Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd have to go back to NTHSSA on -- you know, the department. I'm not sure if they're -- what type of a review is going on. However, there are a variety of mental health supports throughout the system. But we continue to review mental health supports for children and youth. The department is working closely with partners to ensure that youth have timely access and appropriate supports ranging from early intervention and school-based services to clinical, virtual, and family support. However, the increased challenges of providing responsive specialized...

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...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As these go out for tender, we do not disclose the actual amounts. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, no, we haven't -- I have not had those conversations with the leadership. However, I do communicate regularly with the TCSA, Tlicho community service agency. And this discussion has not come up. We support the service that we -- that they have as they are the lead in their jurisdiction on how these services are provided. We support them. NTHSSA supports them. And so, yeah, thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Joining me today I have from the Department of Health and Social Services I have Kristen Berg, assistant deputy minister of corporate service and cultural safety. And on this side, I have Mr. Chris Clarke, director of infrastructure planning. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

So within prior years, I think we had other allocations. I think there was larger builds for, I think Tulita, and the wellness and recovery, the full -- the first big chunk -- the first chunk of money that we got from the federal money that was allocated was in the 2025-2026 budget. And I believe the long-term care in Hay River had some money allocated in the previous year as well. That's why the budget prior was larger. Thank you, Mr. Chair.