Thank you to the Minister for those remarks and pointing out that support. I was using the terminology that has been used by others. It’s good to have the words “maintaining funding” defined to include the 3 per cent.

On the YACCS situation, as I have mentioned before in the House YACCS has applied for forced-growth costs for fuel and utilities and so on and been declined. But it’s ultimately been recovered through deficit funding from the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority, who then has to go into deficit themselves and seek recovery of it. This has been going on for a few years. I’m wondering, and this is probably traumatic for all, if that’s not something that could be addressed progressively and brought into the fold so it’s not always on a deficit basis. It would be easier for all.

I appreciate the comment. I don’t think there were questions.

I was pointing out the situation and asking if that could be resolved so that these non-government organizations don’t have to carry these costs into a deficit situation which is then finally reimbursed by the authorities, which have to go into a deficit situation themselves and seek recovery from the department. I’m wondering if we could just acknowledge the existence rather than going through the agony of that process. It would probably be cheaper as well. Is the question clearer there?

I will take that advice, and we will be looking at — how can I say this? The forced-growth issue, especially one that’s been driven by increasing fuel costs and such, is something that is relevant for government expenditure all across the Territories in all organizations and departments and

authorities. Right now all our authorities are engaged in controlling growth. The NGOs will be faced with a similar exercise, but we have to look at it in each program area and its organizations and try to manage it as best we can. I do understand that pressure the NGOs are under to deliver their services and programs under these circumstances.

Thank you, Minister Lee. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a question in regard to the long-term care and planning. I know that at the Aklavik seniors’ facility, there was supposed to be a bunch of renovations to the facility. I’d just like to know where that stands in regard to the plans of the department.

Minister Lee.

I’m not aware of major renovations being planned with the long-term care facility in Aklavik. It’s a building owned by NWT Housing Corporation. I can take that under advisement and get that information for the Member.

I believe it was in previous years. I know last year they were supposed to do a bunch of work on it in regard to the foundation and whatnot, and on the Charlotte Vehus facility. I’m just wondering why it is that it’s not part of the capital plan that was there previously. Was it because of cuts?

I don’t believe there were any reductions in work for that facility as a result of the reduction measure. I understand there were some revisions done to that facility two years ago.

Are they looking at expanding other types of care facilities in communities, such as seniors’ care facilities, independent-living facilities and level 2, level 3 facilities? I know you’re talking about a dementia centre for Yellowknife. But again, are there plans to look at care for seniors who are aging? I’m just wondering: do you have any plans in place to look at the whole area in regard to seniors’ care facilities in communities, so that people don’t have to leave their home communities to go to, say, the larger centres for seniors’ care?

There are no plans to build new long-term care facilities for seniors. But the department and I as Minister are very committed to…. We understand that we need to have a very good long-term plan to respond to the demographic needs of the NWT population, which we know is growing in line with the national trend. Baby boomers are getting older, and that’s the biggest bulk of the population. We do have an older population in the NWT whose needs we need to meet.

There are ways of meeting those needs, and the building of the facilities is only one option. We are looking to increase the services available in communities, such as home care programming, to increase the chances for seniors and others in need to be able to stay in their homes in their communities as much as possible.

Presently there’s an arrangement between the Department of Health and Social Services and NWT Housing Corporation to provide seniors’ housing in communities. The Housing Corporation builds and manages it. The Department of Health and Social Services pays the O&M on those facilities, such as seniors’ housing. That’s what I’m talking about. I’m asking because it’s a dual-departmental responsibility: is there any plan to build more seniors’ housing through the arrangement between the NWT Housing Corporation and the Department of Health and Social Services?

Thank you,

Mr. Krutko. Mr. Cummings.

I think as a government we should be doing everything we can to deal with our housing situation in communities, but also to ensure we do have barrier-free houses in communities for our aging population. I think that as a government, sure, we can provide home care, but if we don’t provide the environment for people to age and also to accommodate the mobility issues that come with aging, you have to at some point make a decision that these people are going to need a special type of housing.

I’d like to ask the Minister exactly…. I know I’ve raised this with the Housing Corporation — to look at different types of housing for different segments of our population. I think seniors’ housing, by simply putting a facility in a community, opens up more housing accommodation for other members of the community by way of allowing families to be able to have access to houses that seniors may live in. If a senior moves into, say, a dwelling that is designed for seniors, it opens up that housing in that community for families and other members of the community. So again, I’d like to ask exactly why it is that we’re not doing more to enhance that type of

housing in communities so people can stay in their communities to be close to their families, and also to ensure they have houses that are designed and meant for barrier-free access for people who are aging.

Mr.

Chairman, I think the

discussion here is veering a little bit into the overall housing needs for seniors and the different spectrum of needs for seniors; it is one I have not really had a chance to look at closely. I will make the commitment to the Minister that I will be talking to the Minister of Housing and looking at some of the profiles of communities.

I do agree there is a lot that Health and Social Services can do to work with Housing. I was just in Fort Resolution, for example, where they built independent units for seniors. The only way — and a better way — for the seniors to live in those units is to increase the home care support. We understand there are lots of seniors who need a little bit of help to live independently with some help with home care. But they don’t necessarily have to be in 24-7 care, and that is in line with a bigger and long-term objective we have as a department. I look forward to having more discussions on that and looking across the territory — an all-community profile — and seeing how we can best meet the needs of seniors.

Just a question in a different area in regard to rehabilitation. I’d just like to ask the Minister: do you have some figures on the cost of rehabilitation and how much money is being expended for alcohol and drug treatment in the Northwest Territories and outside the Northwest Territories — how much we spend for NWT treatment and also how much we spend for southern treatment where you refer people to southern treatment facilities?

Mr. Chairman, for the year ’07–08, we have spent $5 million for adults in southern treatment.

Can the Minister tell us how much we spend in the Northwest Territories for treatment?

Mr. Chairman, I don’t have that information handy because, obviously, our hospitals, our clinical places, our Nats’ejee’ K’eh programming, Sally Ann

— a lot of them we fund by

core funding. For example, Nats’ejee’ K’eh we pay, through Deh Cho Health Authority, $800,000-plus. We wouldn’t be calculating to see how much all the programs are spending, but we could attempt to get that information for the Member.

I believe there was questioning the other day in regard to Mr. Hawkins, about people being referred to the Stanton Hospital in regard to mental health. They were put into the psych ward and whatnot. That is another cost associated with

alcohol and drug abuse. You know, this government is paying for it, so I think that before we conclude this department, it would be good to get that information to see exactly how much money we are really spending in the alcohol and drug treatment area. I think maybe it is time we re-look at the whole idea of clinics and at treatment facilities in the Northwest Territories, like we had prior.

Mr. Chairman, I am not sure if we could get the kind of information the Member is suggesting before the budget is wrapped up, but we will make an effort to do that. But you know, a lot of those services are part of the essential services we provide through our Health and Social services expenditure.

What I do want to tell the Member, and I have said many a time in the House, is that I am very interested in revisiting our mental health and community wellness program as well as the mental health services that Stanton Hospital is providing, and how that connects to the rest of the communities. Also, I have mentioned a number of times about looking at the job descriptions and duties of these wellness workers and mental health specialists in communities, so that we give them the best tools and the necessary powers and authority to serve the clients who come to them in a more holistic and multidimensional way. It’s a project I have not had a chance to really finish yet, and I’m hoping I’ll be able to come to the Standing Committee on Social Programs in our new business plan with some discussion package for the Members to put their input and feedback to.

Thank you, Minister Lee. On page 6-20 are there any other questions? Ms. Bisaro.