Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, I introduced Avery, a real NWT resident with a fictional name. Avery is a parent facing eviction from public housing who struggles with substance abuse, mental health, and family violence in the home. Like Avery, many people in the NWT are dealing with similar issues. For this reason, the GNWT needs to provide better client-focused service. NWT residents who need the help of two or more GNWT departments can be referred to ICM, or integrated case management, a highly successful and compassionate team of pathfinders tasked with supporting vulnerable residents through the GNWT system.

Avery was involved with Justice, ECE, Health and Social Services, and housing. Facing eviction, Avery had 12 meetings and one phone call with representatives of those four departments. Despite this, Avery did not get a referral to ICM until a 14^th meeting was held with me there as Avery's MLA. For Avery, getting on the list meant finding the right public servant at the right time. It shouldn't be so hard, Mr. Speaker. Asking for help is hard. Asking for help 14 times in one emotionally exhausting week is cruel. The GNWT needs to be empowered and organized to provide a way forward for vulnerable residents, not dead ends. Avery finally got into ICM, where the client focused service was a breath of fresh air. I cannot speak highly enough about their incredible staff, but client-focused service cannot be reserved for only a few of our residents.

Mr. Speaker, today, I will be asking the Minister of Justice to create a process for residents where they can self-refer to ICM and to create a process to refer residents to other support networks when they don't fit in ICM. Avery tried to self-refer and was advised of the department-only referral policy. There was no connection to additional support. No matter their story, every person wants fair and equitable access to programs to help them achieve the same success as their family, friends, and neighbours. For some, it is a matter of survival, and that's what makes it so important that the GNWT act quickly to respond to the needs of these clients. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.