Sandy Lee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member is well aware that this capital project has to be approved by Members. It will go forward. He will be advised as such. When we do plan the sod turning ceremony, I will make sure to invite him so that he can be there along with us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have to tell you, I don’t really know what it is that he is talking about. I think he is talking about aftercare program. I state that, again, Mr. Speaker, that is an important part of addiction strategy and mental health issue. I am willing to work on that. If the Member wants to provide me with any information that he would like me to look at, I would be happy to look at that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this project is very much a live issue. Mr. Speaker, also there was some interest on the part of some Members to have a sod turning ceremony, but it was right smack in the middle of campaigns. That didn’t seem like a very good idea at the time. Mr. Speaker, there is a need for the YACCS and the government to finalize on the access agreement so that there could be more work done to use the space that is owned by YACCS. There are lots of other details that are being worked on. I can assure the Member that this project is very much alive. There is a lot...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can assure you I was not in any way suggesting that any follow-up was being done in bingo halls. Mr. Speaker, the part of the Mental Health and Addictions Strategy of the North has provided a number of positions that work with the whole continuum of care. There are about 69 community wellness workers all across the Territories and there are lots of other addictions workers, counsellors. There are lots of programs that have been put into place. Understandably, I would like to review, as a Minister, how we are doing in that regard. If there is room...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be happy to do that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, absolutely I will work with the Member to make sure that we have all the resources and staff necessary from the Beaufort-Delta authority who could be there with us. Secondly, I am looking at the first week after the holidays in January as a travel time to go to the Inuvik area and Tsiigehtchic and the surrounding communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be happy to provide the Member with information on what the government contributes to every community that gets money for this kind of service, as well as the legislative changes that are required and some of the resource pressure for us to come up with a plan that works for everybody. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We will continue to have to work hard to recruit and retain nurses in our facilities. In Tsiigehtchic right now, I understand as of November 13th we have an agency nurse providing service there. If that is not available and they can’t do the full coverage, the responsibility is with the Beaufort-Delta Health Authority to make sure that people are aware of the communication plan. I understand there was some gaps in that about two weeks ago and the response letter went to the community from the authority to explain what was expected there. I don’t have the details with me...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, specific to that question, I would be happy to review that with my department and see where we can improve for the Hay River Health Authority. In the larger picture, Mr. Speaker, the need for this study came about because of the fact that this service is provided very much in a patchwork fashion all over the Territories. A lot of municipal governments are in charge of that and have to incur extra cost in delivering those services, much of them based on volunteer services and many communities and many highways are not covered adequately. So, Mr. Speaker...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As indicated, there is someone looking at this situation and I’m sure they will be looking at that sort of question as well. If that’s what will come out of that, we will certainly consider that information. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.