Glen Abernethy

We will continue to work with the Sahtu health and social services in the community and identify the needs for the community with respect to the new independent living unit. Where additional resources are required, we will plan for them through the normal business cycle, which will give us time to have positions in place if necessary and required in the ’15-16 fiscal year.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just confirmed with the Minister of Housing that that project is definitely going ahead. They’re going to be starting during this fiscal year. I’ll leave it to the Minister to confirm the actual opening date, but the Department of Health and Social Services, the Sahtu Health and Social Services Authority and the Housing Corporation are collaborating on the development and programming for the new independent living units. A common area has been identified and incorporated into the design of the new housing units, and in the plans it is proposed that seniors day...

I am pleased to be here today to address Bill 6, An Act to Amend the Medical Care Act.

The Medical Care Act establishes that “medically necessary” services provided by a doctor are insured services.

The act also defines who is eligible for insured services and expressly excludes some residents from coverage under the act. For example, members of the Canadian Armed Forces are not eligible for payments of insured services under the Medical Care Act. This is because members receive similar benefits under relevant federal legislation.

Until recently, the Medical Care Act was consistent with the...

I’m not sure of the exact date or the exact status of the evaluation, whether we had started or whether we’re just waiting for the program to conclude its full year, but I will get that detail for the Member and committee.

As I indicated previously, the federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Justice did raise this with the federal Minister. This was an area of concern. They were seeking continued financial support as opposed to having these costs completely downloaded on to the individual jurisdictions like the Northwest Territories. The answer was no.

Mr. Yakeleya’s third description is pretty much it. It’s done. We’re not getting additional funds from the federal government to cover these costs, and for us on average it’s been about $228,000 a year that we’ve been able to invoice back that we will no...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member indicated, this is currently in the pilot status, and as with pilots, we will evaluate and determine whether or not we will be able to deliver this in the future in other communities, regions, locations throughout the Northwest Territories. I will get a follow-up on the status of the evaluation for the Member.

Prior to April 1, 2013, those services were provided by the Northwest Territories for RCMP in the Northwest Territories as those services were provided to RCMP members in all the jurisdictions by the jurisdiction providing those services. The difference was prior to April 1, 2013, they were covered under the Canada Health Act, and the RCMP was billed back for those services in all jurisdictions, including the Northwest Territories. Effective April 1, 2013, the federal government has taken the RCMP out of the Canada Health Act and made it a responsibility of the jurisdictions where the members...

Mr. Speaker, the 17th Legislative Assembly identified the need to enhance addictions treatment programs as a key priority. Our government is committed to making sure that NWT residents have the tools and support they need to overcome their addictions challenges.

Addictions are linked to poverty and to educational achievement. Addictions can affect parents’ ability to care for their children and meet their needs. Their impact goes well beyond the individual. Families, communities and even our economy can be affected.

Mr. Speaker, we asked 12 respected community leaders to come together, to...

I just need to correct a statement I made that was incorrect. The RCMP officers were covered by the RCMP insurance for their health care. The families were covered by the NWT health care. So the families haven’t changed, the members have, but most of this was an accounting exercise, if you will.

If an RCMP officer before this change and after this change goes to the doctor or a nurse practitioner or allied health professional, receives services, that hasn’t changed. Nothing has changed as far as the services they get and how they receive those services.

With respect to what they’re covered for...

Businesses, organizations would maintain their third party insurance provider as they currently do. It should not affect them.