Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are going to be on the Mental Health Act. I welcome the Minister and the department in the work moving forward. On the Department of Health’s website, there are four discussion papers and the government is asking for feedback by December 10th.
After the feedback has been given to the department, what is the timeline to get an LP, legislative proposal, to this government for review? Does he have a timeline getting the LP to this government, so we can move forward on this act? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Moses. Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for his question and I also thank the Member for encouraging residents of the Northwest Territories to get involved and bring their thoughts and concerns about the Mental Health Act to the department. This is a significant act. It’s a very old act, as the Member has identified, and it’s going to take a bit of time to work through the whole process and make the changes necessary. But without input from committee and without input from residents of the Northwest Territories, it is impossible. So we need the time, Mr. Speaker.
I will commit today to have the LP and act come to committee and follow the normal process by fall next year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We’ve got about six weeks, I’d say, less than six weeks to get feedback on these discussion papers on a very important act that’s going to affect all residents of the Northwest Territories.
If the Minister and his department don’t receive sufficient feedback in that amount of time, December 10th, would the Minister be willing to extend the deadline to access feedback on the discussion papers? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
This is the first round of collecting information after the discussion items and discussion papers have gone out. After that, there will obviously be some initial work on some drafting and working on the legislative proposal. From that point, we will be seeking input from stakeholders from across the Northwest Territories and move forward to the point where we’re closer to being ready to go forward with an LP and discussion with committee. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Outside of the Northwest Territories, I know other jurisdictions across Canada have some very stringent, very strong mental health legislation.
Is the Minister willing to look at other jurisdictions across Canada to mirror some of that legislation and things that could work in those jurisdictions that can also work here in the North? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
In the reworking of this act, we will absolutely look at legislation from other jurisdictions. I will not commit to something that I have not read, but if there is something identified in other jurisdictions that consultants show will work in the Northwest Territories, we’re certainly willing to look at it. At the same time, the government has already done a significant amount of work on this over the years. There’s been report after report after report on mental health and addictions and other issues. We’ve got the information and it’s time to actually start doing something.
As I’ve indicated, we will come forward with the Mental Health Act, barring any unforeseen circumstances or barriers, within the life of this government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Moses.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I did take a look at those discussion papers going forward on this Mental Health Act. I know Members on this side of the House have asked for a wellness court to be brought forth in this government.
Would the Minister be looking at possibly incorporating some type of wellness court provision within this legislation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We’ve already committed to move forward with a wellness court here in the Northwest Territories. We hope to have the beginning aspects of it by April 1, 2014. Having said that, I’m not sure we actually need to incorporate it into legislation. It may be something that we may benefit from doing, but it would be impossible for me to say at this time without us finishing our analysis. So I will certainly have the departments, both Justice and Health and Social Services, look at it to see if it’s appropriate.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The Member for Hay River North, Mr. Bouchard.
