Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Health and Social Services in regard to mental health and addiction services, especially in my riding, and also the commitment made by governments to enhance programs and services in our communities, especially in the area of mental health and addictions.
The whole intent of the change was to ensure that we had wage parity, that we were able to provide benefits to individuals in that particular field and bring them in line with the rest of the public service. There is still a definite disparity between how people are being treated, especially people who work for NGOs like, in my case, the Tl’oondih Healing Society. For over 10 years they’ve been receiving a contribution of $70,000, which includes the wages and benefits and the operational costs of the office. A community 60 kilometres away in Tsiigehtchic, a mental health worker who has less clients received full benefits and full wages comparable to the rest of the public service.
I’d like to ask the Minister -- this issue has been around as long as I’ve been around here -- what are we doing to ensure that we do provide parity when it comes to people providing public services on behalf of the government.