Yes, thanks. I think the Member is talking to the possibility that discussing addiction for youth would trigger protection concerns. That is not the case at present. If a family approaches child and family services, the first step would be a needs assessment followed by an offering of different options that the family could take advantage of and when they choose one, then a plan is tailored to that family and to the person who needs treatment.

We're working hard to combat this stigma that admitting any difficulty in parenting is going to trigger protection concerns. We are very dedicated to dividing these two issues, protection from prevention. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, given the request for community-based solutions, what types of funding is available for grassroots programming specifically geared toward youth addictions treatment? Thank you.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we've done quite a lot of work in my time expanding the number of community-based treatment programs that are available to Indigenous governments primarily and also to community governments. It's really driven by those entities about what range of ages they take into their programs.

So, for example, we have the On the Land Healing Fund, Community Suicide Prevention Fund, Peer Support Fund, and Addictions Recovery and Aftercare Fund.

So these funds are set up with a focus but the implementation is really, as I said just now, up to the Indigenous governments, and they can take in the age of the participant of anyone that they choose. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister speak to what harm reduction programs are available to youth in the NWT? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, harm reduction is certainly a focus for us and addiction services for youth really mirror the same that is offered to had adults.

And so just to briefly recap those offers, there's community-based counselling through the community counselling program or through the child and youth care counsellors. It's the youth's choice which to access.

We have the 24/7 Help Line through the NWT Help Line, and then the kids help phone service which also includes a texting option.

We have apps that are specifically directed to children and families, such as the Strongest Families Institute and the Breathing Room app. We have specialized treatment options for youth and children, both in territory and out of territory. And then we have, as I just mentioned the community-based wellness programs. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Colleagues, our time for oral questions has expired. Written questions. Member for Monfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Delivering Equitable Education Services to Small Communities in the Northwest Territories.

In response to the Office of the Auditor General 2020 report on Early Childhood to Grade 12 Education in the Northwest Territories, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment committed to actions toward improving student outcomes in the NWT. It has been two years since ECE responded to the auditor general's recommendations and committed to take action to support schools in small communities and ensure students in the territory have an equitable learning experience. I submit the following questions to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment:

1. How does the Department of Education, Culture and Employment identify what is required to provide equitable access to quality education for all students in the Northwest Territories and provide the approach chosen and identify the applicable policy documents;

2. What action has the Department of Education, Culture and Employment taken since the 2020 auditor general report to support schools in small communities and ensure students in the territory have an equitable learning experience, indicating which actions are on hold and delayed, providing the reasons for the status, and indicating the partners involved and the amount spent or planned to be spent by activity;

3. How does the Department of Education, Culture and Employment know that it meets students' needs in small communities, including needs for specialist services; how are the needs identified, measured, monitored and reported; and what are barriers and problems in data collection;

4. How is the Department of Education, Culture and Employment considering the socio-economic diversity and residential school legacy in small communities in its approaches to providing education services and collaborating with communities, explaining which actions, services, and funds are explicitly targeting small communities and the distinct socio-economic situations and legacies; for example, are actions like providing food allowances or liaising with Housing NWT considered; and

5. Has the Department considered designing a targeted approach to improving student outcomes in small communities within a set timeline that may include partnerships and allocate funds to support students based on needs; and if yes, will that approach be actioned upon, and if not, why not?

Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Written questions. Returns to written questions. Replies to the Commissioner's address. Petitions. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Reports of standing and special committees. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for the Workers' Safety Compensation Commission.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following three documents, 2019 Annual Report, Workers' Compensation Appeals Tribunal Annual Report; 2020 Annual Report, Workers' Compensation Appeals Tribunal Annual Report; and, 2021 Annual Report, Workers' Compensation Appeals Tribunal Annual Report. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I wish to table the following document, a report on map staking for minerals obtained pursuant to an access to information request entitled "Report on Jurisdictional Scan and Geomatics Analysis" by Archibald Robb Consulting and Aurora Geosciences Limited dated September 28, 2021. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Tabling of documents. Notices of motion. Member for Kam Lake.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, June 3rd, 2022, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife North, that this Legislative Assembly calls upon the Government of the Northwest Territories to create a comprehensive strategy to match Canada's population growth; and further, that this strategy aim to sustain the population of each community and grow the territory's overall population by 25 percent by 2043; and furthermore, that this strategy is linked with a goal to add at least 3,700 new homes, or 25 percent, by 2043 and an update to each community's housing plan to make this a priority; and furthermore, that this strategy bring together existing policies, programs, and campaigns aimed at keeping residents in the North and attracting new residents; and furthermore, that this strategy include:

• An analysis of what brings people to the North;
• An analysis of what keeps residents in the North;
• A plan to address the increasing cost of living to keep residents in the North;
• An immigration strategy;
• A communication strategy to attract people to the North; and
• A review of business programs to help residents establish and grow their business in the North.

And furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a comprehensive response to this motion within 120 days.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Notices of motion. Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Notices of motion.

Colleagues, before we proceed, we'll call a short recess. Thank you.

---SHORT RECESS

Welcome back, colleagues. Motions. Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS half the population of the Northwest Territories is Indigenous;

AND WHEREAS there are 33 communities in the Northwest Territories;

AND WHEREAS there is one capital, six regional centres, and 26 small communities;

AND WHEREAS Indigenous peoples make up the majority population in the small communities;

AND WHEREAS Indigenous peoples were subjected to colonization and genocide; and whereas the legacy of colonization is embedded in the health and social services system as systemic racism;

AND WHEREAS Indigenous peoples were forced to experience systemic racism in the health and social services system, which is a significant contributor to lower health outcomes;

AND WHEREAS Indigenous peoples suffer disproportionate health inequities as a result of a lack of access to quality health and social services care where cancer and other chronic diseases that are misdiagnosed;

AND WHEREAS those Indigenous peoples who have cancer and other chronic diseases that are misdiagnosed, suffer and die prematurely;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, that this Legislative Assembly calls upon the Government of the Northwest Territories to provide increased access to physicians and medical specialists to offer quality care, diagnoses and second opinions;

AND FURTHER, the Government of the Northwest Territories prioritize cultural safety, trauma-informed care, and anti-Indigenous racism professional development training within the health and social services workforce, including locum doctors;

AND FURTHERMORE, the Government of the Northwest Territories provide additional training to nurses, health care workers, and locum doctors in the small communities on the detection of cancer and chronic illnesses;

AND FURTHERMORE, the Government of the Northwest Territories conduct a quality review on the health centres in the small communities, including an external audit of client treatment records and client satisfaction;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a comprehensive response to this motion within 120 days.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. The motion is in order. To the motion? Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise to give points related to my motion, the reasons for it.

I came to the 19th Assembly with the intent on improving health care in the small communities and especially in my community where I went out campaigning and I was hearing all the stories regarding health care. There were many instances and complaints, lack of compassion, and the seriousness of illnesses. Many patients, they became patients after numerous visits to the health centre for the same ailment. That was about three, four, five times, and each time they were sent home with a Tylenol.

This led to medivacs after about the third, fourth, or fifth visit, in which case the patient was seriously ill and in great danger for their lives.

There are instances where patients did end up losing their life. Many were due to misdiagnosis of their ailment or a total disregard of their problem. And they're also being sent home without any follow-up whatsoever.

I realize that small community health centres are not equipped with the appropriate medical devices to properly diagnose an unknown ailment. This is an increasing dilemma, and residents have grave concerns of this situation.

I have made several statements of this situation over the course of this Assembly since I've been here. And I believe that it's not a new issue. I believe that it's been brought up many times in previous Assemblies.

And after the statements and all these complaints and everything, there's still no actions nor any intent to action to address these concerns. There was more of the “fill in a complaint form” is all, you know, people are receiving.

I just want to note that we as MLAs are the voice of the people. And when we come into this House, we bring forth all those concerns. We shouldn't have to look for consent forms. These are real lived experiences. I live in a small community. I experienced all this. I bring it to the floor or the House. Something should be done about it. That's what we expect from this side of the House. We need someone to listen to us, to help us.

And there are also several news stories. There was the stories of the ladies in Fort Res that brought up concerns. You know, there's lots of concerns. And there was also the recent one from the Deline elder, and we know what happened there. It was newsworthy. So it is a serious concern.

You know, we expect, you know, from all these concerns not to fight us and make us think that it's not real. We would expect to get respect from Ministers to say okay, hey, I will come into your community and I will meet with your leadership; I will listen. Because there are many complaints. You know, I've had to deal with many. I have made statements galore on these issues, and I've finally figured well, I better put a motion in and see what happens there.

I'm hoping for concrete action from the department by way of this motion. And that's all I have for now, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Motion is in order. To the motion? Call on seconder, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Mr. Speaker, I support this motion. Just hang on.

There was feedback. Sorry about that, Mr. Speaker.

I just want to say in speaking to the motion that the issues that I've been raising the last little while has really hit home, and I've been dealing with everything from mental health issues to suicide to medical travel. And the things that really makes me think is that, you know, a lot of this stuff could be easily fixed if we went back and take a look at some of the policies that are in place that are prohibiting some of these problems we're having in the community. I think it's an easy fix if we went back and take a look at it.

But the issues in the community are alive and well up and down the valley, and I've been hearing from a lot of people, getting feedback on this issue. And I'd like to work with the Minister of social and health and see what we could do to look for solutions to these problems we're having in our community. And when I was asked to support this motion, I agreed to that. And I'm just asking if there's a way where we could all work together and to look for solutions so that we could provide better outcomes in health issues in the communities a lot better and so that we're not able to say no to, or get back to the families that are asking for help and let them know that I'm sorry, you know, this is what happened.

I'm just saying that, you know, this is a good time to come together. And in terms of spirit and content, you know, and I'm asking that maybe with this motion that we look for a solution to some of these problems. So I just want to just leave that there, Mr. Speaker. And mahsi.

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. The motion is in order. To the motion? Member for Hay River South.