(Yellowknife, Hay River, Behchokǫ̀– July 15, 2024) – Today Chairpersons Gerry Cheezie and Ted Blondin, and Public Administrator Brian Willows released the following joint message regarding the announcement of the appointment of an Associate Deputy Minister, Health System Sustainability located within the Government of the Northwest Territories’ Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs:

“As leaders of the NWT health and social services system governance bodies, we are pleased to see the addition of resources within a central government department tasked with the mandate of supporting the system to address ongoing concerns about health and social services system sustainability, both from a financial and human resources standpoint.

Throughout our time working with the NWT Health and Social Services Leadership Council we have heard ongoing concerns from our Regional Wellness Councils, system staff, and leaders within the system about the sustainability of our system in the face of ongoing pressures. It is our view that the announcement today represents an acknowledgement of our long-held belief that the magnitude of this challenge is such that it will take an effort on the part of the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) to address and to set us on the right course.

Health and social services systems across the country and internationally continue to face challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified staff, and in keeping up with rising costs of the delivery of care and services in a way that aligns with the expectations of those who access care within the system. These issues are common in all places but the solutions to addressing them require additional creativity and unique solutions tailored for remote jurisdictions such as the Northwest Territories.

We know that those working each day within the Health and Social Services Authorities put in their best efforts to ensure services are high quality and available when NWT residents need them. However, the challenges they face in sustaining this complex system continue to grow and are interdependent on policy, programs, and structures within different levels of the GNWT. We have discussed many times the need for more resources to support those working to address these challenges within this system, who are often tasked with both directly managing operations and delivering care while also planning and executing broad system change and improvement initiatives.

Work undertaken over the past three years has demonstrated a significant structural underfunding of health and social service operations, and a mismatch between government funding policy and mechanisms, and the pace of change and demand within healthcare delivery. We believe there is opportunity to ensure efficiency in the delivery of care and services in a way that prioritizes access and care closer to home, but also achieves efficiency and clarity of purpose.

The three Health and Social Services Authorities will work closely with the newly appointed Associate Deputy Minister to ensure that the work is well-informed by our experience and expertise, and that the voice and priorities of the residents in the regions we serve are represented. By working together, we believe that we can achieve the health and social services system vision of Best Health, Best Care, for a Better Future.”

Sincerely,

Ted Blondin, Chair, Tlicho Community Services Agency

Gerry Cheezie, Chair, NWT Health and Social Services Leadership Council

Brian Willows, Public Administrator, Hay River Health and Social Services Authority.