Statements in Debates
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...
In the new hospital, as in the current hospital and Hay River, we don't dedicate beds for detox, but we have beds available for detox. If somebody needs detox services, medical detox, we have the ability to facilitate that in our facilities. With Stanton, we are going to have additional beds, so that will become easier, not more difficult.
Having said that, there are also no plans to put any detox beds in the old Stanton building. The old Stanton building is completely spoken for when it comes to things like extended care, long-term care, TO/PT, other outpatient services, as well as the Frame...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I haven't reviewed Hansard, but I am pretty sure, if we go back, I indicated at that time that I don't think we are necessarily doing everything we can or even enough for aftercare. I travelled with members of the Social Envelope Committee to different treatment facilities around the Northwest Territories. We heard loud and clear that we need to do more.
To that end, we are currently working on an addictions recovery action plan. The committee has made a number of solid recommendations. I am going to be responding to those recommendations on June 1st. In short, we are...
I will say it again: we are doing exactly that. We can make $68 a day, which works out to over $2,000 a month, which is a lot of money, for someone to rent out private accommodations and purchase food. We are looking at providing more options in Hay River. Hay River has indicated that we would like to explore other ways to provide dialysis, whether that is through some dialysis in Yellowknife and some dialysis in Hay River so people can be closer to home, offset by the peritoneal dialysis where appropriate.
Mr. Speaker, I hear the Member. I get what the Member is saying. We are working on this...
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...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we continue to work on the development of the funding model that we hope will strengthen the ability of existing shelters to deliver services in an equitable manner throughout the Northwest Territories.
The department does remain in close contact with the shelter network about the work being done, and hearing their perspectives on that process and the formula, as well. Department staff did attend meetings with the shelter staff within the last couple of weeks, where we had an opportunity to discuss the formula, as well as the operational standards.
Mr...
I am happy to share that proposal with standing committee. I am not sure we should make that public at this point, because we are still working with the federal government to try and obtain that money, but I am happy to share it with committee. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
To date, we have been using money out of our public health budget to help get that information out there. As a note, we have submitted a proposal to the federal government seeking support to help us work with communities to tailor the information to the communities and get it out. We are not sure we are going to get that financial support or not, but we are still committed to doing the work and working with our partners to get the message out there.