentiary were being denied access to
their psychiatric medications and sent to segregation.
His answer at that time was: he did not know where we
would come up with such a thing.
Recently the media
reported a situation of a mother whose son actually was
an inmate at HMP. She actually ended up at court
proceedings and asked the judge if he might intervene,
because he in fact has been taken off his medication and
placed in segregation.
I ask the minister: Are
you aware of this circumstance and is there anything
being done to check out that particular individual’s
concerns?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Justice and the Attorney
General.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
I remember that question
being asked and I would have to see Hansard, but I
thought that my answer was relating to other parts of
the question that had been put before me.
In any event, Mr.
Speaker, in case the hon. member has missed it, there is
a prison review ongoing. One of the issues in the prison
review is to look at the provision of health treatment
at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary. This prison review is
being conducted by individuals outside of the Province.
They will look at all aspects of what is going on at Her
Majesty’s Penitentiary at present.
I can assure you, Mr.
Speaker, that it is not lost on myself or on this
government that when there is a suicide at Her
Majesty’s Penitentiary and then we have an individual
who dies in custody, that there are issues that have to
be examined, especially when issues are raised in
relation to the provision of medication.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. PARSONS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I am aware, as the
minister indicated, that there is an ongoing review that
is going to take some time at Her Majesty’s
Penitentiary, but in this particular case involving this
individual and his mother, the individual in question
attempted to commit suicide twice in a period of five
weeks and the parents were not notified until more than
a day after the second suicide attempt had taken place.
Aside from the review
that you have ongoing, Minister, I ask: Is
there any specific investigation ongoing at this time
with regards to this particular incident and can you
find out why the parents were not notified and why this
individual was not, in fact, sent to the Waterford
Hospital rather than being kept in HMP?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
In relation to that
incident being referred to by the hon. member, in fact,
on the day after this incident occurred, I stated to the
media that if the parents of that young man wish to
contact me directly I would ensure that they were put in
contact with the people conducting the review, or they
could contact the people conducting the review
themselves. At this point, Mr. Speaker, I am staying
away, as the Minister of Justice, from the investigation
that is ongoing. However, we are indicting issues that
we wish to be looked at. This is an issue that, if the
parents request, can certainly be looked at.
In terms of why the
individual was in Her Majesty’s Penitentiary as
opposed to the Waterford Hospital: Mr. Speaker, when a
person is arrested there is a provision for psychiatric
treatment, then there is a bail hearing and there is
counsel involved. If an individual ends up at Her
Majesty’s Penitentiary, then one can only assume that
neither the lawyer or the police or no one recognized
the need for treatment.
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
I ask the hon. minister
to conclude his answer.
MR. KENNEDY: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
One of the unfortunate
realities of Her Majesty’s Penitentiary is that people
with mental health issues end up in the prison.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. PARSONS: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister, it is quite
clear here that this individual did go through the
thirty-day assessment, was placed on medications at the
Waterford, went to the HMP, had the medications removed
by another psychiatrist and made two attempts at suicide
and ended up staying at HMP.
The
parents have made this known to the judge. You are aware
of it. Rather than being reactive and asking the parents
to come, I am asking you: don’t you consider this
serious enough to find out what are the policies down
there and were they properly followed? Something
obviously went seriously wrong here with this
individual?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Mr.
Speaker, with all due respect to the hon. member’s
opinion, his conclusion that something obviously went
wrong will be examined by the individuals, if requested,
who are conducting the review.
At this present time, Mr.
Speaker, we have numerous complaints coming in from
individuals at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary. Like the
hon. member across the way, I do not set myself up as
judge and jury. What will happen is that the issues will
be examined, a report will be provided and we will take
the steps that are necessary.
I will concede, Mr.
Speaker, that there is an issue as to whether or not the
provision of medication at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary
is being continued or is being administered, but that is
again an issue that will be examined by these very
experienced individuals, and once we have received the
report we will action the same.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. PARSONS: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
It is quite clear from
the Terms of Reference, which I read, issued by the
minister with regards to the review that is taking
place, that it is generic in nature and that this
particular incident was not referenced to be looked at.
I guess we will wait and see if they do take the
latitude to look at it. As of now, it has not been
directed to be looked at and I think the minister ought
to do so.
My next question is for
the Minister of Health.
Recently, we have also
heard an outcry about treatment of young offenders with
psychiatric needs. Currently, young offenders in need of
psychiatric assessment are sent to the Youth Detention
Centre at Whitbourne, ninety kilometres away. We do
have, as I understand it, a secure unit at the Janeway
Hospital, which was intended to be used for young
offenders with psychiatric needs. Albeit we have the
physical structure there at the Janeway, we do not have
the support personnel necessary.
I am wondering: Is
the Minister of Health aware of the situation and what
does he intend to do in terms of providing the funding
and the support mechanisms and personnel –
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
I ask the hon. member to
pose his question.
MR. PARSONS: Yes.
What
is the minister intending to do in terms of finding the
funding and providing support personnel, so that the
secure unit for young offenders at the Janeway can be
properly utilized?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. WISEMAN: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the member for
raising the question.
It is an issue that has
surfaced very recently. As the member would also be
aware, some of our other health facilities have units
that were designated as such: St. Clare’s, and out in
Central Newfoundland and Western Newfoundland. The
Janeway was intentionally excluded on the advice of
individuals who would provide psychiatric intervention
for young offenders.
It is an issue that is
currently being evaluated by officials. The initial
thinking was that individuals who find themselves in
this age group would either be referred by someone who
is either a part of the - in the custody of the Director
of Child, Youth and Family Services, or would be someone
in the immediate family. That was the initial thinking,
and that designated the site, but I have asked officials
to re-evaluate that whole question that has arisen very
recently; and hopefully in the next week or so we will
be able to have some greater insights and better
insights that might reflect a change.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi
Vidi.
MS MICHAEL: Thank
you very much, Mr. Speaker.
My questions today are
for the Minister of Health and Community Services.
Mr. Speaker, cancer
patients in our Province suffer from not just their
illness but also from the financial burden of having to
travel for medical treatment. A February 2008 study
revealed that one in three rural patients pay more than
$200 per trip to see an oncologist, one in eleven pays
more than $1,000, and some pay up to $5,000 when coming
from a remote area. Mr. Speaker, as well, the Medical
Transportation Assistance Program does not help to cover
the financial burden of cancer if patients use their own
vehicle.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the
Minister of Health and Community Services: Will this
government reimburse gas and mileage costs for the use
of personal vehicles under the Medical Transportation
Assistance Program?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. WISEMAN: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
Members opposite, and the
people of Newfoundland and Labrador, would recognize
that in the last two years we have made some major
enhancements in our medical transportation budget;
enhancements not only in the dollar amounts we have
invested, Mr. Speaker, but we have made some major
improvements.
We have changed the
deductible, increased the limits that are available,
increased limits for the accommodation side, increased
limits for the meals and accommodations piece, made some
changes in the deductible, some major enhancements, Mr.
Speaker, and it is one of these programs - I think I
answered a similar question in the House one day last
week or the week before last - it is one of these
programs that are subject to continuous review. We have
looked at it this past year as part of the budgetary
process, as we did with many other programs, and once
again this year coming, I say, Mr. Speaker, we will also
be reviewing this program, as we will with others, to
look at opportunities for improvement, opportunities for
enhancements.
One of the things I want
to point out, Mr. Speaker, -
MR. SPEAKER: I
ask the hon. minister to conclude his answer.
MR. WISEMAN: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
Newfoundland and Labrador
is the only Province in Canada that has a medical
transportation program that is not means tested. It is
available to every single person in the entire Province,
regardless of income.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi
Vidi.
MS MICHAEL: Thank
you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I tell the minister that
I do recognize the improvements that have been made, but
people continue to come to us with the difficulties that
they continue to face. I am glad the minister mentioned,
at the end, the thing about no needs testing, and that
is true, but, Mr. Speaker, for people suffering from
cancer, paying for travel costs up front before getting
reimbursed can be very difficult.
I ask the Minister of
Health: With the things that you are reviewing, will
your government remove the deductible to ease the
financial burden for those who incur high costs of
travel to access treatment?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. WISEMAN: Mr.
Speaker, one of the things we have also done, in
addition to making it universally available, we have not
discriminated on the basis of a diagnosis. Regardless of
whether it is treatment for cancer, or cardiac
treatment, regardless of the diagnosis or disease or
disorder, it is available to all individuals, and I
suspect, Mr. Speaker, that on a go-forward basis, as we
continue to make improvements in the program, we will
make it generic across all diseases and disorders.
Mr. Speaker, one of the
things, in looking at programs such as these, we
acknowledge, too - and I want to point that out very
clearly, we acknowledge - that there are many people who
travel frequently in the Province to access whether it
is dialysis services, treatment for cancer and many
others, so the issue of transportation, and having
access to services, is a critical issue for us. That is
one of the reasons, I say, Mr. Speaker, that we have
made a major investment in providing dialysis services
outside the St. John’s Region; because the government,
I think, since we have been in power -
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
I ask the hon. minister
to conclude his answer.
MR. WISEMAN: Mr.
Speaker, I think since we have been in power we have had
about five or six different sites where we have
introduced dialysis service with a view of making
services available closer to home. Cancer treatment in
Central Newfoundland is another example – |
