Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Member for his question. Dialysis is an important service that is provided to residents of the Northwest Territories. In the Northwest Territories, we have the ability to provide dialysis in two communities. That is the hemodialysis. We also support peritoneal dialysis, which can be done at individuals' homes and individuals' communities.

To the Member's point, I hear the Member loud and clear. I agree with the Member. We need to do more to provide those services close to home. We would prefer not to have people coming from Hay...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will try. We have already indicated in this House what our intention is of the old, existing Stanton building. We are intending to put extended care in there, long-term care, 72 beds, OT/PT, the Frame Lake clinic, as well as other functional services, like kitchens and those types of things, to support the services that will be provided out of the old building.

One of the reasons that the Extended Care Project is being deferred is that, once upon a time, we were actually looking at going with a standalone building, but as we have continued to do our work, it has become...

It is a little premature for me to say for sure. I anticipate there will be some requirements for some additional resources, but I am not prepared to say how much we think that is at this point.

As I have said when asked this question in other areas, Mr. Speaker, we spend an awful lot of money in the Government of the Northwest Territories and an awful lot of money in Health and Social Services. Before we can ask for more, we need to make sure that we are spending the money right and that we are getting maximum benefit and maximum dollar for every dollar that we spend.

We do invest a lot in...

There are different types of detox. We do have a withdrawal management program. When it comes to a medical detox, we can provide those services today in different hospitals in the Northwest Territories. We provide medical detox in Stanton, and we provide medical detox within the hospital in Hay River.

The four facilities that we are contracted with for southern placement actually have access either on-site to medical and social detox, or they are contracted with another facility in their communities for social and medical detox. All of our facilities have it. We have medical detox here in the...

We are open to any scenario, any options that exist to ensure that our residents are getting the best care they can as close to home as possible. Every situation is different. Every individual is unique. There are individuals who are on dialysis who are receiving a different degree of treatment than others. In some cases, providing treatment in Hay River and then in Yellowknife and then somewhere else may or may not be appropriate. In short, we are always looking for options. Every case is unique. There is no one policy that is going to fit all for all patients. We need to be open to options...

This is an area where there is currently a policy gap that we are actually working on. We have done some medical relocations as a result of things like dialysis, and we are certainly open to that on a case-by-case basis until we re-fix that policy.

Having said that, yes, we do have individuals stay at the Vital Abel House. If they are staying for extended periods of time, the option does exist for them to go out and get their own accommodations or stay with family or other things, at which point we would provide $68 a day, which equates to just over $2,000 a month that eligible residents of the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the mover and seconder of the motion. Cabinet is aware of the research of public health risks associated with smoking tobacco and second-hand smoke exposure, particularly for children and youth in enclosed spaces such as vehicles. Smoking in enclosed spaces leads to, and in many cases worsens, respiratory conditions, in addition to having long-term adverse health consequences. We also recognize that the Northwest Territories is just one of two jurisdictions in Canada that does not prohibit the smoking of tobacco in vehicles with young persons...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a constituent of the Great Slave riding, Mr. James Wong. Welcome.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Section 28 of the Financial Administration Act, I wish to table the following document entitled "2018-19 Health and Social Services Authority Budgets;" and, pursuant to Section 32(2) of the Financial Administration Act, I wish to table the following document entitled "Annual Report 2016-2017: Tlicho Community Services Agency." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I sent a letter to committee earlier this week with a complete outline of the advertising and communications that we are doing to get some of that information out there, but I am happy to share a copy of that letter with the Member as well.