Tom Beaulieu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister for that. Financial support, I think, is something that the families need. It appears as though, when individuals are on income support or if they are having trouble with the justice system, that is not quite enough money to be able to provide all of the things you need to provide for children. At the end of the day, one thing leads to another. I don't think it is coincidental that the poorest people are the ones who have their children apprehended. That is not always the case, but that is often the case. I am wondering if...

That being said, I also recognize the value of what foster homes provide and the outstanding service that dedicated foster parents provide as well. It is not to say that we do not need foster homes as they can provide a positive aspect in child development. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am sort of hearing that the Department of Health and Social Services is sharing information with other social departments. I would like the minister to confirm that. Are the social departments, Housing, Justice, and the Department of Education, sharing information with Health and Social Services on the clients? Those specific clients I am referring to are people who have children in care or children in foster care.

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to speak about the Child and Family Services of the NWT as it relates to child apprehensions and foster care. Mr. Speaker, statistics today indicate that across Canada there are more Indigenous children in foster care than there were in residential school at the height of residential school admissions.

Mr. Speaker, half of the NWT's population is Aboriginal; however, over 90 per cent of the children in care are Indigenous. It is my belief that families where children were apprehended are families who are usually living in poverty. Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee of the Whole leave the chair and report progress.

I would like to ask the Minister if, at some point, there would likely be a need for some capital to turn the current Stanton into a long-term care and extended care facility. There would be some need for capital. I would like to ask the Minister if they could look towards maybe looking at the capital needs of a school in that facility while they are looking at the capital needs to turn it into a long-term care and extended care facility.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services on my Member's statement. I would like to ask the Minister if he's willing to work with the Department of Education. I'm understanding that there is a foundational review going on with Aurora, and if he's willing to work with that Minister to create a long-term care nursing school at the current Stanton once the new hospital is online. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have questions to the Minister about working with Education, looking at developing a plan, and looking at the capital needs of that facility. I would like to ask the Minister if he is prepared to create a working group headed by a senior official of his department to work with other departments to turn that facility into a school, if that is as possible, and to ensure that that project is kept on the front burner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to thank the Minister for that response. Can the Minister develop a plan for turning Stanton into a long-term care school? What I am looking for, Mr. Speaker, is just a plan that lays out what is possible, that sort of plan that maybe the Regular Members could see.

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to welcome everyone back to the house for 2018.

Mr. Speaker, [English translation not provided].

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to propose an idea to the government to turn the Stanton Hospital into a Long Term Care (LTC) school for nurses and long-term workers. Mr. Speaker, we all know that there is a plan to turn the current hospital into a long-term care facility and an extended care facility. What better opportunity would exist in this territory than it to create a nursing school right on site?

Mr. Speaker, students and teachers would provide...