This is page numbers 4981 - 5026 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 going. View the webstream of the day's session.

Junior Kindergarten Program
Members' Statements

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker R.J. Simpson

Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.

Elders' Healthcare
Members' Statements

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Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I wanted to raise a few issues affecting elders' healthcare that have been brought to my attention by Nunakput residents.

The people of Nunakput are concerned that elders' healthcare in the region is not all it could be or even all it should be. In some cases, language is a barrier, and the lack of available translators makes it even harder, Mr. Speaker. In others, there are issues with homecare workers. Some Nunakput communities have no homecare workers, thanks to the cuts in the past that affected those positions. Elders are concerned that, without homecare workers, there is no one available to help them on a daily basis, especially elders who live alone. Mr. Speaker, the aging in place initiative leaves out the elders who live in the smaller communities across the territory, mind you, ones that are most isolated.

Mr. Speaker, we also have social workers, but they are taking on a lot of work, often including travel to multiple communities. This means that visits are far too often and far too brief. More generally, constituents have also told me that they are troubled by the lack of engagement from the health centres. Many are given Tylenol and sent home.

Mr. Speaker, we know that our population is aging and that it has consequences for all kinds of government planning. The Department of Health and Social Services has done a lot of work in assessing long-term care and needs, and the Housing Corporation is figuring out the kinds of supports, services, and infrastructure our elders will need to age in place in their home communities.

Mr. Speaker, this is not just a matter of support for elders; it is a matter of cultural safety. The government's duty is to provide culturally safe, culturally appropriate care to Indigenous people, particularly vulnerable populations like our elders. This applies to the full spectrum of healthcare, from check-ups at the health centre to routine procedures like cancer screenings to emergency care and where it is needed most.

Mr. Speaker, we need to take care of our elders, and when we plan, we need to incorporate local perspectives from our small communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker

Elders' Healthcare
Members' Statements

Page 4984

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker R.J. Simpson

Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to recognize our NWT Language Board members who decided to join us today. I am really glad to see you up there. We have Tammy Steinwand-Deschambeault, who is the chair. Excuse me if I get the names wrong. Jonas Landry, Emily Kudlak, Vance Sanderson, the vice-chair, Angie Lantz, Bella T'seleie, Betty Elias, Eleanor Mitchell-Firth, Linda Bussey, and Dr. Angela James is with them today. Welcome to everyone. It is important work you do. I am looking forward to meeting you this week.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker R.J. Simpson

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife North.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, from William McDonald School, we have two Pages from the riding of Yellowknife North. I would like to recognize and welcome Kaatje Fulford and Teresa Martin. Thank you to all the Pages for the great work they do on our behalf. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Thebacha.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Vance Sanderson from Thebacha.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker R.J. Simpson

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Deh Cho.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Michael Nadli

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Jonas Landry, a constituent. A friend and relative, Jonas serves on the Northwest Territories Language Board for the Deh Cho, and also he is from Fort Providence. Mahsi.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker R.J. Simpson

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nunakput.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a couple of constituents, Ms. Betty Elias from Tuktoyaktuk and my cousin Emily Kudlak from Ulukhaktok. Mr. Speaker, I spoke earlier a couple of times about language and how important it is. It is good to see that we have strong representatives from Nunakput. I would like to welcome both guests and everybody else. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker R.J. Simpson

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Honourable Premier.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to recognize some guests in the Chamber, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Prince. Ray is a long-term colleague from a previous government, and they are here visiting family here. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker R.J. Simpson

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize one of my constituents, Eleanor Mitchell Firth, who does a lot of work with the Gwich'in language, and also a lot of great arts and crafts. She does a lot of good sewing. I actually have to get a pair of slippers one of these days, but I would like to recognize her. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker R.J. Simpson

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Sahtu.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Daniel McNeely

Daniel McNeely Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize our young Page here from Deline, Taylor Schear. This is her first trial. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker R.J. Simpson

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to welcome my constituent Linda Bussey who is continuing her public service, this time on the languages board. Merci beaucoup, Linda.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker R.J. Simpson

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. We would like to thank everyone who joined us today in the gallery. If we forgot anyone, we apologize. I also want to say welcome to everyone watching on the Internet and on satellite, in the Northwest Territories and around the world. Welcome. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, acknowledgments. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier, I spoke about elders' healthcare. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health and Social Services is waiting for the results of a homecare review to help them decide how to allocate future resources. My question is: what is the status of this work, and when will the department be ready to act on the findings? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker R.J. Simpson

Minister of Health and Social Services.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a government, our mandate is to support the elders to live in their own houses for as long as possible while ensuring that adequate supports are available for those who can no longer live within their own homes. We have taken a number of actions to meet that mandate, which are within the Continuing Care Services Action Plan, which has already been released. We will be compiling the home and community care review. That is currently under way.

The purpose of that review is to document existing home and community care resources, programs, and services offered by each region and community to identify any gaps that may exist, future requirements, and, obviously, opportunities for improvement. This will ensure that the services are available, that they are accessible, and that they are effective in meeting the nursing care needs and support needs of elders to stay in their communities.

Mr. Speaker, we also hope that this will help identify program options that better match the needs for elders and seniors with funding available through the GNWT. The interim report will be available on March 31, 201,9 with the final report, we hope, out in May of 2019. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

It is good to hear that from the Minister. The needs specifically for communities seem different in different regions. The department has been trying to improve homecare service for a couple of years now, including $2.5 million in the 2017-2018 budget. Can the Minister tell us whether all these findings were used and how they were used?