Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I have brought this issue up in the past, but it still hasn't been addressed. In order to have a good presence in the communities  I will use Aklavik as an example. They are isolated a good majority of the year, all through the summer, and yet they have no boat, outboard motor, whether it is jet boat or whatever. In our communities, we have a number of activities, whether it is canoe races or search and rescue efforts, especially in Aklavik, because people sometimes get lost between travelling between Aklavik and Inuvik, yet the RCMP there have no outfit to go...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a couple of questions here on First Nations policing. You know, I recall in the past there's been a lot of emphasis on having First Nations policing, but lately I really haven't seen very much in the communities to encourage people to take part. You know, I believe it was around 2005 or something, we actually had some people take on this and actually go to Saskatchewan for training, but lately it doesn't seem that there's really much in the line of recruitment. I have seen them in the communities a couple of times, but you know, there's a lot more that needs to be...

Will the Minister look into these much-needed repairs with the department and the community to see if we can come up with the solution for this erosion?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. By 1960, most of the people had gone, but some remained true to the community's motto: "Never say die." Mr. Speaker, once again, repairs are needed to build up areas of shoreline erosion that is threatening one of the main roads in Aklavik.

Mr. Speaker, we may ask: Is it worth it? When we consider all the things Aklavik has done for the NWT and for the Delta and all the things Aklavik is today, it makes sense to repair Bickish Road in the community.

Is it worth it, Mr. Speaker? Absolutely. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions for the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Of course, we can't control when individuals feel that it is time to move on to try different work or life in a different community. When our health authorities assign work or move positions, they need to consider the impacts of those decisions on the people who they serve.

To deliver reasonable services and adequate support, we need to build a mental health system committed to encouraging long-term presence in our small communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister answered a part of my next question, but I will ask it anyway. The department is working on the mental health action plan focused on children and youth. How will the department's planning account for the need for regular and consistent services in our small communities?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, follow-up to my Member's statement. I have a couple of questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. I'd like to ask the Minister: what policies are in place to guide health authorities and communities through these kinds of abrupt transitions like moving a resident mental health worker? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we know that mental health is a critical issue in our communities. The Department of Health and Social Services has set out a five-year plan, called Mind and Spirit, promoting mental health and addictions recovery in the Northwest Territories.

Within Mind and Spirit, the department plans to focus on children and youth, mental health, and addictions recovery, all areas where communities badly need support. Mr. Speaker, to get this work done, we will need trained experts on the ground, people who are committed to our communities in the long term.

Residents of...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a couple of brief comments here. As I mentioned in a brief statement last week, services have really improved in Tsiigehtchic, and the residents are very happy with that. It is good to see a better presence in the community. We have one unit there in the community for the RCMP to use whenever they come in, which is good. I like the way they are doing it. There is no scheduled time that they are going to be in the community, which is good because people learn the schedules pretty quickly. It is important that they just come and go as they feel fit. That seems to be...

How will the department act to improve regularity and consistency in mental health services provided to our small communities like those in the Mackenzie Delta?