Michael Miltenberger

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have over the last few years put nursing programs in place, we have social work programs, we are now doing registered care aid programs, we are going to put back into effect the community health representative programs, we are supporting students in post-secondary situations in medical school. So we have initiatives on a whole number of fronts in terms of trying to develop a northern workforce in these very specialized areas. So we still struggle with some of the psychiatric specialties, and those types of very advanced services, but we are committed...

Mr. Speaker, in relation to this particular instance, the primary, fundamental and initial concern is to make sure that once a decision is made about APYS, the transition to move clients into adequate facilities so they have the same kind of service level and resources they had previously is done. We’ve done that. I have indicated to this House, in the short term we are looking at the possibilities of some short-term repatriation of services we now have in the North. As well, we are going to look at the longer term, once again based on the individual client needs, to see what could be possible...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We would be happy to provide this House, to the Chair of Social Programs, the package of information that we have as it relates to Integrated Services in Edmonton and the various components of the programs and services they offer. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the level of the Member's satisfaction is the level of detail I don't think I really need as the Minister. However, I will attempt to respond once again. These are very specialized placements, they're not necessarily institutions, they're supported living, there are multiple needs, some of them very complex that require specialized care. Are we looking at this? Yes, we are.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of repatriation and providing, as a government, services to the people we serve within the territory is not a new concept. If we look back to 1967 when the government came north and the services that were there then and the services that are here now clearly indicate that we have been evolving over the years and decades and that there are a tremendous amount of services we provide in house, be it in education where we now can do college or some university accreditation, or in health and social services where we have group homes, we have...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are over one dozen. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member raises a good point, the issue of repatriation is one that is well on our agenda, and as we speak in relation to the case that has brought all this discussion to light. We are looking at the possibilities. As I indicated in this House over the last week, we believe there's an opportunity in the short term to repatriate these clients into existing services, and then we are going to actively look at a longer-range plan. So I concur with the issues and concerns raised in the House by the Members this morning as we talk about this issue, that we...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled NWT Health and Social Services Action Plan, Status Report, October 2003 to March 2004. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’ve indicated what the plan is going to be in terms of looking at the issue of repatriation as it applies across the board. As well, we have a number of other reviews underway; for example, the issue of trying to deal with the cognitively impaired, which is an area that is well requiring very special attention. So in the short term we are going to review what is possible as a result of the transition or move out of APYS. In the longer term we are going to do a client-by-client review, but also look at the level of service that is required and see what...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We, as a government, have taken all the steps at this point we believe are necessary. We’ve made arrangements with Integrated Services. We, along with Nunavut and the Alberta government, no longer place clients with APYS. The issue of the aboriginal and cultural component is one that’s been addressed. Integrated Services is tied into services in Edmonton with the group Bent Arrow and the friendship centres. We are working with them to make sure that the northern content is there. Once the clients move, we can deal with issues like northern foods and that sort of thing...