Tom Beaulieu

Thank you, Madam Chair. It is a decrease on the revised, because of the system that we are currently discussing. Last year we had the mains and then we went to a supp and it increased. Now we are back to comparing main to main. It looks like it’s a decrease, but it is actually a slight increase from the mains of last year, but a decrease on the revised mains.

Yes, I will.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Department of Health and Social Services is prepared to go back to the Department of Finance to see if the number can be put into the base so that this doesn’t occur in the future.

I don’t think that has happened yet.

Madam Chair, we would agree again to put this item into the base, in consultation with the Financial Management Board.

The department is spending $20.168 million on social service delivery, which includes social workers, mental health and addiction workers, mental health and addiction program funding. We have $2.931 million with non-government organizations for residential care for alcohol and drug programs related to addictions, mental health, disabilities and chronic illnesses. We have $2.7 million family violence funding, which includes emergency shelters and counselling services; $1.8 million for community wellness programs including the Bailey House in Yellowknife. Specific to more of the mental health...

Thank you. I’ll have the assistant deputy minister respond to that detail item.

Our intention is to go to the community, working with the authorities to go to the communities where the need is greatest, where there are most kids in care. Also, in as far as Detah goes, we have a meeting set up for fall. In fact, I’m personally going to be meeting in Detah with the CEO from the health and social services authority from YK for this specific item. I will just have the deputy minister respond on the work that we’re hoping to do in the revision to the Child and Family Services Act.

Madam Chair, the department agrees that we will work with the Standing Committee on Social Programs to make those improvements.

The department is prepared to go to the authorities. The community health programs in this area of residential care of elderly persons with disabilities is something that’s driven through the authorities and working with the non-government organizations. We can go to the authorities and indicate to them or ask them if they do see forced growth in this area and ask them to come forward with forced-growth submissions to address the issue that the Member speaks of.