Statements in Debates
The regional wellness councillors are an incredibly important group of individuals, and they have the opportunity to bring information both from the public to the system, but also from the system to the public. Regional wellness council members are encouraged to obviously contact the chairperson of the respective wellness councils and to add items of concern to the agendas of those councils. They also have an opportunity, when appropriate, to go to the chief operating officer of a region, who may be able to provide them updates or information if they are looking for that information so that...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is an orientation manual for the regional wellness council members on their roles and responsibilities. The handbook is updated on a regular basis. It's currently being reviewed to include updating information around additional guidelines and whatnot to make their jobs better understood and more clear. This will be shared, obviously, with the regional wellness councils across the Northwest Territories. There is a training session coming up where we are inviting all regional wellness council members to come in for an update and to be familiarized with...
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to section 32(2) of the Financial Administration Act, I wish to table the following four documents entitled "Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority 2017-2018 Annual Report," "Annual Report 2017-2018 NWT Health and Social Services System," "Tlicho Community Services Agency Health and Social Services Annual Report 2017-2018," and "Annual Report 2017-2018 Hay River Health and Social Services Authority." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
There has been progress, but not enough. One of the challenges that we are facing is the diagnostic steps that need to be taken before the pill can be issued or prescribed. We are having some complications making sure that that can happen at a regional level. I commit to the Member that we will continue to do that work, and we will make sure that this is available through the NOW Program to all residents of the Northwest Territories. It will take a bit more time to make that happen.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize somebody in the gallery. He is not a constituent of the riding, but I think he has been a great voice for the Northwest Territories for many, many years, a great voice for CBC, Mr. Randy Henderson.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that Bill 32, Naturopathic Profession Statutes Amendment Act, be read for the second time.
This bill amends various statutes administered by the Department of Health and Social Services to allow for the passage of regulations regulating the naturopathic doctors' profession in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
After our conversation this morning, I did talk to the department and issued that directive. I did tell them that I wanted this other issue resolved as quickly as possible. There are a few technical issues we have to work through. They said they would get me a timeline on how long they think it might take, but I directed and indicated I want to see it happen in the life of this government and not dragged out into the life of the next.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the review of the supplementary health program is in relation to all coverage for all types of thing, including the things the Member has described. That review is going to take some time. It will likely go into the next government and be something the next government is going to have to make some hard decisions on.
We did have a brief chat this morning, and I did confirm that to the Member. Since then, I haven't had an opportunity to talk to the department. Taking the Member's point that waiting that long could be problematic for many, many women, I have...
Mr. Speaker, over the last five years the Government of the Northwest Territories has worked in partnership with people and organizations across the Northwest Territories to better understand and meaningfully address the root causes of poverty in this territory. This outreach supports our mandate commitment to reduce poverty in the Northwest Territories.
In 2013 the GNWT released Building on the Strengths of Northerners: A Strategic Framework Toward the Elimination of Poverty in the Northwest Territories. The development of this Framework was a collaborative effort between our government...
Thank you for the opportunity to speak to this motion.
During the speeches today and comments made by Members of this Assembly over the last couple of weeks, it appears that some Members don't believe that I am committed to the CFS file.
Mr. Speaker, I want to ensure Members that this is not the case. I am 100 percent committed to make the necessary systemic and principal changes to Child and Family Services that will move it from a system of apprehension to one focused on prevention, while at the same time protecting children at risk from harm.
During the 16th Assembly, I participated in a...