Great Slave

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 57)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we've been hearing about silos for a number of years, and it's certainly a pet peeve of mine; I've raised it as a Regular Member on multiple occasions.

One of the things that's being done to help us break down some of the silos is we actually have some interdepartmental deputy minister committees that are actually tasked with making sure that they're working together on shared files, that they're not duplicating efforts, that they're working for a common goal. They have opportunities to discuss the different pillars that were identified in the framework, as...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 57)

There are a number of Ministers who have responsibility for the individual action items that are included within our anti-poverty documents, the GNWT's Anti-Poverty Action Plan. My role is to continue to work with stakeholders to get this information out, and to remind Ministers of their obligations under this strategic framework, which includes five areas in supporting children and families; promoting healthy living; ensuring safe and affordable housing; making our communities sustainable; and providing an integrated continuum of services. Mr. Speaker, we work together to make that a reality.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 57)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In times of crisis, it can be difficult sometimes to determine who the most appropriate person to communicate with, whether it is the family, or maybe the family may not be the appropriate person depending on the incident that has occurred.

As a general rule, we do try to communicate with leadership in the community to help us coordinate our activities in the community, but I say that with a caution that you have to be flexible. You have to recognize that there are times when family might be the most appropriate individuals to be in touch with for a multitude of reasons...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 57)

There have been a number of tragedies in the Member's riding, and the Department of Health and Social Services has responded to each one of them, but in each case the response was different based on what the community told us they were looking for as far as supports. We recognize that smaller communities do not necessarily have access to all the supports that exist in some of the larger communities, and where appropriate and where desired by the communities, we have sent professionals from other communities in when those crises occur.

So we tailor based on need, we tailor based on expectations...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 56)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "Followup Letter to Oral Question 52518(2): Sahtu Regional Health Council." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 56)

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lake, that Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Health and Social Services Professions Act, be read for the second time. This bill amends the Health and Social Services Professions Act. This bill imposes a requirement on registered members to comply with continuing competency recording requirements and authorizes inspection of those records; clarifies the nature of the registries maintained respectively by the registrar and the complaints officer, including the scope of public access to those registers and the protection of...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 55)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think it was about two weeks ago I had an opportunity to attend the federal-provincial-territorial meeting with the Minister that the Member opposite is referring to, and we did have an opportunity to discuss the work that the federal government is doing on a federal anti-poverty initiative. They're currently out doing a number of stakeholder engagements across the country.

At that meeting, we had an opportunity to talk about what's happening in every jurisdiction, and I clearly outlined the work that's been done around anti-poverty work here in the...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 55)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once again, I didn't say no to the Member's request, but we do have to look at the work that is being done in the Government of the Northwest Territories, and I think there is a lot of information out there already about the significant negative impacts that this issue is having on residents of the Northwest Territories. I would much rather invest in more prevention than doing another survey, but if it is the wish of committee, if committee tells me that that is something they want to see, investment in surveys instead of actions, I am prepared to take their direction...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 55)

The Member raises a solid point, and it is a good point. What Will It Take does have significant value. There is no evaluation framework, and that is something that I have committed to working on so that we can see what kind of benefits we are getting over time. We know that social marketing does and can play a key role in challenging people's perceptions, or bringing greater public attention. I take the Member's point, and I think the point the Member is raising is something we might be able to build into one of our future rants that we are sitting out there to get that information out. I...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 55)

Mr. Speaker, we have a number of different committees in Cabinet that we get together to work together as Ministers to help break down silos. Our deputies also work on similar committees to break down silos within the Government of the Northwest Territories. I'm continually raising the issue of poverty, as it is one of the areas I'm responsible for, and trying to find ways to work together to offer our residents more options to help lift them from poverty as opposed to just providing handouts, and we're working to that end, Mr. Speaker. We appreciate the Member's commitment to increasing and...