I did take your full note, as the Member was speaking earlier, I can't confirm that those are indeed the changes that are being contemplated to reduce the fees.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Frame Lake. No? Okay. Oral questions, Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. As I mentioned in my statement, new federal legislation sets minimum standards for the treatment of children in care. These standards are meant to ensure that Indigenous children grow up immersed in their language, culture, and community. My question for the Minister is: how does our child and family services legislation align with the new federal legislation? Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife Centre. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Child and Family Service Act and the federal Bill C92, and the child and family services in the Northwest Territories act is in line with the principles of the federal act. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

My more specific question is: whether the order in which children will be placed, if they are taken into care, is that exactly the same order that exists in our Child and Family Services Act?

Yes, that's correct. The Northwest Territories Child and Family Services Act and the federal act recognize the need to deliver culturally appropriate services by decisions concerning the children are made in the best interests of the child, taking into consideration cultural values and practices. Also, each community has a role in supporting and promoting the best interests of the children, and the wellbeing of the families and the communities. Yes. They are in line, and some of the principles that we have are in line.

Thank you to the Minister for that answer. What are GNWT's expectations with respect to accessing funding associated with the new federal law?

The Member is correct in her statement. She did recognize that the implementation and the funding has not been worked out. We are still in the process of waiting for the federal government to have a meeting. There was a meeting scheduled, an FTP for last month, and it has been rescheduled. Although we recognize that the legislation is place, we still need to work on what does that mean for the Northwest Territories.

DEPUTY SPEAKER. Thank you, Minister. Member for Yellowknife Centre, final supplementary.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thank you to the Minister for that answer. One of the things this means for the NWT, and for all provinces and territories, is that Indigenous government organizations have an opportunity to become responsible for child and family services in their own jurisdictions. What role does the Minister see the GNWT having with respect to helping Indigenous government organizations take on this responsibility? Thank you.

The Member is correct. The child and family services, you look at the children who are in place, and we have 99 percent of Indigenous children in place in care. Right now, within the Child and Family Services Act, the Indigenous and government organizations can enact their own child and family service law for their citizens. Right now, we have only one Indigenous group in the Northwest Territories who has reached out to our department, and is interested, and looking at what does that mean for their Indigenous groups. They have the option to enter into a process that would have their laws prevail over territorial law and the federal law. It is in our best interests to work with the Indigenous groups in the Northwest Territories as the majority of the children in care are in our care, and we would like to build on that partnership with Indigenous groups. If they can come to the table and do a better job than we are, then let's absolutely entertain that. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The mental and physical wellbeing of our seniors is very important to me, and I would like to ask the Minister of Health: what process in place does her department have to ensure that the workers would engage the residents in the community to assist in visiting the seniors and helping out? Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I do want to start, and I will get to the Member's question. I do want to recognize that enabling seniors to age in place with dignity is one of our priorities. If you look at the mandate priorities, it is a partnership, not only with the Health and Social Services, but also the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and the department of housing. If you look at the three objectives, number one, we need to increase supports so that seniors can stay in their own homes and communities. That's number one. Number two is fun actions that can enhance inclusion, safety, and remove community barriers. The other one is to help protect seniors from abuse or neglect. These are some of the areas that we are looking at for our mandate, but in addition to that, I do want to talk a little bit about what the Member's asking for, what are we doing. We have a variety of activities that are in our regions, and I do want to speak about a couple of them. We have adult day programs, including the elders in motion exercises, meal program, meals on wheels, and other recreation and social activities. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

In the wintertime, many of the seniors are kind of locked up. Not locked up, but they're in there in the facilities. They don't have, really, an ability to get out on their own. I am just wondering: does your department have anything in place to allow that to happen, to take them outside the building during the wintertime so they can get a little fresh air and also a little sightseeing?

There are some limitations in delivering some of the programs for a variety of reasons, lack of suitable space or lack of transportation for elders. Every region is different. You look at some of the regions. For example, I'll use in the Beaufort-Delta. We have a very strong elder day program where the elders come from their homes into the elders' day program, and they have a variety of activities. There are supports in place. However, there are limitations. I understand the Member's concern about the lack of possibly transportation or whatever the case may be.

I know the Minister will say yes to this one. We have a 48-bed slated for Hay River, and I think there is one for Inuvik, as well. One of the issues that I find is that, when I was visiting the other day, I noticed the handy van was sitting there, covered in snow. I asked the person, "Do they use it?" They said, "Not really because to take people out, it was slippery, and it was hard to get them in the van." One thing I suggest is that with this new 48 facility is that if they could have a little something off to the side where they can have the van parked so the people can go right in from the building into the van where it's warm and take them out. Kind of like they have for the ambulances. I would just ask the Minister if she would consider that in the design of the new 48-bed facility for Hay River and for Inuvik?

I say yes to the concept and the idea because I feel it is important. I feel like if there are many ways that we can get our elders from their facility into their community, it is very important. I also do want to remind the Member that the 48-bed facility in Hay River and Inuvik is still through the design process, so there is an opportunity for our department to work with the Department of Infrastructure to have a look at the designs and to be able to see what works for the communities. I mean, we need to build these facilities so that they work for our elders and for our communities. If that's one way of getting the elders out into the community, then, of course, that's something we would look at.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Hay River South, final supplementary.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I appreciate the Minister's responses, and I look forward to working with her, and I have no further questions. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.

Thank you, Member. Minister responsible for NWT Housing Corporation.