Statements in Debates
Until we do the analysis of that facility and the programs that will be delivered there, it’s hard to give a definite yes. I can say that it may be possible for us to deliver personal care and coordination of the programs in the Fort Good Hope independent living unit using existing home care staff in the community. However, if additional staff are required through the analysis that’s being done, we’re happy to work with our training partners, such as Aurora College, in the community to coordinate training for future staff.
Mr. Speaker, a key priority of this government is to make sure that NWT residents have access to the right tools and supports that they can choose from to help overcome addiction issues and poor mental health. As a government, we are committed to ensuring that our residents have as many options as possible to help them move forward on their path towards wellness.
The updated action plan, Pathways to Wellness, which I will be tabling later today, combines the actions contained in the 2012 action plan, A Shared Path Towards Wellness, with the recommendations from Healing Voices, the report of the...
Families were covered by RCMP before and they’re covered by us now.
It would obviously depend on the degree that the RCMP expands or increases their services in the Northwest Territories if they choose to do so. We provide these services to all residents of the Northwest Territories and as the population of the Northwest Territories changes we’ll have to amend our budgets accordingly to address increases and/or decreases in the population.
With the changes, there were around 256 positions employed by the RCMP that were affected and, on average, that works out for us and the coverage we have to provide and pay for now to about $228,000 a year.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. With me today are Debbie DeLancey, my deputy minister; as well as Natasha Brotherston, the manager of policy and legislation, Department of Health and Social Services, and Mr. Thomas Druyan, the legislative drafter.
I am pleased to be here today to address Bill 6, An Act to Amend the Medical Care Act.
The Medical Care Act establishes that “medically necessary” services provided by a doctor are insured services.
The act also defines who is eligible for insured services and expressly excludes some residents from coverage under the act. For example, members of the Canadian Armed Forces are not eligible for payments of insured services under the Medical Care Act. This is because members receive similar benefits under relevant federal legislation.
Until recently, the Medical Care Act was consistent with the...
I’m not sure of the exact date or the exact status of the evaluation, whether we had started or whether we’re just waiting for the program to conclude its full year, but I will get that detail for the Member and committee.
As I indicated previously, the federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Justice did raise this with the federal Minister. This was an area of concern. They were seeking continued financial support as opposed to having these costs completely downloaded on to the individual jurisdictions like the Northwest Territories. The answer was no.
Mr. Yakeleya’s third description is pretty much it. It’s done. We’re not getting additional funds from the federal government to cover these costs, and for us on average it’s been about $228,000 a year that we’ve been able to invoice back that we will no...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member indicated, this is currently in the pilot status, and as with pilots, we will evaluate and determine whether or not we will be able to deliver this in the future in other communities, regions, locations throughout the Northwest Territories. I will get a follow-up on the status of the evaluation for the Member.