{"id":484189,"date":"2026-02-19T01:01:27","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T01:01:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/484189\/"},"modified":"2026-02-19T01:01:27","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T01:01:27","slug":"mla-questions-progress-made-by-health-authoritys-administrator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/484189\/","title":{"rendered":"MLA questions progress made by health authority\u2019s administrator"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NWT\u2019s health minister faced questions on Tuesday about progress made by the public administrator appointed to run the territory\u2019s health authority.<\/p>\n

Yellowknife North MLA Shauna Morgan pressed minister Lesa Semmler on promises such as a plan to stabilize the healthcare workforce, produce a balanced budget and create a business case for the small community model of care.<\/p>\n

In December 2024, Semmler dissolved<\/a> a leadership council that formerly oversaw the health authority and replaced it with lone public administrator Dan Florizone, who had been a healthcare leader in Saskatchewan and Nunavut.<\/p>\n

In a statement at the time, the territorial government said the leadership council had \u201cnot proven to fit the rapidly evolving and challenging needs of the current health and social services system.\u201d<\/p>\n

Noting 14 months have passed, Morgan told the legislature on Tuesday: \u201cWe have blown past nearly every deadline for concrete results that were laid out in the work plan, with no deliverables in sight.\u201d<\/p>\n

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She said a key goal of appointing the administrator was to work toward workforce stabilization and develop a \u201cpeople strategy\u201d to help recruit and retain healthcare workers across the territory.<\/p>\n

While this strategy was initially going to be ready by June 2025, it has yet to appear, Morgan said.<\/p>\n

Asked about the delay, Semmler said the scope of the strategy had expanded.<\/p>\n

\u201cYear after year, staff were frustrated and frustrated and frustrated, because many of the issues that they were bringing forward were not in the recruitment strategy,\u201d said the minister.<\/p>\n

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While some elements of the previous strategy were working well and will remain, she said the new strategy will be an \u201call-of-government initiative\u201d with additional coordination for things like housing.<\/p>\n

Picking another target, Morgan asked about the territory\u2019s ambition of delivering a balanced healthcare budget.<\/p>\n

At a briefing late last year, senior healthcare officials \u2013 including Florizone \u2013 said healthcare in the NWT operates at a deficit, much of which is caused by the sheer cost of medical travel.<\/p>\n

Annual deficits range from $25 million to $60 million. Healthcare sustainability staff have said they are aiming to produce \u201cmeaningful recommendations\u201d to eliminate that deficit before planning begins for the 2027-28 financial year.<\/p>\n

Semmler said this week that based on the latest information she has, a more balanced budget could be available by the end of 2026.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was initial indication that we would see that in last year\u2019s mains, and then further expectation it would be in these current mains,\u201d said Morgan, referring to the main estimates in the annual territorial budget. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat would lead us to believe we should expect a balanced budget by next year\u2019s mains?\u201d<\/p>\n

In response, Semmler said she has been working to avoid worsening patient care by cutting the budget arbitrarily and has instead been working to tighten spending where possible.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt was working within, finding from within,\u201d said Semmler. \u201cThose things have been completed over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Answering more questions posed by Morgan, Semmler said the public administrator\u2019s contract is up in December of 2026.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan the minister speak to what barriers have been removed or what issues have now been resolved that would give this House more assurance that the deliverables can actually be completed by December?\u201d Morgan asked.<\/p>\n

Semmler said a main goal of the process was to have the government\u2019s priorities actioned within the health authority. <\/p>\n

That \u201cdirect line,\u201d Semmler said, has now been established and work is under way to improve high-priority areas of the health system, such as first contact with patients.<\/p>\n

She said some deliverables had been delayed due to the large scope of work with which the administrator has been tasked, but that work is ongoing.<\/p>\n

Ollie Williams contributed reporting.<\/p>\n

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