This is page numbers 571-628 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 2nd 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 services.

Topics

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

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister.

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

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the $205,000 flows to the NWT Seniors' Society. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Green.

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

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you to the Minister for that. That is all.

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

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Green. Next on my list is Mr. Thompson.

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

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to follow up on Mr. Nadli's questions regarding disabilities. I heard the Minister say that there are a number of programs across the departments. Does the department collect this list? I guess that is the first question.

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

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Mr. Minister.

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

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, late in the life of the last government, early in the life of this government, the desire to move forward with the disabilities action plan became, I think, a pretty strong will of the Assembly, both Assemblies. To move forward with the action plan, it was felt that we needed to understand where we are today, so we started pulling together an inventory of the programs and services that are available for persons with disabilities. It is mostly done. It is not all done. We are pulling that together. When it is final, I will absolutely share it with the Member and committee. That will be an important piece moving forward with the development of an action plan, understand where we are starting from. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.

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

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair and thank the Minister for that answer. It did help answer this next question I am having. Are we looking at the realignment of the various departments to actually put all our, as part of the plan, I guess, to be streamlined so it is within health? It is not all over the place? I guess leave it at that, and I will follow-up with my next question. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

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

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Chair. No, there is no intent at this point to realign departments to meet the needs of the individuals that we are talking about. Those individuals might have a variety of needs. Some of it might be more education based. It may be more appropriate for those services to be provided there. The important thing will be to provide a solid inventory of what programs exist, so people can understand what exists and how to access them and where they are. As I said, it will form a starting point for where we need to move forward, in partnership with groups like the NWT Disabilities Council to develop a meaningful action plan for this government and for moving forward.

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

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.

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

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister for that answer. Is the department going to be the lead and be able to get the inventories or you are able to get all the documentation and the programs together in a document that we can then promote it to the people with disabilities? One-time shopping, I guess. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

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

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Department of Health and Social Services will be the lead in the Government of the Northwest Territories on the development of this action plan. It must be done in collaboration and cooperation with other departments and other stakeholders. I would like to get the Deputy Minister to talk briefly about the interagency sort of work that is happening as we move forward with the development of this plan. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Ms. DeLancey.

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

Delancey

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We have just finalized a terms of reference that will set up an interdepartmental working group. We have sent that to the deputies for final sign-off and asked deputies to confirm participation on the working group. So we really have an all-of-government approach. Our intention in this review, as the Minister said, is to do a complete, updated inventory of services that are available, but also to look at are we marketing them well enough? Are people taking advantage of these? Do they actually know that they are there? We also are going to do a best practices review of what other governments are doing to see if we are missing anything. We are going to, as the Minister said, be doing that in partnership with the key disability organizations in the territories like the NWT Disabilities Council. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. DeLancey. Mr. Thompson.

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

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the deputy minister and the Minister for the answer. That is great to hear. I struggle -- when we are sitting here looking at our budgets and things are not being accessed and sometimes it can be the promotion of it. I also like the fact that -- it is music to my ears -- that you guys are actually looking at best practices out there. That can really help this. So I am looking forward to this. Again, I guess I understand it is a collaborative approach and you need all these other departments, but will health be the lead on promoting the document that will be out there for everybody? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Abernethy.

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

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson. Nothing further. Having no one else on my list, we can continue with the detail on page 186, community health programs, active positions. Any comments or questions? Page 186. Mr. O'Reilly.

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

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Again, we see some changes in staffing here. Can the Minister explain those for us? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

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

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.