Kevin A. Menicoche

Certainly, we want to build on that experience as well.

Will part of the assessment also be using the facilities that were created at Fort Simpson and continuing the program for the Deh Cho region? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I spoke about the youth addictions and on-the-land pilot program that was held just outside of Fort Simpson at Six Mile. I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services who actually participated in the first graduation there in Fort Simpson and a little bit more about his plans for developing the program further. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I continue to reiterate that we certainly need these types of supports for kids with complex needs. Once again, our at-risk youth in all our small communities, we need a wraparound approach that involves school counsellors and teachers working closely with other mental health and social services professionals.

As an MLA who represents some of the smallest and least resourced communities, can the Minister commit to bringing this wraparound approach to Fort Liard?

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I spoke about the need for a full-time student counsellor in the community of Fort Liard. So I’d like to ask the Minister of Education, as I laid out the case clearly that there’s a need for a full-time counsellor in Fort Liard.

What formula is used by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to determine whether a community merits a full-time school counsellor, and does the community have to meet a particular threshold?

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My statement today is about Fort Liard, which sorely needs a full-time school counsellor. The community currently receives only monthly drop-in service from a regional school counsellor. With a population exceeding 500 people, Fort Liard is large enough to warrant an RCMP detachment, nursing and basic health infrastructure, a social service office, a fire hall and schools from K-12, yet today it has no full-time school counsellor.

Fort Liard has more than its share of social problems. We can get a glimpse from the Frontier Foundation, an Aboriginal non-profit...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Just for clarity, if he’s working with the Department of Health and Social Services, as well, is he able to work with them to see if there are some resources to help with the need of filling this gap in the Fort Liard school system?

Of course, a student’s well-being is one of the Education Renewal Initiatives, and I’m pleased that the Minister brought out some other funding areas, so if the Minister can bring that document to me. Also, pooling all this money, does the Minister think that the Dehcho Education Council can translate the resources available into a full-time counsellor for the Fort Liard youth?

To be sure, Fort Liard youth are up against an awful lot. How can we expect them to thrive without consistent, dedicated support from a school counsellor? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. On Monday, October 27, 2014, the Minister of Justice said, in a CBC interview, that the Gameti and Wrigley RCMP detachments are postponed indefinitely. Seven years ago there was a commitment that the GNWT would build new detachments in those communities. As MLA for Nahendeh and the community of Wrigley, this is shocking news for me and my constituents.

This session we are deliberating and debating the capital plan for the GNWT. I believe that at the very least these two detachments be included in our 20-year capital needs assessment plan. I can’t see how this...

I would certainly welcome the Minister to the riding and we can work on something about that.

The news article also spoke about these facilities costing about $11 million to $13 million. I think in 2007, when we were discussing the possibility, we were looking at a portable and a much smaller facility. At least it had a holding cell when the RCMP were there.

What kind of facility and what kind of plans is he talking about if he wants to spend that much money for a facility? It seems quite excessive for the needs of the community. Thank you.