Debates of Feb. 24th, 2021

This is page numbers 2083 - 2120 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd 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

Pink Shirt Day

Youth Mental Health Supports

Addictions

Alcohol Addiction

Mental Health

Mental Health and Addictions

Aftercare

Mental Health and Addictions

Managed Alcohol Program

Public Health Trends

Anti-Bullying Cooperation

Germaine Arnaktauyok, recipient of Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts

Eulogy for Claude Fontaine

Mental Health

Mental Health and Addictions Supports

Addictions Recovery

Alcohol Addiction

Addictions Treatment

Managed Alcohol Program

Community Wellness Plans

Public Health Trends

Stanton Territorial Hospital Medical Detox Service

Stable Housing after Addictions Treatment

Tabled Document 317-19(2): Northwest Territories Law Foundation 37th Annual Report, July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019

Tabled Document 318-19(2): Follow-up letter for Oral Question 491-19(2): Fire Services for Ingraham Trail Residents Tabled Document 319-19(2): Follow-up letter for Oral Question 511-19(2): Alternative Voting Methods for Communities

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Tabled Document 286-19(2): Main Estimates 2021-2022 - Lands - Corporate Management - Deletion of $303,000 from Grants, Contributions and Transfers

Tabled Document 286-19(2): Main Estimates 2021-2022 - Lands - Deferral of Department (page 307)

Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Orders Of The Day

Members Present

Hon. Diane Archie , Hon. Frederick Blake Jr., Mr. Bonnetrouge , Hon. Paulie Chinna , Ms. Cleveland , Hon. Caroline Cochrane , Hon. Julie Green , Mr. Jacobson , Mr. Johnson , Ms. Martselos , Ms. Nokleby , Mr. Norn , Mr. O'Reilly , Ms. Semmler , Hon. R.J. Simpson , Mr. Rocky Simpson , Hon. Shane Thompson , Hon. Caroline Wawzonek

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

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---Prayer

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Prayer

Prayer

Page 2083

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment .

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Minister's Statement 116-19(2): Pink Shirt Day

Ministers' Statements

Page 2083

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We all share in the responsibility of ensuring that our schools and communities are safe spaces. Today, we take a moment to pause and reflect on how each of us contributes to safe spaces where bullying is prevented whenever possible and quickly addressed when it occurs.

In 2007, Nova Scotia teenagers David Shepherd and Travis Price organized a protest after a male grade 9 student in their school was harassed for wearing a pink shirt. The next morning, these two youths brought pink shirts to hand out to all male students. Their school was full of kids in pink that day, and 14 years later, Pink Shirt Day has become a global call to action as schools and workplaces are flooded with pink in solidarity against bullying. The national theme for 2021 is Lift Each Other Up, and I am happy to see so much pink around the House today, as we stand together on Pink Shirt Day.

As I am sure all Members of this House are aware, bullying can occur to anyone of any age at any time. It occurs when aggressive and repeated behaviours happen between one or more people in a real or perceived power imbalance. This imbalance can be based on a range of factors from size, age, or ethnicity to religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. No one, from any walk of life, is immune to becoming a bully or being bullying. This behaviour has negative impacts on individuals, families, and communities. It causes fear, emotional harm, and physical, psychological, and social distress.

We must support victims of bullying and ensure we provide education and formative consequences to bullies so they can learn the harm in their actions and repair relationships.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has Safe School Regulations that establish a Territorial Code of Conduct and ensure all schools have a Safe School Plan. These plans ensure students from Junior Kindergarten to grade 12 take healthy relationship programming and require schools to address instances of bullying in accordance with the regulations. A Safe School Plan ensures there are structured mechanisms in place for keeping students and staff physically, emotionally, and mentally safe.

Last year, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment released the Guidelines for Ensuring LGBTQ2S+ Equity, Safety and Inclusion in Northwest Territories Schools. We continue to support schools in upholding these guidelines and in the development of their gender sexuality alliances through our partnership with the Yellowknife Rainbow Youth Coalition.

Mr. Speaker, Northwest Territories schools should be safe and caring environments for the entire school community. We must continue our vigilance to ensure our schools are safe spaces where people respect each other's differences and recognize each other's similarities. When we see bullying, we need to speak up, and if we bully others, we must reflect on our actions and seek ways to do better. Let's lift each other up. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 116-19(2): Pink Shirt Day

Ministers' Statements

Page 2083

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Ministers' statements. Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Minister's Statement 117-19(2): Youth Mental Health Supports

Ministers' Statements

Page 2083

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today on Pink Shirt Day, we come together to commit to creating safe spaces for each other and for our youth, places where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected us all in significant ways and has highlighted the importance of supporting one another and advocating for those who need help and for youth in particular. We know that the harms associated with bullying can have devastating and long-lasting impacts on individuals, families, and communities. Having accessible mental health services is critical to support both victims and people who use bullying to heal from the wounds this behaviour inflicts.

Mr. Speaker, over the last three years, the Department of Health and Social Services has worked closely with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment on the phased establishment of child and youth care counsellors in NWT schools and communities. This approach was informed through engagement with NWT youth who told us they wanted access to confidential and flexible mental health services. The GNWT is currently in phase 3 of a four-year implementation plan. I am pleased to report that staffing these positions is going well.

A total of 33 out of 39 child and youth care counsellor positions have been successfully filled throughout the NWT, along with five clinical supervisor positions. The child and youth care counsellor initiative, in combination with our work to eliminate wait times and establish same-day access for counselling supports, has greatly improved access to services for all NWT residents when they need it most.

Mr. Speaker, we have heard from Northerners about the need to provide a variety of options when it comes to mental wellness supports. One of the ways we are expanding options is through the implementation of e-mental health options such as the Strongest Families Institute. A year ago, the GNWT partnered with Bell Let's Talk and NorthwesTel to have the Strongest Families Institute provide telephone-based support for children and families experiencing mild to moderate anxiety, depression, and behavioural concerns.

So far, we have seen a positive response to this service, and I would like to share some testimonials we received from parents. A parent of a 12-year-old said, "The coaching was instrumental in teaching me the skills and techniques I needed to feel more in control of my situation, build a stronger relationship with my son, and feel hope for the future." A parent of an 11-year-old had the following to say, "My coach with Strongest Families was super helpful, understanding, and supportive. She helped me to see and understand parenting on so many levels.

The skills and strategies put in place are effective and are definitely worth learning."

While the pandemic has produced innovation in the area of virtual care, government recognizes that these types of services may not be easily accessible by all. As a result, staff across the territory are working to ensure that creative solutions are in place to support children and families who may not have access to a phone in their home. Some of these solutions include making space available within health centres, dropping off packages with information and resources at people's homes, and making use of community partners to ensure information about the availability of services is shared.

The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority now has a child and youth mental health coordinator who is leading the way with several key initiatives that will improve our approach to caring for children and youth with mental health needs. Some of these initiatives include:

working with the Stanton Territorial Pediatric In-Patient Unit to develop in-patient psychiatric admission processes and programing;

working with the Stanton team to build care pathways, therapeutic resources, after-care, and staff capacity;

supporting health centre staff across the territory with mental health system navigation and building their skill sets to care for children and youth in need of mental health services; and finally

leading the implementation of the Northwest Territories partnership with the Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto to improve access to specialized child psychiatric services across NWT regions and communities.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health and Social Services is also working with schools to support the delivery of the Talking About Mental Illness program, called TAMI for short. TAMI is a school-based program focused on increasing awareness and reducing stigma about mental illness. Programs such as these increase comfort talking about mental health and help to increase the likelihood that youth will access help if they need support. Additionally, children and youth can also access the NWT Help Line and the Kids Help Phone, both available 24/7 for free, confidential support.

Mr. Speaker, there is no single approach that will work for everyone when it comes to addressing youth mental health, but by providing a variety of options, we ensure that we are better positioned to support youth when they need it most. I urge each of us, on this Pink Shirt Day, to take the time to consider how we can support and lift each other up. Remember, a little kindness and compassion can go a long way. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 117-19(2): Youth Mental Health Supports

Ministers' Statements

Page 2083

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Hay River South .

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Addictions

Members' Statements

Page 2084

Rocky Simpson

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I speak about addictions and mental health. I was going to start by citing statistics. However, we need to hear real-life situations if we want to really understand the issues and develop workable and respectful solutions.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk about Jane, a fictional name of a young Aboriginal lady who was raised in a loving and caring family. At the young age of 16, she lost her way and began to hang around with others who found themselves in a similar situation. Drugs and alcohol appeared to be the solution to dull the pain of not fitting in to societal norms or the constant pressure from family to do well in school. Although she was strong academically, Jane never completed high school but went on to work for minimum wage in the retail sector.

Jane did settle down some in her early 20's, had children with a man she soon left due to an abusive and toxic relationship. She again turned to drugs and alcohol to numb the pain. This time she could not break the cycle of addiction. It was fortunate that her family stood by her and took custody of the children. Jane does see her children from time to time, but continues in another abusive relationship. If nothing is done to change it, she will be found dead at the hands of the person she is with.

Mr. Speaker, another person, I will call him Richard, recently finished high school. During his time in high school, he was bullied, turned to drugs, and became somewhat of a loner. Richard lives in a single-parent home where his addiction became drugs and gaming. He basically locks himself in his room and only associates with those who are also lost in a system that is not meant to inspire those who are not adhering to societal norms.

Richard and his friends, some of whom are aging out of foster care, will most likely find themselves in the street, homeless, without support, and potentially end up as a statistic. Richard's parent is concerned that there are a number of at-risk-youth who are living in situations that provide them only one path, and that path is addictions, living with unchecked mental health issues and homelessness.

Mr. Speaker, Jane and Richard are only two of the many youth between the ages of 18 and 25 in similar situations. They and many others need this government's immediate support before we are asked to cover their funeral costs. Thank you Mr. Speaker.

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Addictions

Members' Statements

Page 2084

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South . Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho .

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Alcohol Addiction

Members' Statements

Page 2084

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Alcoholism is one of the most common addictions in the Northwest Territories. Alcohol can be found from many sources. Where there is a will, there is a way, so the saying goes. The social acceptance of drinking can often lead to denial, and if left untreated, can have severe consequences.

Mr. Speaker, alcohol is one of the leading causes for family breakdowns that hurt not only the adults involved but also the children. Alcoholism has seen many good men make decisions that lead them to destruction and jail and, sadly, even death.

Mr. Speaker, many youth and young men across our territory have fallen to peer pressure and have taken up the bottle, and sadly, there goes any hope we had of grooming the young to be the next leaders of our communities. We feel as though we are losing the battle to combat alcohol and alcoholism in our communities. There are too many forces working against us. The well-intentions of a few community members, the very community members that may, in time, face burnout and fatigue. We have to be mindful of the fact that alcoholism-related diseases are stressing out our already stretched healthcare system.

Mr. Speaker, there are many ways this government can assist communities to address the ongoing problems with alcoholism. This government has the resources to assist the communities in addressing this addiction. I will have questions for the Minister of Health at the appropriate time. Mahsi.

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Alcohol Addiction

Members' Statements

Page 2084

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho . Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh .

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Mental Health

Members' Statements

Page 2084

Steve Norn

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I just want to acknowledge Pink Shirt Day. I'm glad to see we're all wearing pink today and talk about mental health a little bit. I want to say that kindness, love, and support must shine through to fight these issues. I just heard a couple of my colleagues talk about crime and whatnot, so I'm going to segue into that.

Mr. Speaker, I last spoke about the Affirmative Action Policy and the hiring practices in November. At the time, I spoke of policy shortfalls, specifically Ministerial appointments, GNWT hiring practices. Today, I'd like to talk about individuals with criminal records and how they need to be given consideration when being hired. Many of us in this room are aware there are very high crime rates in the NWT, and it's even more magnified in our smaller communities.

Mr. Speaker, in my time working in the diamond mines, I was involved in community work, public relations, and worked with Indigenous governments. I worked closely with HR personnel promoting the product and actively seeking out any potential people interested in working at the time. One common barrier that we saw is that many of the interested candidates had criminal records.

Mr. Speaker, many industries that work in the North now know that our small population limits the available talent. As such, many skilled workers come from south of the border. One common-sense approach I observed was individuals who had a criminal record were assessed on a case-by-case basis by an HR team. These teams use their discretion before we had to make sure that there were no serious crimes against the person or serious property crimes.

Mr. Speaker, sometimes, we had to work with individuals who worked in smaller communities to help them get pardons for past offences. It should not be a barrier if one wants to work in the public service. I do support firm rules, though, when it comes to working with our vulnerable populations, and I don't expect that we stray from that. I fully support anyone who has paid their debts to society who are genuinely trying to make strides to better themselves. Everyone deserves a second chance. Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker, and I will have questions for the Minister of Finance at the appropriate time.

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Mental Health

Members' Statements

Page 2084

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh . Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake .

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Mental Health and Addictions

Members' Statements

Page 2084

Caitlin Cleveland

Kam Lake

Mr. Speaker, today marks 30 years since an impaired driver collided with my husband's family. His brother Michael was seriously injured and medevaced to Edmonton. That's 30 years since doctors prepared my in-laws for the worst: first, that Michael would not make it through the night; then the week; and then, that he would never walk or talk again. This community rallied behind their family for an entire year while Michael recovered in the Edmonton Children's Hospital. He made it through the night, the week, defied the odds, and started over at five years, one month, and 28 days old.

The North wrapped itself around my in-laws as it does to support victims and survivors. That day, Michael, having never touched drugs or alcohol, was the victim of addiction.

There are two other victims in this tragedy. The vehicle that hit their family had both a passenger and a driver. They, too, are victims of addiction and trauma, but they did not receive the same wraparound care required to heal. Faceless victims struggle every day through mental health and addiction in our vast territory with limited community, regional, or capital-based support services. If NWT mental health and addiction rates match the number of breast cancer patients, we would call this an emergency.

If the NWT COVID deaths matched the people we lose to mental health and addiction annually, we would call this an emergency. An emergency is defined as unexpected, and we are not in an unexpected place. We are at a time of intense difficulty, Mr. Speaker, and that is called a crisis.

Michael's journey led to change. He inspired the NWT's Students Against Drinking and Driving chapter. Students rallied to create awareness, and Michael's peers were change-makers who lobbied this GNWT for impaired driving legislative changes. The fight against impaired driving doesn't rest on planning a drive home, and the ring is not solely the driver's seat. The fight against impaired driving is equally routed in how we proactively heal our territory.

Michael was a victim with an entire community supporting his recovery, but victims of mental health and addiction who fall into the faceless cycles that weave through our territory need clear paths to gain sobriety and then stay sober with the same wraparound care we afford to those with physical injuries. Some fight a silent battle while others fight a violent battle, and sadly, some lose this battle. If we are not outraged, Mr. Speaker, we are not paying attention.

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Mental Health and Addictions

Members' Statements

Page 2084

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake . Members' statements. Member for Thebacha .

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Aftercare

Members' Statements

Page 2084

Frieda Martselos

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For my Member's statement today, I will be joining my colleagues on the topic of addictions and mental health. Specifically, I will be focusing on the after-care component of addictions services. In a Member's statement last March, I spoke about the need for more after-care services to be made available locally to the people of the NWT. That's because there is currently an inefficient amount of after-care services being offered to NWT residents upon their return home from treatment centres in the south.

Mr. Speaker, when individuals return to their home communities from addictions treatment, it can be extremely challenging for some people to readjust to normal, everyday life. With the structure and routine of treatment suddenly gone, when they return home, people can easily slip back into their addictions if sufficient after-care services are not available. That's simply the nature and cycle of people struggling with addiction and is a gap that we, as a government, must fill and address.

Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, on October 27, 2020, during question period, I asked the Minister of Health and Social Services about expanding after-care services in the NWT. Specifically, I suggested the idea to build an after-care facility in three different regions of the Northwest Territories: one in the South Slave region, one in the central region, and one in the Beaufort-Delta region. As I stated, this type of addictions service is sorely needed across all regions of the NWT. Therefore, I strongly suggest that our government work to improve this lacking component of addictions services. I know that all NWT residents would greatly benefit from improvements in this area.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, my hope is that this government will not only hear my concerns about after-care services but will, more importantly, work to address these concerns during the life of the 19 th Assembly. I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Aftercare

Members' Statements

Page 2085

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Thebacha . Members' statements. Member for Great Slave .

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Mental Health and Addictions

Members' Statements

Page 2085

Katrina Nokleby

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, residents across the territory are wearing pink shirts in support of the national anti-bullying campaign. Pink Shirt Day has its origins in an incident when a child wore a pink shirt to school and was bullied for the colour of his shirt. It is reported that one in five children experience bullying, but it is likely that number is much higher. Bullying exists in many forms, including racism and discrimination, and can often lead to mental health and addiction issues. In some cases, when bullying is severe, it may lead to suicide and death.

We must combat the effects of bullying by treating each other with empathy, kindness, and compassion. If you or your loved ones are experiencing or have experienced bullying, I urge you to seek out the supports that are available to you.

In the North, statistics show we are a population prone to addiction and mental health issues. The root of addiction has been closely linked to childhood trauma and abuse and, in particular, residential school impacts, when it comes to Indigenous populations. This has created a systemic cycle of addiction and mental health issues. People looking to escape from pain will often turn to substance abuse as a form of self-medication.

There are four components to a successful rehabilitation: counselling, detoxification, treatment, and recovery. Once an individual suffering from addictions receives counselling, they have taken the first step to reclaiming their life. Counsellors will help people to understand the steps required and prepare them for entering medical detoxification, or detox, when they are ready. A person cannot travel south nor enter a treatment program unless they are sober.

Currently, people are experiencing isolation like they have never seen before. This isolation is leading to an increase in the consumption of alcohol and cannabis, as well as exacerbating ongoing mental health issues. When our population is not healthy, nothing in our territory can prosper. It is time for us to ensure that we can revive our vulnerable residents with a full-scale rehabilitation program that accounts for all steps on the road to recovery and removes them from the cycle of rehab and relapse that is becoming far too normalized in the North. Thank you.

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Mental Health and Addictions

Members' Statements

Page 2085

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Great Slave . Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North .

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Managed Alcohol Program

Members' Statements

Page 2085

Rylund Johnson

Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If we hold people to a standard of complete sobriety and perfection, we are setting them up for failure, but also ourselves. As a society, if we keep with the mentality that pure sobriety is the only option, people give up too easily, and the scope of our addictions makes the problem hopeless. Harm reduction allows people to celebrate little ways, and thus, it is better feedback for continuing empathy from all of us. I want to quote the Minister of Health when she was a Regular MLA, "Not everyone wants to be sober.

There are people who are perfectly content not to be sober for the rest of their lives. I think we also have to recognize that we have people who have alcoholism as a chronic health issue, not as a moral failing, but as a health issue."

Mr. Speaker, I could not agree more. I have said it before in this House, but it bears repeating: alcohol is not the cause of addiction; trauma is. During COVID-19, when we were faced with the choice of having to risk people going through withdrawal while also self-isolating due to COVID-19, we provided alcohol to many of those residents to mitigate having to deal with two public health crises at the same time. Much of that work expedited our path to managed alcohol programs. However, as these programs emerged, they were not fully funded or true managed alcohol programs, simply programs to mitigate withdrawal.

A true managed alcohol program requires medical professionals and social workers providing supervised consumption and wraparound services.

Recently, I toured the new Arnica facility and saw the work they are doing there to establish their managed alcohol program. They are one of several organizations looking to take on and expand this work in the last year. However, Mr. Speaker, my concern is that much of this funding is COVID relief funding. I want to see permanent funding for managed alcohol programs and wraparound services be a legacy of this pandemic. Many of us recognize that an integrated service delivery model is how we make progress here.

Data from jurisdictions across North America make it clear that, when it comes to our most vulnerable, we must look beyond housing-first and have a combined approach that tackles housing, mental health, and addictions. However, implementing such a vision is no small task.

We have made strides in incorporating managed alcohol programs and housing-first models over the last year, but if we hit 75 percent vaccination rates, we can't lose the progress that we have made just because one public health crisis is over while another rages on. I will have questions for the Minister of Health . Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Managed Alcohol Program

Members' Statements

Page 2085

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North . Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake .

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Public Health Trends

Members' Statements

Page 2085

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. The recent release of the Health and Social Services System 2019-2020 Annual Report paints a picture of many major health conditions and trends for the Northwest Territories. There are some positive outcomes shown, including a decrease in potentially avoidable mortality due to preventable causes, as well as those due to treatable causes; a decrease in the rate of children in permanent care; a decrease in the proportion of mental health hospitalizations due to alcohol or drugs; and a decrease in workplace safety claims.

However, the overall health of our residents is still not improving in a number of significant areas, including mental health hospitalizations remain at twice the western Canada average, with four in 10 related to substance abuse, about four times the national average; and one-third of NWT residents smoke, three in 10 drink heavily, and four in 10 are considered obese. Client satisfaction with Health and Social Services systems has also fallen below 90 percent for the first time since measurements started in 2004.

Against this backdrop, Health and Social Services recently released a further report examining potential social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report tracks indicators related to child maltreatment, mental health and addictions, alcohol-related harm, and family violence. It's also a good check-in regarding what's happening with people during a pandemic.

Taken as a whole, though, the annual and the pandemic reports describe a Health and Social Services system hard pressed to respond, let alone improve, the overall well-being of our residents. While this year's budget promises a $75-million increase in funding for healthy communities and citizens' programs, we just don't seem to be making significant overall progress. I'll have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services on the way forward for improving wellness and health of our residents. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Public Health Trends

Members' Statements

Page 2085

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake . Members' statements. Member for Nunakput .

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Anti-Bullying Cooperation

Members' Statements

Page 2085

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Bullying has serious impacts on our people, especially on our youth. I am afraid that our youth, who are often going through difficult times, suffer more that are bullied. That can contribute to mental health and alcohol and drugs and substance abuse. I am asking all Members of this Assembly today to join me and stand up against bullying. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Anti-Bullying Cooperation

Members' Statements

Page 2086

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput . Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre .

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Germaine Arnaktauyok, recipient of Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts

Members' Statements

Page 2086

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to salute my constituent Germaine Arnaktauyok on the occasion of her national recognition with the highly prestigious Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts. Germaine Arnaktauyok is one of only eight recipients of the 2021 award organized by the Canada Council for the Arts to celebrate the exceptional careers of Canadian artists. As the Governor General's award citation says, "Germaine Arnaktauyok's contribution to Canadian art is significant. She has been a serious artist for over 60 years and has continued to explore and develop artistically and professionally.

She has charted her own course and created her own unique visual language, and her lifelong interest in her own unique Inuit culture has been an inspiration to many younger artists."

Born in the Igloolik area in the 1940s, Ms. Arnaktauyok began life drawing from her visionary world whenever materials became available. She studied fine arts at the University of Manitoba, commercial art and fine craft at Algonquin College, as well as print-making at Arctic College in Nunavut.

In her work, Ms. Arnaktauyok focuses primarily on Inuit myths, stories, and feminist narratives centred on birth and motherhood. She has illustrated and written several books, including illustrating the recently published "Takannaaluk" released in spring 2018. Her silk screen design, "The Drummer," was chosen by the Royal Canadian Mint for the two-dollar coin to mark the birth of Nunavut in 1999. Her professional career has included the production of lithographs, etchings, and serigraphs that illustrate Inuit myths and traditional ways of life. Her artwork is held in a variety of museums, including the National Gallery of Canada and the British Museum.

Please join me in saluting the life and work of Germaine Arnaktauyok and her recent distinction through this prestigious national award. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Germaine Arnaktauyok, recipient of Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts

Members' Statements

Page 2086

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife Centre . Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh .

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Eulogy for Claude Fontaine

Members' Statements

Page 2086

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Claude Fontaine was born on October 13, 1963. His parents, Gerard and Therese Fontaine, and their six children welcomed Claude into a loving and caring home. Claude and his seven siblings were raised on their family farm in Prud'homme, Saskatchewan. It was there they all learned the value of hard work and the importance of family.

One of Claude's many special gifts was his ability to make deep and lasting connections with people from all walks of life. It would not be uncommon for Claude to meet somebody for the first time and, in a conversation, quickly discover an extended family connection, a friend of a friend, or a common event or place where paths may have crossed at one point. Conversation with Claude was not short, but when having a conversation with Claude, you would not be looking at your watch or your phone to check the time. You would not even be thinking about the time. What would feel like 15 minutes would end up being an hour or sometimes longer.

Claude was trained as a machinist, mechanic, truck driver, and later a welder. He worked on the railroad line, fixing equipment and keeping supplies moving. He drove transport trucks across Canada and the US, moving goods to people. He liked to talk about his travels in his 18-wheeler with friends and family.

Claude decided to settle in Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories. He said he knew he was home when he had first laid his eyes on the Mackenzie River. Claude found an instant and profound connection to his new home. At the same time Claude chose to live in Fort Simpson, Fort Simpson also chose Claude as one of their own. He quickly became a beloved local who everybody knew as "Froggy" or "Frenchy." Through his many skills, Claude became a valuable additional to the community, and he developed his family-like relationship with so many people.

Around 2006, Claude met Lisa, a single working mom. Claude became a regular presence in Lisa's life and her son, Tristen's, who was about nine years old at the time. Claude would describe Lisa as his soulmate, the one true love of his life. Claude and Lisa were blessed with their boys, Kaleb and Kole. It was a great game-changer for Claude. At 65, he was not expecting to fall in love, let alone start a family.

Claude found peace and serenity in nature, and he felt his strongest connection to nature when he was in the Nahendeh. Known by the Dene as the land and water of the people, Claude explained to his family in the South that the forest, lakes, rivers, mountains, and animals of the North were much like his church. This is where he felt most connected to God or, as he would say, "the Big Guy."

Mr. Speaker, the family would like to thank the community of Fort Simpson for all their supports during this difficult time. He will be sadly missed but never forgotten. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Eulogy for Claude Fontaine

Members' Statements

Page 2086

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Nahendeh . Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and the community. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh .

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Question 578-19(2): Mental Health

Oral Questions

Page 2086

Steve Norn

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Just to refer back to my Member's statement on hiring practices in the GNWT, I had a question for the Minister of Finance . First question: can the Minister provide us with any statistics on the number of individuals in the NWT who are screened out because of a criminal record? Marsi cho.

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Question 578-19(2): Mental Health

Oral Questions

Page 2086

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh . Minister of Finance .

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Question 578-19(2): Mental Health

Oral Questions

Page 2086

Caroline Wawzonek

Yellowknife South

Thank, Mr. Speaker. The GNWT does not prohibit the hiring of any individual with an unrelated criminal conviction, and as such, there are no people who are screened out simply on that basis. Thank you.

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Question 578-19(2): Mental Health

Oral Questions

Page 2086

Steve Norn

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you for that. My next question is: has the Minister's department ever looked into an assessment process for applicants with criminal records?

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Question 578-19(2): Mental Health

Oral Questions

Page 2086

Caroline Wawzonek

Yellowknife South

Yes, there is an assessment process that does exist. There is, in the event that a criminal record has what we call a bona fide connection to the position of employment. In other words, if there is a legitimate connected reason why having a criminal record would prevent someone, for safety reasons, to perform the conduct of their duties, there is a process by which, once they are being offered the position, they could be asked to go and get their criminal record checked and bring that back. There is a process for how that would be evaluated, including potentially by a deputy minister who would be able to evaluate whether or not it is, in fact, connected to their employment.

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Question 578-19(2): Mental Health

Oral Questions

Page 2086

Steve Norn

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Can the Minister advise what barriers people with criminal records face when seeking government employment and how can they overcome these barriers?

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Question 578-19(2): Mental Health

Oral Questions

Page 2086

Caroline Wawzonek

Yellowknife South

Again, there isn't intentionally a barrier. There shouldn't be a barrier, again, acknowledging that there may be positions where not having a criminal record is directly connected to the performance of that duty. That said, someone who may see that advertised certainly wouldn't necessarily want to apply if they have a criminal record, and they may not be in a position themselves to make the evaluation of whether that connection is there or not. People may well feel shame around having a criminal record.

I very much want to emphasize that people can get criminal record suspensions, and that often is a tool that is not adequately used by many who have past criminal records for something. For what that's worth, I would certainly encourage people firstly to be familiar with the policy that we do have so that they don't see it as a barrier, but also to avail themselves of the process with the federal government around seeking what was formerly known as a pardon and now known as a criminal record suspension.

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Question 578-19(2): Mental Health

Oral Questions

Page 2086

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South .

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Question 579-19(2): Mental Health and Addictions Supports

Oral Questions

Page 2086

Rocky Simpson

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When it comes to addictions and mental health, the victims are often forgotten. My questions today will be for the Minister of Justice . I would ask the Minister of Justice what role the Department of Justice plays in ensuring those with addictions and mental health issues are supported by the justice system. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 579-19(2): Mental Health and Addictions Supports

Oral Questions

Page 2086

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South . Minister of Justice .

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Question 579-19(2): Mental Health and Addictions Supports

Oral Questions

Page 2087

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Most of those supports are offered in the corrections system, seeing as how that is how Justice usually interacts with people who need those supports. There are psychologists in the North Slave and the South Slave, and there are counsellors in all of the facilities. There are traditional healing programs at the South Slave; it especially has a lot of programs like that. There is an Indigenous pre-treatment healing program, which is made in the North. We hope to roll that out to other areas, as well.

There is a Northern Sessions program, which offers treatment; I wouldn't say treatment, but mental health and behavioural supports in a northern context. There are a number of these different programs. There are substance abuse management programs offered in all of the facilities. There are programs to help inmates cope with violence and domestic violence. There is a wide variety of supports. One of the big issues is that some people are in for 20 days and out, some people are in for a few months and out, and it's hard to really provide the support that is needed in that context. Thank you.

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Question 579-19(2): Mental Health and Addictions Supports

Oral Questions

Page 2087

Rocky Simpson

Hay River South

I would ask the Minister: what legislative supports are in place to assist those who are in abusive relationships and in immediate personal harm or harm to their children?

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Question 579-19(2): Mental Health and Addictions Supports

Oral Questions

Page 2087

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

Emergency protection orders are temporary court orders up to 90 days, and they are available under the Protection Against Family Violence Act. Of course, there has been a report highlighting some of the deficiencies, and so Justice is working with its partners to identify ways to fix those. It's not a perfect solution, obviously. There are communities with no RCMP, and so a piece of paper doesn't feel like it makes you very safe. It's not a perfect fix, but that is what is in place.

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Question 579-19(2): Mental Health and Addictions Supports

Oral Questions

Page 2087

Rocky Simpson

Hay River South

I've had constituents who have family members with addictions and mental health issues and who are concerned with the wellness of their children. When I say "children," I'm talking about adult children, as well. They are concerned that the system is not offering the timely personal protection needed, and often, it is unclear as to how or who to contact. Can the Minister tell me, with the Department of Justice, what information and contacts are available and where can that information be found?

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Question 579-19(2): Mental Health and Addictions Supports

Oral Questions

Page 2087

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

Of course, the department of health offers a lot of support through counselling services, and you can always contact those providers in communities. As far as Justice, there is the NWT Victims Services program. What Justice does is provide funding to 11 community-based groups who are situated across the territory, and they provide services to victims. It could just be emotional support, direction on how to navigate the system, what to do, where to go, where they might find a safe place, things like that, and that contact information can be found on the Justice website.

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Question 579-19(2): Mental Health and Addictions Supports

Oral Questions

Page 2087

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Hay River South .

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Question 579-19(2): Mental Health and Addictions Supports

Oral Questions

Page 2087

Rocky Simpson

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When the RCMP are called in to address a matter related to mental health or addictions, what supports are the RCMP provided, and does it include training in dealing with addictions and mental health as well as a mental health support worker on-site? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 579-19(2): Mental Health and Addictions Supports

Oral Questions

Page 2087

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

In the territory, I know that RCMP officers undergo trauma-informed training and cultural awareness training. Right now, if they respond to an issue where there is a mental health issue, which is quite frequent, there is not a mental health specialist who accompanies them. Frankly, there are just not the resources for that, at this point, but those are the kinds of things that we need to look at. I'm happy to have those conversations with the department of health and see what options are available. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 579-19(2): Mental Health and Addictions Supports

Oral Questions

Page 2087

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Thebacha .

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Question 580-19(2): Addictions Recovery

Oral Questions

Page 2087

Frieda Martselos

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister share with the House the expectations of the addictions recovery survey being done? What outcomes are expected from this survey? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 580-19(2): Addictions Recovery

Oral Questions

Page 2087

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Thebacha . Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Question 580-19(2): Addictions Recovery

Oral Questions

Page 2087

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What we hope to get from the addictions survey is to learn about what is working with the addictions recovery services that we currently offer at the Department of Health and Social Services and what changes would make those services more effective. We are particularly interested in hearing from people who have lived experience, who have actually used these services themselves or who have close family members who have done that. That survey is available online, and hard copies are available at health centres and other places where mental health services and addiction services are provided.

I want to say that, with just one week of the survey being available, we've had more than 300 responses, so there is obviously a lot of interest in this area. We encourage everyone who has an interest in this area to complete the survey by the end of March.

What will happen with the survey results is that they will inform next steps around the need for a territorial alcohol strategy and answer some of the questions of the day, such as whether we need transitional housing for people leaving treatment and whether we need an in-territory treatment facility. Thank you.

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Question 580-19(2): Addictions Recovery

Oral Questions

Page 2087

Frieda Martselos

Thebacha

After-care is a crucial component of recovery. The NWT is lacking in this area of service. Will the Minister consider investing in three after-care facilities that are connected to the mental health workers within Health and Social Services?

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Question 580-19(2): Addictions Recovery

Oral Questions

Page 2087

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

We are interested in working across departments with the NWT Housing Corporation, the Department of Justice, and Education, Culture and Employment to talk about what kind of supports in transitional housing we can put in place. At this point, we don't have any firm plans to construct the facilities that the Member for Thebacha is talking about, but staff is in place to connect people exiting treatment with counselling and other supports that they require.

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Question 580-19(2): Addictions Recovery

Oral Questions

Page 2087

Frieda Martselos

Thebacha

Addressing the mental health and after-care component is important for all people in recovery. Would the Minister consider walk-in clinics with mental health staff readily available for the public?

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Question 580-19(2): Addictions Recovery

Oral Questions

Page 2087

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

In our most recent Mental Wellness and Addictions Recovery Action Plan, we talked about the reform that we were planning to undertake in the Community Counselling Program, which is now largely complete. What we have taken on is a methodology called "stepped care." How this works is people are seen in person, often on the same day. There is no wait list. There are no appointments necessary. It is, in fact, possible to walk into one of the 19 Community Counselling Program offices across the NWT and see a counsellor right away, with no wait times and same-day appointment availability.

In those other communities which do not have community counsellors, telephone, virtual, and in-person, from time to time, counselling is available. What this new methodology allows us to do is to see people right away and decide whether their care needs to be stepped up or stepped down. That's why it's called stepped care.

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Question 580-19(2): Addictions Recovery

Oral Questions

Page 2087

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Thebacha .

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Question 580-19(2): Addictions Recovery

Oral Questions

Page 2087

Frieda Martselos

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have no problem with the out-of-territory treatment. The teams that deal with mental health and addictions problems are not available here. We don't have the qualifications for that. Yellowknife might be able to have that, but anonymity is very important to uphold. Therefore, would the Minister consider pursuing after-care facilities as a priority within the life of this Assembly? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 580-19(2): Addictions Recovery

Oral Questions

Page 2087

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

After-care is a priority of this government. The focus at this point is on people rather than facilities. Our goal is to reach as many people as possible and give them the widest variety of choices for the kind of support they need for their own mental wellness. At this point, as I mentioned earlier, we don't have specific plans to build after-care facilities, but there is a working group that is looking at that possibility. Thank you.

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Question 580-19(2): Addictions Recovery

Oral Questions

Page 2087

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho .

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Question 581-19(2): Alcohol Addiction

Oral Questions

Page 2087

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Deh Cho

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Following up to my Member's statement regarding the problems of alcoholism in our communities, this is also affecting many of our youth and young men. Can the Minister commit to an alcohol education or alcohol awareness program in our schools, including Aurora campuses? Mahsi.

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Question 581-19(2): Alcohol Addiction

Oral Questions

Page 2087

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho . Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Question 581-19(2): Alcohol Addiction

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Page 2087

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is no question, as the Member says, that alcohol is a great hardship for many of our residents and in many of our communities. With respect to an education program, that is something that would be led by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, and we would certainly be interested in working with them if they wanted to develop a curriculum on this topic.

What we do offer now is an awareness program called My Voice, My Choice. That's been around for a number of years, and it's now being revamped and will be relaunched later in this calendar year. The campaign is going to focus on six key areas, and they include things such as looking after our land, sexual health, suicide, healthy relationships, healthy coping skills, mental health, and substance use. It covers many of the areas that the Member is concerned about. As I say, this is currently in the redevelopment stage, but it is expected to be ready for use by schools, if they wish, and Aurora College, if they wish, by the next semester. Thank you.

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Question 581-19(2): Alcohol Addiction

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Page 2087

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Deh Cho

Mahsi to the Minister for that answer. I wouldn't even give them a choice. Force it upon them. Mr. Speaker, one of the priorities of the department is to focus on mental health and addictions by ensuring that services are delivered locally with culturally appropriate methods. Can the Minister provide an update as to actions taken by the department related to this priority?

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Question 581-19(2): Alcohol Addiction

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Page 2088

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you for that question. Our primary focus in this area is on-the-land healing program. This is a community-based program where Indigenous government organizations apply to the department to obtain funding in order to deliver their own culturally relevant land-based mental health and addictions programming.

This fund is very flexible. It can be used to attract people to treatment. It can be used for family treatment. It can be used for after-care. It can be used for treatment itself. This is a community-based program, and it puts communities in charge of what this program is about and makes sure that it reflects the values of the people whose community it is.

There are also two new funds that the government is coming out with that are community-based. One is suicide prevention, and that was just launched about 10 days ago. There has been quite a bit of interest in applications for suicide prevention. The other community-based program is peer support. This is for addictions after-care, and it provides funding to support people who want to set up AA groups or Wellbriety groups. It would give them money for a place to rent and some refreshments and that kind of thing. We have three and, particularly, on-the-land programming, which is based on community-driven mental health support.

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Question 581-19(2): Alcohol Addiction

Oral Questions

Page 2088

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Deh Cho

Mahsi to the Minister for providing all the services related to addictions. I look forward to those funding sources. One of the key positions missing in our communities is an alcohol and drug counsellor. Most alcoholics need someone they can confide in, someone they can trust, someone that they know. Can the Minister commit to providing our communities with an alcohol and drug counsellor position run by a non-government organization?

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Question 581-19(2): Alcohol Addiction

Oral Questions

Page 2088

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

The Department of Health and Social Services and, more particularly, the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority, Tlicho Community Services Agency, and Hay River Health and Social Services Authority are the operational arm that provide these services. Non-government organizations are pretty thin on the ground outside of the major centres. That's why the government is delivering this.

The Community Counselling Program, which I spoke about earlier, is available to NWT residents of all ages on all topics. There is a mental health and addictions worker located in Fort Providence as well as a child and youth care counsellor. There is a community wellness worker position that is currently vacant, but the standard offering in Fort Providence is to have these three wellness workers working with local individuals to provide them with the help they need.

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Question 581-19(2): Alcohol Addiction

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Page 2088

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Deh Cho .

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Question 581-19(2): Alcohol Addiction

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Page 2088

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi to the Minister for that. Can the Minister commit to the training of our local people to be alcohol and drug counsellors? Mahsi.

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Question 581-19(2): Alcohol Addiction

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Page 2088

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

This is an area the department is very interested in. For the last two years, the department has provided support to the Dene Wellness Warriors, who have been working in partnership with the Rhodes Wellness College to deliver the Northern Indigenous Counselling Program, and it's my understanding that the first graduates of this program will be coming out next year. We see a unique opportunity here to hire these NWT residents who have this specialized counselling training and to bring them into our communities in the different roles that we have available there. Thank you.

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Question 581-19(2): Alcohol Addiction

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Page 2088

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Great Slave .

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Question 582-19(2): Addictions Treatment

Oral Questions

Page 2088

Katrina Nokleby

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are also for the Minister of Health and Social Services . We know that when it comes to people seeking help, even one day of delay to accessing services can lead to an addict changing their mind. Prior to attending out-of-territory treatment, what options are available for people seeking medical detox, particularly after hours or on weekends when just getting a referral from a doctor is not generally possible? Thank you.

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Question 582-19(2): Addictions Treatment

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Page 2088

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Great Slave . Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Question 582-19(2): Addictions Treatment

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Page 2088

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's important to note that, in this area, the vast majority of individuals do not need medical detox prior to beginning treatment. When they do require detox, there are several options: one is to detox at the treatment location or with the facility that's related to the treatment location. Another option is to detox in the Northwest Territories, either through a local health centre or through the hospital with the support of a case manager who would be assisting that person in the treatment application, facility-based treatment.

Mr. Speaker, we do not have a one-day turnaround in this area. I recognize that timing is of the essence. The fact is that we need to apply to the treatment centre, ensure they have space, arrange for medical travel, and then have the person travel down there. This is generally not accomplished overnight. Thank you.

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Question 582-19(2): Addictions Treatment

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Page 2088

Katrina Nokleby

Great Slave

That's kind of exactly my point. It doesn't happen in the window of time that it needs to in order to get at addicts when they are actually willing to seek help. I would like to see some commitment from the Minister on how she's going to address that delay and that issue. Moving on, it's my understanding that the on-the-land fund is valued at approximately $1.8 million annually. How long has this fund been available, and how much has it been accessed annually?

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Question 582-19(2): Addictions Treatment

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Page 2088

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

The Member is correct. The On-the-Land Healing Fund is now worth $1.8 million. It's been in place since 2014-2015 fiscal year, and the average annual uptake is in the 90 to 100 percent range.

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Question 582-19(2): Addictions Treatment

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Page 2088

Katrina Nokleby

Great Slave

That's great news. I'm glad to hear that people are accessing that funding. Moving on to another fund, the community's suicide prevention fund, how long would this fund be made available, and could the Minister provide us with the

summary of who has been applying for this fund? I'm not asking for any specific details, just a high-level

summary.

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Question 582-19(2): Addictions Treatment

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Page 2088

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

The suicide prevention fund is part of a shared health priorities agreement with the federal government. We're now in year four of a 10-year agreement. The funding is secure for the next six years at a minimum. Since the fund was announced about 10 days ago, there has been a lot of interest expressed. One proposal is in hand. More are anticipated by the end of this month. What we are doing because timing is very short here is that, where possible, we are giving the money this year to provide programming by the end of the fiscal year.

Then if that is not possible, then we are supporting people to make applications right at the beginning of April so that they have a whole year to spend the money in the next fiscal year.

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Question 582-19(2): Addictions Treatment

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Page 2088

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Great Slave .

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Question 582-19(2): Addictions Treatment

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Page 2088

Katrina Nokleby

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister tell us whether or not the funds in the communities as suicide prevention fund are generally under or over prescribed and, if so, how can we build capacity in our communities making use of these if you funds such that down the line we see less of a need for this type of funding? Thank you.

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Question 582-19(2): Addictions Treatment

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Page 2088

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

The suicide prevention fund is brand new as of 10 days ago. We have, in the department, a consultant who is responsible for providing support to communities to make applications to this fund and also to the On-the-Land Healing Fund. The person in this position has the following tasks: development of proposals; makes recommendations on potential contractors who may be able to assist in programming; and make linkages to larger Health and Social Services system where required. There is someone there who is in an active supporting role. Thank you.

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Question 582-19(2): Addictions Treatment

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Page 2088

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North .

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Question 583-19(2): Managed Alcohol Program

Oral Questions

Page 2088

Rylund Johnson

Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I stated in my statement, during the course of the pandemic, we established a couple of managed alcohol programs, and they varied to an extent. Some were simply just delivering alcohol to people to prevent withdrawals,

whereas, for example, the Arnica has established a much more elaborate managed alcohol program. My question for the Minister of Health and Social Services is: given the kind of necessity of setting up these programs during COVID-19, what are the plans for the programs that have been established going forward post-pandemic? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 583-19(2): Managed Alcohol Program

Oral Questions

Page 2088

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North . Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Question 583-19(2): Managed Alcohol Program

Oral Questions

Page 2088

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd just like to take a moment to thank the MLA for researching my previous statements in this area when I was a Regular Member. I stand by my statements about the need for harm reduction and that addictions are not a moral failing; they're a health issue. Having said that, I am in support of managed alcohol programs. He referenced the fact that they were offered during the pandemic. That's the case. It was trying not to double the problem so that you had both people who were isolated because of the pandemic and then also in alcohol withdrawal.

At this point, alcohol is currently only being offered at the Spruce Bough, which is the new name for the Arnica Inn, and at the Aspen Apartments. Having said that, the Aspen program is not really a program. If someone is waiting for COVID test results or who needs isolation while they are recovering from COVID, they would be at the Aspen. If they needed a managed alcohol program, they would be provided one at that time. We do have a mandate priority as a department to establish a managed alcohol program in the territory, and we are currently exploring options to make that a reality. Thank you.

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Question 583-19(2): Managed Alcohol Program

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Page 2089

Rylund Johnson

Yellowknife North

My point is that I don't want to lose the progress that has been made, and I know there are some questions about whether the Spruce Bough or the Aspen Apartments as physical infrastructure will continue to exist, but I would like to see the program model that is started there continue. I believe already some expertise has been developed. My question is: given that we've started some of this work already, has the department started to collect any data, and has it used any of this work that kind of organically started during COVID-19 to inform delivery of office?

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Question 583-19(2): Managed Alcohol Program

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Page 2089

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

The answer to the Member's question is: yes, the department is working with all locations where alcohol has been and is continuing to be provided during the pandemic. Together, lessons learned to inform the ongoing approach. That's not only the Yellowknife locations. There was also a managed alcohol program offered in Inuvik during the lockdown. The information is being gathered by interviews with providers, with users, and they have the classic questions of what worked, what didn't work, and what could we do better to create a formal managed alcohol program. We anticipate that this information will be analyzed and available in the spring of this year.

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Question 583-19(2): Managed Alcohol Program

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Page 2089

Rylund Johnson

Yellowknife North

I'm very happy to hear that work is being done, and I look forward to seeing that information once it's analyzed. My main concern here is that a lot of the funding that established these programs was COVID relief funding. It's not necessarily money that has been budgeting and is found in the operations budget for Health and Social Services. Specifically, I know the Arnica program, they're hiring a manager to run this program. They are looking at best practices. However, their funding right now is COVID relief funding.

My question for the Minister of Health and Social Services is: can I get a commitment that that program funding, regardless of the infrastructure and the larger COVID questions, for the managed alcohol program can continue past COVID-19?

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Question 583-19(2): Managed Alcohol Program

Oral Questions

Page 2089

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

We recognize the value of the program at the Spruce Bough. It manages two best practices together, which is the managed alcohol program, dealing with addiction and homelessness at the same time. The department has renewed its funding with the Spruce Bough until the end of September 2021. The idea is that in the next six or seven months the department will work with the Yellowknife Women's Society to explore options for continuing this program once the pandemic funding expires.

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Question 583-19(2): Managed Alcohol Program

Oral Questions

Page 2089

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Yellowknife North .

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Question 583-19(2): Managed Alcohol Program

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Page 2089

Rylund Johnson

Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to try to remember that the Arnica is now called the Spruce Bough. I thank the Minister for continually getting that correct. My last question is that the overall goal in this is to reduce hospitalizations due to alcoholism, which is what managed alcohol programs are proven to do, but can the Minister speak to how we are going to track the effect of these programs on actually reducing hospitalizations? Can you speak to the data we are hoping to collect there? Thank you, Mr. Speaker

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Question 583-19(2): Managed Alcohol Program

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Page 2089

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

There is kind of a two-part answer here. The specific commitment is to reduce the number of hospitalizations resulting primarily from alcohol use. That is something that is collected by the hospital and healthcare system, and that is ongoing. With respect to the Spruce Bough, the department is working with them to develop reporting and data-monitoring tools that could talk to us in more detail about the kind of services that have been provided connected to the outcomes of those services, so how those two things connect.

This information is being collected now, and it will continue to be collected during the life of this program, which is at least until the end of September. The test here is whether this program has been effective. We like evidence-based decision making, so we are looking for the evidence that shows us that this program is helpful and worth continuing. Thank you.

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Question 583-19(2): Managed Alcohol Program

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Page 2089

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake .

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Question 584-19(2): Community Wellness Plans

Oral Questions

Page 2089

Caitlin Cleveland

Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Health and Social Services . Every community has worked with Health and Social Services to create community wellness plans that are available on their department website. These plans not only identify the strengths of communities but also identify service gaps that communities feel exist. What role does the department play to ensure that, once a priority is set by the community, the community has the resources to achieve these goals? Thank you.

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Question 584-19(2): Community Wellness Plans

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Page 2089

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake . Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Question 584-19(2): Community Wellness Plans

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Page 2089

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department employs three regional community development and wellness planners who work with communities throughout the year to support actions and priorities under those wellness plans the Member mentioned. Their level of involvement is really community-driven. It can be very involved to not involved, depending on what the community wants and needs. There are annual allotments of funding to communities to realize their community wellness plans, and this funding is provided through flexible multi-year agreements.

It's possible to carry over funds and move money around between fiscal years to meet the goals that they have set for themselves in their wellness plan. The fact they have a wellness plan and funding through that does not preclude them from applying for other pots of money, such as the anti-poverty fund and the NWT on-the-land collaborative. Those are some specific ways in which they are supported.

The other thing is that community wellness plans provide a wealth of information to the department for planning services and programs in the future, so, for example, I know that we have staff now going through those plans in some detail to help us with the run-up to an elders' strategy. Thank you.

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Question 584-19(2): Community Wellness Plans

Oral Questions

Page 2089

Caitlin Cleveland

Kam Lake

The plans as they stand right now online, they do not have actions or targets associated with them, so I am wondering if the Department of Health and Social Services and the specific positions that the Minister identified are working with the communities to establish any types of target for actions to go with those plans so that they have something to measure against and can identify when they would like to achieve certain parts of the plan and how.

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Question 584-19(2): Community Wellness Plans

Oral Questions

Page 2089

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

It's my understanding that, in fact, these wellness workers do work with communities on actions and priorities with the community and then set up with supports needed to realize them. I realize that information may not be available online, but this is an ongoing and iterative program of supporting communities to realize their own goals that they have set in their wellness plans.

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Question 584-19(2): Community Wellness Plans

Oral Questions

Page 2089

Caitlin Cleveland

Kam Lake

One of the things that we heard identified by the Minister today was that 19 communities have access to community-based community counsellors. If a community decides, as part of achieving their action plan and to achieve their goals, that they would like to see a resident counsellor, is that something that they can work with this person to achieve? Is it something that they can work with the Department of Health and Social Services to achieve? Is there room within the Health and Social Services budget to provide additional resources to the community outside of the Anti-Poverty Fund, outside of the anti-suicide fund to be able to provide additional resources to the community?

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Question 584-19(2): Community Wellness Plans

Oral Questions

Page 2089

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

These are separate programs. The wellness is funded by the federal government. The community counselling program is funded by the territorial government. That does not mean they do not work together, but they are funded in different ways is what I am saying. I am not aware that at this point a community wellness plan could activate the appointment of another Community Counselling Program staff, but that is something that I can certainly check into and respond to the Member with more detail.

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Question 584-19(2): Community Wellness Plans

Oral Questions

Page 2089

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Kam Lake .

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Question 584-19(2): Community Wellness Plans

Oral Questions

Page 2089

Caitlin Cleveland

Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. No. Just to add to that, I appreciate that, and I think that many of the Members who serve in this House would like information on that, based on what resources are available because I think, to achieve your community wellness plan, it does not matter to a community member what funding pot it comes from, just the fact that they have access to services that are needed for the wellness, the overall wellness, of their community. Thank you.

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Question 584-19(2): Community Wellness Plans

Oral Questions

Page 2089

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will take that as a comment.

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Question 584-19(2): Community Wellness Plans

Oral Questions

Page 2089

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake .

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Question 585-19(2): Public Health Trends

Oral Questions

Page 2089

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. My question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services . In my statement, I referred to the conditions described in the Health and Social Services System 2019-2020 Annual Report. The report portrays some very mixed results here in the NWT, where we still seem to be lagging behind many other Canadian jurisdictions. Can the Minister describe for us how this tracking of some indicators feeds into planning and delivery of healthcare programs and services, particularly around mental health and addictions? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 585-19(2): Public Health Trends

Oral Questions

Page 2089

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake . Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Question 585-19(2): Public Health Trends

Oral Questions

Page 2089

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department uses monitoring of indicators as an ongoing means to both provide program oversight and to provide planning in all areas, including mental health and addictions. Some of the things we look at include usage rates, wait times, common presenting concerns, topics of prevention and promotion efforts and that kind of thing to get a feel for what is going on. The data that is obtained is used to monitor performance and also adherence to the program mandate: does the data show that the program is properly focused and delivering the services for which it was intended?

We also find from the data that we are able to track trends and ultimately move that into system planning and professional development and staffing needs, so that our staff is up to date.

One of the areas in which we've had a lot of success and which I mentioned earlier today is stepped care. This is an approach where we overhauled the Community Counselling Program and decided that, instead of making a client a series of appointments over weeks or months, we would make appointments available on the same day so that there would be no waiting list. If you need an appointment, you could go and get an appointment. The waiting list or a long wait time would not be a barrier to being seen.

This is the kind of innovation that was put forward in the mental wellness and addictions recovery plan and which we have now implemented, so that is an overview of how the data and the planning fit together. Thank you.

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Question 585-19(2): Public Health Trends

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Page 2090

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

I want to thank the Minister for that. I know that she loves evidence and she loves making decisions based on evidence, so I appreciate that. Some of the more recent statistics during the ongoing pandemic paint a rather bleak picture of substance abuse, predominantly alcohol abuse, and overall health, mental health, and hospitalizations, family violence, child neglect. In June 2019, the Department of Health and Social Services released the mental wellness and addictions recovery action plan that the Minister referenced. Can the Minister tell us how this action plan is being adjusted to take into account findings of social conditions during the pandemic?

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Question 585-19(2): Public Health Trends

Oral Questions

Page 2090

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

The current mental wellness and addictions recovery plan expires next month, so there is no point, at this point, to try to bring new actions into it. Instead, what we're doing at this point is we are looking at other ways to capture information and trends, as I mentioned before, and bring those into the everyday operation of the department. The Member referenced the social indicators that were produced for the first three months of the pandemic. It's my understanding that the department is getting ready to produce another of those reports.

The thing about that first report is that it only covered three months, and so it wasn't a long enough set of indicators to really make firm policy decisions on. The intention is to continue repeating these social indicators over time, so that we get a good grasp of what needs to be done on a priority basis next.

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Question 585-19(2): Public Health Trends

Oral Questions

Page 2090

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

I want to thank the Minister for that. As this year's budget address points out, though, 30 percent of GNWT operation spending is devoted to health and social programs and services, and in the budget that is proposed for next year, it is going to go up another $75 million. The Minister of Finance said the current expenditure pattern is unsustainable and that a plan was being developed to stabilize health and social services costs. I am quite concerned about what that plan is going to look like, and I don't want it to lead to a reduction in Health and Social Services programs.

Can the Minister of Health and Social Services describe what is going on with this sustainability plan for the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority and tell us when it's going to be available to the public?

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Question 585-19(2): Public Health Trends

Oral Questions

Page 2090

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

There is no question that the Health and Social Services system is under enormous financial pressure. The accumulated deficit is $120.7 million. That is within the health authorities, the NTHSSA, the Hay River HSSA, and the Tlicho Community Services Agency. Sustainability is a very complex problem and, as the Member says, the place to start is not by cutting, but rather to look at what the drivers of spending are and what the value is we get out of that spending.

This is really the core of the government renewal initiative, which my colleague the Minister of Finance has talked about, and also within the sustainability plan. What is going to happen is that there will be a dedicated group of three or four staff who will engage in looking at the detail of what we're spending money on and what value we're getting for that money and whether there are ways to reorganize ourselves to spend less money on those particular things.

I'm sure the Member is aware that fiscal sustainability is a problem in healthcare systems all across Canada and has been the subject of federal negotiations for an increase to the Canada Health Transfer, which we in the North don't get. We get our money through the FFT. However, we share this problem that they have. What we are going to do is look at, as I mentioned, internal costs containment, operation review in quality improvement, and the funding and service level so that we can get a grip on what we're spending and why we're spending it. This is not a public plan; this is an operational plan.

We have offered to brief the Standing Committee on Social Development on a confidential basis about this plan and to answer questions that they have about that, and that offer still stands.

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Question 585-19(2): Public Health Trends

Oral Questions

Page 2090

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Frame Lake .

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Question 585-19(2): Public Health Trends

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Page 2090

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that, and I look forward to getting that briefing, but I still think it should be made public somehow. In discussing ongoing wellness and mental health needs with some community leaders, there doesn't seem to be enough resources at the local level for planning and service delivery. Can the Minister describe what resources and services are available to communities for local solutions to mental health and addictions? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 585-19(2): Public Health Trends

Oral Questions

Page 2090

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

We are now in year three of four of the children and youth care counselling program, which is a joint initiative with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, and those counsellors are in place throughout Yellowknife and north to the Beaufort Sea. The last area that will be brought online is the South Slave. We have the Community Counselling Program, which is available in 19 communities, and then available in different ways such as telephone, virtual, and occasional visits to the remaining communities. We have the dedicated funds of on-the-land healing, peer support and suicide prevention.

We have access to facility-based addictions treatment. We have a lot of programs and a lot of variety at our disposal. We're looking forward to having the results of the addictions recovery survey to get the on-the-ground look about whether the supports we are offering are those that are most needed at this point. Could we do things differently? Of course we could, but we do now have a pretty robust set of programs in place and we are interested in hearing from the public about what else they need. Thank you.

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Question 585-19(2): Public Health Trends

Oral Questions

Page 2090

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Item 8, written questions. Oh, oral questions. Member for Kam Lake .

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Question 586-19(2): Stanton Territorial Hospital Medical Detox Service

Oral Questions

Page 2090

Caitlin Cleveland

Kam Lake

Sorry, Mr. Speaker. I was going to share some time with my colleagues, but I'm not going to let some time stay on the clock. My questions today are for the Minister of Health and Social Services . I am wondering if the Minister of Health and Social Services can let us know how many people Stanton can serve through medical detox at one time. Thank you.

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Question 586-19(2): Stanton Territorial Hospital Medical Detox Service

Oral Questions

Page 2090

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake . It seems like a theme day here. Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Question 586-19(2): Stanton Territorial Hospital Medical Detox Service

Oral Questions

Page 2090

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

I'd like to direct this question to the Minister of Lands . Just kidding. Sorry about the heart attack, Minister.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, there are no dedicated rooms for detox at Stanton. The rooms are made available as they are needed and they are made available to people who need medical management while they are withdrawing. For some people, that's a very important step. Withdrawal can be fatal if it's not managed properly. Other requests for medical detox are assessed one at a time. As I mentioned earlier in response to another question, most people actually do not need a medical detox. The vast majority of people do not need it, but there are some people who are very alcohol dependent for whom life and death really depends on a proper detox. Thank you.

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Question 586-19(2): Stanton Territorial Hospital Medical Detox Service

Oral Questions

Page 2090

Caitlin Cleveland

Kam Lake

If somebody presents at a health centre or a hospital, rather, in another community and wants to go through a medical detox process or if the nursing staff knows that this is somebody who would require medical detox, will that person be medevaced to Yellowknife in order to go through their medical detox here, or would they be able to stay in their home community to do that?

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Question 586-19(2): Stanton Territorial Hospital Medical Detox Service

Oral Questions

Page 2090

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

It could go either way, depending on the judgment of the nurse whom the patient sees. It may be necessary, depending on the level of alcohol dependency, to bring that person into Stanton, or they may be able to stay in their own community. I will just say again that the vast majority of people do not need t