Debates of May 28, 2004 (day 15)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. As I had stated in my Member's statement today with regard to the six or eight clients that the NWT sends down to an institution called the Aboriginal Partners and Youth Society in Edmonton which currently houses and treats our northern persons with developmental disabilities, I just wanted to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services whether looking at this report which was developed by the Office of the Public Guardian, which is the public guardian for the five disabled persons residing in the group homes and also we have six adult clients who are housed in the same residence. In the document, there are several interviews which were conducted with professionals involved, supporting the individuals served by the agency and represented by the Office of the Public Guardian. Responses focussed on the impact or the difference in progress toward treatment, goals and assessment or risk, and general comments and observations about the agency. Mr. Speaker, a lot of the interviews are with certified psychiatrists and psychologists such as, Mr. Speaker, Dr. Oto Cadsky, a psychiatrist who has been working with the institution for the past three years. He says one of his clients has fewer problems and critical incidents since being with this agency and has been making excellent progress since he started to receive services through APYS. He also remarks that he did not have any concerns regarding the allegations of inconsistencies in administering medication and that if his client is moved at this time or if any other major changes are made, he will go nuts.

Another interview with Dr. Dale Parr, another psychologist who has been working for APYS for a number of years, feels that the environment and individuals are clean and well taken care of. I want to ask the Minister of Health how his department is going to deal with the fact that six of the clients that were scheduled to be moved yesterday and had an interview with the CEO of the Edmonton board of the Persons with Developmental Disabilities and a representative from the Department of Health and Social Services, how the Department of Health and Social services will deal with these six clients who are refusing to leave this agency and how will they be taken care of. Thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 172-15(3): Treatment Of Clients With Developmental Disabilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated in the House yesterday, integrated services and housing is available with all the other professional supports that are required. We have meetings today with the individual clients, outside of the glare and pressure cooker intensity of group meetings, but we have been approached. They were talking to clients on an individual basis. So I am confident that as this issue moves through its transition phase that we will be able to make sure that all the clients we have down there are successfully integrated into the alternate placements that have been found for them.

Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 172-15(3): Treatment Of Clients With Developmental Disabilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to ask the Minister again whether the individual interviews take place, or whether it’s in a group interview with the CEO and the representative from the Department of Health and Social Services. I have been assured that these clients will not be moving anywhere, Mr. Speaker, and that they refuse to go to any other institution, especially an institution which they have been removed from because of abuse and mistreatment. How is the Department of Health and Social Services going to ensure that these clients who do not want to move out of this institution are going to be adequately treated and taken care of? Thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 172-15(3): Treatment Of Clients With Developmental Disabilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are the last funding agency left with APYS as far as we know. The Nunavut government and the Alberta government have taken steps to relocate their clients for the issues that have been discussed for some time now. Mr. Speaker, we have arranged alternate placements. At the end of the day, as adults, if they refuse to move, we will work with them to ensure that they are connected to Alberta Health and Social Services, that they take advantage of the services that are available within the city and provided by the Alberta government. We will also be retaining the space in the integrated services for these clients to come in and take advantage of the services that are there waiting for them.

Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 172-15(3): Treatment Of Clients With Developmental Disabilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure what the Minister was referring to, but I don’t think he has really answered my question as to how the Government of the Northwest Territories is planning on abandoning these clients and leaving them at the disposal of the city of Edmonton and the services that they provide. How can the Minister tell these people that the government who supported them for the last 10 years in numerous institutions is now suddenly pulling the rug out from underneath an agency which has provided them with a very improved quality of life resulting in reduced risk behaviours? I am quoting Mr. Paul Kohl, which is the Office of the Public Guardian. How can the government sit back and say they are just going to have to go to the city of Edmonton and take advantage of the services available to them and we will just keep track of what they are doing? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 172-15(3): Treatment Of Clients With Developmental Disabilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, let me be as clear as I can on this issue. We are not abandoning anybody. We have made all the appropriate arrangements. We have had staff down there for the last few weeks trying to work through this transition. The reality is, at the end of the day, APYS has to get its house in order with the Alberta government so they are duly licensed and they comply with all the other hearings where they have to, and at which time we will consider doing business with them. Until that is done, we have an obligation to ensure that the people from the North are given assurance of the highest quality of service that we can get, that standards are met, that they have all the due licensing and other permits they need to do the business that they are in. So that is what we have done. We are being very diligent about this. We are putting many resources to this. My hope was that APYS would do the work necessary to get its house in order with the Alberta government. Thank you.

Final Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 172-15(3): Treatment Of Clients With Developmental Disabilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With reference to getting their house in order with the Alberta government, I think APYS is finding it very difficult to get their house in order when they are dealing with a CEO of the Edmonton board of Persons with Developmental Disabilities that couldn’t provide any real substantial reason as to why he was refusing APYS certification to deliver the agency’s programs to the clients and to the staff at yesterday’s meeting. He refused to answer any questions as to why the Edmonton board of Persons with Developmental Disabilities was refusing the agency’s certification and would not answer any questions relating to that. So I am just wondering why the Minister is basing our decision to relocate and put undue stress on a lot of clients and families on a decision by someone who may have a personal vendetta or be biased towards aboriginal organizations in general and not take the interviews with certified doctors, staff and clients’ feedback on the agency’s programming and success. Why are we saying one guy’s refusal to certify an agency is the basis for refusing proper treatment to NWT clients? Thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 172-15(3): Treatment Of Clients With Developmental Disabilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member has made a number of allegations against some of the officials in Edmonton that work for government. Mr. Speaker, we are a contracting body that are buying a service. We have certain obligations. It is not our role to get involved in the disagreements and the internal wranglings and differences between APYS and the Alberta government and whatever other agencies are in Alberta. It’s an Alberta run operation that runs out of Edmonton. They have to comply with the laws of the land, the standards of the land, and their obligation was to do that. We are looking after the residents of the Northwest Territories. We are committed to buying that service and ensuring that they are put into facilities that meet the basic standards so that we can contract in confidence, knowing that their needs will be met. APYS has their obligation to sort things out. I am not in a position to comment or determine what caused the breakdown between APYS and the Alberta government. It has happened. It has caused the situation we are in today and we have been doing our best to respond in the most constructive way possible. Thank you.