Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Later today I will be tabling the Government of the Northwest Territories response to the Standing Committee on Social Programs report on the review of the Child and Family Services Act. The act is a key piece of legislation that regulates many of our Territory’s programs and services for children.
The current act represents and speaks to this government’s values and beliefs regarding children. I believe the Standing Committee report focuses on the issue of enhancing supports to children, and their families and communities. I am pleased that the recommendations support and enhance the extensive consultation undertaken in developing the act. While the recommendations show there is room for improvement in how we deliver services, they also confirm that the act is still very much relevant.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the standing committee on the work they did as well as to all of the participants. Health and Social Services staff that accompanied the standing committee on their tour have commented how
heartfelt and sometimes painful the participants’ presentations were. I commend the people that came forward to speak, for their honesty and their courage. In addition, I would like to thank all the members and the staff of the standing committee for working with Health and Social Services staff and allowing them to be part of the process.
Mr. Speaker, overall, we support the recommendations. They will improve services to children, which is the heart of the matter. The focus on supporting families and increasing community involvement to avoid children coming into care is particularly important. This is one of the priorities in the Health and Social Services action plan, A Foundation for Change, where we are committed to improving services for children in care.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has responded positively to the majority of the recommendations. Some recommendations will require additional funding and some will require a review and analysis of the legislation. The Department of Health and Social Services is planning on moving forward immediately on 22 recommendations that are within its mandate and do not require additional financial or human resources to implement.
The full response of the government outlines which recommendations are ready to move forward and which will require additional support or funding. Mr. Speaker, where additional resources are required, these recommendations will have to be advanced through the regular GNWT business planning process and be decided along with other competing GNWT priorities at that time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker