I have heard a number of concerns from my constituents, most recently about not being able to shower because there are no towels in there. First of all, is the department aware of this situation, and do they tell the patients who are coming there what type of toiletry items they need to bring in?
Like any travel, people should usually take their own basic toiletries and personal grooming items. All of the boarding homes that we contract with do provide bed sheets and pillows and towels. Our 2017 medical travel guide, which has been shared with Members, is available to medical travel patients, and inside that document it actually provides tips on the types of things that individuals should bring with them when they travel. I would encourage anybody going to medical travel to look at that toolkit and make sure that they are bringing along items that they may need.
I have heard a number of concerns from residents about staying at the boarding home. They tried to follow a process of bringing their concerns to staff and management, and nothing seems to change. How does the department investigate the concerns brought to them? Do they actually do an investigation or rely on the contractor to give them feedback?
Complaints are always taken very seriously and are dealt with in a variety of ways, actually, depending on the actual nature of the complaints. As always, the authority attempts to work with our clients and also our partners at the boarding homes themselves to resolve any issues that may arise. If a client does experience an issue, depending on the nature of that issue, obviously, we would encourage them to reach out to the manager of the boarding home that they happen to be staying at, at the time of the incident and when it first occurs, so that it can be addressed immediately.
I can also advise that the Yellowknife boarding home has recently created a position within the boarding home itself with the sole function of improving client services. They have put this position in so that individuals who have concerns can go directly to that position to resolve them real-time and make sure that those types of issues don't arise with other people in the future. If these tools don't work, if these processes don't work, or if it doesn't resolve the issue, the travelling client can get in touch with Medical Travel to express their concerns there and follow the normal quality assurance process so that we can find out what is happening and make sure that it doesn't happen again. In the meantime, I encourage them to work with the boarding homes.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the answers from the Minister. I am looking forward to, hopefully, him sharing who that new person is so that we can then share it with our constituents out there who have those concerns. I guess my last question in regard to this here is: will the Minister have his staff reach out to patients for the past six months to see what their concerns are and how they can be addressed in the future, so that we provide a better service for our residents? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Once again, the position that I was referencing is actually an employee of the Vital Abel Boarding Home; they are not actually a GNWT employee, and patients would certainly be aware of that individual once they have actually attended, but we will get the information and share it with the Member so that he can share it with others.
As far as myself and the department reaching out, I won't be reaching out to the constituents who have travelled who may have concerns, but I would strongly encourage anybody who does have concerns to follow up with Yellowknife Medical Travel Office and the manager of the Medical Travel Program, who can start looking into these issues. If we have a number of reoccurring similar issues, we can work to address those. For those who don't feel comfortable contacting them directly, I encourage the Member to provide me with the names and consent forms for the individuals, and I am happy to look into the issues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following up on my statement here to the Premier, my first question relates to the Deline Got'ine Government arrangement or agreement. What is the status of the bilateral MOU between the GNWT and the Deline Got'ine Government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. The Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories and Deline Got'ine Government officials have been working closely and are currently finalizing a draft MOU. Officials will be meeting this month to conclude that draft agreement with the Deline Got'ine Government, and we will forward it to the leaders for review. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thanks to the Premier for that information. My next question is: when will the parties meet and sign the MOU?
A date will be set for a first meeting as soon as the leaders have reviewed and approved the draft agreement. I am very optimistic that we can have that first meeting during the life of this government.
Thanks to the Premier for that information. That gives us some scheduling and timelines in the remaining term of this government to take advantage of setting this milestone by the community. My third question here, Mr. Speaker, is: how will this MOU change the relationship between the GNWT and the Deline Got'ine Government?
This MOU will formalize our government-to-government relationship and provide an opportunity for the Government of the Northwest Territories and Deline Got'ine Government leadership to meet and discuss issues of mutual concern and interests. We have found that this is an excellent forum to do so. There is, however, ongoing work with Deline Got'ine that is occurring.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks to the Premier for that reply. My last question: it has been two-and-a-half years since the Deline agreement was signed, and it is the first one out of our 33 communities for the territory. Can the Premier provide examples of some of the work currently going on between the Deline Got'ine Government and the GNWT which supports the continuing evolution of the Deline Got'ine Government? Mahsi.
The Government of the Northwest Territories, Canada, and Deline Got'ine Government are working closely together to continue the implementation of the Deline Got'ine agreement. We will be establishing a bilateral housing working group to collaboratively address housing issues in the community. All three governments are also working to renew the Deline Got'ine Government financing agreement.
In 2015, Deline developed and implemented a thoughtful and comprehensive caribou management plan for the Bluenose-East herd, to guide their community and residents based on their agreement. ENR and the Government of the Northwest Territories will continue to support Deline as they review and consider any improvements to their caribou management plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Premier. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement today I spoke about our water regulatory regime, and, in particular, I referred to the Commissioner in Executive Council, so I would like to ask the Premier: does the Premier acknowledge that we have the ability to now take control over our water resources and that there is no need for us to wait until the MVRMA is repatriated? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. The Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Northwest Territories has a unique co-management regulatory regime that is governed by the federal Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act and the Territorial Waters Act. Under the devolution agreement, the Government of the Northwest Territories received authorities from the federal government with respect to land and water management under the MVRMA. Land and water boards have legislative authorities for decision making for type B water licences where a public hearing has not been held, similar to their authorities pre-devolution. For projects on territorial land, the Minister of ENR has authorities for approving type B water licences where a public hearing was held, as well as approvals of all type A water licences.
Thank you to the Premier for that explanation. I am not sure where this might lead with regard to my next question, but I am going to ask it to the Premier. He realizes that currently there are developing projects, such as Nighthawk, Osisko, and even TerraX, that, if they need to operate more than two drills, they need to make and continue to administer two almost identical applications for the same water board, one for land use permit with 100 cubic metres of water, the second for another 200 cubic metres of water on the same land. Will the Premier, in consultation with Cabinet and the Minister of ENR, consider revising the current 100-cubic-metre threshold to put us in line with the best practices in comparable northern jurisdictions?
We are not currently considering revising the requirement for a type B water licence for the use of over 100 cubic metres of water per day. It is my understanding that this volume is consistent with other northern jurisdictions. In the Yukon, the 300 cubic metres is a threshold specifically related to type B licences for placer and quartz mining. All other mining has a threshold of 100 cubic metres for a type B water licence. In Nunavut, anything between 50 and 300 cubic metres requires a type B licence.
Thank you to the Premier for that clarification again. We will get off water just for a moment, and I would like to ask the Premier: will the Premier consider a made-in-the-North solution for prescribing what information applicants for a water licence are required to submit, to ensure that the boards collect the relevant and proportionate information to practically and efficiently evaluate an application?
The Government of the Northwest Territories works closely with regional land and water boards on information guidelines relevant to water licensing and land-use permitting processes. Guidelines exist with respect to completing water licence applications in the Mackenzie Valley. The Government of the Northwest Territories will provide feedback to the boards on recent process and any improvements that can provide efficiencies in process.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Premier for the reply. Lastly, Mr. Speaker, NRCan has just announced that exploration expenditures in the NWT have declined to the lowest level in 10 years. I would like to ask the Premier: will the Premier consider a made-in-the-North solution for prescribing timely, proportionate, and predictable procedures to be followed for a water licence application to the boards?
Right now, only Canada can provide policy direction to the boards, but I can say that the Minister responsible for Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada has agreed to start discussions for the devolution of the MVRMA processes. As you may recall, there was a five-year provision to wait to begin the review, and he has indicated he is prepared to start that review right away. Independent regional land and water boards are responsible to administer processes for both type A and type B water licence applications. Maximum timelines for water licence processes already exist under the legislation. Rules or procedures have been established by land and water boards. The Government of the Northwest Territories is a strong supporter of efficient and effective resource-management decisions. We will provide the feedback to the boards on recent process. However, it is within their authority to define their process and procedures. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Further to my statement on homecare services, my questions are to the Minister of Health and Social Services. It's said that we have a growing number of senior-aged people in the country, and especially here in the NWT, and so this government has gone on record to say that we encourage our elders to live in their homes for as long as possible. How does the department determine what elders may need? Sorry, I will rephrase that question. How does the department determine what elders may need in terms of special care in order for them to live well in their own homes? Mahsi.
Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The authority identifies a client's care needs based on a home and community care assessment that is done with each client. If a client is receiving care and services through the home and community care program, their care needs are assessed on a regular basis and, if they change or they need to be modified, the program for home support can be modified. So it is based on an assessment to determine the level of supports they do need.
How are our elders currently referred to homecare services, and who is responsible for those referrals?
Healthcare providers such as nurses, physicians, or nurse practitioners can actually refer clients to the home and community care program. They will do the assessment and figure out what levels of support an individual needs. However, if somebody in the Member's constituency is under the impression that they do need some home supports, I would encourage them to go to the health centre, make an appointment, and get a referral.
In the community of Fort Providence, and more likely some other communities that had undertaken programs to try to increase the level of services that could be brought into the community, and particularly for elders, there was a program that was operated by the band. I am just curious as to why the funding for the Deh Gah Gotie homemaker program was discontinued?
I am not familiar with that program. I have asked the department to do a little bit of digging. It seems that program was a program that existed many, many, many years ago, well before my time. I could not tell the Member today why that funding was discontinued. I also don't fully understand the nature of the program, but, if the Member has some information on the program, I am happy to take it, I am happy to read it, I am happy to look at it and see if there is any opportunity for us to include the concepts and principles in the work we are doing around the continuing care action plan and living in place. It might be something that could help inform our family and paid community caregiver program and pilot, so I am certainly interested to learn about it. I do not know enough about it, but, from what I understand, it was a program that was run many, many years ago, well before my time.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister commit to meet with the communities so that he can see for himself that there is a need for additional homecare workers in the community of Fort Providence? Mahsi.
I am always happy to travel to the Member's riding, meet his constituents, and hear their concerns. If the Member is interested in doing that, I would suggest maybe contacting my office, and we will see if we could figure out a time that would work for the Member and myself. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to continue with my line of questioning to the Minister of Health and Social Services, to put a few more things on his list to report on. Next, the OAG report recommended that health authorities work together to promote equity in the delivery of foster care across the territory. The department agreed that a set of standards and procedures would be completed by March 31st. My question is: are they complete? Mahsi.
Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated earlier, there are four areas where we are concerned that we may not meet the March 31st deadline. I don't have the details in front of me. I know that, most of the areas, we have actually completed already. I have committed to getting the Member and committees an update of where we are. It will include that information. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you to the Minister. I am just going to keep filling up his list here. The OAG recommended, and the department agreed, that staff required more training with a structured decision-making tool to ensure that it was being used effectively. The department agreed that new training will be implemented by the end of March. Can the Minister tell us: is that training ready to go?
One of the items that has been completed is we provided refresher training on SDM to 25 staff. This training is part of the training-the-trainer model, which will be implemented across the Child and Family Services system. We have also completed a written protocol for quality assurance checks of the SDM tools.
