Thank you, Member for Thebacha. That is a comment rather than a question. Did you want to respond, Minister?
Yes, Madam Chair. The NWT Disabilities Council does have representatives from the regions. In terms of the work that they do, they do outreach to a lot of the communities, and they counsel themselves. They also have a toll-free line that they're able to assist with seniors. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Anything further, Member for Thebacha?
Madam Chair, it's really important. It's all right to assist by phone and assist by this, but when you don't have funds to assist other jurisdictions, that is not equal representation and equal access. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Next on my list is the Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. I was kind of curious to hear the Minister say that the homecare review needs to go to Cabinet first, before it can even be shared with Regular MLAs. Can I find out from the Minister who actually conducted the review? I would have thought that this is sort of like a contracted service or something. I'm just trying to understand why it would have to go to Cabinet first, before it could be shared with Regular MLAs. Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The review is now ready to go to AOC. Now, we are lining up some dates to be able to bring it forward to AOC. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. Well, that's good news, but I don't think it really answered my question. Who conducted the review, please? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm going to ask Deputy Minister Cooper to answer.
Thank you, Minister. Deputy Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. We contracted with a consulting company, MNP, and they undertook the review, overseen by staff advisory group.
Thank you, Deputy Minister. Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. I know we're supposed to be dealing with the budget, but can someone tell me how much it cost? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister.
Madam Chair. I'll let you turn to Deputy Minister Cooper. If we have the number on hand, it's not in our budget. It was an operational expense that we had previously.
Minister. Deputy Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Approximately $200,000.
Thank you, Deputy Minister. Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks for that. Can someone tell me when the report was finished? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. It was September 26, 2019.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. Can someone explain to me what, if any, role the review had in terms of the funding in this budget? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll leave it to Deputy Minister Cooper to answer.
Thank you, Minister. Deputy Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. We do have plans to respond to the findings of the home support review, but there is an item that will be coming forward as part of how we're using our federal agreement that will see some new funding as part of the supplemental process. I believe you'll be seeing that. In this one, this is a status quo home support budget.
[Microphone turned off] … for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. Now, I'm really interested. As Regular MLAs, we have been waiting for this review for a long, long time. People have been talking about this. Homecare is very important because we a want our elders and our seniors to be able to stay in their own homes. If we can do that, we actually save money and we provide a better quality of life to our elders. I don't have to tell you guys this. That's why this is important, and I'm trying to understand when it was done and whether it has influenced this budget in any way. I'm still trying to understand. Did this have to go to Cabinet first before it's been released to the MLAs? I'm just trying to understand this. Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The review, after I had a look at it with the staff at the department, then I brought it to Cabinet to review as part of the process. Next step, we don't want it to be out public; we need to go to AOC. So those are parts of the process that we decided to follow. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. Can the Minister tell us when she expects to provide this document to AOC? A precise date would be really helpful. Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister.
[Microphone turned off]…Madam Chair. The department and AOC's earliest convenience, if that would be helpful. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Within the life of this sitting?
[Microphone turned off]…
Okay. Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. That's good. I'm very, very curious to see this report. I think the public is, as well. Thanks, Madam Chair. That's all I have.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Are there any further questions in the area of long term and continuing care services? Seeing none, let's turn to page 176, and I'm going to call the page. Long term and continuing care services, operations expenditure summary, 2020-2021 Main Estimates, $48,103,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Committee, we will now go to out-of-territory services, beginning on page 179. Are there questions on this area? Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I know that I've raised this issue in the House already, the residential care, so that is care for clients outside of the territory at $35 million. Can the Minister tell me how many clients does that include? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Sorry, if I could just take a minute to look it up here, was the question on the residential care line, the $35,435,000?
It is my understanding the question is on that line.
Thank you, Madam Chair. We have 119 adults, and we have under 50 children who have complex and difficult needs who we are providing that care to. Thank you.
