This is page numbers 1163 - 1212 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 3rd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was report.

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Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to written question asked by Mr. Alfred Moses on May 24, 2012, regarding the shelter policy review – proposed seniors rent scale.

1. Would the Minister please provide a list of the

communities that were consulted in the shelter policy review?

The engagement process during the shelter policy review was quite extensive and included a number of approaches. One component of the engagement was workshops with community and Aboriginal government representatives.

In Inuvik on June 2-3, 2011, we met with representatives from Aklavik, Fort McPherson, Deline, Ulukhaktok, Fort Good Hope, Inuvik, Sachs Harbour, Gwich’in Tribal Council, Paulatuk, Nihtat Gwich’in Tribal Council, Tuktoyaktuk, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Tulita and Inuvik Community Corporation.

In Hay River on June 13-14, 2011, we met with representatives from Fort Providence, Hay River, Fort Resolution Metis Council, NWT Metis Nation, Fort Resolution, Fort Smith, Hay River Reserve, Lidlii Kue First Nation, Fort Simpson, Fort Simpson Metis, Nahanni Butte, West Point First Nation, Wrigley and Salt River First Nation.

In Yellowknife on September 1, 2011, we met with representatives from Tlicho Government, Wekweeti, Behchoko, Gameti and Whati.

Key interviews were held with the mayor of Yellowknife and the chiefs of Detah and Ndilo, who were unable to attend the other scheduled workshops. In addition, a workshop was held with non-government organizations including both community and territorial organizations on June 28, 2011. Workshops were also held with local housing organization manager and board chairs, with four separate workshops including representatives of 21 communities.

2. Would the Minister please indicate which

community groups were consulted during the review?

Community leadership were provided materials on the shelter policy review and identified participants for the workshops. In addition to the community workshops, a workshop was held with non-government organizations that have a role in housing. A variety of advocacy groups, including the NWT Seniors’ Society, and groups that operate shelters participated in this workshop.

Input was also sought from a variety of other stakeholder groups during the shelter policy review including membership of the NWTTA.

3. Would the Minister please confirm the number

of NWT seniors who were consulted during the review?

As noted, there was a variety of engagement approaches used during the shelter policy review. We did not collect the age of participants in each of these activities, so cannot provide the number of seniors that may have participated in the review.

4. Would the Minister please provide an outline of

the consultation process for the shelter policy review?

A variety of approaches were used during the shelter policy review to get input from stakeholders on housing issues in the Northwest Territories. These included the following:

• There were workshops held with community

representatives and leadership where all communities were invited.

• Workshops were also held with local housing

organization (LHO) board chairs and LHO managers.

• A workshop was held with representatives of

non-government organizations including shelter providers, low-cost housing providers, NWT Seniors’ Society and the NWT Council for the Disabled.

• There were targeted housing client meetings.

These built on the engagement with clients on poverty that included discussions on housing.

• There was an on-line questionnaire that was

available to all residents that gathered information on issues along the housing continuum. A statistical survey was also completed with more than 700 territorial residents that included questions on housing issues.

• Key interviews were done with other

stakeholders including Regular Members of the Legislative Assembly, deputy ministers within the GNWT, the NWT Construction Association, the NWT Chamber of Commerce and CMHC.

• Input was also provided by the Executive

Council and standing committees of the Legislative Assembly.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Ramsay

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Minister of Transportation

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question submitted by Mr. Hawkins on May 29, 2012, regarding negotiated, sole-source or similar contracts.

Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table documents titled “Sole Source DOT Contracts April 2009-June 2012” and “Negotiated Contracts DOT April 2009-June 2012.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Item 11, replies to opening address. Item 12, petitions. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. Mr. Lafferty.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document,

entitled “Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 3-17(2), Aboriginal Languages Secretariat.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “NWT Health Care Services 2012 Client Satisfaction Questionnaire.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “Northwest Territories Community Futures Program 2010-2011 Annual Report.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. R.C. McLeod.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents, entitled “Shaping Northern Housing Options: NWT Housing Corporation Annual Report 2009-2010” and “Sustainable Housing for NWT Residents: NWT Housing Corporation Annual Report 2010-2011.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “Traditional Knowledge Annual Report 2011-2012.” Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Abernethy.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “Results Report 2011-2012 – 20/20: A Brilliant North, NWT Public Service Strategic Plan.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Return to Written Question 2-17(3), I wish to table the following two documents, entitled “Department of Transportation Negotiated DOT Contracts April 2009 to June 2012” and “Department of Transportation Sole Source DOT Contracts April 2009 to June 2012.”

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Pursuant to Section 266(2) of the Elections and Plebiscites Act, I wish to table the Report of the Chief Electoral Officer on the Administration of the 2011 General Election of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table three documents. The first one is from Despair to Wisdom: Perpetual Care and the Future of the Giant Mine - A Report on the Community

Workshop by Alternatives North held September 26-27, 2011, at Chief Drygeese Centre in Detah.

Also, Building Trust and Confidence: A Report of a Workshop on Oversight of the Giant Mine, March 6-7, 2012.

Finally, Giant Mine Perpetual Care Funding Options by Amy Taylor and Duncan Kenyon submitted to the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board by the Pembina Institute. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

WHEREAS rates of mental illness in the Northwest Territories are disproportionately high in comparison with other Canadian jurisdictions and a high proportion of persons involved in police incidents suffer from mental illnesses;

AND WHEREAS implementation of the federal Safe Streets and Communities Act will dramatically increase the costs of policing, courts and corrections services;

AND WHEREAS introduction in other Canadian jurisdictions of mental health courts as diversion programs from the criminal justice system are proving successful in improving illness treatment success rates and providing cost benefits to the policing, court and corrections services;

AND WHEREAS the 16th Legislative Assembly

passed a motion on August 25, 2011, calling on the GNWT to begin research to examine options and potential benefits of a mental health court diversion program as an adjunct to the NWT Court System;

AND WHEREAS the Department of Health and Social Services is enhancing its approach to mental health program delivery through the development of a new strategy;

AND WHEREAS strategic cooperation between the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Social Services is essential for the effective delivery of mental health programming and the introduction of effective diversion measures;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that the departments of Justice and Health and Social Services work cooperatively to bring forward a plan for introduction of diversion measures including specialized courts and integrated case management for review in the 2013-2014 business plans;

AND FURTHER, that the same departments provide the Standing Committee on Social Programs with a work plan at the earliest opportunity that will describe how this objective will be achieved, and that reflects the individual departments’ responsibilities in achieving this goal, on which to base accountability;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a comprehensive response to this motion within 120 days. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think it’s clear that everybody knows that we have a disproportionally high rate of mental illness in the NWT. The terrible history of our residential school abuses and abrupt removal from homes and cultures has contributed, obviously, and resulted in multi-generational impacts. There’s been some good work done, especially recently with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission playing an important role, but it’s also recognized that the need for diagnoses and healing remains high.

The unaddressed mental health issues are resulting in some tragic consequences, as evidenced by the complete disappearance or tragic violent deaths of individuals profiled in the news in recent months and really over the past number of years. In many cases, these are people who have been in and out of our correctional system and a resolving and repetitive cycle that is in itself tragic.

Not only are the human costs unacceptable, the costs to our health, education and justice systems are huge. Both beg some relief and resolution.

Recently, the federal crime bill has put in place further pressures on our corrections system that, according to our Justice Minister, will be unsustainable when the full impacts are realized. These issues are well known and have been discussed in this House.

This motion speaks to this situation and the serious need to act quickly to put in place effective prevention measures that will both improve the effectiveness of our delivery of mental health and diversion with those with mental health illness away from the humanly tragic, repetitive and costly correctional system.

The motion follows up on a previous motion from the 16th Assembly which referred to the research

done on mental health diversion courts of Canada and elsewhere. A response to a trend of trivializing the mentally ill across North America is what this diversionary court represents.

There’s abundant evidence of success at very modest cost in Canada. The Toronto court, for example, was based on existing budgets of involved partners and had no separate government

funding. Judge Richard Schneider stated that the federal Health Court has saved the health system millions of dollars. Similarly, a New Brunswick Mental Health Diversion Court has no budget of its own. It relies on the support of partner organizations, all but one of which are provincial government entities.

The record is clearly a high degree of success, both in addressing mental health of many individuals and embracing the cycle of repeated criminal offences and incarceration for the saving of millions of dollars.

The Minister has recently tabled a Mental Health and Addictions Strategy which is welcomed by everyone. Incredibly, though, the strategy for goals does not include prevention. This despite the repeated call for action at this foundational level and the Minister’s apparent support for such programs.

The Minister may claim that prevention is there, but I urge you to read the goals and see prevention in them.

During questions earlier this session the Minister of Justice revealed being done by his department and by Health and Social Services, will not allow consideration of action on this before the ‘14-15 business plans, despite the work being called for in the 16th Assembly with work being initiated already

at that time.

To me, this is too late, Mr. Speaker. The toll on human and financial costs is too great to delay this long wait, while people who could be diverted to progressive measures instead get pulled down on the spiral and treadmill of corrections and untreated mental illness is intolerable.

I appreciate the support of my seconder, Mr. Moses, and I look forward to any comments and support from my colleagues and I do call for a recorded vote. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The motion is in order. The Member has asked for a recorded vote. Mr. Abernethy.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government is committed to improving mental health and wellness services in the justice system and it’s absolutely going to take a partnership between the Department of Health and Social Services, Justice, as well as the other social departments.

We have followed up on the motion that was put forward in the 16th Assembly and also

recommendations from Member Bromley and committee to move forward with this, and I have committed previously that we are going to move forward and come up with some decision points that can be reviewed by committee. But the first thing that happens and has to happen is we

actually have to finish the research and get out there and get all the information together.

We have developed or we are in the process of finalizing a work plan, which we hope to share with committee in August, and that work plan is going to identify what the objectives are, what the different roles of the different departments are, all the things that they’re asking for in this motion and that will be available in August.

But the motion that is before us today goes a little bit further and asks us to introduce diversion measures, including specialized courts. This may be something that we do actually do, but before we actually agree to do a diversion court, we have to finish the analysis, finish the research and get that information in front of committee. That information has to be in front of committee so that we can all make an informed decision together. We want to have that information in front of committee before the end of this fiscal year so that we can actually do design on whatever the recommendations happen to be, whether it’s a diversion court or other integrated programs or other diversion prior to court. I mean, we need to have all that information in front of committee so that we can make a decision so that in the next fiscal year we can actually do design.

There’s a lot of things that sort of happen and interact with this. For instance, if it comes to diversion court, a diversion court will not be successful without the support of the judiciary. So we need to make sure that whatever programs are in place to divert people in, meet the needs and the desires of the judiciary.

So there’s still lots of work to be done. We’re going to do the analysis. It’s going to be in front of committee so they can make decision points this fiscal year, and we can proceed with design in the next fiscal year depending on whatever direction is given and we can move forward.

So although we’re on the same path, we have a slightly different opinion. We look forward to working with committee to actually make those decisions when we’re ready. Given that this is a direction to Cabinet, Cabinet will be abstaining. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.