Lesa Semmler

Mr. Speaker, I have given that direction. I will reinforce that direction back to NTHSSA. I also have, you know, and I mean I'm going to say that on the other side of it, it is sometimes we try to streamline them. Patients, you know, there are certain things that they need to be seen sooner and another appointment can't be. We will make those accommodations but that is not the norm. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm going to -- who wants to give more detail? Can I pass it over to Mr. Clarke. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is a lot of work that is going on. The public administrator over this past year has, one of the most important things is that he had to go out and he had to attend and hear from the regional wellness councils. He attended all of the regions. We highlighted some of the areas where we've seen he's been working alongside with the NWT Medical Association. There is an ongoing process that's going on right now. The last budget that they tabled actually decreased, I think it was $20 million out of the current -- it would have been a deficit. And throughout the year, they...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. When we lease space and we make accommodations, those accommodations are at our cost with approval from the leaser or the leasee. We're the leaser, sorry. And if the lease expires and we leave the facility because we have something -- or somewhere else to go or programs change, then those renovations just remain where they're at. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when the lab staff arrive, I think -- I believe that -- you know, that's the issue, is that the place where they are downtown is the landlord is the responsible person and so the staff can go in, but the doors open at a certain time. And then the issue that was raised not just today but yesterday with the chairs, that that issue has been raised with the landlord; however, they do not recommend that chairs be in the lobby of the waiting area. They don't recommend that even moveable chairs that could go there and be removed. So this is an ongoing discussion...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With that level of detail, I would have to get back to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as throughout the Northwest Territories, some of these homes, people have been living in them for almost -- like, I can honestly say in my community, there are some families that have been living in the same home for 30 plus years. So they're just giving them the time to, you know, offer up, you know, the information first, give them the information, give them time, you know, those information on quitting smoking because we know in the Northwest Territories that we do provide smoking cessation for all Northwest Territories residents and all those types of...

Mr. Speaker, I can follow up with NTHSSA. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you know, I appreciate the question and I think I'll be able to take this back to NTHSSA, because this is something that I have also asked for. I wanted to know the stats. I want to know how many patients are being seen in the clinics, especially here in the capital, and are those numbers increasing? What are the waitlists? So I know that they are working on some data right now, and I most recently spoke with the public administrator, and they are getting ready to provide a briefing to me on some of this data and when I do have this data, I'll be able to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't know the circumstances and I'm not going to speak to this situation specifically. I don't know the age of the person, but I do know that our child and family services does have a voluntary service agreement that if you're over 16, and I believe that there are different circumstances around it, that, you know, if you don't have -- if you're homeless, they can work with the youth or the young adult -- or, you know, a youth, to try to find supports for them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.