Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Since we're talking about the facility-based addiction treatment, I know that Tlicho government they're doing their feasibility study regarding the treatment centre. I just wanted to ask the Minister if they are working with the Indigenous government such as Tlicho government who are doing their own studies to, you know -- to accommodate. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Dinaga Wek'ehodi. Dinaga, in Denezo Yatii, means this land; Wek'ehodi look after in Tlicho language.

Dinaga Wek'ehodi is a landscape of profound natural, cultural, and political significance in the Northwest Territories, encompassing nearly 800 square kilometers along the North Arm of Great Slave Lake. It has been a place of gathering, teaching, and sustenance for Dene and Metis people for countless generations. This land is a living foundation of stories, language, ceremony, and knowledge passed from elder to youth, rooted in longstanding relationships with...

Thank you. As a result, you know, this is really because of the neglect for so long that many of our young people with challenges, they didn't have the opportunity, they fell through the cracks and it's like, you know, they miss out on a lot so this is where the JP program came in, and that's where JP helped many of our young people because we do have -- the autism is the one that's coming up more and more in many of the smaller communities, especially for disabilities. And I know that, you know, whether the JP gets approved or not and with them, I know, you know -- because JP was not approved...

Okay. So it's not being -- other communities where there's a lot of need as well within the disabilities and respite and the seniors??? funds, so is there a program that goes to the small communities to support these three items?

Okay, thank you, Mr. Chair. My colleagues have -- you know, we all did at one time, too -- about treatment facility in the Northwest Territories. We all want a treatment facility because many of our young people are going south though talking to some people, and we heard that once a person goes south for treatment program they come back to the same scenario so, you know, they relapse, so the relapse is great. But what -- the success -- talking to some of the psychologists and some of the counsellors, the success with a treatment program is that they do 60 days and 60 days of the extended care...

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Thank you. And I know it's not on here, but I know there was the out of territory treatment program but community wellness, mental health -- community mental wellness and addiction recovery, there is a decrease, the operation and expenditure summary. Why is there a decrease when we know that we have an addiction issue and problems in many of the small communities? Thank you.

Thank you. Well, that's -- MRI machine is very important and, you know, when I said the department of health is very important for the -- for our people, especially the Indigenous because of our treaty rights -- my colleague always talks about treaty rights so it is part of our treaties, so that's why I said, you know, department of health and education are two important departments for us.

Dialysis, hospital -- I know that, you know, larger regional -- no, I don't think Inuvik does have one, but I know there's one probably south of us. But dialysis machine, you know, there's quite a few people...

Okay, thank you. With the hospital services, okay there is an increase from previous to current -- to upcoming. But, you know, I know my colleagues they talk about that medical travel and patient advocates was mentioned and, you know, like quite a few times that, you know, I've been hearing from my constituents and others as well regarding their experience with medical travel and a lot of times we were told, or they were told, go talk to the medical -- to the patient advocates. And some of them they said who, who do I go to, but -- so I don't know if they're being utilized, if -- you know, if...

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Hospital services, I know the budget went down from last fiscal year to upcoming fiscal year. Even with the revised, it still has remained the same. So I know in the hospital here there's MRI -- we have CAT scan but we don't have MRI. Can the Minister explain why MRI is not available in the Northwest Territories.