Debates of October 29, 2004 (day 31)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I talked about the people with disabilities in our small communities and larger centres. My question today is to the Minister of Health and Social Services. In larger centres, there are support groups and NGOs that provide services to disabled persons. The same cannot be said for small communities. Can the Minister of Health and Social Services tell me what services are available for disabled persons living in the smaller communities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The Minister of Health and Social Services, the Honourable Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 337-15(3): Community Services For Disabled Persons

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have a territorial organization for people with disabilities. In the communities, we have social workers and health care staff that work in the communities to assist people. We also have people in Income Support that work with people with disabilities. I know in housing-built units, they make them disabled-friendly where that is required in terms of ramps and such. I know when they designed the new seniors’ units, they are all designed to be disabled-useful and friendly. We have, across government, a number of services that are available for people with disabilities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 337-15(3): Community Services For Disabled Persons

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Minister listing off a number of services and programs available for people who are disabled in the smaller communities. Mr. Speaker, I understand that in some of the smaller communities, the staff is so limited and possibly so overworked that they have very little time to look after the needs of people who are disabled. Can the Minister tell me specifically as to how much time is given to the people who are disabled by the Health and Social Services staff? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 337-15(3): Community Services For Disabled Persons

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the amount of time is obviously going to be dealt with on a case-by-case and need basis. There is no set formula that indicates an amount of time for specific concerns or issues or problems. So there are also the efforts that are going to continue on in terms of trying to expand the homecare services that are available to assist people to stay in their homes longer and more comfortably, but there is no set formula that dictates any given time. It is based on individual case need. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 337-15(3): Community Services For Disabled Persons

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to hear that the homecare services will be expanded and looked at in the small communities. Can the Minister tell me what funding is available to local governments and NGOs that deliver programs and services to disabled persons at the smaller community level? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 337-15(3): Community Services For Disabled Persons

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that is a fairly broad question. If it is to deal with house construction, if it is to deal with actual program delivery, if it is to deal with specific client concern in the school, all would have access to different funding arrangements, different funding pots that may exist. There is also federal government money that may be available to do with the disabled as well. So there is a range of funding agencies out there that could be accessed by the community depending on what the particular circumstance is. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Your final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 337-15(3): Community Services For Disabled Persons

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me whether the recent review of the disabled services in the Northwest Territories investigated the delivery of services at the community level? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 337-15(3): Community Services For Disabled Persons

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there was a strategy that was done, an action plan for persons with disabilities, and the response has been worked on by the government across departments that are involved in education, health, housing and MACA. That response has been built into the various business plans of the departments. Thank you.