Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there's already been some changes. I know that when they went and did the assessments, some of the actual assessments had to do with building codes and when the NTHSSA did the visits to the health centres, you know, there was collaborations with other departments to make sure that these things were being repaired. And so right now as we move forward, anything that can be implemented immediately, we will be implementing. Anything that will need to be assessed more and if there is a financial means, that has to go through our processes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this process is being led by the NTHSSA in collaboration with our community, culture, and innovation division at the department. I think it's really important to know that, you know, since coming in and looking at the priorities and knowing and hearing from constituents that there's a real inequity across our territory when it comes to the different health authorities that were amalgamated, and so right now this area is where we've seen the highest -- like, some of the highest needs in -- the highest amount of cabin communities and how it relates into the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, Avens and with the NTHSSA is a very important partnership. I believe that the bed projections are built around accommodating -- like, the future of the need was why Liwego'ati was built; however, it's not to replace the beds that are at the Avens Manor. And I think to be very clear, like, that partnership is ongoing, and I -- and just as most recently, I know that discussions have started as those contract discussions have started with the NTHSSA. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can commit to connecting with my colleagues. I did have a little bit of a one-off conversation in Alberta as they're looking into this as well. But I can reach out to the other jurisdictions and see, like, how it's coming, the pros and cons of it, and how could that potentially be implemented here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, ensuring that every person in the Northwest Territories has access to safe, reliable, and equitable health care is not just a priority for me and a goal of our health and social services system, it is a promise we are working every day to uphold. Today, I am honoured to share an update on an initiative that represents a turning point for health care in the North; work happening in the Deh Cho region that is helping us understand, in a deeply human way, what care truly looks and feels like for residents in our smallest communities.

Mr. Speaker, this initiative is part of our broader...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe that the regulations are -- I'd have to get -- they're within the next year that -- with the health -- Health and Social Services Professions Act, when we bring that to the floor then there's the -- all the regulations that are being done underneath that. I know that we just did What You Heard, so that is -- that is the component as to how they're drafting the regs right now. So I will get back to the Member on the timeline. I do have it, but not at my fingertips. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, through our medical travel policy, as I stated, we do have the boarding homes in the capital here for those that are travelling into the capital for specialized appointment as well as in Inuvik, in the regional centre, and in Edmonton at Larga, and so those -- most people, if they're -- you know, if they're travelling through, if you have work insurance that your work insurance will be paying that. If you do not have work insurance or if you're a senior, you will qualify and you're not under NIHB. You'll qualify if you're low income. And if there's hardship...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, and I appreciate that question. I think in the last government this policy was looked at. However, to the $18 a day, that is -- those who are travelling, whether it be NIHB through Metis benefits or through our medical travel policy, if you're travelling for an insured service and you're covered through those policies, what we try to do is make sure they're equitable. NIHB is the guiding equitable rates that we use. And this is type of funding that we get. And most people that are travelling for medical travel, they're usually either travelling under that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, right now, access to specialized psychiatric services for children and youth continue to be challenging in our territory. While we do not currently have an in-patient pediatric psychiatry unit, children and youth in need of in-patient psychiatric care can be assessed and provided with basic treatment at Stanton Territorial Hospital. If there is need for, you know, more services, those would be referred through the health system outside. So to better meet the pediatric mental health needs, we also are utilizing the CYC staff which do provide connection when...