Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we heard yesterday during opening comments for the Health and Social Services department and from speakers already today, the NWT lacks adequate mental health services, and we’re not alone. Across Canada, every jurisdiction faces the same problem.

Those who suffer from mental illness are found in all parts of our society. Some are affected in a minor way, others are severely debilitated, and we struggle with how to treat every one of them.

Sufferers of mental illness are often hidden, but many we also see every day. Perhaps the most visible are the homeless. Statistics...

Thanks to the Minister. One of the concerns that I have, and it was a fairly major recommendation from the Child and Family Services Act review that was done in the 16th Assembly and it’s been mentioned a number of times in this Assembly as well, is the gap in legislation for coverage for youths basically between 16 and 18 years. First of all, I’d like to ask the Minister if that gap is going to be dealt with in the amendments, and if so, I find it hard to believe that we could increase the services for this particular age group and that it’s not going to cost us money. Could I get an...

Thank you, Madam Chair. The other piece of legislation is the Health and Social Services Professions Act. It’s anticipated to be in place during this budget year, so there’s also anticipated to be some costs around that. So where is that reflected? Thank you.

Thanks. I did say it was my last question. It is my last question, but I guess I have to spar with the Minister. We’re talking budget here and I asked about the budget. So there is no increase in the budget for Healthy Family Programs? Thank you.

Thanks to the Minister. That’s what I was trying to get at. I mean, a budget is an estimate document, and I was hoping that the Minister could give me an idea whether in ’16-17 the department is anticipating any savings.

There are two acts which will be coming into force in the next little while, certainly within this next budget year. Maybe I should ask the question first. Should I be asking about costs associated with legislation that’s going to be implemented here, or does it come elsewhere?

Thanks. A last question here. So we’re adding one community in ’15-16. Where does the increase, I’m presuming there’s an increase in expenditures because of that. So where does it show in the budget and how much is it? Thank you.

Thanks, Madam Chair. I guess I’m just a little confused, because we discussed this, I think it was September of 2014, and it was a recommendation of committee at that time, and you guys are talking about 2008. I’m just not quite too sure. I appreciate that that work was done but that was, what, seven years ago now, and I thought there was going to be some work done in the last six months or so. But I will leave that at that.

There is, I believe it’s in the section that it would be covered, the contract for the air ambulance medical travel contract. There was a huge increase in the annual cost...

Thanks to the Minister. That’s an awful lot of money in my view. I really question the value of spending $200,000 on what sounds like it’s going to be… If it’s a social marketing campaign, it sounds like it’s going to be pamphlets and I’m presuming Facebook and tweets, I guess. I’m not sure, but that’s what it sounds like to me. It does seem like a lot of money. I would far rather that that money went into a program in various communities. Certainly we have to alert parents to stuff that’s available, but I question the value of these types of campaigns. I don’t question the need to educate...

Thank you, Madam Chair. We will continue with TD 188-17(5), Northwest Territories Main Estimates 2015-2016. We will continue with the Department of Health and Social Services and, time permitting, the Department of Transportation.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just have one more question in this section and then I want to follow up where Mr. Moses left off on the early childhood development and discuss that a little bit. As Mr. Moses indicated, it was the view of committee, and as a member of the committee I agree with the view, that Health and Social Services should be the lead on the early childhood development initiatives. I would urge the Minister to reconsider with his partner Minister whether or not, after some time in putting these programs in place, maybe Health and Social Services is better placed to be the lead on...