Since the beginning of this fiscal year, we're about halfway in now, and there is a significant increase to the Small Community Employment Support program. I have asked the department what significant investments and changes have been made and seen in terms of getting those contributions out to the small communities. I will get that information, and I can share it with the Members for their respective regions and communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This past winter a situation occurred when one of the communities that I represent, and we all heard it in the news, the Nahanni Butte Dene Band were doing some work on an old logging road. Unfortunately, the situation led to them being taken to court. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of Lands explain what arrangements were made to have this injunction lifted? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Lands.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can advise this House that currently there is no injunction in place because the Nahanni Butte Dene Band has stopped work voluntarily. The Government of the Northwest Territories did initially file an application for an injunction, but the matter was removed from the court docket by mutual consent and on the understanding that the band would not conduct any further work without a land use permit issued by the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board.

The matter may be brought back to court to get an injunction if the band begins work without the necessary permits in place. I won't be commenting further on the merits of the case, which might possibly be before the court again, but it appears that the two parties are working together through their lawyers. Thank you.

I thank the Minister for his answer. Can the Minister confirm if he spoke to the chief directly any time before or during or after this situation to discuss it and come up with a possible solution before it has to go to court?

This issue has been managed from the beginning by the regional office in Fort Simpson and the support from headquarters. The Member opposite will know that I was in the community in April and again in July and listened to concerns raised. I certainly heard the concerns of the chief and the SAO. I made no comment or made no negotiation with respect to this matter, which would been inappropriate, as the matter was before the court. Again, I think the matter has been dealt with by legal counsel on both sides.

I thank the Minister for his answer. I was actually quite disappointed that the Minister didn't actually talk to the chief before this got out of hand, but we're happy to hear that it's moving forward. With this situation taking place, has the department learned anything from this situation so we don't have to take a local government to court in the future?

The department is always learning from its experiences, and our strongest desire is to have voluntary compliance with our laws and regulations. We only go to court as a last result if all the measures have failed.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for his answer. Mr. Speaker, in speaking with the communities, they were talking about the permitting process and challenges they were having. Can the Minister commit to having his department work with the community to get the necessary paperwork done so they have a permanent place so they can do work in the near future?

The department does not issue land use permits in the Mackenzie Valley; that is, of course, the responsibility of the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board. I understand the department has provided assistance in the past to the band to assist with the necessary paperwork, and we would certainly be hoping to do so again, to provide that assistance so that the permitting process can be properly followed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, prior to the move to a single authority, the Beaufort Delta Regional Health and Social Services Authority had a really good relationship with the IRC and the Gwich'in. I am confident that that relationship is still strong and still working since we have moved to a single authority. I know that the regional operation of the territorial authority has worked closely with the IRC in the delivery of some training, things like applied suicide intervention training and others. At a departmental level, we have worked with different Aboriginal and Indigenous governments on the development of the Strategic Framework for Mental Health and Addictions, where we directly consulted with Indigenous governments and got their input on key directions.

Mr. Speaker, all levels of our government have a role to play in supporting mental wellness, and one of the key directions outlined in the strategic framework is to take a whole-of-government approach. This includes the Government of the Northwest Territories, community governments, and Indigenous governments. I think that is working well. We have a good relationship with the IRC. The IRC has been a leader in this area. They have worked with the Red Cross to establish a suicide prevention program in Ulukhaktok, which I think gives us an opportunity to learn and maybe apply in different regions. This program, Mr. Speaker, works alongside health and social services authority counselling and other supports and is a great example of the two groups working together.

I appreciate the response. Mr. Speaker, the Minister recently delivered a public briefing on the draft Child and Youth Mental Wellness Plan to the Standing Committee on Social Development. I know that the final plan will be coming out soon, but in the draft plan the Department of Health and Social Services set out a timeline to establish child and youth care counsellors across the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell us more about how these specialized counsellors will be deployed, particularly in our rural and remote communities?

This is a very exciting initiative. Child and youth care counsellors will be an important part of the overall continuum of mental wellness services for children, youth, as well as families. They will work in the schools and the broader community and will work in an integrated fashion with other community-based professionals to ensure person- and family-centred services are delivered as close to home as possible.

This is an incredibly important resource that is required in all regions, and it needs to be implemented thoughtfully and with input from all involved stakeholders. We are working with the Departments of Education, Culture and Employment and of Health and Social Services, and gathering the data and utilizing the information indicators that we have to put forward a plan to roll out these positions over the coming years. I look forward to discussing that research, that analysis, with committee during business planning, where we will be able to lay out the plan moving forward.

I appreciate the response. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to ask about service options for Inuit who have limited access to counselling in their home communities. For instance, other jurisdictions are testing face-to-face counselling via secure video link. How does the department plan to use initiatives like outreach programming or new technologies to enhance and expand culturally specific services in the rural and remote communities?

Through our discussion with stakeholders across the Northwest Territories, one of the things we constantly hear are that options are important and that one size does not fit all when it comes to programming. The use of technology to assist in delivering services to more remote communities is one that the department is exploring. In the meantime, we do have a number of mechanisms where individuals can receive services, including our 24/7 NWT Help Line. We have the opportunity through things like Facebook to do group sessions, group counselling sessions. There is the Kids Help Phone. As technology improves, we are hoping that there are more opportunities to do the types of things the Member is talking about, but we still need to do some analysis and work on that, as well.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the response. Mr. Speaker, finally, building on my last question, can the Minister comment on how the department's new action plan recognizes that cultural and political health is intimately connected to individuals' physical and mental health? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Strategic Framework for Mental Health and Addictions Recovery recognizes the importance of culture. This is foundational to the work that we do and will be reflected in the action plans, including the one for child and youth mental wellness. The implications of colonization and the resultant loss of culture are a clear and strong focus of the work we will be doing to ensure culturally relevant and capable services and supports for residents of the Northwest Territories. The Child and Youth Mental Wellness Action Plan emphasizes the importance of providing access to land-based programs, cultural activities, and language revitalization for Indigenous youth. These will also be the guiding principles as we work to develop a mental health and addictions recovery action plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.