Frederick Blake Jr.

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. Chair. Mr. Chair, just going to Tsiigehtchic, it really hasn't been identified how long the lease on the unit there would be. Just as I mentioned, it just started in the fall with the trailer that was brought in. It is really being used well. I would just like to know: what is the longterm plan for that unit? Will that continue for, say, five years? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Also under territorial policing services agreement, I see the funds have gone down almost a couple of million, or 1.9. I hope that does not affect the services that we have in the communities. As I mentioned last week, services have improved in Tsiigehtchic with working closely with the detachment in Fort McPherson. We have seen an increased presence in the community, more stops along the highway, which is good to see. People really appreciate that. Will that affect the services? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The community has done a lot of great work with the drainage in the community through the capital plan, but to put more material along the riverbanks which is stopping erosion, there are a couple of areas where there is no repair along the bank to slow down the process of erosion. To put this material down, there is more funding needed to put this in place. Will the department ensure that the community has enough funding to do this work, hopefully before the spring?

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?

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.