Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Earlier today, during Member’s statements, we heard from Members about the concern raised about relocating the Territorial Treatment Centre program from Yellowknife to Hay River. The issue of access was raised. What is the government’s policy with respect to regional access to territorial programs? There must be a policy in place which addresses this, because I know I spoke to this issue about services south of the lake until I was blue in the face in the last session. How big of a part does regional and community access play when it comes to territorial services? Thank you.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.
Return To Question 5-15(4): Access To GNWT Treatment Programs
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. By definition, territorial facilities are there for the benefit of all 33 communities. Once again, by definition, the other 32 communities are going to have to generally travel to access the service that is in the one community where that service may be, be it Yellowknife, Fort Smith, Inuvik, Hay River, or anywhere else. When we have a territorial facility, we plan and budget for the travel that is required, as we will do in the case right now with TTC, which is here, and children come in from all the other communities. The process will be the same, only they will be located in Hay River. Children requiring that service will be transported down to Hay River. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Supplementary To Question 5-15(4): Access To GNWT Treatment Programs
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that the thinking that precipitated this discussion about relocating this facility and this program was related to the availability and suitability of infrastructure which the territorial government presently owns and has maintained and invested money in. I was wondering if the Minister could speak to that issue of the infrastructure to accommodate the program in Yellowknife versus Hay River at this time. Thank you.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Miltenberger.
Further Return To Question 5-15(4): Access To GNWT Treatment Programs
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, clearly this government has articulated the position that indicates they are willing to look at opportunities to decentralize services outside of Yellowknife when possible and feasible. In this case, we have an opportunity to access a facility that is about seven or eight years newer than the facility in Yellowknife. We had money already in the budget that we just have to transfer. It was vacant. It was an opportunity to in fact have a program run in a community that has the capacity to deliver the service at the same level, in my opinion, that is currently here. Those are the steps that have been taken. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Supplementary To Question 5-15(4): Access To GNWT Treatment Programs
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, just for clarity, in my Member’s statement, I talked about the relocation and transfer of employees. Some other Members made reference to this being a move to offer employment to people who lost their jobs as a result of the Justice closure in Hay River. In fact, Bosco Homes is a private contract; there is no opportunity to transfer. It is not the intended purpose. The gap was referred to of 18 months, but was not the intended purpose to relocate to absorb the laid-off employees from the GNWT in a private contractor’s personnel group that would be considered to carry out the service? Thank you.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Miltenberger.
Further Return To Question 5-15(4): Access To GNWT Treatment Programs
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct; this is a contractual arrangement with Bosco Homes, which has been providing a very excellent level of service both in Yellowknife and Fort Smith for a good many years now. There will be an opportunity for people in Hay River, including those individuals who got laid off at Dene K’onia, to look at the jobs that are available, look at the job descriptions and the job requirements. If they are interested, they will be able to apply to access those jobs. It is our hope that that same opportunity will be given to those folks currently in Yellowknife if they want to transfer. Very clearly, there will be an opportunity there, but there is no direct relation to the program moving down there and the folks that used to be employed at Dene K’onia to be automatically given jobs. There will be positions out that have, in many cases, different job skills and skill sets required. They will be able to apply like everybody else. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Supplementary To Question 5-15(4): Access To GNWT Treatment Programs
Thank you. I certainly recognize the fact that we lost approximately 20 government jobs at Dene K’onia, including permanent and casual, and that 20 new private sector jobs will go some ways towards mitigating the loss in the community. As far as Hay River goes as a community, has thought already been given to the profile of the community in terms of opportunity, education, and ways of integrating these young people in programming in the community? Has Hay River been assessed from that perspective? Thank you.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Miltenberger.
Further Return To Question 5-15(4): Access To GNWT Treatment Programs
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Hay River has a history of being able to provide services to children. In fact, before there was a young offenders' facility there, there was a receiving home and Dene K’onia had other uses other than a young offender facility. So they’re one of the largest communities outside of Yellowknife. They have a very high level of service in all the areas that are required to provide service to these children in need. So, yes, Mr. Speaker, we’ve looked at the capacity and it’s my opinion and the opinion of the department that this program can be delivered very effectively in Hay River. Thank you.
