Debates of Oct. 7th, 2015
This is page numbers 6757 – 6826 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 5th 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 health.
Topics
- Oral Questions
- Prayer
- Minister's Statement 239-17(5): NWT Public Service
- Minister's Statement 240-17(5): Skills 4 Success
- Minister's Statement 241-17(5): Report On The Northwest Territories Power Corporation
- Minister's Statement 242-17(5): NWT Transportation Strategy
- Housing Needs And Availability In The NWT
- Recognition Of Order Of The NWT Recipient – Mr. Bruce Green
- Reflection On Time As A Member Of The Legislative Assembly Of The NWT
- Nursing And Policing Services In Tsiigehtchic
- Support For Consensus Government In The NWT
- Mental Illness Awareness Week
- Economic Potential In Sahtu Region
- Mental Health Programs And Services In Nahendeh Region
- Ministerial Travel Claims
- World Homeless Day, October 10th
- Condolences To The Family Of Mr. Jonas Beaulieu Of Fort Resolution
- Recognition Of Order Of The NWT Recipient – Sonny Macdonald
- Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
- Acknowledgement 25-17(5): Mr. Gino Pin – Order Of The NWT
- Acknowledgement 26-17(5): Mr. Gerald W. Kisoun – 2015 Governor General’s Polar Medal Award
- Question 942-17(5): Economic Potential In Sahtu Region
- Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)
- Question 943-17(5): Policing Services In Tsiigehtchic
- Question 944-17(5): Fort Simpson Access Road Streetlights
- Question 945-17(5): Travel And Expense Claims By Elected Officials
- Question 946-17(5): Business Incentive Policy
- Question 947-17(5): Feasibility Study Of Universal Affordable Daycare In The NWT
- Question 948-17(5): Greenhouse Gas Strategy 2011
- Question 949-17(5): Cost Of Cleanup Of Cantung Mine
- Question 950-17(5): Crime And Bootlegging In NWT Communities
- Question 951-17(5): Homelessness Programs In The Deh Cho
- Mr. Bromley’s Reply
- Ms. Bisaro’s Reply
- Mr. Moses’ Reply
- Committee Report 22-17(5): Report On The Review Of The Office Of The Northwest Territories Languages Commissioner Annual Reports For 2011-2012, 2012-2013 And 2013-2014
- Motion That Committee Report 22-17(5) Be Deemed Read And Printed In Hansard, Carried
- Motion To Receive And Adopt Committee Report 22-17(5), Carried
- Committee Report 23-17(5): Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On Transition Matters
- Motion That Committee Report 23-17(5) Be Deemed Read And Printed In Hansard, Carried
- Motion To Receive And Adopt Committee Report 23-17(5), Carried
- Committee Report 24-17(5): Passing The Mace: Recommendations To The 18th Legislative Assembly
- Motion To Receive And Adopt Committee Report 24-17(5), Carried
- Bill 55: Mental Health Act
- Committee Report 25-17(5): Report On The Review Of Bill 55: Mental Health Act
- Motion That Committee Report 25-17(5) Be Deemed Read And Printed In Hansard, Carried
- Motion To Receive And Move Committee Report 25-17(5) Into Committee Of The Whole, Carried
- Tabled Document 346-17(5): Follow-Up Correspondence For Oral Question 919-17(5): Discussion Paper On Energy Efficiency Act
- Tabled Document 348-17(5): 2014-2015 Annual Report On Official Languages – Government Of The Northwest Territories
- Tabled Document 351-17(5): NWT Business Development And Investment Corporation 2015-2016 Corporate Plan
- Tabled Document 352-17(5): Annual Report Of The Director Of Child And Family Services 2014-2015
- Tabled Document 353-17(5): Passing The Mace: Recommendations To The 18th Legislation Assembly – Report Of The Special Committee On Transition Matters
- Tabled Document 354-17(5): Cbc News Report: Province To Lower Food Prices In Remote Northern Manitoba
- Tabled Document 356-17(5): Moving Forward – Implementing The Recommendations Of The 2015 Comprehensive Review Of Human Rights In The NWT
- Motion 50-17(5): Medical Travel Policy, Carried
- Recorded Vote
- Bill 72: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2015-2016
- Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
- Report of the Committee of the Whole
- Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)
- Bill 45: An Act To Amend The Workers’ Compensation Act
- Bill 49: An Act To Amend The Deh Cho Bridge Act
- Bill 56: Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2015
- Bill 59: Estate Administration Law Amendment Act
- Bill 60: An Act To Amend The Motor Vehicles Act, No. 2
- Bill 62: An Act To Amend The Coroners Act
- Bill 61: An Act To Amend The Public Airports Act
- Bill 63: An Act To Amend The Victims Of Crime Act
- Bill 64: An Act To Amend The Co-Operative Associations Act
- Bill 65: An Act To Amend The Safety Act
- Bill 68: An Act To Amend The Child And Family Services Act, No. 2
- Bill 69: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act, No. 2
- Bill 72: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2015-2016
- Recorded Vote
- Speaker’s Ruling
- Orders of the Day
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Glen Abernethy Great Slave
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The legislation actually provides, with support from committee, that we made an amendment that if somebody at a community level is having difficulty, the recommendation would be, get them to the health centre and the health centre can do an assessment, and based on their current status, whether or not they’re a harm to themselves, whether – and thanks to the committee for this – they have recently harmed themselves or others. The community health nurse can then make a referral, have that individual go on an involuntary basis to Stanton or the closest location that is providing some psychiatric services – currently that’s Stanton – for a full psychiatric assessment. So they do need to go into the health centre. We do need to get them into the health centre, but there’s a whole range of options now available under this legislation to the health practitioner so that they can refer them on.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

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.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

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.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

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.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair Robert Bouchard
Well defer the title until consideration of clauses. Clauses 1 to 20.
---Clauses 1 through 110 inclusive approved
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair Robert Bouchard
Does committee agree that Bill 55, Mental Health Act, is now ready for third reading?
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
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