Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Mr. Chair. At this time, I -- you know, I could appreciate the Member asking this and that there was -- you know, we -- because of the location, close proximity to Hay River, there is nothing in our plans to do this and, therefore, within our plans, there are many priorities in our infrastructure plans to have to do over our 20-year plan, our 5-year, 20-year plan, so it's not at this time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the programming and the operations of this area, kind of through the work that we're doing is that we're working -- we're going to be working closely, I think, with housing, and they would be taking over through the homelessness file and we would be moving back as being the health supports that are going to be needed. And so once we get this open and operational, then that collaboration between health and housing will have to continue to see what type of services and programs that are going to be needed to continue to run that program or if there's going to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, health systems across Canada are facing serious and complex challenges. The Northwest Territories is not alone in this. Every province and territory is working to respond to the growing impacts of addictions, mental health needs, workforce shortages, and service gaps. That is why collaboration with other Canadian jurisdictions is essential.

I recently attended the inaugural meeting of the provincial and territorial Ministers responsible for mental health, addiction and recovery, held in Alberta. This was an important opportunity to share experiences, learn...

So we don't anticipate to have the plan until 2027-2028 to go forward with. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes, we are still on track for that.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So during -- how our capital process works is we look for the approval for the planning dollars. So those planning dollars will help us to create the -- the planing will begin in 2026, producing a schematic design and a class C cost estimate, and then once that is done then we can anticipate, you know, to put forward a request for after that fiscal year. And then when it does, depending on, you know, the build -- and, like, health facilities can take, you know, a couple years to three years. I know that this is a health cabin, so it could be faster. Thank you, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Member for this question, and I know that in our system, you know, I've recently had this conversation with my department, that there's a whole continuum of mental health and addictions and the supports that go along with that spectrum. And so what I've actually gone to my department is to work with NTHSSA and themselves to figure out where all of these gaps are and so and what can we do and a lot of it's going to probably take partnerships. But, however, I can -- you know, if I can work with the Member to get more detail on what actually happened...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the Beaufort Delta was the first to be reviewed under the community counselling program, and so what they have done is they've done a collaboration where they pull the Indigenous governments and the community counselling program together to be able to serve people and hire people with lived experience to be able to provide those services. I know we are working with -- we are currently working in the Sahtu through that process as well, and we're hoping that we'll get through the rest of the territory, because it's designed on servicing the region, the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in order for a resident of the Northwest Territories to attend a treatment facility, they have to be referred by a caseworker, a caseworker who works with them. That caseworker also creates an aftercare plan for when they return home and then before they're discharged, they are to communicate with the -- that is part of the work that happens and, you know, and so I encourage that if residents are returning back to their community, to speak with the caseworker that has referred them out because that is part of it. And if the Member has, you know, residents...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know that the patient experience questionnaire, somebody who's worked in the system for many, many years, that this happens every two to three years. So the questionnaire goes out, and it's through the quality program, and it goes out to anyone on their experience or current experience with the healthcare system. What it does is it comes back and then there's a report -- it is usually public. I think the last one was done in 2022. And what that report -- what it helps to do is work with those areas with the executive team and to work within those areas to...