Sandy Lee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 8, Social Work Profession Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Member is correct that especially in his communities they are very passionate about this. The government has listened. The Department of Health and Social Services has invested, actually, the largest increase and largest sum to the community of Tuk that I have made available to help the community with their house that they want to open to work on the addictions issues.

The Member mentioned earlier that we should work with the federal government. I would like to advise the Member that the Department of Health and Social Services has finalized an application to the Mental Health Commission so...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We do have counsellors and wellness workers in most of our communities. Our budget is $6 million to provide for that. Mr. Speaker, it is true, we do not have a treatment centre in every community. If we were to do that, we need to do that as a Legislature and government and through the business plan process. Thank you.

We have communicated in this regard and I believe I have given a copy of that previously. I would be happy to share that with the Member. That’s not a problem. Thank you.

I’m not sure… The Member mentioned different numbers than what we anticipate. Obviously in terms of air flight, flying to the municipal airport or the international airport, the cost would not be that much different, whether you’re flying from the Yellowknife municipal airport, well, from the NWT to municipal or international, because air distance is not that large.

The issue in the health field is we provide medical and medevac services as required, and obviously if there’s extra costs involved we would have to absorb those. What we are concentrating on is working with the people involved in...

Mr. Speaker, as outlined in the Department of Health and Social Services action plan, A Foundation for Change, we are taking actions to ensure the accessibility to health care services is optimized for NWT residents.

As Members are aware, the incidence of colorectal cancer in the Northwest Territories is among the highest in the country. Men are 1.5 times more likely, and women 1.3 times more likely, to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer than their Canadian counterparts. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the Territory for both men and women. NWT Colorectal...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 2, An Act to Amend the Dental Auxiliaries Act, be read for the third time.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The total price tag is $15 million.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Kathy Tsetso, CEO of Deh Cho Health and Social Services Authority, and two ladies who are with her. I will not try to name them because I will get them wrong, so welcome to the gallery.

The Member inquired about that previously and I did respond to the Member on that. I don’t have it with me, but, Mr. Speaker, I do believe that is possible to have our residents who are coming out of treatment programs and facilities to have aftercare counselling within the community with the staff that we have. So, Mr. Speaker, it’s possible through our system. Thank you.