This is page numbers 5641 - 5694 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

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first we need to talk about prevention and information on drug use. Youth as young as 12 years old are being targeted.

Can the Minister explain how the RCMP work with health and social services to promote the prevention of illicit drug use in small communities? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister responsible for Justice.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Justice sits on the -- I believe it's the problematic substance use committee with the Department of Health and Social Services to look at these exact issues that the Member is talking about. The Minister of health has also met with the commanding officer of the RCMP to begin discussions on how they can explore other options for enforcement and prevention in communities. So there is a number of ways that the departments -- that the RCMP and the department of health are collaborating, along with the Department of Justice. Thank you.

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our Indigenous government have a lot of information and can help the RCMP in the management of illicit drug use. Can the Minister explain how the RCMP advises and works with the Indigenous governments on the management of illicit drug use in small communities? Thank you.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Each year I send out letters to the Indigenous governments across the territory to ask what they think the policing priorities should be for the RCMP. As Minister, I provide the RCMP with their policing priorities annually. One of the three priorities relates to drug and alcohol use. So we start right at the very high level. That's how we begin engaging. At the local level, there are -- you know, the RCMP is always open to meet with Indigenous government leadership. They're willing to meet with elected leaders. You know, when I speak with elected leaders in communities, it always appears to me that they have a good relationship with the RCMP. There's, you know, multiple meetings outside of the formalized meetings. So I think that if there are concerns about those groups not working together, all it takes is a phone call. I know that in the territory here, we -- you know, we like the RCMP to do what you call community policing, which is going out, getting to know the community, getting to know the leadership, and figuring out how to work in the community as opposed to just coming in and enforce laws. Thank you.

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's good information, thank you. Mr. Speaker, we need staff and staff that understands the region they work in. We need a positive and working relationship between the RCMP and the community leaders. Does the Government of the Northwest Territories provide cultural training for RCMP and ensure they are connected with community leadership? Thank you.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So every time there's an incident anywhere in Canada -- not every time but when there are incidents in Canada that result in calls for additional RCMP training, it's often happened that that training then becomes mandatory for RCMP officers across the territory -- or across Canada. So there's actually quite a bit of training that officers are required to do to the point that it affects resourcing levels because we often have so many officers out taking training. So that is from the federal side. And the federal government is responsible for the operations of the RCMP. We do not delve into that; we can't. But the Government of the Northwest Territories does, of course, have our own program that all of the employees of the GNWT are required to take, Living Well Together. And the commanding officer of G Division here in the Northwest Territories has directed all of his staff to take that as well. So that's our contribution in terms of the cultural component. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Monfwi.

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we need collaboration; that is so very important. Can the Minister commit to have the head of the RCMP in Yellowknife meet with the community governments to discuss the illicit drug use in small communities, particularly the crack cocaine and other harmful drugs? Thank you.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you. No, I can't. I don't have the authority to commit to the commanding officer. Our agreement with the Government of Canada is very clear that the GNWT does not direct the operations of the RCMP. However, the community government is more than welcome to reach out to the commanding officer and request a meeting. I know that he's still relatively new to the territory and is trying to get out to the communities and meet with everyone so it could be a good opportunity. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Recognizing the backlog of dental emergencies and challenges with oral health in the Northwest Territories, will the Minister of Health and Social Services commit to fast tracking the legislative changes to allow for dental hygienists to be recognized as professionals on their own and not have to work under a dentist just like the rest of Canada? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to note that dental hygienists are really on the frontline of oral health and prevention of decay, and they play a vital role in our healthcare system. They are currently, as the Member said, regulated under the Dental Auxiliaries Act. To date, Mr. Speaker, we haven't heard anything from the hygienists about wanting to be regulated under the Health and Social Services Professions Act. If they were to contact us, that would certainly assist us in prioritizing their request for change. Thank you.

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I guess what I'll do is -- I've raised this in the House many times and I know as part of some of the work that I've done in the past, I'll go back to some of the Indigenous leaders in my region which really found that this legislation was a barrier and then maybe that will help bump this along.

So, Mr. Speaker, the Minister confirmed in writing to me that health centres have the necessary information available for them that when they need to refer patients out for dental services, so this is all on a dental oral health concern, and you know, we've heard in the news again recently patients with dental access, general pain management, they require immediate attention. So my question is how much pain does a person need to be or how long do they need to be in pain before they would be eligible for this medical travel or travel to the nearest and available appointment because they do not have dentists and even when going to Inuvik for any other thing, the wait could be up to six months in my region just to get in for a cleaning. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question from the Member, and I'm sure she's aware that this program is a federal government program from Indigenous Services Canada. They're the ones who decide on who gets medical travel or what conditions that require medical travel. That is not something that I have any say in. Thank you.

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And again, thank you to the Minister for that. I am fully aware that this is an NHIB issue. But, again, as -- we as the territory, we do provide the travel to the communities. And when I've had talks with the NHIB, they have said well, it has to go through the government to approve the process. So what I'm saying is I guess, is there is a problem there and maybe we can meet on the side to have that discussion further. But, Mr. Speaker, the GNWT does put out the RFP for dental services travel costs to provide services to small communities in my region without dentists. And I believe this funding, again, comes from NHIB. Has this funding been increased to be able to provide more clinics to deal with the backlog due to COVID and if so, has there been an increase in the amount of visits to deal with the dental restorations emergency as well as keep up with the routine cleaning and checkups as well as to provide services in Inuvik because my constituents are feeling this because the dentists are all going out to the community now, and we can't get dentists. So this is a problem, and I would like to know if these have been increased. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health and Social Services is currently negotiating with Indigenous Services Canada for the provision of services that they fund and we administer. The current agreement expires at the end of this month. So we hope to report soon that there are changes coming. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

All right. Thank you. Well, that's good to hear because the next one I just -- my next question might add to that.

So how does the GNWT deal with dental providers that are not balancing the preventative treatment in the communities because they may only have time or be focusing on the emergencies with the amount of funding that they're receiving to travel into these communities? And also -- and I'm not saying that this is happening but restorations, root canal, larger dental work costs more, and I know that the dentists do direct billing for the work that they do in there, and they may make more than just doing the cleanings and the checkups. So does the GNWT base the amounts provided in the RFP to cover what's needed for each community resident to be able to get the preventative treatment that they're entitled to as per NHIB dental, and are they providing the amount needed -- and is NHIB providing the amount needed? Thank you.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't have the level of detail that the Member is asking for, but I certainly can obtain that and get back to her. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I really do believe that the path to a four-day work week has to come through employees and employers. There are a few carrots and sticks the government can but, for today, I just have one question for the Premier. And does she agree that a four-day work week is awesome? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Honourable Premier.