Glen Abernethy

We are pleased to announce that we have actually been approved to receive $4.5 million in federal funding under the Territorial Health Investment Fund for the development and initiation of an NWT oral health strategy. Based on the March 2014 report Brushing Up On Oral Health, we have developed an ambitious action plan for the development of an evidence-based strategy to improve the oral health status of NWT residents, particularly with a focus on our children. That number can actually be found on page 221 of this document, and it’s under the title work performed on behalf of others, and it...

I’m glad the Member is taking the challenge. I too will be taking Mental Health First Aid training.

The authorities have enough money to do two deliveries of Mental Health First Aid training in each of the regions every year. I will commit to getting the Member as well as all of the Members a complete list of where the Mental Health First Aid training will be, and I’ll let them know when Mental Health First Aid training is going to occur in their communities so that they can participate.

I would also encourage them, as I did previously, to please get their CAs to take it, because I know their...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department does keep up on most of the publications that are out there with respect to health and social services and mental health. I haven’t personally seen it myself, but I will confirm, I will check with the department to confirm they have it.

We haven’t had any tri-territorial meetings with the Ministers of Health and Social Services since January 29th, so the answer to his second part is no.

I agree with the Member. There is a significant cost to no-show rates both in productivity as well as frustration for those individuals who are on waiting lists. To talk about some of the detailed work that is being done, I will go to the deputy.

I actually forget the title, but it’s infrastructure funding for community governments. We will get that information confirmed from MACA and provide it to committee. I forget the name of the fund. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I answer the question, I just want to take this opportunity to thank the Members for undertaking this theme day. One of the key actions within the Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan, one of the key priority areas is to actually promote the understanding, awareness and acceptance of mental health in the Northwest Territories. It’s forums like this and Members asking questions that it starts to increase the awareness of mental health in the Northwest Territories. So I applaud them for taking it upon themselves to do the theme day on mental health and...

It could be here. A lot of those costs will be in the directorate.

On Page 197, under community mental health and addictions there’s a budget line of $15.24 million. That’s where those dollars are.

Mr. Speaker, as we have been hearing in this Assembly recently, on-the-land healing programs are critical to achieving our goal of healthy, educated people free from poverty. That discussion echoes recommendations previously made by the Minister’s Forum on Addictions and Community Wellness.

The Department of Health and Social Services recognizes the importance of spiritual and cultural healing and has made on-the-land programming a key component of the continuum of care and treatment of addictions. We are working with Aboriginal governments to deliver on-the-land programs as part of Territorial...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I’m happy to go with whatever the committee wishes. Thanks to the Member for his comments. We too are really looking forward to moving forward and completing the construction of the long-term care facility and the health centre in Norman Wells. We believe it’s going to bring a new and important service to the residents of the Sahtu, which I believe they have wanted for a really long time. It’s also building upon our elders in our communities, which is creating more beds in the Northwest Territories for long-term care.

The Member is absolutely right; this will create...