This is page numbers 3767 – 3794 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 3rd 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 community.

Topics

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Thank you. Nothing further from Mr. Testart. Mr. O'Reilly, opening comments, general comments on the report? 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. I will keep this very brief. I just want to thank the members of the standing committee for their work. I learned a lot. This is not an area that I knew very much about. I think that I am better informed now.

I also want to thank the Minister, who is not listening to me, but I do want to sincerely thank him for engaging in this discussion and debate. It's kind of an awkward place to do it, in Committee of the Whole, but I do very much appreciate him engaging in the debate and discussion. It does not happen often enough in this House, so I want to thank him.

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. For those watching at home, I will let you know how we deal with these committee reports. There are recommendations contained throughout the report. Those are generally moved by members of the committee as motions. I believe we will be beginning that process now, and I just want to remind committee that we have canvassed essentially everything in the recommendations, and so, while committee members may speak to each one, just be mindful of the fact that those reading Hansard don't want to have to read the same thing over and over and over again. So, if you've said something once, you don't necessarily have to repeat it. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly recommend that the Department of Health and Social Services enhance its public communications on addictions treatment. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to have it as a recorded vote. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is being distributed. Minister Abernethy.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I will try not to repeat myself from previous comments. The department is taking steps to develop an overarching communications plan for mental health and addictions in the Northwest Territories with an aim to increase awareness and reduce stigma, improve access to services across the continuum of care, and spread messages of hope and recovery. As part of this initiative, individuals who identify as having lived experiences will be included in the development of messaging, promotional materials, and the overall strategy. I think this is consistent with what the committee is asking. We are supportive of the recommendation. Given that it is a recommendation of government, we will be abstaining, but I have already made a commitment to move on these. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Recorded Vote
Committee Motions

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. To the motion. The Member has requested a recorded vote. All those in favour, please rise.

Recorded Vote
Committee Motions

Deputy Clerk Of The House (Ms. Kay)

The Member for Nahendeh, the Member for Frame Lake, the Member for Yellowknife Centre, the Member for Mackenzie Delta, the Member for Yellowknife North, the Member for Kam Lake.

Recorded Vote
Committee Motions

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

All those opposed, please stand. All those abstaining, please rise.

Recorded Vote
Committee Motions

Deputy Clerk Of The House (Ms. Kay)

The Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, the Member for Range Lake, the Member for Great Slave, the Member for Yellowknife South, the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, the Member for Hay River South, the Member for Thebacha.

Recorded Vote
Committee Motions

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

The results of the recorded vote are: six in favour, zero opposed, seven abstentions. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that the Assembly recommend that the Department of Health and Social Services enhance community-based aftercare services by encouraging the development of a peer support network, scheduling regular access to counselling and addictions facilities through existing health centre resources, i.e. Telehealth, and engaging with southern facilities to train territorial healthcare providers in the delivery of family support programs. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I again request a recorded vote.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. There is a motion on the floor. The motion has been distributed. To the motion. Minister Abernethy.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Providing aftercare and appropriate follow-up is an important step in the recovery process. There are, as I have already described, a number of options for aftercare support for individuals returning from addictions treatment. I won't list them again, for the sake of time. While there are some options in place, we need to ensure that our current range of aftercare and support options are keeping pace with the needs of people and the best and emerging practices.

The department is currently examining best practice research, jurisdictional and international scans, and local feedback to identify potential actions to support and enhance aftercare services in the Northwest Territories, and we certainly got a lot of good ideas from the committee as we were travelling. This work will inform the development of the addictions recovery action plan and will identify ways in which we can enhance existing services and introduce new programs and new initiatives.

The department has been engaging with southern facility-based addictions treatment centres to gather more information on aftercare programming available through their facilities as well as opportunities for collaboration in program development and staff training. The department will be updating the Community Counselling Program standards and procedures manual to include aftercare standards and guidelines. These standards and guidelines will reflect a recovery-oriented and best-practices approach to care. Training for managerial and front-line staff will be provided as part of the implementation plan in these standards and guidelines. Our non-government partners will also be included in these training opportunities.

We feel that this builds upon the recommendation that was made, but, as it is a recommendation to government, Cabinet will be abstaining. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Recorded Vote
Committee Motions

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you Question has been called. The Member has requested a recorded vote. All those in favour, please rise.

Recorded Vote
Committee Motions

Deputy Clerk Of The House (Ms. Kay)

The Member for Nahendeh, the Member for Frame Lake, the Member for Yellowknife Centre, the Member for Mackenzie Delta, the Member for Yellowknife North, the Member for Kam Lake.

Recorded Vote
Committee Motions

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

All those opposed, please rise. All those abstaining, please rise.

Recorded Vote
Committee Motions

Deputy Clerk Of The House (Ms. Kay)

The Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, the Member for Range Lake, the Member for Great Slave, the Member for Yellowknife South, the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, the Member for Hay River South, the Member for Thebacha.

Recorded Vote
Committee Motions

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

The results of the recorded vote are: six in favour, zero opposed, seven abstentions. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Ms. Green.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Chair, I move that this Assembly recommend that the Department of Health and Social Services partner with its fellow social envelope departments, community governments, and community organizations to develop a pilot program centred on ensuring that Northerners completing residential treatment are not discharged into homelessness but instead are connected with housing opportunities. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Green. There is a motion on the floor. To the motion. Ms. Green.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, when we went on our tour, we had the opportunity to speak directly with people in the treatment centres, and housing was the number one topic on their mind after sobriety. Many of them were very concerned about where they were going to live when they came out of the treatment facility and, particularly, that they not return to their living situation that they had been in prior to treatment because they found that it was not constructive. So there is a real desire on the part of people who have gone through treatment to obtain housing on their release.

The other point I want to make is that this just makes financial sense. The government is paying between $150 and $450 per person per day for these treatment facilities, and so to invest all of that money into helping people obtain their sobriety and then put them back into a situation which has been proven to be destructive for them just makes no sense. So, for me, it's really important that we look at a way to house people coming out of treatment programs so that they have a fair chance to retain their sobriety. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Ms. Green.