This is page numbers 4449 - 4496 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd 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 know.

Topics

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This week, the Auditor General of Canada's report on addictions prevention and recovery services in the Northwest Territories was tabled in this House. Portions of the report speak of equitable access to supports as well as the need for culturally safe services. The auditor general reports that aftercare is limited or non-existent, and there are little to no formalized processes or communications to clients on other supports available to them, including from Health Canada.

Prevention. I've heard from several residents that they often cannot reach the Primary Health Clinic or obtain an appointment, with many people lacking a permanent family doctor. Primary care can be the first point of contact for someone trying to get help or resources for mental health or medical issues that may lead to addiction and/or relapse.

Immediate access to top quality medical care is crucial if we want to deal with our addictions issue. Adjustments to the current system for accessing healthcare and trauma counselling need to change. Some of this work has been started but it's clearly not enough as the mental health crisis looms on.

Recovery. People faced with addictions are often under-housed or homeless. Ensuring adequate housing and safe spaces is crucial to mental health and addiction prevention and recovery. The Departments of Health and Social Services and Housing must collaborate with Indigenous governments and communities to establish aftercare services and sober housing so people can continue their recovery in their home communities in a safe environment.

Furthermore, these spaces need to be in good repair, and there must be 24-hour supports in place to help those recovering in their journey.

Mr. Speaker, when reviewing the report, the biggest thing that jumps out to me is the lack of data collection and measurable outcomes on addictions in the NWT. Both the Department of Health and Social Services and the health authorities have failed to collect or analyze targeted data; data that could have been used to identify trends and provide information to support action to improve outcomes for Northerners.

Mr. Speaker it has been 20 years since the Department of Health committed to better coordinate the health and social services system to improve residents' access to services. And 20 years later, it appears nothing has changed. This government needs to develop concrete, actionable plans that lead to better outcomes. They need to build sober houses and hire respected elders and community members to provide supports in communities. Mr. Speaker, i seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

They need to build sober houses and hire respected elders and community members to provide sober supports in communities.

The ability to detox and recover in an environment that is safe and supportive is the right of all of our people, and the GNWT has failed to provide this. How can we say we are truly intent on reconciliation when we fail to see our people crying for help? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Richard Edjericon

Richard Edjericon Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about mental health challenges in communities that I represent.

Recently, I have learned of several major -- sorry, there are several very serious medical incidents arising from chronic mental health conditions in my constituent communities. These tragic circumstances have serious impacts on the community that extend beyond one individual.

Our Indigenous people, our communities, are tight-knit and compassionate. We support each other through the best and worst times. We also suffer together. The legacy of colonialism and genocide have left our people deep psychological scars. The (audio) of general trauma continues to (audio) Indigenous people in the Northwest Territories, leading to depression, anger and violence, and suicide.

Mr. Speaker, I received a call from a council Member in one my communities I represent and was very distressed to learn it was about a young woman who was suicidal. This young woman had sadly attempted suicide by hanging herself but was thankfully seen by friends and family who brought her to the health centre to be assessed and hoped to see her admitted to the psych ward in Yellowknife.

The nursing staff kept her for a short time then released her with Tylenol pills. Even the RCMP were unwilling to have the young woman apprehended and admitted to the hospital, something made possible through the Mental Health Act.

This sorry episode is both moving and disheartening. The tremendous compassion and conviction of the young woman and family is inspiring, just the lack of care available in the community is heartbreaking.

Mr. Speaker, we know from the Offices of the Auditor General of Canada that the government is not doing enough to treat and prevent addictions. This is particularly true in respect to our small communities. I will quote from the report.

We were also concerned by the lack of coordination needed to connect clients with services that required (audio) though it's been 20 years since the department committed to better help coordinate the health and social service system to improve residents' access to services. The department and health authorities need to do more to deliver on their commitments to provide equitable, culturally-safe programs to help people impacted by addictions and access the care they need for their own well-being and that of their own communities.

Mr. Speaker, who is responsible for the safety of the individual who is a threat to themselves and others. Surely it's not the distressed family (audio) medical and police professionals for help. We can do better.

In that precious time, in that precious lives have been lost already, and my constituents cannot bear seeing any more of their sons and daughters, brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers, consumed by the darkness of despair and suicide. It's time to take a serious look at the healthcare and mental health support in small communities and make this a real priority for the government and future governments.

I will questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Members' statements. Member for Sahtu.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, in February of this year, Ms. Sierra McDonald wrote all MLAs of the Legislative Assembly and acknowledging the need for a treatment centre and addictions support. Since my time in this government, I have seen and heard constant advocation on this issue. And I am pleased to see the progress as we start to make movement within our healthcare approach of new positions, workshops, and fundings for small communities and Indigenous governments to engage and support their efforts in addressing these important issues, trauma addiction and healing.

Mr. Speaker, Ms. Sierra McDonald is here with us today, along with her grandmother, Ms. Mary Jane McDonald. Sierra will be graduating this year and will be attending Concordia University in Quebec and will be pursuing her education in political science. She will also be attending the World Youth Summit on Monday in Saskatchewan.

It is great to see our young people pursuing their dreams and aspirations. And who knows what this future may bring? You may see in the coming years MLA McDonald, Premier McDonald, Minister McDonald - we don't know. But you make our future look bright.

Thank you, Sierra, and thank you to her grandmother for being in attendance. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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

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The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Members' statements. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Acknowledgements. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Hay River South.

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in December of 2020 we all received an email from a young lady, and she's in the audience. That young lady was Sierra McDonald from Norman Wells.

At the time she was a grade 11 student and was attending the FOXY Peer Leader Retreat, and she sent us an email as part of that program. And in that email, she posed four questions basically on treatment centres and why they are needed in the NWT. And it's an issue that we all struggle with. And my understanding, as Minister Chinna said, is that Ms. McDonald is off to university in the fall, and I wish her all the best in her studies. And I ask that she keep in touch with all of us because I think one day she'll be sitting in here, and Ms. Chinna's probably hoping it's not her seat, but.

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The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Recognition of visitors in the gallery.

I'd like to welcome everyone, and it's always good to have an audience with us. Mahsi. Acknowledgements. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, these questions are for the Premier.

Mr. Speaker, will the Premier confirm how, in the Extended Health Benefits Policy 49.07, a disease condition makes it on the list of specified disease conditions? How often is this list updated and what consideration is given to those diseases that are rare such as chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Honourable Premier.

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Although I heard three questions in there, I think all of them belong to the Minister of Health. I'd like to defer it to the Minister of Health. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Honourable Premier. Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for Hay River South for the question.

I want to start by saying this isn't the appropriate forum to discuss specific cases or conditions. It's important that we respect the right of patients to their health information.

That said, on the general topic of the specified conditions, the list, which has 58 conditions on it, was inherited from the federal government when we took responsibility in this area in 1988. Some conditions were added in 2011 through the medical director of the time.

The specified disease list is now the subject of a review by the Department of Health and Social Services. There will be public consultation in the summer, and we expect to have a new draft policy available for review by next spring. The purpose of redrafting the policy is that listing conditions is not a very efficient way of dealing with need for extra help with things like prescription drugs. It would be better to look at income and means testing to see what people have for personal resources and what they need in order to pay for the help they need through their specified conditions. Thank you.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Premier confirm how constituents with diseases not currently listed on the specified disease conditions list are accommodated when it comes to provision of treatment and medication?

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, medical treatment, as the Member knows, is an insured service under the NWT Health Plan. So anyone with appear at any of the health centres, or at Stanton, and expect to receive a diagnosis and treatment for the condition that they are presenting with. That said, we do not cover drugs on a universal basis. There is no universal PharmaCare here or anywhere else in the country at this point.

There is an understanding at our level, and at the federal level, that there is a need to develop a strategy around specified -- not specified diseases but extraordinary drug costs because what we're finding is there are more of these one in a million cases of disease, and often the treatments are extremely expensive. So there is an acknowledgement that this is a potential problem, and a remedy is in the works. Thank you.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Premier confirm what is the role of her department when it comes to persons who are indigent and without the financial resources to acquire treatment or drugs for a rare disease such as chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis? Thank you.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Yes, thank you. This answer really turns on the personal resources of the person. In some cases people may be able to access health benefits through their work or through their parents work if they're dependent children. It may be possible if they're seniors. It is possible for them to access support from the GNWT. Likewise people who qualify for Metis health benefits can have their drugs covered and those with the specified conditions.

After that, it may be possible for a person to apply for private health insurance. It may also be possible for a person to apply for income assistance and for a disability benefit if their disease prevents them from working. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my constituent exhausted all other avenues for assistance in covering treatment costs and now looks to this government as his last hope.

Mr. Speaker, clause 8 of the Extended Health Benefits Policy 49.07 states that nothing in this policy shall in any way be construed to limit the prerogative of the Executive Council to make decisions or take action respecting extended health benefits outside the provisions of this policy.

Mr. Speaker, will the Premier confirm the purpose or intent of that clause, and does the Premier see it as a drafter's intent to address policy gaps? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Honourable Premier.

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you. Respectfully, Mr. Speaker, it's usually the Premier that would speak on Executive Council issues. So if you're all right, I'll take that question.

So the purpose of the provision in all -- actually in all policies in the GNWT are similar to that stating that the Executive Council, nothing in the policy shall in any way construe the limits or the prerogative of the Executive Council to make decisions to take action respecting a lot of policies.

And the reason is for that is because although Ministers have specific departments, it's the Executive Council, as a whole, that is responsible for the operations of the government. However, in saying that, we don't get into every single department. That's why we have departments and specific ministers for that.

However, the other thing that's important to say as well is that the matters that are put before the Executive Council themselves are subject to privilege. So I can't publicly actually talk to -- commit to whether -- to the Member publicly whether this would come to the Executive or not.

But I do want to say that we do recognize that there's issues with this policy, and I think that the Minister recognizes that as well, and that's why she is looking to do a review of the Extended Health Benefits Policy that's underway now.

I also heard -- I've had personal conversations with the Member as well, Mr. Speaker, and I also can say that, you know, it's heartbreaking to hear when people fall through gaps, and none of us want to see that. But with the Minister with her work on the extended health policy. And also Canada, there's a national pharmacy program -- care program that they're talking about as well.

So based on my conversations with the Member, Mr. Speaker, I will make sure that I bring this conversation up with my conversations with federal ministers, to the prime minister, and see how their PharmaCare program can actually interact with our own policies around healthcare. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Honourable Premier. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are related to my Member's statement on the Child and Family Services Act.

I note the intentions of the act are to prevent child abuse within a family unit with the needed education of families to comply with this act. Education First Nations of the act is a win-win for the intent of the act.

Can the Minister advise if the education and awareness of this act has been made to First Nations organizations and has the department advised the organizations at a duly convened meetings of all the regional assemblies. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks to the Member for Deh Cho for the question.

Just by way of background, the Child and Family Services Act came into force in 1998, and it has a provision to be reviewed every five years, and it is being reviewed this year.

The purpose of the act is, and will continue to be, to ensure that the best interests of the child are taken care of. What has changed is that there is more of a focus now on prevention rather than protection. So protection is still present, but prevention needs to be exhausted first.

So there are opportunities for counselling, parenting programs, services to improve housing, treatment if that's required, and any other service that may be helpful to the family to address the issues that they are having and to keep them together, to keep them whole as a family unit.

The act recognizes that the best place for a child is in the family home. And the reason to take the child out of that home is only because they are not safe in that home.

So using this new approach, we have been able to ensure that 92 percent of children who received child and family services are in their own home or in their home communities.

So the practice of taking children out of their communities and cultures is something that we're moving beyond in this era of reconciliation. Thank you.