Michael Miltenberger

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...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is not a facility with one huge roof like Wal-Mart. We're talking about individual living accommodations and supports for people with complex needs. I have indicated to the Members involved that I would be happy to look towards arranging a tour down to Capital Health in Edmonton to look at all our health services…

---Applause

…and all our social services that we contract with them. We did it in the last assembly and it was a very informative tour for myself and the Members who went along, and I would be willing to look at arranging that again. We...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is no contradiction, and I'll do my best to satisfy the Member, as difficult as that sometimes may be. The reality is, as I've indicated, Mr. Speaker -- and this is not just a case of putting a roof over somebody's head -- we're talking about clients, many of them with complex, multiple needs that are very specialized. So I think it's an overgeneralization to say let's just round them all up and stick them into every available space we may have up here willy-nilly, regardless of what their needs may be. So, yes, we're looking at this and we're...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, without being able to find that particular item in my briefing book, the figure that I would suggest is it’s a few million. Thank you.

---Laughter