Thank you, Mr. Chair. So in the past, there have been attempts at integrating services in the GNWT, and they haven't been successful, and so a few years ago the GNWT went out and they worked with a contractor to look at those efforts and a path forward, and what the recommendation was and, you know, was -- I think it was widely accepted among those in government who were working on this initiative as well was that instead of trying to integrate everything at once, well, they start with a specific area and build from there. And so homelessness was that area. You know, at the time it was a, you know -- and still is obviously a growing issue in the Northwest Territories and involves a number of different departments and agencies, and so it made sense to try and use that as the avenue to build that. You know, we are learning a lot of lessons from it. One of the lessons is that, you know, homelessness is all encompassing and it is a lot of focus -- there's a lot of focus on dealing with the homelessness issue of the day, which is very immediate and maybe not as much time to integrate services as we would have liked. And so I appreciate the Member's comments and, you know, I have been considering whether or not it is better placed in a different department, so I will take those comments from the Member and factor that into the decision on where this goes. Thank you.
R.J. Simpson on Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on February 28th, 2025. See this statement in context.
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 28th, 2025
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