Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. To the motion. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Very briefly, I’m in total support of this motion. Adult diagnosis is a gap we’ve overlooked and are seeking, through the good work of my colleagues here, to fill. We’re missing an opportunity to help people in many ways that, really, we are responsible for as a government.

This is a huge issue for the Northwest Territories. We learned during our visit to Alberta, the ministry down there, that there are great strides being made in assessment and working with the people with FASD, and particularly with adults, new research going on there. So with proper diagnosis, families, individuals, all of us can benefit in many ways.

So I totally support this motion. I will be voting for it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. To the motion. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, I want to thank my colleagues for bringing this motion forward. I am in full support of this motion. Recently, I think the Department of Health and Social Services announced a bit of a focus on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and I fully support that. But, you know, throughout the government we tend to put a focus on children, particularly with FASD, and that focus needs to be expanded to include adults.

I think it’s well documented, I think it’s known that adults with FASD can lead extremely productive lives if they’re given certain supports. First of all, they need to be diagnosed. Once they’re

diagnosed, they can be given supports through various organizations, whether it be government or non-government organizations, but with minimal support, very often people with FASD can lead extremely productive and extremely successful lives.

One of the things that I think that treating people with FASD and allowing them to become productive members of our society is going to have an impact in a financial way on this government or on any government. You know, we’re going to see a reduction in our health and social services costs, because there is going to be less of a strain on our health and social services facilities.

There is quite likely to be fewer residents who are incarcerated, because FASD people with the proper treatment can learn the need to manage their lives in a way that keeps them out of jail. And I would think there is going to be a reduced draw on income support, because people are going to be employed within the community, within the workforce and they, therefore, are going to be able to support themselves. So even just those three things are going to be a financial benefit to the government.

It’s been mentioned already, and I would just like to reiterate, there’s a gap in the services that we provide at the moment with regard to FASD and I think there’s a bit of a leaning towards filling that gap, but we certainly need to make sure that we include adults in both the diagnosis and in the provision of services and treatments for adults with FASD.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I am totally in support of this motion and, again, I encourage my colleagues to support it as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. I will go to the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a formal motion in the House is a recommendation to the government, we will undertake to respond to this motion within the timeline provided. In the meantime, I would like to just advise this House about the fact that we do offer a continuum of services for adults with developmental disabilities, including FASD. Access to these services is not dependent on a diagnosis. The types of services that we provide include day and work programs, adult respite, employment enhancement programs, group homes and supported living programs. Access to these services is obtained through health and social services authorities across the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, if individual needs are complex and require more intensive supports that may not be available in the NWT, referral for condition by the Out-of-Territory Placement Committee is also an option exercise. We do have a number of adults

currently receiving treatment and services as a result of FASD.

Mr. Speaker, there would be a requirement for significant funding and clinical capacity in order to conduct adult diagnosis. It is also important to note that in Canada, only a very few clinics offer diagnostic services for adults. Most of these serve persons from only their own communities. For example, in Alberta two private clinics offer diagnostic services for adults. A privately funded full assessment in one of these clinics is approximately $3,500. These are not insured services, Mr. Speaker.

Through our partnership with Canada-Northwest FASD Partnership, we are actively involved in current research on best practices and diagnoses and service delivery. This research is imperative as it will assist in the future development of service available across the life continuum.

Mr. Speaker, once again, we do provide a number of services to adults with disabilities, including suspected FASD. We support the NWT Council of Persons with Disabilities who offers advocacy, support and referral services to persons throughout the NWT and through organizations like the Yellowknife Association for Community Living. We do have lots of persons with FASD, whether or not they are diagnosed. I think everybody is aware of the new initiative that we have started with the children.

So, Mr. Speaker, I do appreciate what the Member has to say about this very important issue. It’s very complex. It is worth taking a look at and we will be responding to the motion. Also, I’d also like to just state that as this is a recommendation to the government, we will be abstaining from the motion. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. To the motion. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to thank my colleague Mr. Abernethy for bringing this motion forward. We know there have been many advances made in the ability of health care providers in the diagnoses of FASD. Mr. Speaker, it is challenging enough for people who live with challenges to function and this is one avenue, one opportunity to bring the presence of this disorder in our society into the light and perhaps also remove some of the stigma that is attached to it. It is for the benefit of everyone. I thank Mr. Abernethy for bringing this forward. I support it 100 hundred percent. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. To the motion. I will allow the mover of the motion some closing comments. Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank my colleagues for supporting this motion.

Just for the record, young men and women in the Northwest Territories who have failed to be diagnosed as children who wish to be diagnosed do not receive support in getting that diagnosis from the GNWT. I know of several situations where that has occurred and the government has not stood up to help these individuals.

I attended and met with individuals in Alberta who are actually doing adult assessment FASD or adult assessment for FASD and they are finding huge benefits and advantages of doing these types of assessments in Alberta in that it helps individuals get off social assistance, because they’re able to access programs that help them understand their limitations and overcome them and succeed. That’s what we are talking about here today. That’s what we would like this government to do. That’s all I have to say on that and I would like to request a recorded vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Member is requesting a recorded vote, Madam Clerk. All those in favour of the motion, please stand.

Recorded Vote

All those opposed to the motion, please stand. All those abstaining from the motion, please stand.

The results of the recorded vote: 11 for; none opposed; 6 abstaining. The motion is carried.

---Carried

The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 8 on the Order Paper.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services.

With respect to the numerous concerns about availability and access to treatment programs and services offered here in the NWT, could the Minister please provide the following:

1. List of all treatment programs offered that the

territorial government plays a role in either financially or in any other form of partnership capacity for the past three years and for the upcoming business cycle year.

2. And further, please provide the detail to each

treatment program in a form that outlines it with respect to financial contribution, type of addiction being treated, capacity of program, attendance, program objectives, and by location of program.

3. And finally, supply all detailed work that has

been studied for the past five years with respect to success rates.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 5 on the Order Paper.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize my constituent departing from the gallery, Dr. Beverly Wilson. I’d also like to recognize the board members that are there from the Centre for Northern Families: Brea Denning, Jessica Mace and Arlene Hache and possibly the youngest member I have seen in our gallery so far. Also, I’d like to recognize Craig Yeo, my constituency assistant. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Item 18, first reading of bills. The honourable Member for Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Veterinary Profession Act, be read for the first time.

Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Veterinary Profession Act, has had first reading.

---Carried

The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.