Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Can the Minister, first, explain the basic rationale behind setting up the office of client experience and what have been its successes? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the purpose of the office of client experience was to improve patient navigation service and support a better interaction with the health and social services system. The outcomes for the OCE include better awareness of client rights and responsibilities, improved client and family experience, streamline access to supports and services, making culturallysafe care experience for Indigenous clients and families a priority, increase access to cultural and language supports for clients, and building staff capacity for Indigenous client centered care and perspectives.
We anticipate the work of this office will result in better understandings of Indigenous clients and family concerns and issues. This will be supported by data tracking and qualitative analysis. We want to see system level actions and changes to ensure our health care system is meeting the needs of residents, and the office of client experience is critical to us understanding the improvements we can make to support that change.
So it's been over a year that this office was established, and we've had over a thousand requests that have been supported to date, and 65 percent of those have been from Indigenous people who identify as First Nations, Metis, and Inuit. And satisfaction survey results indicated that most people who used the service felt heard, respected, and culturally safe when accessing this service. The program is Indigenous designed and led with little staff turnover, and pathways have been established for building relationships with clients, families, and community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So does the Minister see any value in setting up an office, perhaps parallel to the office of client experience, but to advocate for health care providers in order to alleviate workplace frustrations and improve staff retention?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what I do see the potential is some of the work that we're doing, the employee satisfaction survey, we have just completed. We don't have the results yet, but a lot of that could help drive some of these changes that, you know, the Member might be talking about. While most care staff are represented by labour organizations such as UNW, NWT Medical Association, who also advocate on their behalf, I really appreciate the Member bringing this idea forward. And I have had discussions with the Minister of Finance, my colleague, on discussing this further with the Member as well as the Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister commit to examining the feasibility of setting up a task force on improvements for health care frontline staff? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I do see value in some type of a you know, something, whether it's a task force or whatever we call it, I'm not prepared to commit to taking this specific action today but I'm interested in, like I said, to continue this discussion and using some of the things that we have as well as I believe the work that needs that we've been doing with the engagement strategy for the health and social services system, and I believe this work needs to have an opportunity to launch and begin to have impacts as well. But we will also be renewing the health and social services human resource plan as the current plan has just ended. The next plan will give us an opportunity to refresh our understanding of what is needed to make some positive headway as we work to improve the recruitment retention of valuable health care workers in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So my final question is, will the Minister report back to this House before the end of this sitting on whether she intends to set up a task force or some structure similar to what I've described today? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm not prepared to make that commitment for the end of this sitting as the Member we all know how busy we are during sittings and trying to be able to come with a plan within the next two weeks to be able to come to the floor. But I will bring forward to the Assembly a report of the health and social services system human resource plan that concluded on March 31st, and I will also work to ensure that dialogue begins on the new human resource plan which sets out the course in this area for the next several years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services.
Mr. Clerk, can you pause the clock for a second.
Colleagues, I'm going to take a short break and I'll be back, because I have to make a phone call.
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Oral questions. Member from Monfwi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, has the Minister of Housing documented the reasons elders fall into arrears? Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Minister of Housing NWT.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could she repeat the question, I missed it. Sorry, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Housing NWT. Member from Monfwi.
Thank you. Has the Minister of Housing documented the reasons elders fall into arrears? Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Minister of Housing NWT.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the MLA is asking about elders, and this is something she's brought up over the last number of months with many elders that are falling into arrears. I'm sure there's many reasons why elders are falling into arrears, and she has kind of explained some of those reasons. And housing does some analysis with it and does work with clients into why they are falling into arrears. There is some counselling available to clients, especially those elders. So we can provide more information. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are elders elderly people in my region and in other regions in the NWT who want to become homeowners but are not able to due to arrears. So what is the Minister doing to encourage homeowners for clients over 60 years old? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our district offices, as well as headquarters, Housing NWT headquarters, would provide information to clients that are interested in becoming homeownership clients. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Can the Minister fast track the homeownership process for clients over 60 years old? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We'd have to consider any application. There is a process for that application, and we have to follow the process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Housing NWT. Final supplementary. Member for Monfwi.
Okay, thank you, Mr. Speaker. The reason why I said I asked that question is because many of the elders are aging and time is of essence. So can the Minister of Housing write off the arrears for clients over 60 years old? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have a number of clients that are on the arrears list for Housing NWT. Across the North, we have many clients that are on the arrears list. Housing NWT does review this file annually, so I'd be pleased to meet with the MLA to discuss a casebycase for elders that have arrears with Housing NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Housing NWT. Oral questions. Member from the Dehcho.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member's statement, I mentioned the two motions that I brought forward in February on recognizing housing as a fundamental human right in the NWT. It has been 90 days since I brought this motion forward these motions forward.
Can the Minister of Housing NWT advise when she intends to table a response to those motions? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from the Dehcho. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. Mr. Speaker, in accordance with the accepted Legislative Assembly conventions, Housing NWT is completing its research and work on the motion and will table a response at the beginning of the next sitting of the Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last year, former Premier Cochrane tabled, A Way Home, a Comprehensive Strategy to Address Homelessness in the Northwest Territories. Can the Minister speak to the status on how the implementation of that housing strategy is going and explain what has transpired since it was tabled? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Housing NWT is supporting the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs, who is the lead on implementation of A Way Home. Housing NWT is supporting the work of an interdepartmental working group to implement that strategy, and our work has included supporting statistical analysis on homelessness, preparing for transition of shelters, and some programs currently implemented by Housing NWT, as well as working on looking for partnership solutions to see housing built to better meet the needs of vulnerable populations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. Thank you to the Minister for that response. Mr. Speaker, in reference to A Way Home, can the Minister explain what actions Housing NWT is doing in its engagement with other departments in establishing stronger wraparound supports for people living in public housing across the NWT? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as noted in today's Minister statement, Housing NWT has established four formal partnership agreements, as well as supporting many informal arrangements, with funding for projects and working on community housing plans. Although still under development, housing is supporting such ideas as supportive housing projects, tiny home projects, and other programs that will support vulnerable populations in the communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing. Final supplementary. Member from Dehcho.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister explain what work has been done so far since the 20th Assembly in terms of working to create partnerships and increase collaboration with Indigenous governments to improve housing in newer ways? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as noted earlier, Housing NWT has signed a collaborative agreement with the Gwich'in Tribal Council since the beginning of the 20th Assembly. Housing NWT has also had meetings with communities, such as Fort Resolution, to discuss either formal or informal agreements to work together on housing priorities. We continue to work with housing working groups established in communities, such as Fort Good Hope, to support work of the K’asho Got’ine Housing Society. Housing NWT is also working with community organizations on community housing support initiatives to complete projects that are community priorities. Housing NWT has also amended that program to allow for it to be used for SEED funding to help organizations hire capacity to apply on funding programs being offered by Canada or other external organizations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing NWT. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of MACA. Every community within the Northwest Territories should be accommodated at the same rate. Aklavik is no different. For years, the community has been left out of major projects with the Government of the Northwest Territories. I'd like to see the Minister and his department step up and assist the community of Aklavik in saving the shoreline within its municipal boundaries for future use.
Can the Minister and his department look at ways to finance the restoration of the shoreline, whether it be with other departments, or give us direction through federal government programs? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Mackenzie Delta. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am aware of other communities that have reached out for funding for emergency remediation on banks, riverbanks, and berms and stuff like that, like that of Hay River. So I will look into it with the department and see what we can do for your community. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister look at sending a team of engineers to the community to see how the road can be restored? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Yes, Mr. Speaker, I'm just notified that the Department of Infrastructure is working with MACA to work with the community on getting some funds available to do some work. Thank you.
Thank you to the Minister for that good response. Okay, I just deleted one of my questions there. Okay, thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Will the Minister commit to joining other Ministers on a Mackenzie Delta tour scheduled for July 16th and 17th? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm always willing to get out to the communities and see the regions, so I would be willing to work with the Member on a tour if need be there. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
