Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I made the statement on the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Awareness Week, and I want to ask questions to the Minister of Health and Social Services.
What, if any, specific measures are being taken to address the issue of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in the NWT? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We work with the various organizations across the territory that deal with children and adults with various types of disabilities, including children with attention deficit hyperactivity, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, even autism and various other disabilities. We also, at the department, have some funding to work on these various disabilities. Thank you.
Is the Minister aware of the vast discrepancy of funding for Autism Spectrum Disorder between NWT and other Canadian jurisdictions? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
No, I’m not aware that there is a vast discrepancy between the money that we provide as a government and the other governments across the country provide specifically for autism and Attention Deficit Disorder. I do recognize that it is fairly new work, but we are getting involved in many areas of this type of area where we’re starting to learn more about the impacts, and we’re learning more about the actual recognition or the prevalence of these various disabilities as we’re working at the national level with other jurisdictions. Thank you.
I’m disappointed that the Minister is not aware of the funding regimes between the NWT and other Canadian jurisdictions on Autism Spectrum Disorder.
If he’s not aware of it, would he direct the Department of Health and Social Services to review this issue that’s confronting the population of the NWT? Would he make an effort to ensure the public that this matter on Autism Spectrum Disorder will become a priority with the department, and that at some point he’ll report back to the House that a specific amount of funding will be allocated for this effort?
Like I indicated, we are getting more and more involved with this type of work. I don’t have the budget numbers here compared to the budget numbers of what the other jurisdictions are spending. I could easily get that information; I’m aware of that.
I know that as far as the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, we are pretty well at the same level with any jurisdiction across the country in our work. So specific to hyperactivity or attention deficit or autism, I don’t have that information, but my assumption is that we’re working with jurisdictions and we’re working with non-government organizations across the territory to try to support these individuals with their disabilities. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Minister commit to a yes or no, that at some point he’ll come back to the Assembly and give a specific number in terms of the value of priority of the GNWT on funding for Autism Spectrum Disorder? Mahsi.
Mr. Speaker, I can do that. I can provide the information to the House on our work in all of these areas. I don’t have a problem with that. I can provide information on the amount of money that we’re spending in these areas. I can compare that with what other jurisdictions are doing as well. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
