I am aware that the Alberta government has instituted intensive behavioural intervention programs. It is one of the most aggressive programs in the country, but it’s not something that’s available everywhere, and the success and merits of that Alberta program are not conclusive.
I do also believe this is an area where the federal government needs to step in to provide some comprehensive national response.
With respect to Yellowknife or the Territories, it is really hard to speak about exactly what services are available to children without knowing exactly who the child is. Autism is not a one-time, one-situation condition. It’s something a child and family have to live with throughout life.
What I’m saying is that we have programs available in schools, at hospitals, with rehab teams. Whether they need a psychologist, speech therapist or physiotherapist, the child in need and the family have to…. If the Member wants to give me the name of the person, I’d be happy to look into that, but it is a multi-faceted and multi-stage process that the GNWT provides.