Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think it’s clear that everybody knows that we have a disproportionally high rate of mental illness in the NWT. The terrible history of our residential school abuses and abrupt removal from homes and cultures has contributed, obviously, and resulted in multi-generational impacts. There’s been some good work done, especially recently with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission playing an important role, but it’s also recognized that the need for diagnoses and healing remains high.
The unaddressed mental health issues are resulting in some tragic consequences, as evidenced by the complete disappearance or tragic violent deaths of individuals profiled in the news in recent months and really over the past number of years. In many cases, these are people who have been in and out of our correctional system and a resolving and repetitive cycle that is in itself tragic.
Not only are the human costs unacceptable, the costs to our health, education and justice systems are huge. Both beg some relief and resolution.
Recently, the federal crime bill has put in place further pressures on our corrections system that, according to our Justice Minister, will be unsustainable when the full impacts are realized. These issues are well known and have been discussed in this House.
This motion speaks to this situation and the serious need to act quickly to put in place effective prevention measures that will both improve the effectiveness of our delivery of mental health and diversion with those with mental health illness away from the humanly tragic, repetitive and costly correctional system.
The motion follows up on a previous motion from the 16th Assembly which referred to the research done on mental health diversion courts of Canada and elsewhere. A response to a trend of trivializing the mentally ill across North America is what this diversionary court represents.
There’s abundant evidence of success at very modest cost in Canada. The Toronto court, for example, was based on existing budgets of involved partners and had no separate government funding. Judge Richard Schneider stated that the federal Health Court has saved the health system millions of dollars. Similarly, a New Brunswick Mental Health Diversion Court has no budget of its own. It relies on the support of partner organizations, all but one of which are provincial government entities.
The record is clearly a high degree of success, both in addressing mental health of many individuals and embracing the cycle of repeated criminal offences and incarceration for the saving of millions of dollars.
The Minister has recently tabled a Mental Health and Addictions Strategy which is welcomed by everyone. Incredibly, though, the strategy for goals does not include prevention. This despite the repeated call for action at this foundational level and the Minister’s apparent support for such programs.
The Minister may claim that prevention is there, but I urge you to read the goals and see prevention in them.
During questions earlier this session the Minister of Justice revealed being done by his department and by Health and Social Services, will not allow consideration of action on this before the ‘14-15 business plans, despite the work being called for in the 16th Assembly with work being initiated already at that time.
To me, this is too late, Mr. Speaker. The toll on human and financial costs is too great to delay this long wait, while people who could be diverted to progressive measures instead get pulled down on the spiral and treadmill of corrections and untreated mental illness is intolerable.
I appreciate the support of my seconder, Mr. Moses, and I look forward to any comments and support from my colleagues and I do call for a recorded vote. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The motion is in order. The Member has asked for a recorded vote. Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The Member has asked for a recorded vote. All those in favour, please stand.
Mr. Dolynny, Ms. Bisaro, Mr. Nadli, Mr. Menicoche, Mr. Moses and Mr. Bromley.
All those opposed, please stand. All those abstaining, please stand.
Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Abernethy, Mr. Miltenberger, Mr. McLeod - Yellowknife South, Mr. Lafferty, Mr. Ramsay, Mr. McLeod - Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Mr. Whitford. Yes, seven; no, zero; abstentions, seven.
---Carried
Mr. Moses.
