Glen Abernethy

Like I said, I will work with the department to get briefed up on this particular situation, and I’ll work with committee as we move forward, if we choose to move forward.

Thank you. This government, this department will live up to the commitments made by the current Ministers and the previous Ministers. Thank you.

Thank you. I’ve already said I’ll get that information for the Member and I will. I will provide it to the Member and committee in due course. Thank you.

I’ll certainly get myself briefed. I’ll work with the department, I’ll share the information with committee, and we will work as a consensus government to decide how to move forward on this issue.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll certainly have some discussions with the department to find out where we are with this, and I’ll work with committee as we move forward, if we move forward.

Mr. Speaker, I’m pretty sure that’s what I just said as well. As far as a timeline, I’m not going to stand here on my first day and give you a timeline. I’m going to work with the Members. We are going to work on a timeline. We are going to come forward with action in the life of this Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I listened intently yesterday during the mental health and addictions theme day and I heard the Member talking. I also heard all of the Members talking. What I will commit to right now is that I will sit down with committee. We will talk about these issues. The reviews and the research have been done; it’s time for action. I agree, and I will work with committee to move forward on this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We’ve already committed to move forward with a wellness court here in the Northwest Territories. We hope to have the beginning aspects of it by April 1, 2014. Having said that, I’m not sure we actually need to incorporate it into legislation. It may be something that we may benefit from doing, but it would be impossible for me to say at this time without us finishing our analysis. So I will certainly have the departments, both Justice and Health and Social Services, look at it to see if it’s appropriate.

This is the first round of collecting information after the discussion items and discussion papers have gone out. After that, there will obviously be some initial work on some drafting and working on the legislative proposal. From that point, we will be seeking input from stakeholders from across the Northwest Territories and move forward to the point where we’re closer to being ready to go forward with an LP and discussion with committee. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I heard the Member say that we need a thorough and informed debate to examine the pros and cons leading to a clear evidence-based decision and a commitment to act. I also heard Members say we are plagued with study after study after study. I’ve heard other Members say we have talked about the reports that have been shelved. I heard another Member say study after study after study keeps telling us the same thing. I also heard that we have to think outside the box and that we have to work together.

I and my colleagues are here to work with Members on that side of the House...