Debates of Feb. 18th, 2015

This is page numbers 5611 – 5653 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 5th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library.

The word of the day was health .

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

NWT Transportation Strategy

On-The-Land Healing Programming

Understanding Mental Illness

Mental Health Care Access

Support For Services For Residential School Survivors

Increasing Support For Mental Health Services

Housing First Initiative

Concerns Expressed By Leishman Family

Mental Health Commission Of Canada

Mental Health Disorders In Youth

Impacts Of Mental Health Issues

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Support Services For Residential School Survivors

Community Supports For Mental Illness

Housing First Initiative

Supplementary Health Benefits Program

Concerns Expressed By Leishman Family

GNWT Workplace Mental Health Programming

Wait Times For Mental Health Services

Amending Mental Health Legislation

On-The-Land Healing Programs

Youth Mental Health Services

Mental Health Services In Small Communities

Mental Health Commission Of Canada Report

Mental Health Services For The Homeless

Tabled Document 199-17(5): NWT Transportation Strategy 2015-2040 – Public And Stakeholder Engagement Report, February 2015

Tabled Document 200-17(5): Informing The Future: Mental Health Indicators For Canada

Bill 45:

An Act To Amend The Workers’ Compensation Act

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

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---Prayer

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Prayer

Prayer

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Good afternoon, colleagues. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Transportation , Mr. Beaulieu .

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Minister's Statement 149-17(5): NWT Transportation Strategy

Ministers’ Statements

Tu Nedhe

Tom Beaulieu

Minister of Transportation

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Transportation is updating its Multi-Modal Transportation Strategy that will guide further development of our integrated air, road, rail and marine systems over the next 25 years. Engaging stakeholders and the public so we understand their priorities and needs has been a critical part of the process. Later this afternoon I will table the NWT Transportation Strategy 2015-2040 Stakeholder Engagement Report summarizing what the Department of Transportation heard during the initial phase of public engagement held in the fall of 2014. The strategy will be regularly reviewed going forward to ensure it is current and reflects the needs of the Northwest Territories.

The department used public meetings, online surveys, written surveys, a letter writing campaign and face-to-face interviews to gather perspectives on the transportation system. We heard from stakeholders across the NWT, including Members of this Assembly, Aboriginal leaders, community leaders, residents, businesses, industry and key stakeholder organizations from the NWT and southern Canada who conduct business in our territory.

The Stakeholder Engagement Report summarizes their input and confirms the strong supporting role that transportation infrastructure continues to play in enabling economic growth for our territory and the delivery of essential services to its residents. It is clear that Northerners and stakeholders want to see further enhancement and expansion of transportation facilities and services to meet current and future needs.

Three key themes emerged during the consultation. First, we must continue to maintain and improve our existing highways, winter roads, marine and airports to enhance the level of service and improve transportation safety. Second, we must expand the transportation system into new areas of the NWT to better connect our communities and support resource development potential. Finally, we must continue to improve the way we do business by modernizing transportation policy and regulations, by better communicating with the public to improve awareness and safety, by embracing new technology and by adapting the system to the effects of climate change.

Our next step is to prepare a draft of the Transportation Strategy based on feedback gathered through engagement and technical background reports. The department will then visit each region of the NWT again in the spring of 2015 to discuss the draft strategy with residents and stakeholders.

Mr. Speaker, Northerners recognize that safe and cost-effective transportation services are important to our communities and to the development of new economic opportunities in each region of the NWT. We look forward to further engagement with residents this spring. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 149-17(5): NWT Transportation Strategy

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu . Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh , Mr. Menicoche .

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On-The-Land Healing Programming

Members’ Statements

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday I was very pleased to hear the Minister of Health and Social Services announce in this House funding and supports to introduce on-the-land healing programs. Finally we are returning to this much needed land-based Aboriginal cultural healing environment.

In October 2014 I spoke in this House about the successful on-the-land program at Six Mile Creek outside of Fort Simpson that should serve as a territorial model for early intervention of alcohol and drug abuse amongst the youth.

A pilot program had 22 students. It was designed to build youth identity, increase physical activity and establish an Aboriginal cultural link to the land and animals. The facilitators also taught life skills, emotion management, self-control, fostering well-being, healthy relationships and a sense of identity was also learned.

This project and other pilot projects on the land from last year will certainly provide a standard as we begin to build on this. I think the most important issue is about getting back on the land and back to our roots. We live in a highly modern and stressful world. The programming supports and approved projects will give clients and participants time away from it all and concentrate on their recovery and mental health.

I did note in the Minister’s statement that there was no specific plan for the Deh Cho at this time. I urge the Minister to request his department to finalize a plan quickly so that our youth or adult clients can take advantage of a program this summer.

The Minister is aware, when he visited last fall, of the excellent facility over at Six Mile Creek up the river from Fort Simpson. There is no reason why that exact same location cannot be used. The department has by now evaluated the lessons learned from the pilot program from last year. I am certain that the recommendations will form the development of an excellent land-based healing program for our youth. I just want to say that I am supportive of building on and continuing these supports for our youth.

In closing, indeed, we need to reach out and provide this on-the-land programing throughout the whole Northwest Territories for our youth in their time of need as they will be our future, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi cho.

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On-The-Land Healing Programming

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche . The honourable Member for Hay River South , Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Understanding Mental Illness

Members’ Statements

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today we’re going to do a little bit of a theme day on mental illness. When I think of mental illness, I think of anxiety, depression, bipolar, schizophrenia and addictions.

Some come and go, some are lifelong, some will respond well to medication and some others not so well. Some result from a hereditary predisposition and some are less likely to be hereditary, but all mental illness deserves the same response as any other physical illness. To that end, I think our resources through the Department of Health and Social Services and this government are stretched very, very thin.

The statistics on the percentage of people who will struggle with some degree of mental illness in their lifetime is staggering. So as a very first starting point, we have to first abolish and banish the stigma, and we need to think through a lens of medical science and a common sense approach to responding to mental illness.

To that end, I will use myself as an example. Stress, extreme stress, can trigger bouts of depression and anxiety. When I was 26 years old, within a six-month period my husband lost his job, we had to move into an unfinished house, we had a baby, the baby turned out to be a very sick baby, and my mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer and died. That was in a six-month period when I was 26 years old. Probably also mixed in with some post-partum depression, I hit rock bottom.

After many trips to the emergency ward at the hospital, I had a choice between trying to work through it through my faith or take medication. Taking medication to me seemed counterintuitive because I always wanted to be in control, and taking medication made me think that I wasn’t going to be in control of how I felt.

I only tell this story to the end that people might look at me and think, there’s Jane Groenewegen . Now, she has never had a worry in this world. I mean, they look at me and say, you’ve been married for 38 years, you have had a couple of successes, you’ve been in politics for 20 years, there’s a person who’s got it all together. Mr. Speaker, that’s not how we need to look at mental illness. We need to understand that these incidents and stints of mental illness will occur. Some will last an entire lifetime. Some people will get help. That is where we, the government, need to think outside the box.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted

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Understanding Mental Illness

Members’ Statements

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

My colleagues are telling me to slow down. Obviously this is something that I’m very passionate about, as you can tell.

We need to think outside of the box. As I said, when I found myself in that situation, the only thing that saved me in a small, northern town was a lady that I knew that stayed home all day and baked and watched soap operas. Now, she didn’t talk a lot and she wasn’t a lot of help to me, but she was there. Because I was afraid to go in. I was afraid to stay home. I didn’t know where to go. My husband had to go to work because he had a job. These are the kinds of pressures that people are faced with.

So when I say “think outside the box,” I think we need to do more with the idea of having people in all of our communities who are there to be a support with people who are struggling. People who can receive training on helping people and

sometimes just to be there and help people and support people through these things. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Understanding Mental Illness

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . Member for Range Lake , Mr. Dolynny .

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Mental Health Care Access

Members’ Statements

Daryl Dolynny

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a territory, we struggle with mental illness every day, and although we see some great initiatives nationally on working together to create a stigma-free Canada, we are still failing.

While everyone in this room struggles to improve the quality of care while reducing the costs of our health care system, we seem to be missing the point. That is, the overwhelming evidence that access to mental health care in the NWT is poor.

Nationally, one in five people with depression get appropriate treatment, and we know this number is much higher in the North. Shockingly, nationally one in three patients discharged from a psychiatric department see a primary care physician or psychiatrist within a month. We don’t track this type of performance measure in the NWT, but we all know what our numbers would look like.

Compare this to such post-disease follow-ups like heart failure or cancer at close to 100 percent, it shows even nationally we are doing things poorly. But the question is: Why?

The answer is complicated. Mental illness, by all accounts, is one of the biggest predictors of inequality to access of care in this country. Basically, once pegged with a mental disorder, you are far less likely to get the care you need. What’s bad for business and costly to the taxpayer is the price we pay for psychiatric illnesses ending up back into the hospital, when it’s far less cost than cost due to proper follow-up and working wisely with the patient. Unfortunately, the long-awaited NWT Mental Health Act is, by all accounts, another continued barrier for better management of outcomes for those suffering, and sadly, we continue to wait for this legislation.

Until such time as we can master the same diagnostic work-up, measured care and proper treatment for conditions like cancer or heart failure and heart disease, mental illness patients will be burdened with a system of inequality who lack the continuous and level care of population-based need.

We as legislators must understand this clear sense of need so we can be expected to align existing resources with this present demand. People are no longer willing to suffer in silence, and we can no longer ignore the burden of mental illness. I call on my colleagues collectively to support a system that is ready, responsive and able to meet the needs of

those suffering in our communities, in all our communities. I know this is a daunting task before this House, but let us be remembered for our actions and, again, not just our words. Thank you.

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Mental Health Care Access

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny . Member for Sahtu , Mr. Yakeleya .

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Support For Services For Residential School Survivors

Members’ Statements

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a big bone to pick with the Department of Health and Social Services. The Northwest Territories has the largest per capita population of residential school survivors in the country, and the distressed voices of residential school survivors are constantly ringing in my ears, but the department gives one excuse after another. It says it doesn’t have enough money for a full continuum of mental health and addictions services. Things like one-on-one therapy, made-in-the-North residential treatment and after-care for recovering addicts.

It’s time for a reality check. No more excuses. On one hand the government says there’s no money, there’s no money. Yet, it finds money for a delegation to fly to China or send down to Ottawa and for expensive infrastructure projects. When there’s extra money resulting from low uptake on government programs, that extra money goes into the government’s other projects.

When children are repeatedly beaten and belittled – and let’s be honest, that happened to almost everyone who attended the residential schools in the Northwest Territories – why wouldn’t they repeat that behavior when they enter into adult society? The medical community tells us that there’s a clear link between trauma and addiction. Alcohol and drugs numb the pain. Healing from trauma isn’t a quick fix. It involves nothing short of remaking yourself, sometimes even remaking the entire family. That, in turn, requires intensive therapeutic support.

I’m tired of excuses. I think this government does have the money. What it actually lacks is an unwavering political support to the residential school survivors.

I call on this Department of Health and Social Services to do more for the residential school survivors and their families in the North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Support For Services For Residential School Survivors

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . Member for Hay River North , Mr. Bouchard .

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Increasing Support For Mental Health Services

Members’ Statements

Robert Bouchard

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too will talk about mental illness. Obviously, some Members have already spoken on that.

Nationally, we have Clara Hughes who did a bike ride to bring light to this issue. Even famous people like Howie Mandel have come out with some of their issues. One of the things he said was… If I told you, Mr. Speaker, this afternoon that I had to go to a dentist, you would probably not blink an eye about that and allow me to do that, but if I had to tell you that I had to go see my psychologist or psychiatrist or my counsellor, you may have a different situation.

This is something we need to work on strongly, especially when we know that some of the statistics in the North are rising. We’ve had the opportunity in Hay River to have a revamp of our mental health. We have new counsellors. We have a better system. We have a couple of addiction wellness counsellors who are helping us out. But as we stir the pot, as we bring up some of these issues to people, there’s more and more demand, and now we’re experiencing that in some of the communities and some of those people that we’ve brought up.

We’ve had opportunities to have a couple of group sessions and stuff like that, but now the demand is so great on those counsellors and that organization, we have to look at putting more money into this organization to deal with mental illness throughout the Northwest Territories.

I know it’s a daunting task, especially with the pressures we have financially, but it’s something we have to continue to work at, to strive at, to get more counsellors, to get more help for the people that are needing it in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Increasing Support For Mental Health Services

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard . Member for Frame Lake , Ms. Bisaro .

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Housing First Initiative

Members’ Statements

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we heard yesterday during opening comments for the Health and Social Services department and from speakers already today, the NWT lacks adequate mental health services, and we’re not alone. Across Canada, every jurisdiction faces the same problem.

Those who suffer from mental illness are found in all parts of our society. Some are affected in a minor way, others are severely debilitated, and we struggle with how to treat every one of them.

Sufferers of mental illness are often hidden, but many we also see every day. Perhaps the most visible are the homeless. Statistics show that about

67 percent of the homeless experience mental illness at some point in their life. Many become chronically homeless because of it. But a new concept, a new program has been showing success in helping homeless people.

Traditionally we treat the illness first. We get them into some kind of a program, for instance, and then we look at other factors in their lives which impact how they live. But the Housing First program houses people first and then provides all-encompassing, wraparound services that they need to get well. It looks beyond the illness and sees the person as a whole.

The premise of the program is that the road to recovery from mental illness is more likely to begin when individuals are provided with a home. This program has been piloted in Canada for five years in at least five major cities with positive results. Compared to traditional treatment practises, clients in the Housing First program remain housed – that is not on the streets – twice as often as those in regular treatment, 67 percent versus 31 percent.

The other positive: financial savings. For the 10 percent of homeless, who have the highest needs and use the most health services most often, the analysis shows that a $10 investment in Housing First saves an average of almost $22.

I’m really pleased that the City of Yellowknife, with the assistance of the GNWT and the federal government, will be instituting the Housing First program in the very near future. Given the success in other Canadian cities, I expect we will experience fewer homeless people and a significant number of mental illness sufferers with a new lease on life: improved mental health, improved physical health, employment and independence.

There are three key principles of the recovery approach in mental health. They are hope, self-determination and responsibility. The Housing First program gives clients all of those and a path to a better life.

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Housing First Initiative

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro . The Member for Deh Cho , Mr. Nadli .

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Concerns Expressed By Leishman Family

Members’ Statements

Michael Nadli

Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. On an ill-fated day in 2009, Allisdair Leishman was brought by ambulance to the emergency ward at Stanton Hospital. He was suffering from hypothermia and experiencing a psychiatric episode. Left unattended, the distressed patient made his way into the unlocked kitchen, got a hold of a knife and managed to severely injure himself. Allisdair was left with permanent physical and cognitive impairments.

One momentary breach of care in security forever altered Allisdair’s life and the lives of his family members. Allisdair lost his ability to support himself and provide child support for his young daughter. Within a short time the bank foreclosed on Allisdair’s home. Since the incident, Allisdair’s mother, Margaret, has been carrying the lion’s share of grief and burden.

The Department of Health and Social Services never offered an apology or formal compensation. Margaret has had to find her own financial means to travel back and forth to visit and care for her son who lives at Stanton’s extended care unit. Despite the fact that a specialist in Edmonton has prescribed a range of rehabilitative services, Allisdair’s care at Stanton Hospital is very limited. Margaret has been left to scrutinize the situation and plead for improvements. The family has written to the department, stating that Allisdair’s health issues are not being adequately dealt with and that the lack of care amounts to neglect. The department has not responded.

Understandably, the family is not satisfied and wonders if the department has something to hide. I have to admit, my thoughts run in that direction too.

Allisdair’s family wants to see him living with more dignity and comfort and provided with a full range of rehabilitation services. Today I will call on the department to respond to these requests.

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Concerns Expressed By Leishman Family

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Nadli . The Member for Inuvik Boot Lake , Mr. Moses .

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Mental Health Commission Of Canada

Members’ Statements

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When we talk about mental health, there are so many branches and so many different avenues we can take in addressing and talking about this very, very harmful disease. What I want to talk about today is some of the work that’s been done with the Mental Health Commission of Canada.

Last year, November 25th , the Mental Health

Commission of Canada released a comprehensive implementation guide to help Canadian employers fully adopt the national standard of Canada for psychological health and safety in the workplace, something that is needed. This implementation guide is available on their website at no cost.

I know that while we must take primary responsibility for our health and well-being, the workplace can play a significant role in our ability to manage both our physical and our psychological health. That’s why this is very important. Workplace mental health has a $51 billion economic impact on businesses across Canada. About 30 percent of disability claims and 70 percent of disability costs are all attributed to mental health problems and illnesses.

Mental health in the workplace is very important. We see that in our communities. We also hear it from our constituents who are dealing with either management, system flaws, issues that we’re dealing with. I think with this fiscal restraint policy that we had to implement this year, that might have caused some of the mental health issues in some of the workplaces as well.

Just last month, on January 22nd , the Mental Health

Commission of Canada also released another document, Informing the Future: Mental Health Indicators for Canada. This is the first ever national level set of indicators that identifies and reports on the mental health of Canadians.

This disease, mental illness, touches all parts of the health system and on all parts of society, and no one organization or department, for that matter, can tackle this complex issue alone. We’ve got to find a way where we can work together with our NGOs, with organizations such as the Mental Health Commission of Canada and Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse to tackle this issue to make sure that we have the right programs and services for those that need it. Thank you.

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Mental Health Commission Of Canada

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Moses . The Member for Mackenzie Delta , Mr. Blake .

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Mental Health Disorders In Youth

Members’ Statements

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are many forms of mental illness. We have anxiety disorders, eating disorders, craving, mental illness in the workplace, obsessive-compulsive disorder, children, youth and depression, and that’s what I want to touch on today.

While we may think of low mood or other challenges as adult problems, they can affect people of any age. Children and teens can experience mental illnesses like depression.

Sometimes it can be difficult for adults to understand how difficult children’s problems can be because we look at their problems through our eyes as adults. The pressures of growing up can be very hard for some children. It’s important that we remind ourselves that while their problems may seem unimportant to us, they can be overwhelming to young people.

It’s important to take depression in young people seriously. Thank you.

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Mental Health Disorders In Youth

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Blake . The Member for Yellowknife Centre , Mr. Hawkins .

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Impacts Of Mental Health Issues

Members’ Statements

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In any given year, one in five Canadians experience mental health problems. The cost to the economy,

of course, is enormous at $50 billion. On average, one in three adults and one in four children or youth report that they have only sought help or assistance through treatment programs.

Four thousand Canadians die every year as a result of suicide. These are terrible statistics, but I’m going to go on. Up to 70 percent of adults living with mental health problems report the symptoms started during childhood. In 2010, mental health conditions were responsible for 47 percent of all approved disabilities claims in the federal service, almost doubling that average since 20 years prior. Mental health problems and illnesses account for more than $6 billion in lost productivity due to the absenteeism.

Interestingly enough, the vast majority of people living with mental health illness problems are not involved with the criminal justice system. However, in fact, they are more likely to be victims of violence by their perpetrators.

Estimates suggest that the rate of serious mental health problems among federal offenders, upon admission, have increased by 60 to 70 percent since 1997. Adults with severe mental health problems and illnesses die up to 25 years earlier.

Depending on which study is cited, between 25 and 74 percent of people who are homeless in Canada have reported that they have mental health problems. Among those with the most severe and complex mental health problems, unemployment is estimated to be 70 to 90 percent of the burden that they carry. One study reported that 27 percent of caregivers lost income caring for a family member that they care so dearly about.

[Translation] Forty-seven percent of francophones who live outside of Quebec have difficulty finding health care, usually because of the lack of French-speaking health professionals. [Translation ends]

At this particular time, I’ll seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

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Impacts Of Mental Health Issues

Members’ Statements

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Depending if you’re a girl, woman, man or boy, girls will attempt suicide at higher rates; men and boys will die of suicide more often. First Nations youth die by suicide five or six times more often than their non-Aboriginal counterparts.

To bring this to a close, Canada only spends about seven cents out of every public health care dollar

on mental health care, far below the 10 to 11 percent countries like New Zealand the UK spend.

In closing, mental illness is certainly the elephant in the room that we can all see that no one seems to want to talk about or confront. I’ll finish my statement by pointing out that the NWT has a 24-hour Helpline at 1-800-661-0844. We know many families struggle with this. Many parents struggle with this to take care of their loved ones. Mr. Speaker, we must do more. Thank you.

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Impacts Of Mental Health Issues

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery, Mr. Dolynny .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Daryl Dolynny

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, through you and with your assistance here, I’d like to point out in the gallery someone I’ve worked with earlier in 2014, Mr. Kevin Hynes who is the president of the Yellowknife Firefighters Association, here for Bill 45 . Thank you.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

I’d like to welcome everybody here in the public gallery. Thank you for taking in our proceedings today.

Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Sahtu , Mr. Yakeleya .

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Question 641-17(5): Support Services For Residential School Survivors

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe we need a made-in-the-North solution to the issue of supporting the residential school survivors that will provide intensive support for all these survivors.

I want to ask the Minister, will the Minister investigate the feasibility of a pan-territorial facility for treating addictions and mental health issues of residential school survivors? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 641-17(5): Support Services For Residential School Survivors

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . Minister of Health , Mr. Abernethy .

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Question 641-17(5): Support Services For Residential School Survivors

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I did have some initial conversations with the Minister of Health and Social Services for Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. They have since stopped being the Ministers of Health and Social Services, so I will follow up with the new Ministers to see if there’s any interest in a pan-territorial approach. Thank you.

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Question 641-17(5): Support Services For Residential School Survivors

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

That’s certainly good news on this side of the House here. I look forward to the Minister’s follow-up.

Lately I’ve been trying to address the problems experienced by the residential school survivors who have been convicted of a violent or sexual crime and who have been turned away from addictions treatment programs. These men are falling between the cracks.

As an alternative, will the Minister commit to funding intensive individual therapy sessions for these men, or looking at a mobile treatment program?

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Question 641-17(5): Support Services For Residential School Survivors

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

We do provide a continuum of care and supports for individuals who are suffering from addictions here in the Northwest Territories, from community counsellors, we’re trying to extend the Matrix program, which is an outpatient treatment program that can be delivered in different communities throughout the Northwest Territories which these individuals would have access to.

Our difficulty has been that a number of the facilities out there that provide residential treatment have policy and procedures about not allowing individuals with certain criminal records into co-ed facilities. So, I will work with the Member and we will try to articulate the programs that are available for these individuals today, and when there are specific cases we will certainly work with the individuals to meet their needs. Thank you.

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Question 641-17(5): Support Services For Residential School Survivors

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

My question for the Minister of Health , I’ve been told that one of the weaknesses of the Nats'ejee K'eh facility was its failure to fully make use of the free counselling offered by Health Canada to residential school survivors. Can the Minister comment on this claim?

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Question 641-17(5): Support Services For Residential School Survivors

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

That claim has never been made to me. I’d certainly be interested in where it came from and we could certainly look into the details, but that is not something that has been articulated to me in the past.

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Question 641-17(5): Support Services For Residential School Survivors

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Final, short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya .

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Question 641-17(5): Support Services For Residential School Survivors

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the Minister’s Forum on Addictions, in the recommendations…There are over 60 recommendations, 67 to be exact, the recommendations are to help with the interagency of our small communities.

I want to ask the Minister, can he commit to give direction to the health workers under his authority to work with the other agencies, such as the police, the counsellors, to look at how they deal with mental health patients in the community so that they do not fall through the cracks when they need help from a small community perspective?

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Question 641-17(5): Support Services For Residential School Survivors

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Over the last year and a half, I’ve had an opportunity to travel to many communities in the Northwest Territories, and we

will continually hear communities talking about working towards developing interagency committees. I think there’s significant value in interagency committees. I have had an opportunity to talk to CEOs, public administrators and board chairs, and there’s support for participating in interagency communities throughout the Northwest Territories where they currently exist. We would certainly be willing to participate in…[Microphone turned off]…as they begin or start up. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 641-17(5): Support Services For Residential School Survivors

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy . Member for Hay River South , Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Question 642-17(5): Community Supports For Mental Illness

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Health and Social Services . I allude in my statement to the fact that we cannot have resources on the ground everywhere all the time to respond to some of the needs of people who have either had treatment or are waiting to go to treatment that are back in our communities and needing some kind of support.

I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services if any consideration or research has ever gone into the idea of supporting or funding local groups. That could be people who are in recovery, people who have had experience and could be trained in some fashion but would be there to support people in the community that are struggling with mental illness. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 642-17(5): Community Supports For Mental Illness

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . Minister of Health , Mr. Abernethy .

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Question 642-17(5): Community Supports For Mental Illness

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

There’s already a number of community-based organizations that do provide different types or different levels of support. They may not be in every community. In Yellowknife, by way of example, there is the Tree of Peace that does provide some of those services.

We offer, throughout the Northwest Territories, two deliveries in every region. The Mental Health First Aid program, which is actually a wonderful program and I encourage… Actually, I’d like to challenge all the MLAs to actually take the Mental Health First Aid. I’d also like to challenge the MLAs to have their CAs take Mental Health First Aid, because it’s a program that helps individuals become aware and conscious of mental health issues that people have and helps direct them to where they can get resources. So I would encourage all your residents to take the Mental Health First Aid so that we could all be participants in finding solutions in helping people in need. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 642-17(5): Community Supports For Mental Illness

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

I would love to take Mental Health First Aid. I don’t know exactly how I would access that or what I could do. But as an

MLA, you have to understand that we get called to the homes by parents who are going out of their minds, worried about their children because they don’t know what they’re going to do next. You can take them to the hospital, but we cannot admit and treat except for only the really critical cases. So it is hard to know, as a parent, as a friend, as a community member, as an MLA, how to respond to some of these really stressful situations, because it does involve entire families and I would say particularly parents when they’re worried about their children.

Tell me how we can access the Mental Health First Aid that the Minister is talking about, because I’ll be the first one to sign up. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 642-17(5): Community Supports For Mental Illness

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

I’m glad the Member is taking the challenge. I too will be taking Mental Health First Aid training.

The authorities have enough money to do two deliveries of Mental Health First Aid training in each of the regions every year. I will commit to getting the Member as well as all of the Members a complete list of where the Mental Health First Aid training will be, and I’ll let them know when Mental Health First Aid training is going to occur in their communities so that they can participate.

I would also encourage them, as I did previously, to please get their CAs to take it, because I know their CAs often have to deal with a lot of issues coming from constituents. But, please, advertise it in your newsletters. Let’s get the information out there so people can have the tools and the resources they need in order to help support individuals in their communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 642-17(5): Community Supports For Mental Illness

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the Mental Health First Aid became as prevalent as having a First Aid certificate? I mean, you can hardly work anywhere or do anything without a First Aid course and certification.

The other day in the House, also, I asked the Minister that seeing that we cannot be, as a health service, everywhere all the time in every community, I had asked the Minister again about this idea of hooking patients or clients up with counsellors remotely through telehealth or through telephone counselling, telephone support. I’d like to ask the Minister, what is currently in place and where could that go?

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Question 642-17(5): Community Supports For Mental Illness

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Actually, the Member for Yellowknife Centre answered that question earlier. We do have a 1-800 Helpline that is available 24/7 for individuals who need to talk to somebody if they’re experiencing some level of crisis. We also have the Dalhousie psychiatry program here in the Northwest Territories. It does take a referral to get to that program, but individuals can access that as a way and means of getting support they need when they may not be able to

get an in-person visit. We do have community counsellors, as well, through most of the communities, and I do encourage people to follow up with community counsellors when they get the opportunity.

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Question 642-17(5): Community Supports For Mental Illness

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy . Final, short supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Question 642-17(5): Community Supports For Mental Illness

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m glad that the Minister reminded me about community counselling, because as my colleague Mr. Bouchard mentioned, yes, we do have these services in the community, but we’ve recently heard that in Hay River right now that if you need counselling you are going to be on a three- or four-month waiting list, and that isn’t really good when it comes to issues of needing counselling for anything to do with mental illness.

I’d like to ask the Minister, is there any plan by his department to enhance those services in the communities so that we do not end up with a backlog of people waiting for services?

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Question 642-17(5): Community Supports For Mental Illness

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

There is no plan in the budget that is before the committee today to increase the number of community counsellors in the communities. There are wait times. I will acknowledge that there are wait times throughout the Northwest Territories, but I think it’s important to note that these are mostly wait times for non-urgent clients. Clients with urgent needs are seen within 24 hours. Urgent issues, issues of extreme risk or importance can be dealt with immediately, within 24 hours.

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Question 642-17(5): Community Supports For Mental Illness

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy . The Member for Frame Lake , Ms. Bisaro .

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Question 643-17(5): Housing First Initiative

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are also addressed to the Minister of Health and Social Services today. I want to follow up on my statement and ask the Minister some questions about the Housing First program.

I would like to, first of all, say that the City of Yellowknife has taken the lead on this project, but they certainly need to have other people involved in the project. The money is federal money. It’s not GNWT money. I’d like to know from the Minister how our territorial health and social services authorities and department, particularly, the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority, how is the department and local authority involved with the City of Yellowknife in the Housing First program?

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Question 643-17(5): Housing First Initiative

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro . The Minister of Health , Mr. Abernethy .

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Question 643-17(5): Housing First Initiative

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The mayor of Yellowknife actually got in

touch with the Cabinet. He actually had a meeting with the Minister of Housing and the Minister of Justice, and I also had a private meeting with the mayor, as well, to discuss this important initiative that the city is pursuing. We are supportive. We are looking for ways to be their partners and they are looking for ways for us to be their partners. It’s early days. The discussions are early on, but we will continue to engage with the mayor and explore opportunities to be meaningful partners.

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Question 643-17(5): Housing First Initiative

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thanks to the Minister for that. I’m really glad to hear that there’s a commitment on the part of the GNWT and I’m also glad to hear that it’s more than one department that is involved, because in order for this project to be successful, it will involve more than just the Health department. Housing and Justice for sure have to be in there.

To make this program successful, there needs to be services for the homeless. Once they are housed, there needs to be services in order to assist them with the other things that have created their homelessness.

I’d like to know from the Minister, will the department and, I guess, will the GNWT in general be able to provide those wraparound services that are necessary to treat the homeless person once they’re housed?

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Question 643-17(5): Housing First Initiative

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

We’ve talked a lot about mental health and addictions services here in the Northwest Territories and we do provide a continuum of care. There are a number of programs and services that are available to all of our residents whether they’re homeless or they’re not homeless. We’re always looking for ways to expand and enhance our programs so that it’s more effective. It’s forums like this where we’re hearing from the Members and we’re getting good ideas, so we appreciate that. But those programs and services are available to all residents whether they have a house or not.

Just for clarity, I can confirm that in partnership with the city, the GNWT Housing Corp is contributing $150,000 to the initiative that is being led by the city.

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Question 643-17(5): Housing First Initiative

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thanks to the Minister and thanks to the Minister of Housing . Always want to get a plug in, I’m sure.

The wraparound services are currently being used in the court system, I believe, and in my view, in order for the Housing First program to work, the wraparound services need to be targeted to those homeless people that are in the Housing First program. The Minister states that services are available and basically that they’re available to anybody in the territory, but I’d like to ask the Minister, as this project progresses, will he consider providing targeted wraparound services to

homeless people in the Housing First system? Thank you.

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Question 643-17(5): Housing First Initiative

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

It’s certainly an intriguing idea and I get the Member’s point here. If it’s the wish of committee, we’re certainly willing to have those discussions. I will note that this may be an opportunity as we continue to expand the Integrated Case Management Program that we’re applying to the Wellness Court. So this might be an opportunity or a next logical fit. So, if it’s the wish of committee, we’re certainly willing to explore that. Thank you.

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Question 643-17(5): Housing First Initiative

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy . Final, short supplementary, Ms. Bisaro .

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Question 643-17(5): Housing First Initiative

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister. It’s great to hear the commitment from the Minister because the responsibility for homelessness is not at a municipal level, it is at a territorial level. So I’m glad to hear the commitment and willingness is there to consider providing services.

To the Minister, Yellowknife is taking on this challenge. Yellowknife has a fairly large number of homeless people, but there are homeless people probably in every one of our communities.

What exists in communities outside of Yellowknife to treat homeless people who have a mental illness? Thank you.

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Question 643-17(5): Housing First Initiative

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

I’ll state what I’ve already said. There is a continuum of care services and opportunities for individuals who are suffering from either mental health or addictions issues from community-based counselling to residential treatment facilities. We’re still pursuing the on-the-land programming. There’s the Matrix program, which is actually an outpatient, community-based treatment program. There’s a number of these programs and they’re available throughout the Northwest Territories. Unfortunately, Matrix isn’t available in every community, but we’d obviously like to find ways to expand that out. But there are programs available to people throughout the Northwest Territories.

We do have an expedited referral process where if an individual is ready to go to treatment, if they decided they’d hit the point in their lives where they’re ready, they can talk to a health practitioner, a counsellor, they can talk to an MLA who can direct them to the appropriate people so that they can get that referral, and we could do a 24-hour referral time and get those people into the treatment that they’re ready to take. Thank you.

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Question 643-17(5): Housing First Initiative

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy . Mr. Dolynny .

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Question 644-17(5): Supplementary Health Benefits Program

Oral Questions

Daryl Dolynny

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we are fully aware, we are in a full operation budget season and it’s important that we reflect on some of the high-level questions as to a department’s performance in responding to the needs of the people it serves. With that in mind, my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services on our stewardship of the Supplementary Health Program.

If one looks at the budget and health service programs under Supplementary Health Programs, and knowing full well that the cost of drugs and medical devices are on the rise, the budget has remained virtually flat at around $27 million. Can the Minister explain why? Thank you.

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Question 644-17(5): Supplementary Health Benefits Program

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny . The Minister of Health , Mr. Abernethy .

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Question 644-17(5): Supplementary Health Benefits Program

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We actually provide the supplemental health benefits as per the program and the dollars have remained fairly consistent. I will say that we’re actually doing a bit of an analysis right now because it does appear to be creeping up and the primary result is the aging population. So we will likely be coming to committee for further discussion on the increased costs to the supplemental health benefits. Thank you.

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Question 644-17(5): Supplementary Health Benefits Program

Oral Questions

Daryl Dolynny

Range Lake

Thank you. Speaking about committee discussion, last year the Standing Committee on Social Programs recommended a comprehensive policy review of the Supplementary Health Benefits program, along with a proper appeals process.

Can the Minister indicate to the House why this has not been completed? Thank you.

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Question 644-17(5): Supplementary Health Benefits Program

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

It is certainly something that we’re looking at doing, but at the same time we’re engaged in a significant number of initiatives and every time we’re pulled off by committee or another group to do another analysis, another research project, it has to be done by the staff that we have and there’s a number of major priorities that were set by the 17th Legislative

Assembly’s Caucus that we’re working on. We’re progressing and it’s in the queue and the work will be done. Thank you.

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Question 644-17(5): Supplementary Health Benefits Program

Oral Questions

Daryl Dolynny

Range Lake

Again, last year the committee recommended a move towards means testing for supplementary health benefits similar to what was found in other provinces with the expressed caveat that seniors be excluded from means testing.

Can the Minister indicate to the House why this was not done as well? Thank you.

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Question 644-17(5): Supplementary Health Benefits Program

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

The Member may remember that during the initial Caucus meetings of the 17th Assembly, the supplemental health benefits

were actually not one of the priorities that were identified. A number of priorities were identified by Caucus. We are working on those priorities right now. We are making significant progress on all of them. This is not something that’s gone away. This is something that I think is incredibly important and I’d like to see as part of the transition documents into the 18th Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

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Question 644-17(5): Supplementary Health Benefits Program

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy . Final, short supplementary, Mr. Dolynny .

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Question 644-17(5): Supplementary Health Benefits Program

Oral Questions

Daryl Dolynny

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, I guess the question is, and the answer is, we’re still going to be waiting here.

Can the Minister indicate, what is the department’s plan to deal with those residents who failed to qualify for supplementary health benefits, who cannot afford their prescriptions for medical devices, who are left high and dry with Health Canada, especially for patients like Patrick Kuptana in Tuktoyaktuk? Thank you.

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Question 644-17(5): Supplementary Health Benefits Program

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

It would be inappropriate to talk about individual cases. But I can say that we do work with our residents of the Northwest Territories, and when they do have challenges with the NIHB benefits that they’re entitled to receive, we do participate with them. We do work with them by providing the doctors’ notes and everything they need, and those issues do get resolved. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 644-17(5): Supplementary Health Benefits Program

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy . Member for Deh Cho , Mr. Nadli .

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Question 645-17(5): Concerns Expressed By Leishman Family

Oral Questions

Michael Nadli

Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I made the statement on Allisdair Leishman and the circumstances that we find him in at the Stanton Hospital currently. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services .

I’d like to know why the department has never formerly apologized about the breach of security that lead to this tragic incident. Mahsi.

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Question 645-17(5): Concerns Expressed By Leishman Family

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Nadli . Minister Abernethy .

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Question 645-17(5): Concerns Expressed By Leishman Family

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m not prepared to speak about a specific individual or specific case at this time. I will say that in 2011 there was an inquiry called on by the Department of Health and Social Services to look at the security and other issues at Stanton, and at that time a number of improvements were made to the security operations within Stanton, including more

security in emergency. They increased the coverage in emergency. They installed some doors, locks and alarms so individuals can’t get into secure areas of the building like the kitchen, and they approved some of the operational responses for incidents of violence.

Obviously, in light of the issues that we’ve heard over the last couple months, more needs to be done and we are taking action on those as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 645-17(5): Concerns Expressed By Leishman Family

Oral Questions

Michael Nadli

Deh Cho

The family has told me that, by their own admission, the people responsible for the extended care unit at Stanton Hospital don’t have adequate resources to fully care for Allisdair.

The GNWT is good at providing general health care, but it’s weak in the area of specialized care. Why doesn’t the Northwest Territories have a made-in-the-North facility for high needs people such as Allisdair Leishman? Mahsi.

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Question 645-17(5): Concerns Expressed By Leishman Family

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Our long-term care facilities here in the Northwest Territories are staffed by competent professionals, including nurses and doctors, who actually can provide a wide range of services to individuals.

I would encourage any resident of the Northwest Territories who has concerns about their individual care to talk with their physicians to make sure that they are getting the services that they are entitled to in the Northwest Territories, and if they have any concerns about the quality within the facility, I would strongly encourage them to contact the quality assurance staff within the department to actually work through these issues to ensure that they’re getting the care and support that they do deserve. Thank you.

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Question 645-17(5): Concerns Expressed By Leishman Family

Oral Questions

Michael Nadli

Deh Cho

I understand that the extended care unit has a sterile feel. It’s not a homey environment.

Will the department commit to provide a more comfortable home-like environment for extended care patients such as Allisdair Leishman? Mahsi.

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Question 645-17(5): Concerns Expressed By Leishman Family

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

We’re actually currently going through the Stanton renewal which is going to result in a major construction and improvements and modifications to the Stanton facility. Part of that includes the development of a long-term care facility here in Yellowknife, which will actually be outside the building because they would have different defection control and other procedures that they’d have to adhere to.

So there will be an enhanced long-term care facility here in Yellowknife and it will be similar to the high quality long-term care facility in Inuvik and the one that’s being built in Norman Wells and the one that recently opened in Behchoko and the ones south of the lake as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 645-17(5): Concerns Expressed By Leishman Family

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy . Final, short supplementary, Mr. Nadli .

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Question 645-17(5): Concerns Expressed By Leishman Family

Oral Questions

Michael Nadli

Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s clear that this government is experiencing inadequate programs and services for people such as Allisdair Leishman and mental health patients. Thus, there’s a challenge in the fiscal resources that are very limited.

What role does the federal government have in addressing the inadequate funding of mental health institutions and programs and services that the GNWT has currently been challenged to address the needs of the people of the NWT? Mahsi.

HON. GLEN ABERNETHY : The responsibility of health and social services has been devolved down to the Government of the Northwest Territories. There are dollars coming through NIHB that are going to individual Aboriginal residents of the Northwest Territories for different aspects of their care, but it is the Government of the Northwest Territories for the provision of health services in the Northwest Territories. There is the health money that comes from Canada, which we understand is stabilizing.

It’s not going to be increasing here in the Northwest Territories, but unlike other jurisdictions it’s not going to be decreasing as well. So it is a priority of the Government of the Northwest Territories to enhance our services and make sure our people are getting the best services they can here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 645-17(5): Concerns Expressed By Leishman Family

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy . The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake , Mr. Moses .

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Question 646-17(5): GNWT Workplace Mental Health Programming

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I made reference earlier in my Member’s statement about the psychological health and well-being of our employees or any employees, for that matter, in the Northwest Territories and the National Standard of Canada for Psychological and Safety in the Workplace that the Mental Health Commission of Canada did. I would like to ask my questions to the Minister of Human Resources .

I know the GNWT has its own program, the Employee and Family Assistance Program. What does the government pay to run the EFAP and how often is that utilized? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 646-17(5): GNWT Workplace Mental Health Programming

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Moses . The honourable Minister of Human Resources , Mr. Beaulieu .

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Question 646-17(5): GNWT Workplace Mental Health Programming

Oral Questions

Tu Nedhe

Tom Beaulieu

Minister of Human Resources

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t have the contract numbers with the providers here with me today, so I’m unable to give that information to the Member. However, I know the department does track everyone who goes through EFAP and I can get that number for the Member.

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Question 646-17(5): GNWT Workplace Mental Health Programming

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

I do appreciate that. I think it will give us an indication of how well we as a government are doing for employees out in the workforce.

I mentioned that on November 25, 2014, the Mental Health Commission of Canada released the implementation guide for psychological health and safety workplace standards. This is the first time something like this has ever been done.

Is the Minister familiar with that program or that the release had happened last November and whether his department is looking into that type of implementation program as something we can build on here in the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 646-17(5): GNWT Workplace Mental Health Programming

Oral Questions

Tu Nedhe

Tom Beaulieu

Minister of Human Resources

I am not familiar with the national standard of Canada for psychological health and safety in the workplace. However, the Department of Human Resources I’m sure is up to speed on all of those types of reports or standards that have been released. Again, I can ask the department to bring me up to speed and, if need be, bring the Members up to speed as well. Thank you.

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Question 646-17(5): GNWT Workplace Mental Health Programming

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

If the Department of Human Resources isn’t up to speed or not familiar with the national standard that’s being adopted right across Canada, in fact since it was released in November, there’s more than 21,000 copies that have been downloaded from the website.

Will the Minister direct his staff to take a look at this implementation standard and see whether or not it is something GNWT can adopt for themselves for employees who do the hard work in our government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 646-17(5): GNWT Workplace Mental Health Programming

Oral Questions

Tu Nedhe

Tom Beaulieu

Minister of Human Resources

It’s quite possible that the department is up to speed on that report. Myself, I’m not. If we are not and if the Department of Human Resources is not familiar with the report, I will ensure the deputy is able to transmit that to the department so members who are working with the public service are well aware of this standard. Thank you.

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Question 646-17(5): GNWT Workplace Mental Health Programming

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu . Final, short supplementary, Mr. Moses .

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Question 646-17(5): GNWT Workplace Mental Health Programming

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to reiterate that the implementation guide is available at no cost, so it would be no cost to government to take a look at that.

The last one is the Canadian Standards Association does a one-day workshop in partnership with the Mental Health Commission of Canada with regard to this implementation guide.

Would the Minister possibly look into having his staff take that one-day training and see how much of an impact it does have and whether or not we can develop a training type of program under these national standards? Would he ask his staff to look

into that one-day training workshop? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 646-17(5): GNWT Workplace Mental Health Programming

Oral Questions

Tu Nedhe

Tom Beaulieu

Minister of Human Resources

I know that the department is up to speed on occupational health and safety of the employees of the public service. If this is something that can be done and something that employees in Human Resources will benefit from, thus benefitting all public servants in the GNWT, then I will speak to the senior management to get their feeling on whether or not they feel it would be beneficial to the staff there to take this course. Thank you.

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Question 646-17(5): GNWT Workplace Mental Health Programming

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu . The honourable Member for Hay River North , Mr. Bouchard .

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Question 647-17(5): Wait Times For Mental Health Services

Oral Questions

Robert Bouchard

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will follow up from my Member’s statement with questions on mental health from our mental health theme day. I will take up the challenge on the Mental Health First Aid the Minister alluded to and I’d like to find out more information on when that would happen.

The first question I have is: Does the Minister have the wait times to see a mental health and addictions counsellor in the Hay River area? Thank you.

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Question 647-17(5): Wait Times For Mental Health Services

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard . The honourable Minister of Health , Mr. Abernethy .

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Question 647-17(5): Wait Times For Mental Health Services

Oral Questions

Great Slave

Glen Abernethy

Minister of Health and Social Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I answer the question, I just want to take this opportunity to thank the Members for undertaking this theme day. One of the key actions within the Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan, one of the key priority areas is to actually promote the understanding, awareness and acceptance of mental health in the Northwest Territories. It’s forums like this and Members asking questions that it starts to increase the awareness of mental health in the Northwest Territories. So I applaud them for taking it upon themselves to do the theme day on mental health and addictions.

To the Member’s question specifically, and I will just preface it by saying once again that wait times are for non-urgent clients and that clients with urgent needs are seen within 24 hours or immediately, given that we have the expedited referral process. If somebody acknowledges within themselves that it’s time for them to go to treatment, there are ways to get that information in so we can get them out immediately. So, please, in your newsletters, share this information as you move forward so they know how to access that program.

According to my records, the wait times in Hay River range anywhere from three to four months, which is excessive, obviously, but we will work with

Hay River and the other authorities to see how we can shorten these wait times. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 647-17(5): Wait Times For Mental Health Services

Oral Questions

Robert Bouchard

Hay River North

The information I get, too, is immediate action is being dealt with. We have a 1-800 number. We have people dealing with the emergency situations. The Minister indicated three to four months.

Is the Minister willing to commit to a standard level where you should be able to see a counsellor within 30 days or 45 days? Can we set a standard level that you should be able to see a counsellor within 30 days or 45 days. Can we set a standard and try to meet that goal?

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Question 647-17(5): Wait Times For Mental Health Services

Oral Questions

Great Slave

Glen Abernethy

Minister of Health and Social Services

I’m not prepared to commit to a standard today. We’d have to do some analysis and research to see what would be reasonable. I will say that throughout the Northwest Territories the wait times do vary. For instance, in Yellowknife it’s two to three months for counselling, two months for adult psychiatry and it could be two or three months for child and youth psychiatry, and these are for non-urgent issues. In the Sahtu, in Tulita it’s two months. In Deline it’s, surprisingly, turned out to be about two weeks; Colville Lake, one month.

In the Deh Cho, Fort Providence is about three weeks, Fort Liard is one week and Fort Simpson is one week. In the Tlicho there is currently no wait list. In the Beaufort-Delta, in Inuvik, up to six weeks. In Fort Smith it’s anywhere from two to three months for a counsellor and three weeks for a community wellness worker. As I’ve already indicated, Hay River is three to four months.

There is some variety there. I’ve asked the department to look into some of the reasons why that variety exists, and I’ll share that information with the Member and committee when it’s done so that we can have a more informed discussion.

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Question 647-17(5): Wait Times For Mental Health Services

Oral Questions

Robert Bouchard

Hay River North

As the Minister indicated, this is a strong issue, but I think we need to improve. I think we need to set that standard of what we have to a minimum amount. I think where it’s needed we need to put the financial backing towards it.

My question is: Would the Minister approve overtime or additional counselling to get areas like Hay River that are three to four months away when we have some regions that only have two weeks or sometimes there isn’t a wait list? Is there a way that we can deal with this immediate situation of the three to four month wait lists?

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Question 647-17(5): Wait Times For Mental Health Services

Oral Questions

Great Slave

Glen Abernethy

Minister of Health and Social Services

As we move forward, actually, to one health and social services system here in the Northwest Territories, we’ll be able to balance out some of these peaks and lows in different communities throughout the Northwest Territories because we’ll be able to share resources and professionals as needed to meet increasing

demands in one area where there may not be demands in another area.

As far as committing additional resources and approving overtime, that often happens already in many situations where there are urgent issues. But I will commit to continuing to look into this issue and share the information that we gather with Members so that we can make informed decisions as we move forward.

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Question 647-17(5): Wait Times For Mental Health Services

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy . Final, short supplementary, Mr. Bouchard .

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Question 647-17(5): Wait Times For Mental Health Services

Oral Questions

Robert Bouchard

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess my question is twofold in the fact that Hay River would not be immediately a part of the one health board, and I’d hate to be criticized for not being before our committee discussion. I guess my question is: Three to four months wait list that we have in Hay River. It’s the longest wait list. Will the Minister commit to solving this issue, allowing some overtime or bringing in additional counsellors to Hay River?

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Question 647-17(5): Wait Times For Mental Health Services

Oral Questions

Great Slave

Glen Abernethy

Minister of Health and Social Services

It’s too early to say whether Hay River is going to roll into this new authority immediately or whether it’s going to be transitioned over time. We are doing that work and I’m certainly happy to have continued discussions with the Member on that. In the meantime, I will work with the public administrator in Hay River and have the department work with the CEO to see how we can reduce some of the wait time in Hay River.

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Question 647-17(5): Wait Times For Mental Health Services

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy . The Member for Yellowknife Centre , Mr. Hawkins .

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Question 648-17(5): Amending Mental Health Legislation

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A couple small things here as I begin. As I mentioned at the beginning of my statement today, I said one in five Canadians experience mental health problems. The second thing I’d like to acknowledge the great courage of the Duchess of Cambridge who has come here recently in public support of people becoming more aware and helping fight the stigma of mental health. I think people like that show true leadership. They are tremendous people that step forward and help put a face on this fight, and it makes a big difference for those suffering with it because they do feel that they are suffering alone.

Speaking of those who suffer alone, we have the NWT Mental Health Act that, best guess, probably says it won’t be rewritten for at least a year at this particular time. My question for the Minister of Health and Social Services is: We’ve asked for amendments and changes and speed-up, and all those things seem to be almost impossible. But it did occur to me that why couldn’t the Department of Health and Social Services bring forward a simple amendment that could be added to the current act

until it’s updated. One that targeted at that would provide some allowances and variances to the existing act where they work with a committee and a family to find better solutions.

The reason I say that question is there are many problems with families right now that they can’t get the services they need because the act stops them from accessing services and needs. But we could provide a simple amendment that could vary that closed door type of thinking. Would the Minister consider something like that?

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Question 648-17(5): Amending Mental Health Legislation

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . The Minister of Health , Mr. Abernethy .

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Question 648-17(5): Amending Mental Health Legislation

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are no quick fixes for the NWT Mental Health Act. It is a significant act with many parts and components. We have actually considered whether short-term amendments would be appropriate. Even those amendments would take a bit of time. The type of amendment the Member is talking about is not a small amendment. It would be a significant amendment and a significant part of the new act. It’s not a year away. We’re anticipating having the legislation done in the spring.

Unfortunately, we don’t believe it will be ready for the May/June session, at which point I do intend to table that legislation in our fall sitting so it’s available for people to discuss and become familiar with. It’s my hope and my intent that that legislation will be passed early in the life of the 18th Legislative Assembly.

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Question 648-17(5): Amending Mental Health Legislation

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

I’m going to disagree and I’ll allow the Minister to correct it for the record, but I’m not sure how he doesn’t see it a year away, because if it doesn’t come for a draft tabled before the House, it doesn’t come before the House before the fall of this year, that means the next Assembly won’t have a chance to review it, update it, take it out to public consultation, and they’d be lucky to see it back before February.

The reason I ask for a small amendment that would allow to vary it is that they could work with the committee, and certainly driven by the family, we could find a way to deal with the existing problems. Because when I hear a parent who tells me about their self-medicating child, the instability of the family, they have sleepless nights because they’re worried about what can be done, and as long as this person is falling well within the law and not hurting themselves or others, they create terror to everyone around them. We need to find amendments that could work towards the longer achieving goal. Can the Minister help us with that?

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Question 648-17(5): Amending Mental Health Legislation

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

The Member and I want the same thing, which is a comprehensive Mental Health Act that meets the needs of the residents of the Northwest Territories, and we’re committed to doing that. The department is working on it every day.

A significant amount of information came out during our public consultation process. We had a lot of feedback. It was wonderful to get as much feedback as we did. The department is going through that data. It’s analysing that data and writing the act as we speak. The act is currently being written as we speak, but it will take a bit of time and there’s a good chance that it may not be ready for the May/June session. If it’s not, I intend to table it in the August session so that the residents of the Northwest Territories have an opportunity to read it and begin their discussions on it so that we can get it passed early in the life of the next Assembly.

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Question 648-17(5): Amending Mental Health Legislation

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

I’m not in a position to say that that lady, Karen Lander, a few years ago the outcome would have been different in her particular circumstances, but what I can say is it might have been a different situation that led to those circumstances. Whether it would have come up with the same end, I don’t know. But I can tell you that if we consider it ourselves for a very quick moment, that if we made a small amendment to the act that it could be varied, many Ministers have the authority to vary certain decisions and this could be certainly one of them. This could be a real opportunity if the legislation isn’t ready in May.

I ask the Minister to reconsider this opportunity, because this is not just helping us, it’s helping hundreds of people. The fact is one in five Canadians suffer from this. If I just took the MLAs alone, that could mean four of the MLAs in this room, and Ministers that is, could be suffering from a mental illness. It’s that close and personal to us.

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Question 648-17(5): Amending Mental Health Legislation

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

I don’t know how I can say it over and over again. This is something we do take incredibly seriously, and this is something that we want to get done, and this is something that we’re working on. The amendment the Member is talking about is not a small amendment. It isn’t an easy fix. It would take significant work just to amend the old, outdated, archaic act that we have to address this one issue, and because the act is so outdated, fixing one little clause is not going to give us the tools we truly need. Rewriting the act, the new act is going to give us the tools we need, and we are moving forward as quickly as we can and as responsibly as we can to ensure that we get

an act that is right for the people of the Northwest Territories.

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Question 648-17(5): Amending Mental Health Legislation

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins .

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Question 648-17(5): Amending Mental Health Legislation

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have no doubt that every one of the 19 Members in this Assembly ran in here with a can-do attitude about trying to do things. I would ask the Minister, is there any reason he here today can stand by and say I will not try this? Would he be willing to at least take

this idea to a legal advisor who writes legislation to take a look at this particular scenario?

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Question 648-17(5): Amending Mental Health Legislation

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

I’m eager to resolve this issue and it is something that I have already discussed at length with the deputy minister of Health and Social Services and we’ve also had discussions with legal.

The issue is it’s not a simple fix, it’s a significant component of the new legislation and it would actually not really fix it if all the other components of the act were still as archaic and bad as they are today.

I want this legislation done. My colleagues on this side want this legislation done. My colleagues on that side want this legislation done, but I believe they want it done right as opposed to right now. Thank you.

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Question 648-17(5): Amending Mental Health Legislation

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy . The Member for Nahendeh , Mr. Menicoche .

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Question 649-17(5): On-The-Land Healing Programs

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I want to follow up on my Member’s statement when I spoke about on-the-land programming and some of the wonderful projects that are happening in the regions and communities this year.

I want to speak specifically about the Deh Cho proposals. I know that the Minister wasn’t able to qualify a successful proposal in his announcement yesterday. So, are there proposals out there and what type are they? Thank you.

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Question 649-17(5): On-The-Land Healing Programs

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche . Mr. Abernethy .

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Question 649-17(5): On-The-Land Healing Programs

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There actually is a significant amount of interest in the Deh Cho and we have been working with a variety of groups in the Deh Cho to determine what the best approach is for the residents of the Deh Cho. So as that work progresses, I’d certainly be happy to keep the Member updated. Thank you.

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Question 649-17(5): On-The-Land Healing Programs

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you very much. I’m really pleased that the department is moving this forward. I’m not too sure about facilities that were invested in last year, if the intent of the proposal was geared toward using that facility or is the department open to other proposals that may be out there? Thank you.

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Question 649-17(5): On-The-Land Healing Programs

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

It’s my understanding that we actually turned those resources on that particular site over to I think it was the Liidlii K’ue First Nation, but we’ll have to confirm that with the understanding that if we ever wanted to run an on-the-land program in that location we can use those facilities as well. So, honestly, they can use those

facilities for anything they need, they don’t need our permission. They can utilize them for any type of programming that they deem as appropriate and reasonable for residents of the Deh Cho. Thank you.

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Question 649-17(5): On-The-Land Healing Programs

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you very much. I notice that some of the programming in the other regions was adult orientated. Can and will youth proposals be accepted as well? Thank you.

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Question 649-17(5): On-The-Land Healing Programs

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

In this process we don’t want to dictate to any of the communities or regions what project would be appropriate for them. This is a community-driven initiative. So it’s what the community wishes to see and how the community wishes to see it unroll.

As I said to Member Blake yesterday, we’re there to add clinical advice and expertise if they seek it, and if they want some of our people there, we’re willing to participate as well. So if they want a youth program, they can have a youth program. Thank you.

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Question 649-17(5): On-The-Land Healing Programs

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy . The Member for Mackenzie Delta , Mr. Blake .

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Question 650-17(5): Youth Mental Health Services

Oral Questions

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Leading up from my Member’s statement, I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services a couple of questions. What programs do we offer for youth in the area of depression? Thank you.

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Question 650-17(5): Youth Mental Health Services

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Blake . The Minister of Health , Mr. Abernethy .

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Question 650-17(5): Youth Mental Health Services

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A number of the programs that we deliver are not age specific. The NWT Helpline is available to youth. We have some specific suicide intervention programming and training that we’re trying to get into the schools and I believe we’ll be able to get into a number of the schools