Mr. Chairman, it is certainly the view of the department that mental health needs of the residents of the Northwest Territories have taken a back seat to the physical needs of people as the system evolved and as pressures developed in the system. It is clearly an area where we think we can make a significant difference in terms of the supports for residents. It is clearly the area where early intervention makes a genuine difference. The care reform initiative for the department has very much begun to deal in that area and more specifically is dealing in the area of children services in that regard. There is a significant amount of work going on right now to assess the needs and the services and, obviously, then to test for gaps in the system. The department is supporting, in one particular area in Yellowknife, a pilot project that is looking at taking a more aggressive case management approach to people that actually come to Yellowknife from various regions of the territories drawing on the existing service system. There are still significant inconsistencies in terms of the range of services that are provided today in the mental health area across the territories. Thank you.
Mr. Ramsden on Committee Motion 20-13(5): To Amend Clause 19 Of Bill 10: Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 1998
In the Legislative Assembly on February 23rd, 1998. See this statement in context.
Committee Motion 20-13(5): To Amend Clause 19 Of Bill 10: Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 1998
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 23rd, 1998
Page 1037
Ramsden
See context to find out what was said next.