Tom Beaulieu

Thank you. I’ve not had that discussion with the Minister of Housing as far as any costs that may be coming from the Housing Corp, or had any discussion with the Minister of Education as in income support to carry the pensioners over until their cheques come. What we’ve been doing is trying to find out why they’re late and we’re going to be following up at the request of the MLA, follow up with the appropriate department federally to find out what the issue is with the two months in a row where their cheques are delayed. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That’s very touching.

I wanted to congratulate Tu Nedhe recipients of the Premier’s awards today for the Premier’s Award for Collaboration on the Slave River and Delta Partnership Team. We had two members from Fort Resolution, Patrick Simon and Tausia Lal.

Also, the Premier’s Award of Excellence for the team award recipients went to the Deninu School in Fort Resolution, and the principal was here to receive the award for all the teachers and administrators over there. That’s an excellent school. Each time I come into Fort Resolution and I have an opportunity, I attend...

I would like to say that, but at the same time, I would also like the Beaufort-Delta Health and Social Services Authority to be involved in the decision. This is what we’re working on, and we’re saying we want to provide you with an opportunity to make that decision, and working with that integrated service model, that we want to be able to say that, yes, we can do that. We know that there is more that we can do in the community. Maybe providing service out of the two neighbouring communities is not sufficient, as the people have said. We’re taking a very close look at that right now. Thank...

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. We are doing a full review of the integrated service model. It’s essentially a delivery model that tries to provide primary care services to each community, from the smallest community to the largest community. We’re actually having a discussion with the Joint Leadership Council, which are the chairs and the public administrators of all of the health authorities, and we are talking about trying to provide something more permanent in Tsiigehtchic. Thank you.

Thank you. Because this has occurred several times over the last few years, the department is actually now currently working on an appeal, a formal appeal process that we’re hoping to get developed very soon. I don’t know the exact intention or the date of when this formal appeal process will be completed, but we are currently working on that process now.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. At the appropriate time today, I will table our action plan, “A Shared Path Towards Wellness – Mental Health and Addictions, 2012-2015.”

The new action plan will help improve mental health and reduce addiction in the NWT. A Shared Path Towards Wellness will create a more efficient system that will allow residents to receive assessment, treatment and support services when and where they need them. The three-year action plan builds on the existing system and incorporates innovative ideas from our stakeholders to better coordinate and integrate our services.

The action plan...

The department does not support public drinking. This is not supposed to be a drinking establishment. It was some place to provide a day shelter for individuals that had nowhere else to go during the day. If this is officially a complaint that people are drinking in the day shelter, I will contact the department, the department will make contact with the RCMP and the RCMP can check it out. Thank you.

We haven’t engaged the federal government in this area at this time because this is still going through the budget process. As soon as the budget process is through, I think we would be… As the Minister responsible for Seniors, I know that we are having an FPT meeting and I’m sure that will be one of the topics coming up. If not, I could ensure the Member that I will engage the other federal Minister responsible for Seniors to see how that is going to impact the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know recently that a seniors handbook was published which lays out the programs from the various departments. For Health and Social Services, we are offering things in the health area. We offer home care for independent living, long-term care for elders and seniors that need it, and also for other health programs and extended health benefits which provide prescription drugs, medical travel, medical supplies, appliances, prostheses, hearing aids, dental services and eye glasses.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “A Shared Path Towards Wellness: Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan, June 2012.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.