Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Madam Chair. We agree with recommendation 11 and work is already in process.

The department has established an audit schedule and requires action plans to address deficiencies that are identified, and the department is monitoring the implementation.

Based on the Auditor General’s recommendations and our response and the departmental response, we are planning and intend to work with the health and social services authorities to develop a more formal audit schedule and process. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We agree with recommendation 27 and all the actions that are being designed, including the action plan designed to support this.

Mr. Speaker, a number of times in the House I’ve made reference to the adults and youth living in southern facilities, and I’ve indicated that we’re going to be doing a review on a case-by-case basis to find out if there are any similar type conditions or individuals or groups of individuals that are out there in those facilities, to see if there’s an opportunity to repatriate them. That will go to what the Member is talking about to some degree.

But, also, we are moving forward with the renovations of the Stanton Territorial Hospital. As part of that plan, the extended care unit will not be...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Through the Northern Graduate Employment Program, which began in 2001, 26 Northerners have become social workers, of whom 16 are actually still employed by the GNWT. The department is completing an updated Health and Social Services Human Resource Strategic Plan and social workers have been identified as a priority area in this new action plan. We will work on a number of fronts to encourage northern social work students, including going to the schools to encourage northern youth to consider social work as a career, and continue to provide summer students intern and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The action plan that the Member is referring was put in place in 2007. It was done in partnership with a number of different organizations, including the NWT Disabilities Council.

We recently had some discussion with the NWT Disabilities Council about helping us to provide an update on that plan. I’m happy to provide the Member and committee with a written update of all the actions in the action plan to date and how we’re going to move forward with the council to do an update. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We’ve already indicated, and I’d like to indicate again, that we agree with recommendation 23.

Nothing is being downloaded, because nothing has changed. The fact is, the communities have had this responsibility and they have actively pursued it in different communities. There is fundraising that can be done. Communities have always taken this action. It’s not being downloaded, because it has always been the responsibility of the community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The statutory training is continually adjusted based on feedback from the different participants, but I hear the Member and I support the recommendation 21. The new action plan will include an evaluation of the Statutory Training Program and it will be updated accordingly.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There’s no question that handi-vans provide an essential service for persons with disabilities; however, the provision for transportation services for people with disabilities is beyond the core mandate of the Department of Health and Social Services. I have had an opportunity to share the concerns that have been raised by the Member and the public with the Minister of MACA, and at present there is no GNWT funding available to municipalities for transportation services. The funding that they do receive from Municipal and Community Affairs is for water and sewer...

Thank you, Madam Chair. We obviously agree with this recommendation given that I’ve already indicated we intend to have this manual completed by October, and I agree with the Member’s comments as well.