Shane Thompson

Can the Minister explain: how does the system help teachers support students who have rehabilitation needs in the system right now?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, I was asking questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services in regards to speech and language pathologists and OT positions and the issues around that. I would like to follow up on some questions here today. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister please explain how we are going to be able to provide the necessary assessments for children from the smaller communities, especially if there are challenges to see them in person? Yesterday, the Minister said there may be opportunities for positions to go in to the communities, but I just want to clarify that with...

The Minister talked about a lot of work being done, so does the Minister and the department have a timeline of when things are going to be completed?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A number of people have reached out to me recently and asked what was happening in regards to the Department of Health and Social Services' commitment to traditional names being allowed on NWT birth certificates and other forms of GNWT identification. Can the Minister advise us where the status of this commitment is? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I hope they do, too. I think it is a very important organization, the friendship centre. I know that the Premier thinks the same thing. After two years, are we looking to review it and see if there is an opportunity to continue this arrangement, or is it done after these two years? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that answer and the clarity on that. If Sambaa K'e takes it, will Wrigley be the next one being looked at? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to recognize Norma Jumbo, who is a chaperone for two Pages, Aiden and Adam, and I would like to thank her for all of her commitment and work to bring these young men here to learn our operation here. Thank you very much for your time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, again, thank the Minister for all of these answers and clarifications on some of these things. If I am looking to get more information for the Deh Cho and the NWT authorities to help me to better understand what programs, services, and supports are available for the region in Stanton for children requiring rehab services, can the Minister please advise what positions and whom I should be able to talk to so that I can get better informed in this area? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I have heard that, in the Deh Cho region, they have a team that has been engaged in improving initiatives over the past year to improve rates of early childhood development screening of children to improve their early detection and earlier referral to rehabilitation services, which the Minister has talked about. Can the Minister explain some of the new improvements that I have heard about that he can share with us here today?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister elaborating and giving us the information here today. People have been asking: in the meantime, is the department able to look at having birth certificates display both names, whether they be in traditional names in brackets or underneath the bottom there somewhere, so that they can actually have the person's name in there? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.