Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I reminded the House, and I will continue to remind the House, that I am a very strong supporter of the downtown day shelter. I can tell you many businesses as well as downtown residents support the principles of why the downtown day shelter exists. This is why I continue this issue with the Minister of Health and Social Services, to raise the awareness, but also ensure that it’s a safe, respectful and positive environment.
The lofty goals set out by the department, of course, were very simple. As I read earlier today: a warm, safe place, provide support and referral, and certainly keep it open from seven to seven, seven days a week. I’m not convinced that they’re meeting all of these goals and I’ve had people approach me on particular problems, as I’ve already cited today.
Is the Minister of Health and Social Services willing to take these issues seriously and attach them to the contribution agreement? What I’m suggesting is will he make sure that any future contribution agreements with the John Howard Society ensure that the environment is safe, where they do not drink there, where they do not abuse staff and, certainly, where the referral process is finally being used. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Health and Social Services has completed an evaluation of the day shelter pilot project. The evaluation has come back to us recently. We have given the evaluation to the John Howard Society for a response. Once we receive the response from the society, in addition to the evaluation, we will be looking at the day shelter for its effectiveness. Thank you.
I had previously requested a copy of this evaluation; however, I was only given a bit of a summary as to the objectives. I still have that outstanding request, and that’s very important to the principles of supporting this day shelter initiative, because we have to know what we’re supporting. I mean, it’s great we support the principles, but will the Minister provide me and perhaps even the Standing Committee of Social Programs a copy of this report done on the day shelter so that we can get down to the root problems and try to solve some of them? Thank you.
I will commit to providing that evaluation to the Member for Yellowknife Centre and also to the Social Programs committee. Thank you.
In my statement earlier today I referred to the fact of many of the problems that have been happening over there. Will the Minister of Finance, through his channels, through the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority, work to ensure and certainly enshrine the issues that I’ve highlighted, that we want a system that is safe, respectful, positive and definitely commits to doing referrals? Because right now the John Howard sees they’re meeting their objectives by just having the door open. Unfortunately, I think that there are a lot more steps required: safety, staff free of abuse, and certainly an environment that does not drink. We need a positive environment. My question is simply: Will he ensure that those principles are enshrined in any future contribution agreement?
Yes, we will work with the John Howard Society, if they were to continue to operate the day shelter, and we can put some of those requests into the new proposal or the new contract with the John Howard Society to ensure that those things do not continue in the day shelter. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Your final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be remiss to not point this out, but it’s my understanding the contract has not been drawn up yet. It’s my understanding the contract has not been fully developed yet, because, of course, the three-year ongoing initial pilot project has not expired yet. I just want to make sure it’s on the record here one way or the other. Has the contract been fully renewed at this particular time? My understanding is that it has not, but let’s get that clarity for the House. Thank you.
At this time the department intends to continue its funding beyond the three years, that in the business planning process the department has put the $125,000 back into the 2012-13 budget. I understand that the City of Yellowknife will be continuing their funding and that we’re waiting for confirmation from either BHP Billiton on their contribution, or if they are moving their contribution to another initiative, then we will be looking for a third partner to continue. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
