Sandy Lee

I can advise the House, all of the communities in the Territories are under close surveillance. There are staff ready to react on hours of notice. Inuvik office would react if there is a major breakout in some communities.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to commit to the Member that I’m going to look at this list again and get information on what else is happening in Tuktoyaktuk and his region while they are waiting for the scheduled teams to arrive.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I would like to thank the Member for his leadership and speaking directly to his constituents in his riding to take advantage of this vaccination program, because it is safe and it is important.

Mr. Speaker, as we have communicated to the public, we have action teams travelling to the communities. A couple of things that people should know when they look at these lists on the websites are that even if communities are not listed there, there are vaccinations happening by the local staff. The second thing about the Beaufort-Delta region is that contrary to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Status of Women Council of the NWT Annual Report 2008-2009. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I don’t think myself as Minister or the chief medical health officer, even, could say, could give that kind of medical opinion that they can fight this H1N1 virus by using traditional methods of medication. I understand what the Member is saying. I think on an everyday basis, we should do everything we can to keep ourselves healthy, including taking traditional methods, herb medicine or anything else that works for them, including washing their hands and everything. Of course, all those apply. But with respect to H1N1 vaccine, our government’s position is that the best way to prevent getting...

First, a clarification. The flu line is on during the day and then after hours, you are probably encouraged to call the Health Line. The second thing, Mr. Speaker, the flu action teams are flying to the communities. They will be working very closely with the local staff to make sure that local languages are available. I am also encouraging the staff to work with the local staff to see if there are any elders or any other residents in small communities who are not able to get out. We do what we can to cover them. We are also doing that for any other...We are trying to cover as many people as...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. NWT is a priority list. We are moving very fast and so far we have vaccinated more than 4,000 people. I will get back to the Member on how we can move some of the communities around. Thank you.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, the vaccines have been distributed and it’s to communities. Communities have them and local staff are able to administer them. What we are doing with these action teams is that we know that our health care professionals, during the normal course of business, are short staffed and overworked in many cases. So we didn’t want to burden them with the extra work that was required to do the vaccinations. So the action teams are augmenting the workload. But, yes, most of our health centres have supplies of the vaccine. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, no one needs to take the vaccine if they don’t want to. What we are trying to do is give as much information as possible so that people will make informed choices.

Mr. Speaker, I am not saying that the traditional way of healing is not good. That is not what I am saying. What I am saying is I am not medically qualified to say that the traditional way of medication would fight this H1N1 virus.

Mr. Speaker, I think it is important for people to know that this is a new virus. Nobody is immune from this virus, because it is new. It has a behaviour that is...

Yes, I want to let the Member know that I am available most of November and December, except for the holidays, to visit Tuktoyaktuk and his other communities, because I have not been able to get there with the Member.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to assure the Member that this is a priority for the department and for the government. We understand that we need to do things differently in delivering mental health and addictions programming, and I commit to the Member that we have an action plan in place and we will work on those. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the government does support communities. The Department of Health and Social Services is currently in the process of conducting a review of mental health and addiction services across the NWT. The purpose of this review is to examine the services offered in various regions and communities and how well they fit the needs of the residents. The Department of Health has also been working closely with aboriginal organizations to establish community-based, culturally relevant addictions programming options in the Beaufort-Delta region. These pilot projects will be...