Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, we do provide community counsellors and wellness workers within most regions in the Northwest Territories but what we also -- you know, and I've mentioned this in this House, what we -- the direction that has come from Indigenous governments is that they want to have a fund to be able to access funds to be able to provide those types of programs in their own way in their own regions, and so what we do have is the community wellness and recovery -- or wellness and addictions recovery fund. And I know that most of the regions access this -- Indigenous...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just wanted to add with -- just further information -- and I know that as we're live here, I'm just pulling up more information on the wastewater. There currently is new funding, third-party funding, that will be continuing parts -- I think a part of this program ongoing. Where those communities are, I'll just pass it over to the deputy minister and she can speak to the communities that that's happening in right now currently. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I wanted to also mention as part of that labour market supplement there were eligible positions that were increased for retention in that labour market supplement. But as for what the department is doing or what -- within NTHSSA is there is the recruitment strategy that the department is working along with. And I can turn that over to the deputy minister to go through some of the things that are going on. And the thing to be reminded is these are things that cannot be monetary, so in cash or the -- as the labour market supplement is, and so it's ways to try...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll have the ADM Mathison break down where that change is. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Can I pass that on to the deputy minister, please. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, as the negotiations go through the collective agreement bargaining, we follow whatever the agreement is after that, you know -- we cannot bargain additionally outside that collective agreement. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. With that detail, I'll pass it on to the deputy minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, this funding reduction was done as the shelter networks use this fund -- the amount that's allocated that was reduced was for bringing people, you know, from the -- like, the staff from the shelters into Yellowknife to do training. This past year, my understanding is that the online training has been completed now and so that those staff within all of the regions now could do the training that they -- this training through virtual means. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Yes, that is correct.

Thank you, Madam Chair. So the direction that the child and family services is going in is -- it's kind of set into seven priorities:

To serve children, youth, families, so working collaboratively with Indigenous governments and organizations;

Care rooted in Indigenous practices;

Support to care providers and caregivers;

Strengthen youth supports and transition to adulthood;

Specialized services closer to home;

Strengthening human resource recruitment and

Retention efforts for an inclusive and representative workforce; and,

Reducing administrative demands for increased opportunities to connect with...