Debates of February 5, 2025 (day 38)

February
5
2025
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
38
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Mr. Hawkins, Hon. Lucy Kuptana, Hon. Jay Macdonald, Hon. Vince McKay, Mr. McNeely, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Morse, Ms. Reid, Mr. Rodgers, Hon. Lesa Semmler, Hon R.J. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek.
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 17: Municipal and Community Affairs Statutes Amendment Act
Bill 18: An Act to Amend the Partnership and Business Names Act
Committee Motion 54-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Prayer (Chapter Four), Carried
Committee Motion 55-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Prayer – Rule 5.4(2), Carried
Committee Motion 56-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Acknowledgements – Rule 5.8(2), Carried
Committee Motion 57-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Consolidation of Rules, Carried
Committee Motion 58-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Restrictions on When Replies to the Commissioner’s ...
Committee Motion 59-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Motions Location on Daily Orders, Carried
Committee Motion 60-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Returns to Oral Questions, Carried
Committee Motion 61-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Oral Questions, Carried
Committee Motion 62-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Follow-up Information to Oral Questions – Rule 7.2(...
Committee Motion 63-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Follow-up Information to Oral Questions – Rule 7.2(...
Committee Motion 64-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Sitting Hours – Rule 2.2(1), Carried
Committee Motion 65-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Sitting Hours – Rule 2.2(2), Carried
Committee Motion 66-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Ministers’ Statements in Committee of the Whole, Ca...
Committee Motion 67-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Ministers’ Statements in Committee of the Whole –...
Committee Motion 68-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Short Titles for Bills, Carried
Committee Motion 69-20(1): Committee Report 17-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Prayer, Carried
Member’s Statement 430-20(1): Support for Northwest Territories Residents
Member’s Statement 431-20(1): State of the Northwest Territories
Member’s Statement 432-20(1): Request for Support for the Town of Norman WElls
Member’s Statement 433-20(1): Improving the Land Use Permitting Process
Member’s Statement 434-20(1): Respite Care and At-Home Care
Member’s Statement 435-20(1): Welcome Back Message
Member’s Statement 436-20(1): Tariffs
Member’s Statement 437-20(1): State of the Northwest Territories
Member’s Statement 438-20(1): Hay River Curling Team Success
Member’s Statement 439-20(1): Celebration of Life of Avery Julianna Burke
Minister’s Statement 87-20(1): Minister Absent from the House
Minister’s Statement 88-20(1): Sessional Statement
Question 424-20(1): Canada-USA Tariffs and Trade
Question 425-20(1): Arctic Sovereignty and Investment
Question 426-20(1): Public Lands Act Regulations Update
Question 427-20(1): Out-of-Territory Care, Supportive Living and Respite Care
Question 428-20(1): Out-of-Territory Care, Supportive Living and Respite Care
Question 429-20(1): Green New Deal and Critical Minerals
Question 430-20(1): Quarrying and Land-Use Permits
Question 431-20(1): Changes to the Government of the Northwest Territories Affirmative Action Policy
Question 432-20(1): Naming of Government of the Northwest Territories Buildings
Question 433-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Employment Satisfaction Survey and Action Plan
Question 434-20(1): Northwest Territories Carbon Taxation
Question 435-20(1): Aspen Building Project Update
Tabled Document 241-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 405-20(1): Winter Road Tabled Document 241-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 405-20(1): Winter Road Season Planning
Tabled Document 251-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 423-20(1): Carbon Tax
Tabled Document 257-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 397-20(1): Overdose-Related RCMP Calls
Tabled Document 271-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 419-20(1): Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority Operational Concerns
Tabled Document 272-20(1): Documents Compiled by Town of Norman Wells regarding the Town’s Declaration of a Local State of Emergency for Humanitarian Reasons
Statements

Member’s Statement 434-20(1): Respite Care and At-Home Care

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last sitting I raised the issue of respite care in the territory and confirmed with the Minister of health that the department is reviewing its delivery of respite care. I've since met with some constituents and received feedback about some things that we could be doing differently.

Mr. Speaker, currently, the territory is spending a significant amount of money on out-of-territory care. Each individual who is sent south costs anywhere from 30 to $50,000 per, month, or more, which adds up to $600,000 per year per person. In total, the program is costing us $50 million per year.

One question that has come up is could we prevent more people from being sent south for both respite or long-term supported living if we were able to better support families to keep their loved ones at home?

This could take several different forms. One idea is an income support program for at home caregivers if they are able to prevent their loved one from being sent south. Another idea raised by a constituent would be funding for families to hire their own at-home caregiver for full time or respite services. The idea would be to empower people to come up with their own solutions and support them to do so. Considering the significant costs associated with out-of-territory care, even if such programs were quite expensive to deliver per person, I think there's a good change it could be less expensive, potentially even significantly so, than what we're paying now.

More importantly, Mr. Speaker, it would ensure loved ones are kept at home where they belong with their families. Programs such as income support or subsidies for families could be done alongside existing programming and offer additional options, giving families the agency to decide for themselves what works best.

Looking at the potential for this kind of programming is something I think we need to be focusing on in a time of fiscal restraint. I know that we are in the best position to be expanding our own programming at this time. Establishing funding pots like what I've described is one way we might be able to help people without expanding our own services. To that end, I'll have questions for the Minister of health today and also for the Minister of ECC if there's time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member from Deh Cho.