Sandy Lee

I do appreciate the Member’s question and I don’t mean to be in any way disrespectful. I just want to simply state that I agree with the Member and we are aware and we share the view that early intervention and working with children and families does help in many different ways, as the Member stated, and it has been a focus of the government to work in those programs. The Member is also aware that the Health and Social Services budget is under pressure, as are all others. We are having to work with a 3 percent growth in the budget, which is almost standstill. So my answer to the Member is that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Later today I will be tabling the Government of the Northwest Territories response to the Standing Committee on Social Programs report on the review of the Child and Family Services Act. The act is a key piece of legislation that regulates many of our Territory’s programs and services for children.

The current act represents and speaks to this government’s values and beliefs regarding children. I believe the Standing Committee report focuses on the issue of enhancing supports to children, and their families and communities. I am pleased that the recommendations support...

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Standing Committee on Social Programs Report on the Review of the Child and Family Services Act.

The Member is aware and we’ve had discussions with the committee about a way to go forward. I would like to just reiterate that we are committed to providing support to the families who are under the YACL program. Yellowknife Health and Social Services is currently negotiating a contribution agreement with YACL so that we continue to provide the programs to those families who are currently getting the services from YACL as we work toward a respite care program. I have communicated that to the Members and I’m happy to confirm that again in the House today. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the public administrator is following up on that. I will get back to the Member with the information. Thank you.

There are a number of things going on with respect to changes to the programming at Joe Greenland Centre. It is actually a really good news item in many ways. The Housing Corporation has committed to do a renovation to a wing of the facility that is badly required. We’re going to increase the number of independent beds from seven to 15, and there are people and elders in Aklavik waiting for those spaces. We are going to redesign our program so that instead of serving three elders, on average, that Joe Greenland Centre on that wing was able to do since 2007, we expect to serve up to 40 to 50...

Those two residents have been assessed by the Territorial Admissions Committee and I believe they have placements in Inuvik. We have to work out the timing and arrangements to place those elders there because they cannot be taken care of at the current setting. In a larger perspective, we are looking to develop a program in Aklavik where we can change the program so that we can look after up to 40 to 50 seniors who we believe are going to be in need of support from the government. So we look to expand the program and as I committed with the Member and to the public when we were there last...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The staff of the authority have been working with the families for the last number of months and they will continue to work with the families. That letter, I understand, went out because that’s what the staff thought the family wanted, agreed to, but, obviously, the Member has spoken to me about it and that’s not the understanding the family had. I will commit to the Member and I have already instructed the staff to work with the families and we will have more time to work with the families and work out the schedule that works better for the families. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, yes, I would ask them to publicly advertise and update the public as to where that program is. Thank you.