Kieron Testart

Again, I am not questioning the merits of the person who was appointed, and I am sure they will do a good job, but the Minister knows quite well that this is a long-time political aide of the Minister. Can the Minister confirm whether or not he brought this issue up with his Cabinet colleagues or with the Conflict of Interest Commissioner to assess whether or not it was a conflict for him to make this decision?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation and Safety Commission's appointment of the Workers' Advisor, why was an expression of interest not issued to the public? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the committee would like to consider Tabled Document 322-18(3), Main Estimates 2019-2020, with the Departments of Justice and Infrastructure as the departments under consideration by committee. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My understanding is it was three months. The Minister had three months to fill this position. The Minister can't tell me if there is more than one person. I would like to know what process is in place to ensure that Cabinet and political appointments conform to the standards of transparency and fairness that Northerners have come to expect from their government? Thank you.

The position is for the public, not for our employees, and certainly not for the Minister. What criteria did the Minister use to select the candidate? Just being a long-time Northerner, a long-time personal staff member of the Minister? Or were there other selection criteria?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, constituents and other members of the public have brought to me their concerns around wait times of six to 12 weeks to access mental health services, far greater than the government's own estimate of two to three weeks. Can the Minister of Health and Social Services respond to these concerns today with an updated and current estimate of the approximate wait times to access mental health care services in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring further attention to an issue which affects Northerners of all ages and walks of life, directly or indirectly, our mental healthcare system.

I want to take a moment first to thank all in our communities in the public and private healthcare facilities, the nurses, doctors, therapists, community leaders, specialists, and elders who work tirelessly for the betterment and health of all Northerners. We all owe you a great debt of gratitude. My thoughts today are being made in the hope we can improve the existing programs and the concerns that have been shared with...

Thank you. I'm looking at an undated presentation that is available on the Department of Justice's website, and it indicates that short-term outcomes of the project are that being housed in Community Justice has been a neutralizer, that departmental barrier work is challenging many individual-level successes, and that the current ICM model may not be sustainable. Are these still findings of the pilot in its current form, or have these been addressed? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm looking at a news article on the CBC from September of 2017, and in that it's quoted as saying that 215 referrals have been made to the program since October of 2015, referencing Integrated Case Management. Prior to occupying this seat, I spent some time working in the Minister's department. That was prior to 2015, and my recollection was that Integrated Case Management was going on then. Why this is relevant, Mr. Chair, is that I understand evaluating a three-year program and determining how to proceed, but if this is more like a six-year program or a seven-year...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that Committee Report 11-18(3), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 of the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Reports, be received and adopted by the Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.