Julie Green

I'm not clear whether we can make this commitment or not, so I will ask Mr. Elkin to answer the question. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We, as a department, fund a lot of different kinds of wellness initiatives like the healthy choices fund, which was just announced today for applications. With respect to this specific federally funded pot of money on wellness, I'll ask the deputy minister if he could provide some more detail. Thank you.

The development of the federal law was led, obviously, by the federal government, and they were assisted by the Assembly of First Nations. I know at least one person from the Member's region who participated in the development of this law by travelling to Ottawa and discussing it. The implementation of this law is being funded by the federal government. They have a pot of money, which, if I recall correctly, is around $450 million to spend with Indigenous governments to get involved in this process and build capacity to take over Child and Family Services. I just want to reiterate: we want...

Thank you. I'll refer that to the assistant deputy minister, please.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am just going to talk a little bit about the role of community health nurses, and then I will give the specific answer the Member asked for. It's important to know that community health nurses are not first responders. First responders have a different skill set. Community health nurses are not permitted, under NTHSSA policy dated November 6, 2019, to leave the healthcare centre in order to provide emergency services. What we do recognize that exists in many NWT communities is a gap in service that relates to ambulances and first responders. That involves going to the...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don't think that this is the right category for that question. I think that we talked about the respite services in the previous health and social programs category, but I'll just ask the deputy minister to confirm that. Thank you.

Can I just clarify: is the Member asking where they were born or where they lived when they were referred to southern treatment? What kind of a classification is she looking for here? At what point in their lives does she want them classified by location?

Yes.Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Assembly of First Nations worked with the federal government to develop a child and family services law that became law in January of 2020, and this provides for sovereignty of First Nations to provide child and family services care. We, the Department of Health and Social Services in the NWT, fully endorse this law and the sovereignty of First Nations to provide this care, and we are more than happy to collaborate with them and with the federal government in having communities take this jurisdiction on and provide child and family services care that meets both...

Thank you. I would like to refer this to the director of finance, please.

The point of which they are looking for housing is really outside of the Department of Health and Social Services, but having said that, we do recognize the importance of housing to maintaining sobriety. The counsellor would connect people with the housing authority where, honestly, they're likely to see a huge waiting list, and also to connect them with Income Assistance, where they may be able to obtain market housing if it's available and have that paid for through the Income Assistance program, along with the other benefits that that program provides.

To me, this is a systemic wraparound...