Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. We must continue embracing our fellow Northerners for it is love that makes us stronger; it is love borne from our diversity and borne of our love of freedom. We must reflect our unique identify in our schools, in our communities, and in all aspects of public life. As leaders of this government what we can do is to celebrate our diversity and speak out against hate whenever we see it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Chair. The evaluation, can the Minister speak briefly about the evaluation criteria and whether or not we’re going to clients on their experiences with the program and the successes of the program directly and how they had an effect on clients’ lives in treating some of these issues? I appreciate that it’s a success in terms of rolling the funding out and getting the programs offered, but I’m looking to see if the department is taking a very critical eye to how effective these programs are and then can share those successes with our own Indigenous governments and governments...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I note that under contributions we find the on-the-land healing fund. That’s at $1 million. I’m more familiar with the ontheland programs through the Department of Justice, but I know there are some difficulties with rolling those programs out. What is the department’s experience with the on-the-land healing fund? Is most of that money accessed and spent on these programs? How successful are those programs, based on feedback from clients? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I note that our colleagues in Nunavut have taken some action on suicide prevention in their territory. I wonder: When is the last time the Department of Health and Social Services studied our suicide rates and the efficiency of our prevention programs and kind of drilled down into the information? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Earlier today, the federal government announced $70 million in new funding over three years to address the health and suicide crisis involving Indigenous people living on reserve and in the Territories. It does appear that most of these, the largest parts of this funding, are going to be addressed towards Nunavut. I’m wondering if the Minister has been in touch with Ottawa about this and if we know some of this money is going to be Northwest Territories to help with our mental health problem. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I understand that there is no difference today regarding other funding, but if we wanted to make a policy change to Metis benefits now, could we do that theoretically on our own, or is it rigidly mirrored, or could we make those minor corrections? Say if a Metis client in the Northwest Territories had some trouble. Could the Minister, our Minister of Health make a policy change to that program, or does that not happen currently, if there was a gap in coverage? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Committee would like to continue its review of the Department of Health and Social Services.

Nothing further, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister is also responsible for the status of youth in the Northwest Territories. Has the Minister committed any of his time in his portfolio to promote the diversity of our youth, and in particular LGBTQ youth, while also promoting tolerance and anti-bullying outside of the classroom, not just in the classroom?

I just had some quick questions on the Mental Health and Addictions funding. As a contribution, how does that differ from the community mental health and addictions, the bulk of the funding? Who is currently receiving it, and what kind of programs are being operated? Thank you, Mr. Chair.