Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to direct my Member’s statement to the Minister of Health and Social Services. I’d like to know how much of the flow-through money that is specifically earmarked for social workers and counsellors for the smaller remote communities stops in the regional centres, especially here in Yellowknife. I’m asking if the Minister would be able to provide our riding with such information.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d be happy to make a commitment to get back to the Member on that. We spent about $8 million on mental health and addictions area. But I’ll have to talk to him more about exactly what programs and services he means for what communities. I understand we have a breakdown between the authorities, but I understand that he would like information on how much money flows through to small communities. I could work with the Member to get him the information he needs. Thank you.
Just off my Member’s statement for Sachs, Paulatuk and Ulukhaktok in my riding, Mr. Speaker, given the many communities that share social workers or counsellors within our small communities or regional centre, will the government re-evaluate their staff, their role in the delivery of the structure in the regional centres so they have more time and resources to assist small and remote communities as intended? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Yes, Mr. Speaker. Absolutely. In fact, I am in the process of doing that right now. The Member and I were able to visit Paulatuk and Sachs Harbour. It was a huge issue in Paulatuk where the residents came out and told us about their needs specifically. Since then, the CEO of Beaufort-Delta Health Authority has travelled there. We are putting a proposal together to see how we could address the immediate needs and specific needs of Paulatuk. I am also aware that, in general, there is a huge vacancy rate among the social worker staffing for Beaufort-Delta. I have asked our director in the department to travel there to get me more information about what is going on. This is very much part of our work right now. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Minister. Mr. Speaker, will the government consider increasing the resources for social workers, counsellors in small remote communities in the next round of budget discussions? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Yes, we will have to ask for that in the budget process, but very much the Minister’s action plan or department’s action plan for next year coming forward, I had the opportunity to make a presentation to the Standing Committee on Social Programs on Friday. We are looking at each community to see what the needs are and how we are meeting the needs and some innovative ideas to do that. I am sure it will be a very much detailed discussion as we move forward. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. Final supplementary, Mr. Jacobson.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to remind the Minister in regards to our constituency tour we had together and how important it is for this position to get filled in all the communities. No more lip service. Let’s get it done. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. I don’t know if I heard a question there. Ms. Lee, I will allow you to respond.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thought I was quite specific on my action plan. I don’t know what “lip service” means. Mr. Speaker, I am aware that Beaufort-Delta especially and their social services system has more vacancies and more turnover rates and the community would like to have more services in their communities. I am working on that right now. I hope to give him a specific proposal. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
