Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I want to speak about the Deh Cho Health and Social Services and having no board, but firstly I wanted to quote from the report on the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples that was concluded in 1996.

“Aboriginal people are at the bottom of almost every available index of socioeconomic well-being, whether they are measuring educational levels, employment opportunities, housing conditions, per capita incomes or any other conditions that give non-Aboriginal Canadians one of the highest standards of living in the world.”

This is the same for health in my riding...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Some of the successes in the Education department in the smaller communities is hiring couples and/or seasoned teachers that are willing to stay in communities. I would just like to know, will the Minister and will the recruitment department as it were, be looking at those kinds of strategies to keep people in the communities for longer and longer stays? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I know that with Human Resources we went through great strides of improving our recruitment, including a Regional Recruitment Strategy as well. I would just like to know, just in terms of that, has the Department of Health and Social Services undertaken a parallel type of move, because the real question is the sooner we get mental health workers and social service workers into the community of Fort Liard, the sooner we can establish consistent health and mental wellness approach in that community.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize in this House again, my partner, Lucyanne, step-daughter Brittany Jewel, and a big special welcome to my daughter, Deidra Villeneuve.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I just need some certainty specific to the Sahtu region. So just to that, I guess that was my only concerning question and I'll listen to other Members, if they should have other inquiries as well. I thank the Member for the response. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

What is the current teacher to pupil ratio in the Deh Cho region?

What is the percentage of students classified as special needs in the Deh Cho region?

What is the percentage of students classified as special needs in the NWT?

What is the percentage of students classified as special needs in all of the Yellowknife school system?

Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, has the department, as well, addressed the concern about the high turnover rate in small communities? Are they looking at any type of programming or systems to help these professionals stay in the community longer and thereby provide a better service to the community and residents? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I spoke about not having a full-time mental health worker in the community of Fort Liard. I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services when will there be a full-time mental health worker in the community of Fort Liard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For years the mental health worker position in Fort Liard has been filled by temporary contract workers. Residents are tired of professional staff turnover at the Deh Cho Health and Social Services office in Fort Liard. They’re always dealing with inconsistent service delivery.

It’s hard enough to build trust and to share painful, intimate details and it’s harder still when you’re constantly facing someone new. Getting help with your mental health isn’t like getting your car repaired or your house painted. Residents need dedicated, full-time mental health workers who can...

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I am pleased to see and watch the Member pursue one of the initiatives from his riding. It’s been a long time coming. Certainly, they are really concerned about the amount of alcohol that gets to the small communities. Also, you can see it in the news, as well, with the arrests and the amount of alcohol that is being purchased locally and being transported to the smaller communities.

I do want to say that I have had serious inquiries from Fort Simpson’s concerned residents, as well, because they were wondering about this bill and how it affects my riding of...