Debates of Aug. 22nd, 2019
This is page numbers 6353 - 6412 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 assembly.
Topics
- Oral Questions
- Members Present
- Prayer
- Minister's Statement 241-18(3): Successful Relationships with Indigenous Governments
- Minister's Statement 242-18(3): Government of the Northwest Territories Initial Response to the Final Report of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls National Inquiry
- Minister's Statement 243-18(3): Update on Taltson Hydro and Other Energy Initiatives
- Establishment of Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve
- Development of a Polytechnic University
- Reflection on the 18th Legislative Assembly and Government of the Northwest Territories Progress
- Evolution of Aurora College
- Establishment of Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve
- Seniors Aging In Place
- Government of the Northwest Territories Government Service Officers and Service Canada
- Perspectives on Leadership and Governance
- Tax Incentives to Support Economic Development
- Arctic Policy Framework
- Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
- Question 845-18(3): Polytechnic University
- Question 846-18(3): Continuing Care Facilities Legislation
- Question 847-18(3): Seniors' Home Care
- Question 848-18(3): Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve
- Question 849-18(3): Government of the Northwest Territories Government Service Officers and Service Canada
- Mr. Beaulieu's Reply
- Reports Of Standing And Special Committees
- Committee Report 36-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on Transition Matters
- Committee Report 37-18(3): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Transition Matters
- Committee Report 38-18(3): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Transition Matters
- Committee Report 39-18(3): Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning Report on Transition Matters
- Tabled Document 518-18(3): Final Report on Implementation of the Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories 2016-2019 Tabled Document 519-18(3): Consolidated Report of the Implementation Committee - Tlicho Agreement 2015/16 to 2018/19 Tabled Document 520-18(3): Consolidated Report of the Implementation Committee - Gwich'in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2018 Tabled Document 521-18(3): Consolidated Report of the Implementation Committee - Gwich'in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement 2009/10 to 2014/15 Tabled Document 522-18(3): Report of the Implementation Coordinating Committee - Inuvialuit Final Agreement 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 Tabled Document 523-18(3): Annual Report of the Implementation Committee - Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement April 1, 2016 - March 31, 2017 Tabled Document 524-18(3): Annual Report of the Implementation Committee - Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement April 1, 2017 - March 31...
- Tabled Document 527-18(3): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 24-18(3): Report on the Review of Bill 48: Post-Secondary Education Act Tabled Document 528-18(3): Doing Our Part: Initial Response to 'Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls', August 2019 Tabled Document 529-18(3): 2018-2019 Annual Report - Status of Women Council of the N.W.T. Tabled Document 530-18(3): Annual Report: 2017-2018 Canada-NWT Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Bilateral Agreement and Action Plan
- Tabled Document 531-18(3): Northwest Territories Liquor Licensing Board 65th Annual Report 2018-2019 Tabled Document 532-18(3): Northwest Territories Liquor and Cannabis Commission 65th Annual Report Tabled Document 533-18(3): Annual Report 2018-19 of the Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation & Northwest Territories Power Corporation Tabled Document 534-18(3): Inter-Activity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 (April 1 to June 30, 2019) Pursuant to Section 74 of the Financial Administration Act
- Tabled Document 535-18(3): Energy Initiatives Report 2018-19 Tabled Document 536-18(3): 2030 Energy Strategy / Energy Action Plan Report, August 2019
- Tabled Document 537-18(3): Wha Ti Community Energy Plan - Options for Energy Supply and Management for Wha Ti, Northwest Territories Tabled Document 538-18(3): Northwest Territories Energy Report, May 2011
- Tabled Document 539-18(3): The Gordon Foundation - Policy Memo: Ways forward in addiction programming in Fort Simpson, NT. Dene Gogondie, Voices of the People Tabled Document 540-18(3): The Gordon Foundation: Creating Ethical Spaces for On-the-Land Learning Tabled Document 541-18(3): The Gordon Foundation: Negotiating the Dehcho: Protecting Dene Ahthit'e through Modern Treaty-Making
- Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
- Committee Motion 263-18(3): Concurrence of Tabled Document 511-18(3): Capital Estimates 2020-2021, Carried
- Report Of Committee Of The Whole
- Bill 45: Corrections Act
- Recorded Vote
- Orders Of The Day
Question 846-18(3): Continuing Care Facilities Legislation
Oral Questions
Page 6364

Glen Abernethy Great Slave
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is currently a legislative gap for residential community care services in the Northwest Territories. That includes long-term care facilities that are run by not-for-profit organizations, supported living facilities, as well as group homes. It is more than just long-term care facilities that we are talking about now. The "What We Heard" document is what we heard from a wide range of stakeholders throughout the Northwest Territories.
The next step is to develop an LP. These are the dying days of this Legislative Assembly, so I have asked the department to put together materials that could be shared with the new Minister, so that he or she can work with committees to finalize and put forward an LP that will meet the needs of the people of the Northwest Territories.
It is not going to be super straightforward, Mr. Speaker, as you can see in the "what we heard" document. There are a lot of varied opinions on how we need to move forward on this, and those will be discussions and debates that will need to be had in the next Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 846-18(3): Continuing Care Facilities Legislation
Oral Questions
Page 6364

Shane Thompson Nahendeh
Can the Minister advise us if there is a timeline in mind for when this legislation might be coming forward?
Question 846-18(3): Continuing Care Facilities Legislation
Oral Questions
Page 6364

Glen Abernethy Great Slave
No. At the end of the day, it's going to be the next Assembly that makes the decisions as to whether they even want to move forward with an LP on this initiative. I personally believe that it needs to be done. I think that it is necessary and incredibly important, because we do have a legislative gap. As I have said, I have asked the department to put together the materials so that the new Minister, regardless of who he or she is, can make some informed decisions and work with committee, who can also receive this information during their technical briefings in the life of the new Assembly, so that they can make informed decisions, and hopefully, they will see this as a priority.
Question 846-18(3): Continuing Care Facilities Legislation
Oral Questions
Page 6364

Shane Thompson Nahendeh
I agree with the Minister. I think that it should be a priority for the 19th, but we will have to wait and see who is here in the 19th Assembly. Looking at the "what we heard" report, I didn't see any specific proposal to create advocate positions, but I have heard this idea talked before, even before I was an MLA. It is good to have the legislation, but we need to be forward-thinking about putting these positions out there. Is this part of the discussion moving forward?
Question 846-18(3): Continuing Care Facilities Legislation
Oral Questions
Page 6364

Glen Abernethy Great Slave
Prior to the last election, the Seniors' Society did put out some information on the creation offer a seniors' advocate. The continuing care action plan or the "what we heard" document is more than just seniors, as I have indicated. It's special care homes; it's all these situations where somebody might have to live within an institution. There is no reference to an advocate in there, but once again, that is something that the next Assembly will have to discuss as they are reviewing the LP and trying to figure out how to move this initiative forward.
Question 846-18(3): Continuing Care Facilities Legislation
Oral Questions
Page 6364
Question 846-18(3): Continuing Care Facilities Legislation
Oral Questions
Page 6364

Shane Thompson Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I appreciate the Minister for his answers. I have heard this from the Minister; he's already going to put something together for the new Minister coming forward. Would he try to encourage the department to reach out to the new Members of the 19th Assembly to get their input on this initiative before finalizing an LP, just to see what also might be out there? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 846-18(3): Continuing Care Facilities Legislation
Oral Questions
Page 6364

Glen Abernethy Great Slave
I have gone one step further than that. I have actually asked them to include it in transition materials coming from this department to the committees and to all new elected Members so that they can make an informed decision. As far as the LP, we have a process and protocols on how LPs work. It will come from a Minister, and it will go to committee, who have an opportunity to suggest amendments, changes, or reject or accept. There will be definite interaction moving this LP forward, as any. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 846-18(3): Continuing Care Facilities Legislation
Oral Questions
Page 6364
Question 847-18(3): Seniors' Home Care
Oral Questions
Page 6365

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. As the population of seniors grows, so does the demand for homecare so that they can age in place. Of course, the Minister is well aware of this. I know that he has contracted a review of home and community care. Can the Minister begin by reminding us of the purpose of this study? Thank you.
Question 847-18(3): Seniors' Home Care
Oral Questions
Page 6365
Question 847-18(3): Seniors' Home Care
Oral Questions
August 22nd, 2019
Page 6365

Glen Abernethy Great Slave
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The intent of this study is to determine whether or not we have adequate resources in this area, including homecare workers, home support workers, homecare nurses, and other things to help support, not just seniors and people who are looking to age in place, but all people of the Northwest Territories who receive homecare services. It's not always seniors; there are many people that can receive those services. That is the intent: to give us an indication of where we are and whether we are adequately resourced to meet the needs of our residents.
Question 847-18(3): Seniors' Home Care
Oral Questions
Page 6365

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre
I appreciate the reminder from the Minister that homecare is actually for all us. I benefited greatly from their attention during an accident that I had at the beginning of this Assembly. My question for the Minister is: what is the status of the homecare study now, and does he know when it will be made public?
Question 847-18(3): Seniors' Home Care
Oral Questions
Page 6365

Glen Abernethy Great Slave
We received an early draft in the middle of July, and it did raise a number of questions about some of the findings based on the data. Clearly it indicated that there were some difficulties getting some of the data. We had to confirm some of the data. We sent back some comments and some updates on the data to make sure that the contractor had accurate information in their assessments and in their provision of recommendations.
I have been told by the department earlier today that we will get that report at the end of August. We will make it available. It likely will not come to the existing MLAs in time for the election, but we will make it public, hopefully during the election period, so that everybody who is interested in coming into this building can have the data that they need to make informed decisions in the future.
Question 847-18(3): Seniors' Home Care
Oral Questions
Page 6365

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre
I wonder what the plan is to secure the money to implement the report's recommendations. I realize that there is an election coming, but will there be any work done on an FMB submission so that there will be money for additional resources, should they be required?
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