Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about an issue that affects a small portion of our population, a group who often has very little to say in the quality of their lives. I am speaking of those who require continuous care or supervision. They are often aged or facing a physical or cognitive impairment. Some have fetal alcohol syndrome.
Mr. Speaker, in a needs assessment study conducted two years ago, 1,780 NWT citizens living in households were identified as having a moderate to severe disability. This figure does not include those with current mild disabilities that may escalate the number to more than 5,000, nor does it include individuals who are living in institutions or in assisted living situations in the south, away from family and a more familiar northern setting.
Mr. Speaker, it also does not include homeless individuals living in our communities who could become more productive through assisted living, those with emotional and cognitive impairment. Too often they come to our attention only as a result of a run-in with the justice system.
Mr. Speaker, recently, members of the Standing Committee on Social Programs travelled to Alberta with the Minister of Health and Social Services to visit facilities that housed NWT residents. We visited psychiatric institutions and assisted living providers and found a very dedicated group of individuals providing good service to our people.
However, Mr. Speaker, Northerners are far from home and family when placed in Edmonton or Red Deer or elsewhere south of 60.
At the recent annual conference of the Alberta Association for Community Living, the point was made again and again; individuals with severe disabilities receive far better care close to family and friends than in institutions.
In fact, Mr. Speaker, in our recent review of programs and services for seniors, the working group clearly recommends a program of support for families, spouses and other persons when the cognitively impaired are living at home.
They further recommend, and I completely agree, that the Government of the Northwest Territories must examine options for housing the cognitively impaired. Assisted living has repeatedly been proven as a sustainable approach that provides better care and a much better quality of life.
Mr. Speaker, I believe it is high time that our government commit to increasing the opportunities for assisted living in the Northwest Territories. We are doing a disservice to that portion of our population which does not have its voice heard.
Providing assisted living opportunities in the North not only improves the quality of life for those facing big challenges but it makes economic sense too. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause