Glen Abernethy

When I met with the individuals in 2016, I indicated to them clearly that we intend to move forward, we intend to work with them collaboratively, but we need a bit of time. We have just rolled out a single authority in the Northwest Territories, and I indicated at that time we will be in a better position to begin formal discussions in August 2017. I live up to that commitment. We are living up to that commitment. In the interim, we have worked with the chair. We have gathered information to help us present some information when we do meet with them. I do not think the Member is interpreting...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I and my colleagues recognize that the current funding structure for the shelters has led to some challenges and some inconsistencies. Last year, I did direct the Department of Health and Social Services to examine and work with the shelters to identify some of these immediate pressures. As a result of this work, we were fortunate to receive $120,000 in new funding to offset the increased operating costs of family violence shelters across the Northwest Territories.

When I met with the shelter network in 2016, I also committed to exploring the potential for a...

In order to have an informed discussion, we need to actually understand where we are. We have done some preliminary work to determine where we stand, where the shelters stand, and we have been working with the chair of the shelter network who represents all of the shelters across the Northwest Territories. We have done this by e-mail correspondence, but also in face-to-face meetings.

As part of that work, the department has begun work on a bit of a zero-based budget exercise as our first step to determine the funding requirements, as well as the best and most equitable funding model for family...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Ms. Nicole Enge. Nicole just finished her second year of political science at the University of Toronto, and she has been hired for the summer as one of our special project coordinators for the Executive Council offices here in the Legislative Assembly. Welcome.

Yes, please.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, just to be clear, medical professions in the Northwest Territories are at a different collective agreement, a different bargaining block, and they have different pension plans and a different salary system. We don't really have that problem with physicians at a territorial level. They can go to Hay River; they have rights in Hay River and Stanton. Where it is a problem is with the staff, the unionized staff within the Hay River Authority, but unionized staff and staff outside the Hay River Authority. I have had the opportunity to talk to individuals who...

We would find a way to make it happen if there was an emergency situation in Hay River and they needed immediate support. We would find a way, but it would be more difficult. You would probably have to involve a number of memorandums of understanding to allow health professionals from outside that authority to actually work in that facility and provide care in that facility. It is possible. We would do it because we don't want the residents of Hay River and the surrounding area to be adversely affected. From an operational point of view, it would definitely be more complicated.

I would like to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the federal engagement strategy is part of the work that we do as the Government of the Northwest Territories. We engage with stakeholders from all over the country, including Aboriginal governments here in the Northwest Territories and the federal government, on a regular basis. I have a number of mandate items that I am responsible for that did not appear in the federal engagement strategy, but that in no way, shape, or form limits my ability to raise those issues and fight on behalf of the residents of the Northwest Territories, which I and my colleagues...

The federal government has already indicated that they have already begun flowing some dollars to the Northwest Territories to address housing specifically, some dollars that they have flowed to the IRC. The Minister responsible for Housing is going to a meeting with Minister Duclos, I think next week, where they are going to discuss the exact issues the Member is referring to, housing. With respect to Nutrition North, Mr. Speaker, we have had different individuals from Cabinet talk to their federal counterparts about our perspectives and trying to make a program that works for residents of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have actually constructed, built, and run four treatments in the Northwest Territories over the last 20-plus years. Where we have had capacity for 32-plus clients in these treatment facilities, at any given time, we might have had a dozen individuals in these facilities. Given the nature of these facilities, a real treatment facility has to be able to provide a wide range of programs, including psychiatric and psychological support, as well as dietary programs and other programs. In the Northwest Territories, we were never able to get a psychologist or...