Julie Green

Thank you, colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, fast forward to January of this year. The standing committee on social development held a public briefing on child and family services. The Minister told us that the audit results were unavailable because of technology issues. He also said that trying to reproduce the audit would require him to go back and do a significant amount of work which he was unwilling and unprepared to do. What he did do was compile recommendations, and presented them as a letter to the committee. I am assuming that the audits for the 2016-2017 are now...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Our final amendment is on page 27 in the section Community Wellness and Safety. I move that Tabled Document 419-18(2), Proposed Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019 (Revised), be amended on page 27 by deleting the words "we will continue to work collaboratively to reduce poverty in the NWT by funding community-based partners, convening meetings of stakeholders, finalizing indicators that allow performance to be assessed, and developing additional options for action" and inserting the words "we will continue to work collaboratively to reduce...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we are still in the cost of living section. I move that Tabled Document 419-18(2), Proposed Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019 (Revised) be amended on page 23 by inserting the words "creating an action plan for a phased-in approach to making childcare more accessible and affordable." Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that Tabled Document 419-18 (2), Proposed Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019 (Revised), be amended on page 20 by inserting the words: "reduce the number of households and core housing need in the NWT by 250 households per year for the next three years; create a comprehensive and fully-costed plan to reduce core need; increase lobbying of the federal government to halt the continued reduction in CMHC operation and maintenance funding; prepare to take maximum advantage of federal housing funds when available." Thank you, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that Tabled Document 419-18 (2), Proposed Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019 (Revised), be amended on page 17 by adding the following words: "through Aurora College and other educational partners, we will develop and promote post-secondary programs designed to meet the Northwest Territories' needs in high-demand occupations identified in the Labour Market Forecast and Needs Assessment (2016)." Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Avens Manor and Avens dementia cottages together lost almost $200,000 in the last fiscal year. Granted, that’s less than the year before, but it’s still not a sustainable position for Avens to be in. I would like the Minister to talk about what he thinks the possible solutions are, especially with respect to revenue. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the spring session, the Minister said that Avens had requested an operational review to “look at how they are spending their money to make sure they are getting the dollars being allocated and they are using them to maximum effect.” Has the Minister agreed to fund this review? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Avens was very clear that they have no plans to restart this day program. I do not understand what the delay is in the Minister finding a new service provider or a collection of service providers, how about Yellowknife Seniors and Yellowknife Day Care, to provide this day program. We cannot be held hostage. Our elders cannot be held hostage because Avens is experiencing its own financial issues. The Minister needs to be proactive in providing a day program. When is that going to happen? Mahsi.

The Minister had his official study the Elders Circle program at Avens' request, and I believe that a report was produced by territorial staff and shared with Avens in the summer. When is the Minister going to make this report available to the Standing Committee on Social Development and to the public?

Mr. Speaker, Yellowknife has a rapidly growing population of seniors, and they have a growing list of needs so they can remain in their own homes for as long as possible. One of those needs is a day program that provides for their social and emotional well-being, and gives their caregivers respite.

Starting in January 2011, Avens provided a day program to meet those needs called Elders' Circle. It operated until last fall when it closed. Staff said the closure was temporary, pending an evaluation of the program's safety and quality. The Yellowknife Association for Community Living stepped in to...