Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have travelled to a lot of communities throughout the Northwest Territories, and where there are issues around homelessness, I know the Housing Corp is very active in those communities as far ensuring people get housing. But also we’ve got government services officers who are aware of the different programs and services who could direct people. We also have, in many of the communities, community counsellors and social workers who can, when they recognize people that are in crisis, refer them to services that might be appropriate. There are people in the communities who are caring and compassionate and want to work with these individuals and will direct them to where they need to be.

Thanks to the Minister. I appreciate that. It is unfortunate that we don’t have a specific person looking out for homeless people in our communities. In Yellowknife, though, we do have a day shelter.

I’d like to ask the Minister, in terms of the Day Shelter, what programs are available at the Day Shelter right now that can assist clients to improve their mental health?

The Day Shelter has only been open for a couple months at this point and there are number of things happening there, including some significant renovations in the building. We have talked to the provider who has indicated that they’re hoping to provide some additional programs and services as well as links to the programs and services that exist. There is space in that building for health practitioners to go to the building and meet with people, as well as Housing staff to go and meet with people, as well as individuals from Justice or income support to go and meet with the people who are utilizing that facility. But right now there are no specific programs being delivered by the provider until the construction is completed.

To the Minister, in the meantime, while this construction is going on, is there an opportunity for people to get referred? There’s the suggestion that this will happen in the future, but right now how do people get referred to a program if they’re willing to go and if they need the help for their illness?

It’s my understanding that we actually do have individuals from the health authority as well as I believe there’s income support and Housing staff going in there, but I will get a confirmation of exactly who’s visiting that facility and how regularly to provide information to users of the Day Shelter.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Final, short supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.

Thanks, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister. The Minister mentioned some construction that’s going on, and I know that the City of Yellowknife has earmarked about $70,000 for capital costs to assist with the building.

I’d like to know from the Minister if there is an opportunity to take some of that money that’s earmarked for capital and for construction and put that into programs.

We appreciate the City of Yellowknife. They’re a fantastic partner on the delivery of the Day Shelter here in Yellowknife and we look forward to a continued positive relationship with them. The city is contributing some money, as are we, but at this time there are some significant infrastructure improvements that need to be made in that building so that it can meet the long-term needs, and taking that money away from the infrastructure and putting it to programs will actually adversely affect our ability to deliver those programs in the future. We need to get that construction done.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The time for oral questions has expired. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. Mr. Beaulieu.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “NWT Transportation Strategy, 2015-2040 – Public and Stakeholder Engagement Report, February 2015.”

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Mr. Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to table a document developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada. It’s titled “Informing the Future: Mental Health Indicators for Canada.”

Thank you, Mr. Moses. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Bill 45, An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act, be read for the first time.

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

Question has been called. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 45 has had first reading.

Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other Matters: Bill 38, An Act to Amend the Jury Act; Bill 41, Act to Amend the Partnership Act; Committee Report 10-17(5), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2013-2014 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories; and Tabled Document 188-17(5), Northwest Territories Main Estimates 2015-2016, with Mrs. Groenewegen in the chair.

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order today. What is the wish of the committee? Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We will continue with TD 188-17(5), Northwest Territories Main Estimates 2015-2016. We will continue with the Department of Health and Social Services and, time permitting, the Department of Transportation.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Does committee agree?

Thank you. We will continue with that after a brief break.

---SHORT RECESS

Thank you. Minister Abernethy, for the record, would you please introduce your witnesses again?

Thank you, Madam Chair. On my left is the director of Finance, Jeannie Mathison. On my right is the deputy minister, Debbie DeLancey.