Yes, the total amount is good. Can the Minister confirm the total estimated expenditures for all departments for the year 2020-2021? She can either break them down by department, or she can give me the total.
For reference, I am looking at the summary of operations expenditures page, which is in the main estimates binders, and that does have a breakdown by department and also by expenditure category, showing a grand total of expenditures of $1,895,865.
Of those amounts for each department, what amount by department goes directly to support or care for Aboriginal people in the NWT? I am looking for a number, a per-capita number, I guess it is. The reason for this is that I want to know what we're doing with the money that is coming in from all sources, and how much is actually going to assist or to support Aboriginal people in the Northwest Territories.
I suppose one answer is that every dollar spent, to a degree, supports the Indigenous people in the Northwest Territories insofar as it provides the day-to-day functioning, programs, and services of the Government of the Northwest Territories that help all of the residents of the Northwest Territories, including Indigenous people. To the extent of breaking it down per capita or by demographic, certain programs and services, certainly, I will make an effort to go back and see which programs and services are targeted specifically to Indigenous groups in the Northwest Territories, but as far as breaking down program by program, again, so many of them are so intertwined that that would be an impossible task. I won't be able to do that to the extent that I gather the Member is actually seeking here.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that answer, and I would still like to see some numbers. I don't want it to the penny. I just want a general number. The reason why is that we do have people who come up from the South to support what this government is doing with respect to Aboriginal people. At the same time, they bring family members down, and they're taking beds away, possibly, from Aboriginal residents, say in extended care, or whatever. I guess I just want to know what's going on. In saying that, it seems that we just continue on, and I want to know from the Premier or the Minister if it's going to be business as usual. Are we going to really direct some of our energy towards making sure that Aboriginal and Indigenous issues are dealt with in a timely manner, and that we are actually providing support for them, and that we are actually receiving the funding that we require from the federal government and other sources to make sure that we are addressing their concerns? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, this seems to be a whole-of-government response. I think, perhaps, it is appropriate that I turn it over to the Premier.
Thank you. Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are a couple of things. It definitely isn't going to be business as usual as the last Legislative Assembly. I mean, we don't even have the same Cabinet here, so it couldn't be business as usual, Mr. Speaker. However, I heard the question, and it's an interesting question. When he asked about breaking it down by department, it would be almost impossible, Mr. Speaker, because it would be identifying, as well, how many Indigenous people are in public housing, how many Indigenous people are taking post-secondary education, how many identified at post-secondary education. I'm not even sure that my own children, who are Metis, identified as Metis when they applied for post-secondary. Those are questions that are out there. It is a lot easier if you say "how many Indigenous people are hired in the government"; that we have statistics for, and I watched that very closely over the last Assembly, as well.
Hopefully, it won't be businesses as usual. I know that, in the last Assembly, when I was watching around HR, human resources, hiring for the GNWT, I was adamant about the number. In all honesty, I was the Minister of Status of Women; I was advocating about how many Indigenous women. One thing that I never got to is how many are in management positions. Hopefully, that is something that we will be looking at. I know I am a strong advocate. I know my Cabinet are strong advocates. We will be looking at that as we go forward.
The best answer is: do we have enough money for Indigenous governments? Absolutely not. We don't have enough money, Mr. Speaker, for this government. Land claims and self-government agreements, those are the answers for Indigenous people. The more that we can get those through, not pushing them through, but work them through, actually will give the power to the Indigenous governments, and therefore, Mr. Speaker, we will have a huge impact on Indigenous people. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Honourable Premier. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. No one is more vulnerable to COVID-19 than elders living in long-term care and seniors' homes. COVID facilities in these homes have become a national scandal. In light of the alarming death rate in such homes, I have a number of questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. The first question I have is: what special COVID-related training have staff at the territorial long-term care and seniors' homes received in anticipation of a possible outbreak of the virus in our territory? Masi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On March 12th, we began implementing preventative measures several days before we had an active case. We did things like prohibiting visitors, stopping day programs, using social distancing, screening staff before and at the end of their shifts, wearing masks continuously, cleaning common high-touch areas, following 14-day isolation protocols. These are all some of the preventative steps we have taken in preparation for this pandemic. Staff are all trained. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
In light of the documented danger of long-distance airborne transmission, what consideration has the government given to retrofitting the territorial seniors' homes? I am referring to the virus-scrubbing systems of the type being integrated into the hospital's HVAC system.
I am not sure the specific details on the question, so I can get back to the Member.
My third question, obviously, is at the systemic level. What is the Minister doing to improve entry-level training standards and staff retention at our elders' care facilities? What steps have been taken so far, to date?
I am not aware of what exact measures have taken place. However, I do want to let the Member know that we don't anticipate easing any of our current preventative practices right now in the long-term care centres. We are just going to continue with some of the processes that we have been doing.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Monfwi.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. I may have to do a written question because I need more information pertaining to this. These are questions that have been asked by the seniors and family members in my community. The next question I have is in follow-up to my last question, Mr. Speaker: what systemic steps is the Minister taking pertaining to another very vulnerable segment of our population? I am referring to those disabled adults residing in group homes and other residential support programs, Mr. Speaker. Masi.
I heard the Member say that he would be willing to share some of his questions and send it over to me. We can respond as a department. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Health. Is the health authority actively looking at hiring translators in the hospital in Inuvik? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Right now, in Inuvik, the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority in the Beaufort-Delta region is actively recruiting for a Regional Indigenous Wellness Coordinator. This position will lead the incorporation of Indigenous languages into programming and service delivery. Thank you.
That's the first I have heard of that; I am starting to hear some good news. Will the health authority find ways to work with our Indigenous groups to have translators, in the meantime, in our hospitals and long-term care?
The idea of the Regional Indigenous Wellness Coordinator is to be able to work with stakeholders, residents, and staff to determine what are some appropriate means to support languages and also have translators in our centres.
One last question for the Minister: will she commit to having her department resolving this issue immediately, at least for the residents who are in our long-term care now?
The Inuvik Regional Hospital and the long-term care in the Beaufort-Delta will work with current healthcare practitioners who are able to speak additional languages. Currently in the hospital, in the Beaufort-Delta, we have a list of translators who can be called upon for translation services when required. We also have access to interpreter translator from Ulukhaktok via FaceTime and phone. We do have some of these services that are available, and I hear what the Member is asking to commit to. Right now, our department is committing to this position. Once we get the position, we can start to roll out how we continue to work with Indigenous groups.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, my statement was on leadership in regard to the mayors in the communities of my riding. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to know from the Minister of MACA: what are we doing in regard to our weekly meetings with our mayors and chiefs across the territory? Is that still happening? The information is flowing on COVID-19 and the pandemic moving forward on the potential round two of COVID? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We were meeting since March, the beginning of March, when COVID-19 first hit us. We were meeting weekly with both the municipal governments and the Indigenous governments every Friday, in fact. When the session started a week ago, two weeks ago, we asked them if they would take a break for session and meet with the officials because of course I will be in session. They were going to take a break, but, Mr. Speaker, I just saw an email come through my desk that they are actually having a meeting this Friday, as well. My understanding is that the mayors and the Indigenous governments will continue meeting with officials until session is over, at which time they will reinstate meeting with me.
No, that is good to hear. Things move forward without even us being there, so that is a good thing. It shows true leadership in our territory. What is our Minister looking at our emergency plans now, on the go-forward with this pandemic? I know that this is all new to us. We had everything but pandemic in our emergency plans. I want to know and make sure that the Minister is making sure that we go forward with all of our communities, all 33 communities, with an emergency plan with a pandemic stage on an upcoming pandemic in regard to, I said, COVID-19 second go-around, so making sure of the safety of our communities.
Some work has been done with the municipalities. Some work needs to be done. When COVID-19 first hit us, we focused on the immediate needs, making sure that people understand the orders and how to address the orders. That was our main focus, but as we move forward, we realize that even in the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, when we did our emergency management plans for each community, they did not include a pandemic. They talked about forest fires, and they talked about flooding. Absolutely, that work is going to have to be done for 33 communities, and it has to be done for us as a Government of the Northwest Territories. That is work that goes forward. The other thing that is huge for municipalities right now is we are still advocating with the federal government to see what relief they will come through. We have been compiling the costs for the municipal governments. However, the Canadian association of municipalities actually sent a request to the federal government, asking I don't know the amount of money, but it was billions of dollars, for all municipalities. We are advocating, lobbying for that money, and watchful to see what comes out of that.
I thank the Minister for that. In regard to our communities I represent, I have one on the highway and I have three with airline services. It has been a tough 40 days in regard on the go-forward. Working with our first 10 days of working with my mayors, that was non-stop and long days. The essential travel part, now, for our communities, to keep peace of mind for our elders in our communities, where does that fit in regard to essential travel? Are we making sure that the communities of Sachs Harbour, Ulukhaktok, and Paulatuk for essential travel, has that been the criteria yet with COVID-19, or did that loosen up in regard to that?
If I am on the wrong track, the Member can meet with me after and correct me, but I am thinking he is asking about essential travel as to workers going into the communities. That is the same as it was when COVID-19 first hit. The only people who are into the Northwest Territories are the essential workers, from out of the community. However, we do allow people from the Northwest Territories to still leave the territories, go South, as long as they have a self-isolation plan when they return. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No. Thank you, Minister. That was what I wanted to hear in regard to action plan. Now, that being said, for those three communities that are fly-in, for my home community of Tuktoyaktuk in regard to the check stops that we had in our communities, is this government going to support my community of Tuktoyaktuk in regards to helping them pay, or is the federal government COVID-19 going to pay the funds that was expended in regard to a check stop, when it put people's minds at ease and it calmed everybody down? I am hoping this government will support that in paying that bill for the community of Tuktoyaktuk. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
At this point, we have not been paying for any of the check stops that have happened in communities. We do have border patrols. We do have EMO that is on it, the enforcement and task force that are on it already. These are extra precautions that the communities, some communities, have taken upon themselves. At first, we were concerned about the health and safety of not only the people who were patrolling the check stops but also the people going through. We have not condoned the action, but we have not taken it down. I do know that we have given money to Indigenous governments. They can use that money as they wish for COVID-19, and I do know that the municipalities are seeking federal money. We are also getting them to compile their expenses. However, at this time, until we figure out what is happening with the federal government around municipal funding, we have not put any resources into municipalities, only on the Indigenous government side. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mental health experts have cautioned that the fear of COVID, mounting death toll, economic downturn, and uncertainty is fueling a mental health crisis. What I would like to know is: how has the Department of Health and Social Services changed mental healthcare through COVID?
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Community Counselling Program continues to be available in the Northwest Territories, including locations here in Yellowknife, but during this pandemic counselling services have changed. We are now providing these services through telephone or by using virtual options like Zoom and FaceTime. I do want to note that wait times for counselling across our system have been eliminated, and residents can access same-day appointments. In addition, the federal government is also providing virtual options for all Canadians. The Wellness Together Canada is a free online portal with a variety of e-mental health apps focused on things like anxiety, depression, and stress, so the health and social services system is working to promote these options to the residents of the Northwest Territories so that they can have more options that are easily accessible from home through this pandemic.
While I appreciate the Department of Health and Social Services looking for new ways to provide mental healthcare to Northerners, the reality is that not every single person has access to using apps or video conferencing for mental health appointments. Many residents of the Northwest Territories simply do not have the minutes on cellphones to be able to access telehealth. What I would like to know is: will the Department of Health and Social Services still provide in-person counselling to people who simply cannot access these supports?
The Community Counselling Program has shifted. I understand the Member's concern about not being able to have the one-on-one. However, there are times when individuals may need to be seen by a health professional in person, so these are situations that we assess on a case-by-case basis.
Bringing home a new baby today would bring a whole new level of fear and anxiety with it for new moms, heightened anxiety as parents work to keep their tiny infant safe, increased stress as parents are potentially further isolated from their support networks. How has support for new moms changed since March?
