Glen Abernethy

Now that we have moved to a single system, and you are getting really tired of hearing that, I'm sure, we have the ability to actually do things in a different way. Whereas all authorities would have been tracking information in their own unique ways, we have an opportunity to ensure that we are collecting data in a simple and consistent way across the authorities. We are doing that work now. We know that cannabis is now legal. It is an opportunity for us to start incorporating that in. We haven't got the specifics in place, obviously, but it is certainly a conversation that has occurred and...

Thanks, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have been reaching out, as you heard in my statement earlier today, to professionals and people who have the knowledge that we need to incorporate into our system here in the Northwest Territories. We are open and willing to learn when it comes to medical marijuana and the impacts it has on residents, but I think one of the important things is now we actually have the opportunity to have that frank dialogue and discussion with our residents in the Northwest Territories that not everybody had been prepared to have when it was illegal. Our staff are getting...

Once again, I acknowledge that it is a valid conversation. I haven't had the conversation. I hear the Member. I am going to talk to the department, and I would like to reach out to the seniors' society. They are an important partner. I also point out that we are an important partner in combatting elder abuse. I have not done any analysis on this. I would like to know a little bit more about what's happening out there with respect to this particular topic before I make a commitment.

Contrary to what some Members have indicated, this is something we have been working on for quite some time. We have been working on this since 2016, trying to develop messaging and making sure that we are ready to get the information out there on the impacts of cannabis on the developing brain as well as other health risks.

Our community healthy living fairs are an important tool that we utilize to get into every community to get that information out to our residents. Those community living fairs are going to continue, as will this information continue to be included in those fairs.

We also...

Once again, I will go back to the opportunity for frank dialogue. Up until now, the conversation has been, "Marijuana is illegal. You shouldn't be using it." Now, the conversation is, "Cannabis is legal, but we know it has profound impact on the development of young people's minds and brains, as well as pregnant mothers, youth, and all of those different at-risk categories." We can now have informed discussions with those residents to help them understand those implications and those ramifications of utilizing the product.

The health practitioners. As a system, we have been reaching out to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as most NWT residents are probably aware, as of today, the consumption of cannabis is legal across Canada.

---Applause

Interesting spot for a clap. Our government committed in our mandate to create the policy, program, and legislative regimes necessary to support legalization, and with that comes a firm commitment to public education and awareness.

Public education and awareness efforts are well under way across the Northwest Territories. The Department of Health and Social Services has been working in partnership with other GNWT departments and agencies and...

Unfortunately, I don't know where we are in the financial situation with respect to that program. I believe that program is being run by an NGO, and it has been a very valuable program. We did have an opportunity to meet with some of the Member's constituents early on, and they talked about how much cleaner the area out in front of Northern Heights had been over the last year that this program was under way.

I will certainly look at it, Mr. Speaker. I think the program has value. I don't want to, obviously, step on another funder's toes, but if there is an opportunity to work together, I would...

I'm not prepared to discuss an individual's plan of care in the House of this Assembly. I don't think it is the appropriate place. The Member and I, as well as other Members who have been providing consent by the family, have had some discussions. I am certainly happy to sit down with any of the Members who have received consent from the family, and I am happy to meet with the family again to discuss where we are. We have had a discussion with the family previously, but I am definitely not about to start talking about an individual's plan of care in the House before this Assembly.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Member for her statement. I think the opening of the sobering centre and day shelter was an important day in Yellowknife North, an important day for the downtown core. I thank her and all the residents of Yellowknife for their support on this. I know there are some challenges, and we are certainly focused on safety of both our clients, our staff, as well as residents of the community, so we continue to evolve.

There are a number of different ways we hope to get some information, Mr. Speaker. We have put in place a number, a telephone number...

Yes, the Member is correct. ALS is not one of the conditions covered under our specified disease conditions under our supplemental health program, but I do want to make it clear that, unlike many other jurisdictions, things like homecare are part of our services that we do provide. We are working with clients and residents who have different specified diseases such as ALS, providing them with things like homecare and other services that they wouldn't get, or they would have to pay for in other jurisdictions. Having said that, the specified disease condition is just one of our programs that...