N.W.T. gov't to dissolve health authority's leadership board

The N.W.T. government has announced it will dissolve the leadership council that oversees the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority and replace it with a public administrator.

The council is basically the board that manages the health authority. It has nine members, who are accountable to the minister of Health and Social Services and who are supposed to direct the health authority's affairs and advise the minister on priorities and strategic direction. It will be dissolved as of Dec. 16.

In a news release Tuesday, the government stated the leadership council's role and structure "has not proven to fit the rapidly evolving and challenging needs of the current health and social services system, nor within the broader context of the [N.W.T. government]."

It said a public administrator would be able to operate independently in times of financial or operational challenges.

It said Dan Florizone will be appointed as public administrator and described him as a "former senior executive" who spent 30 years in Saskatchewan in various health leadership roles. He also spent time as a deputy minister for Nunavut's health department.

It said no N.W.T.-based candidates could be identified for the position.

A public administrator will be more "nimble" than the leadership council, according to the press release.

The NTHSSA was established in 2016. It inherited a deficit of $51 million, and in 2020 that had grown to $94 million. As of March 31, 2024, the authority's accumulated deficit stood at $272.9 million.

In October this year, Premier R.J. Simpson announced a new team that's focused on reining in health-care spending.

Regional wellness councils will now be providing feedback to Florizone and Health and Social Services Minister Lesa Semmler directly, instead of to the council.

"By establishing strong, focused leadership, we aim to address longstanding challenges within the system and lay a more resilient foundation for the future," Semmler stated in the news release.

She added the decision isn't a reflection of any failing on the part of the council's members or the health authority.