Julie Green

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have questions here about Avens. When I have attended Avens AGMs in the last couple of years, the balance sheet has shown that they are in the hole or about to go into the hole.

It is my understanding that the Minister offered an operational review to Avens to assess whether they were adequately funded. I am wondering if the money that we see that is extra in residential care adults and children corresponds to the results of that operational review or whether those are different entities.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Nothing further on this page.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I also had questions about the medical travel amount. I heard the Minister say that he is "tweaking," finalizing, and he will be coming back to the committee, but my question is: what portion of this $2.4 million will come from individuals, versus the amount that will come from insurance companies? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This job is making me very cynical. The fact that we have to do the budget today, but we don't get to talk about the Mental Health and Addictions Recovery Action Plan until next week means that we are not able to discuss the details today that are relevant to this budget. I find that the timing of this is unfortunate, if not directly purposeful.

I want to point out to the Minister that money that isn't paid upfront to support people on whom we have spent thousands of dollars to achieve their sobriety doesn't make any sense. We are talking about value for money and...

Given the two reports from the Office of the Auditor General which both feature concerns about children not being heard and not being in regular contact with authorities, I am wondering if the Minister is ready to revisit this discussion about having an independent, arms-length agency that is an advocate for children and youth?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. During his almost eight years in his portfolio, has the Minister had any discussions about developing an office for child and youth advocacy in the NWT? Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, it's time for the GNWT to provide better services to children and youth. Creating a child and youth advocate is the place to start. I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I apologize to the Minister. I'm still a little confused about how this is going to work. Previously, the Minister had issued two RFPs for a service provider, and there was no uptake. It was my understanding that there was not a non-profit in Yellowknife that was able to deliver this service. I'm still a little confused about who is delivering this service, and when this service is going to be delivered.

I appreciate the response from the Minister. Can the Minister tell us who is going to deliver the program to the adults who need it?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I think it is worth revisiting this conversation because of the number of things that have changed in the last one or two terms since the Minister was a Regular Member around having a child and youth advocate. As I indicated in my statement, there is considerable uptake in both the Yukon and Nunavut in having these services available to children. Given that interest, how can I, as a Member of the Standing Committee on Social Development, move this initiative forward so that we can engage in conversation with the Minister and his department? Mahsi.