Debates of May 31, 2005 (day 5)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I spoke earlier of the TTC and the issues that we are facing with the proposal to move the TTC out of Yellowknife, and that being a microcosm of other issues facing families in the Northwest Territories with children who have autism, ADHD, behavioural problems and things like that.

I have a constituent who recently moved north from the Maritime provinces. In the Maritimes, Nova Scotia particularly, respite care for their child was readily available and when they moved north to the Northwest Territories, they found it to be quite challenging in terms of accessing respite care for their son. I know there was a pilot project that concluded at the end of March. I would like to ask the Minister today where the evaluation is for that program and if families that are in need of respite care for their children are going to be able to access the respite care. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 62-15(4): Access To Respite Care

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my recollection is that the evaluation will be completed at the end of this month, the first part of June. In the meantime, the department is continuing to fund the program as well. We are not arguing the merits of the program; we are looking at how best we can maintain it in Yellowknife and look to expand it to other communities, as well, where it is an issue. We are also working through the business plan and some of the money that may come to us, God willing, when the federal budget is finally passed, will allow us to put some more funds into respite care. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 62-15(4): Access To Respite Care

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am wondering if the Minister is aware that there is currently a waiting list for families wishing to access respite care and the fact that there are…I believe my constituent was, I think, number 11 or 12 on a list. I find it hard to believe that a family would have to be put on a list. You start to wonder, there are 11 other families that are impacted by being on this waiting list. Is the Minister aware of a waiting list and what steps is he going to take to try to address the concerns of the people that need this service? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 62-15(4): Access To Respite Care

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, maybe just to give a bit of perspective on this issue; up until relatively recently, before the start of this pilot project in Yellowknife, there was only medical respite, which closed the door on a majority of people that had dependants at home that didn't need medical respite but could benefit from the program that was created here in Yellowknife on a pilot basis.

We have taken the step to move away from just the medical respite to do the social respite. I acknowledge fully in this House that we are beset by far more problems than we have resources. We have put money into this. I am aware that there is a waiting list. I am aware that this program only exists in Yellowknife right now and that we are working hard to make sure that we can come up with ways to resource this, so that we can expand the service to make it available not only as needed in Yellowknife, but to other communities as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 62-15(4): Access To Respite Care

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am wondering why residents in the Northwest Territories would not be offered the same types of services that they are in southern Canada and whose responsibility is that? Is that our government's responsibility, or is this something that we can go back to the federal government to try to find funds for so that residents here in the Northwest Territories are treated exactly the same as they would be in some of the other provinces? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 62-15(4): Access To Respite Care

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, for the most part I think the citizens of the Northwest Territories are treated as good as or better than their counterparts in southern jurisdictions, but the Member's point is a good one.

This is a recent program. The need has been there clearly for some time. We have acknowledged that need. We have taken steps to institute, as I indicated, a pilot. We are going to go through the evaluation process, but with an eye towards how do we continue or expand the program.

We have been getting or we are going to get significant amounts of money from the federal government. We are doing a briefing with committee, I believe it's Thursday, that is going to lay out the federal money that we do have, that we haven't had and it has to go towards our Treasury Board or is still tied up in the budget, as well as with a list of how we are proposing and planning to expend those funds or put them to use. One of those areas is in fact to try to better fund this program. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 62-15(4): Access To Respite Care

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to thank the Minister for recognizing this need and I would also like to mention the fact that the families out there that do access this non-medical respite are truly grateful for the help that they receive. I would like to ask the Minister if or when the evaluation on that pilot project is complete, he would share it with all the Regular Members of this House? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Minister Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 62-15(4): Access To Respite Care

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would be happy to do so. Thank you.