Debates of October 26, 2004 (day 28)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during May of this year, there was a bit of a crisis with persons with severe developmental disabilities in Edmonton who are Northwest Territories citizens. Mr. Speaker, referring back to that crisis, it was about accreditation and some suggestion of abuse. Would the Minister of Health and Social Services be able to update us on that problem that occurred then and what his department has done to solve that crisis? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the question is not clear enough for me in terms of the crisis he’s talking about. If he wants to be more specific, I’ll try to be more specific as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Hawkins, if you want to clarify your question.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m not sure what the Minister’s referring to by not understanding that question and it seems I’ve lost my first question, so I’ll try to squeeze it in again clearer. There was a crisis with regards to accreditation about our people being down in a facility in Edmonton and we’re talking about people with severe developmental disabilities. There were concerns of abuse, and who knows what else was happening down there. The folks were being shuffled around in a non-accredited facility. Mr. Speaker, my question clearly is what is the Minister doing about these folks down in Edmonton? What is he doing? Where are they today? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 311-15(3): Update On Disabled NWT Residents In Alberta Facilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this situation has resolved itself in terms of the accreditation issue. We no longer have, have not had I believe since last May, any kind of relationship with the facility in question or the program in question. Arrangements have been made both in Edmonton and in the North for the folks that were involved or staying at that facility and in that program. The issues that were raised in terms of mistreatment and other concerns that were raised by some of the former staff of that facility are being dealt with. It’s in Alberta. It’s a situation that occurred in Alberta. It’s an Alberta program that’s run under the standards and rules of the Government of Alberta and they’ve been dealing with that. Our role has solely been as buying a service from that particular organization, and when the troubles occurred we severed that relationship in the best interests of the clients that were being served and we made alternate arrangements. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary to Question 311-15(3): Update On Disabled NWT Residents In Alberta Facilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister’s answer there. That was very clear on this side. Mr. Speaker, my concern is that I’m afraid we’re abandoning these people. Mr. Speaker, my concern is that we’re spending $1,500 a day through different types of placements. We’re spending $1 million a year to no end to treat these people. Are we bringing these people home eventually? Are we taking care of our people? What is the Minister doing to bring these folks home to the Northwest Territories where they belong? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 311-15(3): Update On Disabled NWT Residents In Alberta Facilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the money is not spent to no end. These are individuals that have significant needs. In some cases we’ve done a review on all the clients. In some cases they’ve been returned to the North. In other cases alternate placements have been found. Some are very high need and will never be able to, in our opinion, come North, at least not in the foreseeable future. So we’ve made the appropriate arrangements in all cases for the individuals involved. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 311-15(3): Update On Disabled NWT Residents In Alberta Facilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, recognizing that we do have clients with high needs, I do appreciate that. But the fact is they’re gone. They’re down there and from the sounds of it, it’s as if they’re going to be there forever. Why are we not working towards establishing a northern facility to take care of our own people? Why are we not looking at investing in the Northwest Territories? It doesn’t matter where, but why are we not taking those steps to invest in the Northwest Territories to take care of our people with our dollars? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 311-15(3): Update On Disabled NWT Residents In Alberta Facilities

But the fact of the matter is, Mr. Speaker, we are. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Your final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 311-15(3): Update On Disabled NWT Residents In Alberta Facilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That was a good answer by the Minister, I’ll say. Mr. Speaker, why are we not looking at setting up a territorial facility to take care of all of the people that we ship out to Edmonton with regard to this situation that I’ve raised with the Minister? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 311-15(3): Update On Disabled NWT Residents In Alberta Facilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are doing a review of the clients. We have done a review. We have made the steps in some cases to repatriate some of the clients. One size does not fit all. These are clients with individual and, in some cases, very specific and specialized needs. It’s not accurate or appropriate to assume that you can just create a facility that would be able to deal with all the issues of all these high-needs individuals. Thank you.