Glen Abernethy

For specifics on what the children's lawyer does in the Northwest Territories, I would suggest that you're best off asking the Minister of Justice, who is responsible for that position. It's not a Health and Social Services position. I do know from time to time, when there are Child and Family Services issues before the courts, the children's lawyer can be accessed to provide some support to the youth to help them make sure that their voice is heard in the court of proceedings.

When it comes to the question that the Member asked previously about the ability of a child to sign a third-party...

Overtime for front-line nurses would be in here, yes. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Debt repayment is part of our cost now and will continue to be a part of our costs in the future, so yes, absolutely. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the situation has been raised with me. I appreciate the Member raising it. I do hear the Member. I will bring these concerns to the department. We'll have a discussion to see what we can do to help our residents who are frustrated by this. I don't have an answer for the Member. I don't know enough to say for sure exactly what timelines are, or those types of things, but I hear the Member's concerns. We will raise them, absolutely.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would love to say yes, but honestly, we have had no indication at this point. I will continue to bring it up. If the opportunity presents itself, I would be happy to explore or discuss back pay on that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I wish there was a really simple answer to this one, but there is not. It really is dependent on the individual and whether or not they have the capacity to understand the consent that they are signing. A youth can sign their own consent when it is deemed that they actually have the capacity to understand what they are signing and the ramifications of signing, and so, when a youth does need support through an independent voice, we can and we do utilize the children's lawyer to help determine whether they have the capacity to do that. If the capacity is there, absolutely, they can sign their...

Sure, absolutely. Once we get it and we have an idea of what the cost is, and what we will actually be purchasing, and what we won't be purchasing, I'll be happy to share that with committee.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I'm not an accountant, so I will go to somebody who is much better with numbers than I, the director of finance, Jeannie Mathison.

Yes, Mr. Chair, this is the section where audiologists fall under. This is the area that funds them. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. No. Every opportunity I have or every time I meet with the federal Ministers, I mention it. I indicate our desire to have them come to the table and cover the Metis health benefits. There has been no official response to date. I will continue to raise it every opportunity I get when I am in Ottawa or when I am meeting with federal Ministers. Thank you, Mr. Chair.