Glen Abernethy

We remain committed to finding opportunities and we are always looking for opportunities to work with our northern partners. In the last four months, I have tried twice to arrange meetings with my counterparts in Nunavut and the Yukon. This is one of the agenda items that was on the list, that was on the agenda. Unfortunately, both meetings were cancelled by the other jurisdictions. I have asked to work with my colleagues in the other territories to gather information on the facilities and programs available in those jurisdictions to see how we can partner. Unfortunately, as I indicated, both...

Just to be clear, we have on average, at any given time, about 12 residents for the Northwest Territories who are seeking treatment through facility-based treatment. The individuals who are attending treatment often have significantly different needs and, as a result, are going to any one of our four facilities available to our northern residents. For instance, Poundmaker’s Lodge is a co-ed facility with a wide range of spiritual-based programs as well as the ability to provide some level of social detox. They have on-site psychologists and psychiatrists who can provide support to the...

I appreciate the Member’s frustration. I’ve said this is my fourth time standing here in this role saying that I’ve made a commitment, we’re going to get it done. We were supposed to go in this week, but out of respect for the community, we have not gone in this week because of a death in the community. I tried to speak to the chief. I will call him again at break. I tried to call him this morning to work with them, to work with the community that we respect to make sure that when we go in there we can have meaningful dialogue. We are committed to this. I don’t know how I can say it...

Thank you. As I indicated in my first response, we were actually intending to go in this week and we were booked to go in, but as a result of the death in the community and the cancellation of the AGM, we’ve chosen not to. I have committed to getting the staff in there. I’m hoping they can go in next week, but before we can get to that time I’m hoping to speak to the chief in the community to make sure that it is still an appropriate time, given the recent events in the community. If not, hopefully we can get it done the week after, but I have committed to getting this done prior to October...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a constituent of the Great Slave riding, Mr. Kieron Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following seven documents, entitled “GNWT Response to Motion 36-17(5): Workplace Safety at Stanton Territorial Hospital;” “GNWT Response to CR 12-17(5): Report on the Review of Bill 36: Health and Social Services Profession Act;” “GNWT Response to Motion 39-17(5), Domestic Violence Death Review Committee;” “GNWT Response to Motion 40-17(5), Wellness Centre at Stanton Territorial Hospital;” “GNWT Response to Committee Report 18-17(5), Report on the Review of Bill 47, An Act to Amend the Child and Family Services Act;” a “Follow-up Letter for OQ 813-17...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, October 1, 2015, I will move that Bill 68, An Act to Amend the Child and Family Services Act, No. 2, be read for the first time.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a constituent of the Great Slave riding in the gallery today, Mr. Kieron Testart. Thank you for being here.

Currently, within our structure, there’s actually no board in the Deh Cho. We have a public administrator. The board was dismantled some time ago. With the move to single authority here in the Northwest Territories, we wanted to ensure that it was essential, or actually, we feel it was essential that we continue to get a regional voice and community voice to help us customize and enhance programs at the community level so that the regions and communities also have a voice at a territorial level.

As I’ve committed to this House before, now that the legislation has passed, I want to move forward...

We do have Our Elders, Our Communities, which is our strategy for our seniors here in the Northwest Territories with a focus on helping residents age in place, where appropriate, and then moved to other facilities as needed. We are providing training to different people throughout the Northwest Territories in the areas of palliative care and others and then home care support, to ensure that we have people available. I can’t actually recall, off the top of my head, the specifics that are being done in the Deh Cho, but I will commit to getting that information to the Member. Thank you.