Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we collect data, both on the community counselling programs and the facility-based addiction treatment programs, but I don't have the specific details of both. Last year, I think this was about 200 NWT residents that accessed facility-based addictions treatment. The community counselling program and facility-based addiction treatment programs have performance monitoring framework in place which outlines data and indicating reporting requirements. The department also completes quality assurance audits of the community counselling programs delivered across...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I'm really glad that the Member has asked that because that has been asked in this House over and over and over again many times. The rates are to make things equitable in the territory. So the rates fall in line with all of our policies. Some of our policies that are federally funded, and we try to match what those rates are so that it's equitable across all residents with that. And, yes, times have changed, things cost more. That is in the review process. The one thing that I would like to highlight is if we -- you know, that's a decision that will have to be made...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with the Community Wellness and Addiction Recovery Fund, there is still funds available in there for communities to apply on. So I would say to have your -- like, to reach back out to the communities that you represent to see if they've applied on this fund. I can send you the information. Those -- they could create an on the land or a community program for the youth or any community member in their community. For youth addiction programs, we currently piloted a couple of programs. I can get more details to that to the Member for youth treatment, on the...

Again, Mr. Speaker, that move was just recently done to remove the people that are actually doing the medical travel process from not having to now be the ones to appeal -- work with an appeal or an exception on their own work. So that part has moved into the department. The Member is asking what good is that. Well, every case is case by case and then it's looked at, so there's not, like, a tick list of everything because it's new within the department, so there's not -- there's not a case -- there's not a line by line item as to what it is. Thank you.

Yes, you know, I -- as the Minister, you know, I have met with the unit. I have -- we have actually done a presentation to standing committee. You know, if the Member wants me to meet with him and if he wants to invite me to meet with him and the Dene Nation together to hear from them on what their thoughts are, you know I would be more than glad to. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, we have credentialed staff within our authority running our authority. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the decision to create the NTHSSA as one territorial health and social services came in 2016, long before my time, while I was still an employee within that -- the health area. The governance council structure at the time of the day, I even remember watching the Legislative Assembly, I remember hearing and seeing and talking with other people that were attending those meetings and the consultations to create the structure. The communities were very afraid that they would lose their voice on how health care and social services should be in their communities...

Mr. Speaker, on September 30th, 2024, Canada's national Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the Government of Canada, and Inuvialuit Qitunrariit Inuuniarnikkun Maligaksat made history by signing the Inuvialuit Coordination Agreement and Fiscal Agreement.

This historic agreement identifies how the implementation of the Inuvialuit Qitunrariit Inuuniarnikkun Maligaksat, also referred to as the Inuvialuit Family Way of Living Law, will be supported in the Northwest Territories. This is the first coordination agreement...

Mr. Speaker, the chief public health officer -- you know, the reason why the alert came out was there is -- they were notified of this, and there is a current investigation ongoing right now, an investigation that -- you know, that it wouldn't be -- I would not be able to speak to in the House as it's ongoing. But the reason why the chief public health officer did go out and do an announcement publicly right away was to be able to put the information out there so people could -- they didn't -- you know, they wanted to ensure that -- not everybody is on social media, not everybody -- and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker I will talk to my department, and I will talk to the Minister of Infrastructure. I'm not sure how that process and what materials are there and if they're no longer useable, but I can follow up on that material and what's the plan for it and get back to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.