Glen Abernethy

It’s certainly an intriguing idea and I get the Member’s point here. If it’s the wish of committee, we’re certainly willing to have those discussions. I will note that this may be an opportunity as we continue to expand the Integrated Case Management Program that we’re applying to the Wellness Court. So this might be an opportunity or a next logical fit. So, if it’s the wish of committee, we’re certainly willing to explore that. Thank you.

It’s my understanding that we actually do have individuals from the health authority as well as I believe there’s income support and Housing staff going in there, but I will get a confirmation of exactly who’s visiting that facility and how regularly to provide information to users of the Day Shelter.

Mr. Chair, for the specific detail on the action items and what’s happening, when we hope to have some of them available, I will go to the deputy minister for that detail.

Mr. Chair, during the hiatus between May and September, Yellowknife Health and Social Services actually went out and did a number of engagements with the public and other individuals about what types of programs and services they expected or would like to see, including actual conversations with the homeless people who happen to use the shelter, probably the best people to talk to about the types of things they wanted. That has helped to form some of the things that are going to be taking place.

There are a lot of significant changes between the old Day Shelter and the Day Shelter that we have...

The Member and I want the same thing, which is a comprehensive Mental Health Act that meets the needs of the residents of the Northwest Territories, and we’re committed to doing that. The department is working on it every day.

A significant amount of information came out during our public consultation process. We had a lot of feedback. It was wonderful to get as much feedback as we did. The department is going through that data. It’s analysing that data and writing the act as we speak. The act is currently being written as we speak, but it will take a bit of time and there’s a good chance that...

I’ll just re-state again we are using CanTalk, which is technology. But I agree with what the Member is saying completely and Education, Culture and Employment is working with a number of the Aboriginal governments to create actual apps for things that can be used on iPhones and iPads around languages and to help people do exactly what the Member is talking about.

We’re currently working with a number of the different Aboriginal organizations and language groups in the Northwest Territories to help provide translation around medical terminology. When that’s done it would be a great opportunity...

Thanks, Madam Chair. These are numbers based on budgets provided by the individual authorities, but the Member is correct, we have run deficits in the health authorities in the past. Just for the record, a number of the areas for increase in this particular area include the service centre costs as well as the Microsoft licensing costs, some Collective Agreement costs and other costs that are associated with the health and social services authority funding in the area of administrative support. You’ll notice, as we go through this binder, there’s going to be several areas where money is needed...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Before somebody goes out for treatment, and one of the residential treatment facilities that we’re currently working with, they do agree to, when they return, contact or be contacted by the community counsellor. So, there are community counsellors who are providing some degree of after-care.

There are also other opportunities. We know, and we don’t believe that we should be administering it or running it, that AA is a valuable program, but the reason it’s effective is because it’s a non-government sort of member-driven organization. We do know that there is some...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The mayor of Yellowknife actually got in touch with the Cabinet. He actually had a meeting with the Minister of Housing and the Minister of Justice, and I also had a private meeting with the mayor, as well, to discuss this important initiative that the city is pursuing. We are supportive. We are looking for ways to be their partners and they are looking for ways for us to be their partners. It’s early days. The discussions are early on, but we will continue to engage with the mayor and explore opportunities to be meaningful partners.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have travelled to a lot of communities throughout the Northwest Territories, and where there are issues around homelessness, I know the Housing Corp is very active in those communities as far ensuring people get housing. But also we’ve got government services officers who are aware of the different programs and services who could direct people. We also have, in many of the communities, community counsellors and social workers who can, when they recognize people that are in crisis, refer them to services that might be appropriate. There are people in the communities...