Debates of March 8, 2005 (day 51)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions this afternoon are for the Minister of Health and Social Services in the area of our Mental Health Act and its modernization and the services that we provide. Mr. Speaker, it’s my understanding, if I have the statistics right here, that about 50 percent of all visits to doctors are because of mental health related illnesses or problems that people are having. My question is does the NWT have enough capacity and trained workers and professionals to deal with the caseload of mental illness now before us? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 567-15(3): Mental Health Resources

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, like every problem area that we do have, there are more problems than there are resources. The people who are on hand to do the work are coping. We do have funding available for another psychiatrist, but have yet to be successful in recruiting. Are there problems that could be better served? Probably, but we have a significant number of resources on the ground, in the communities, mental health workers, community wellness workers, in addition to the nurses and doctors and psychiatrists here, and some psychologists and counsellors. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 567-15(3): Mental Health Resources

Mr. Speaker, in my statement I was talking about the changes in legislation that have come about as compelled by what’s going on out there on the streets and especially in the area of recognition of human rights and other new laws that are entrenching the rights and freedoms of the individual. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Minister, how serious is the gap in our legislation regarding current laws on mental illness? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 567-15(3): Mental Health Resources

Mr. Speaker, as the Member indicated in his statement, this piece of legislation is about 17 years old. It does have gaps. It’s not on the legislative agenda for this Assembly at this point, but it is a piece of legislation that is on our list, but we have other more pressing ones like the Pharmacy Act and the Public Health Act, which are very, very old. Generations old. They’re seriously out of date and we’re working on them. As well as the Personal Directives Act, the Tobacco Act that is coming forward, and there’s a piece from the child and family services as well that’s coming forward, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 567-15(3): Mental Health Resources

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In a meeting that I had with some mental health professionals a few weeks ago, it became apparent that there are some aspects at least of this that could very well serve not only those people suffering from mental illness, but the professionals who have to grapple with trying to make the right decisions using our legislation as their platform. Would the Minister consider at least a preliminary investigation into what might be done to address some of these more pressing human rights aspects of our law? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 567-15(3): Mental Health Resources

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’ll commit to investigate the Member’s concerns. I’ve seen some of the documentation he’s pulled together, keeping in mind that we have a capacity issue in terms of how much legislation we’re able to do in a given period of time. But I will commit to look at that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 567-15(3): Mental Health Resources

Mr. Speaker, I’m wondering if the Minister would perhaps even broaden that to include the whole of the Mental Health Act. It is a sizable piece of legislation and given that some…I know there are many of these larger pieces of work that really are carried over from one term to another, they will take more than the years that we have left in this Assembly. Would the Minister take a serious look at investigating and modernizing the whole Mental Health Act? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 567-15(3): Mental Health Resources

Mr. Speaker, very clearly we have an intent to modernize and redo the Mental Health Act, it’s just that it’s not on the top five or six pieces of legislation that we have on our agenda that we have left in the life of this Assembly. Very clearly, it’s one of about 26 pieces of legislation that we have that is out of date and needs to be fixed. At this point, a decision was made where I looked at the pressing priorities to focus on two major pieces, which are the Pharmacy Act and the Public Health Act, in addition to the tobacco and the other personal directives one. We’re not arguing that it needs to be done; it’s just a question of capacity, timing and sequencing. Thank you.