Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Thank you for kind of outlining how it is that maybe if another term could be used for community protocol in terms of trying to utilize what exists currently in the community.

The community has strengths, and one of the strengths is that we have caretakers, we have leaders that work sometimes with the front-line workers, mental health workers, the nurses. Sometimes you’re left with all that you have and so it’s really critical that at least an understanding of how communities would deal with circumstances like this is very critical at this moment in time in the NWT.

The other element that I wanted to understand is how it is that perhaps local persons might be involved when there’s been mention of culture being an element of the proposed legislation. Would there be a link in terms of perhaps elders or chiefs or priests who perhaps could play a role in dealing with matters and persons that perhaps could pose a danger to themselves or to others? Mahsi.

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Within the legislation, going back to his first point before I go to the second point, it is going to require a significant amount of training and development of our staff to make sure that they understand their roles, and that’s going to be the community counsellors, the mental health and addictions counsellors, all the social services side, but also the health side is going to require a significant amount of development and training as we move forward with these new regulations, protocols and this new legislation that gives our people more options.

As far as culture, committee brought forward a number of recommendations on this bill to make sure that the bill recognized the nature of the Northwest Territories and the fact that we are a territory of indigenous, Aboriginal people. One of the things that is very specific is the requirement for an elder or a cultural advisor to be included on the review boards when individuals wish to have their release or whatnot challenged. So it’s designed to require cultural advisors, which could be an elder, will likely be an elder.

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

No further questions, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Committee, we’re on general comments for Bill 65. If committee is agreed there are no further comments, we’ll go clause-by-clause review of the bill.

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Does committee also agree that we’ll take it in groups of 20?

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Well defer the title until consideration of clauses. Clauses 1 to 20.

---Clauses 1 through 110 inclusive approved

The Chair Robert Bouchard

To the bill as a whole

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Does committee agree that Bill 55, Mental Health Act, is now ready for third reading?

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Does committee agree that this concludes consideration of Bill 55?