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Mr. Speaker, the Healthy Family Program is a voluntary, home-visiting and knowledge sharing program for pregnant parents, caregivers, and families with young children under six. Over the last five years, the Department of Health and Social Services has worked closely with communities to renew this valuable program. Elders and other community members have shared their vision for this renewed program, where children thrive, caregivers are supported, and communities care for families so that future generations are stronger and stronger.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Julie Green has extended the territory-wide Public Health Emergency under the Northwest Territories’ Public Health Act on the advice of Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO) Dr. Kami Kandola, effective March 29, 2022.

The latest extension continues through March 31, 2022 at 11:59:59pm. 

The Public Health Emergency is required to continue to decisively respond to shifts in the NWT’s own public health situation, and maintain preventative measures.

The Government of Northwest Territories is offering free mental wellness subscription boxes to NWT Youth. These boxes are being made available as part of the My Voice My Choice Campaign for Youth Wellness. The boxes include a variety of health and mental wellness resources, such as topic-specific materials, as well as individual and group activities such as colouring sheets and activity kits by northern-based artists. The boxes are available to youth and to organizations who work with youth.

There are five different subscription boxes, each with a unique theme:

Effective March 25, 2022, the sale of flavoured vapour products will be banned in the Northwest Territories.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Julie Green has extended the territory-wide Public Health Emergency under the Northwest Territories’ Public Health Act on the advice of Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO) Dr. Kami Kandola, effective March 16, 2022.

The latest extension continues through March 29, 2022. 

The Public Health Emergency is required to continue to decisively respond to shifts in the NWT’s own public health situation, and maintain preventative measures.

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Mr. Speaker, mental health and addictions continues to be a serious issue in the NWT, which is why this government has committed to increasing the number and variety of culturally respectful, community-based, mental health and addictions programs, including aftercare. I rise today to update Members on the work to meet this mandate commitment.

The Department of Health and Social Services (HSS) has opened the 2022 Patient Experience Questionnaire for public engagement. The questionnaire is available in print and online.

The questionnaire is designed for the Department of Health and Social Services to better understand the quality of care provided. Responses will help HSS improve services and monitor progress over time. 

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Mr. Speaker, eliminating anti-Indigenous racism in the Health and Social Services system is an urgent issue in the Northwest Territories, and across the country. I rise today to reaffirm our government’s commitment to advancing cultural safety for Indigenous residents. This is a commitment we will continue to act on and today I will provide an update on the progress we have made over the past year.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has received the required permits from the City of Yellowknife for the occupancy and use of the day shelter at the former visitor centre site. With the approval of these permits, the local State of Emergency in Yellowknife will no longer be required and will be discontinued, effective March 3, 2022.

This facility will continue to offer day sheltering services to residents and will retain the same capacity.

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Mr. Speaker, I want to update Members on steps being taken to address the recruitment and retention of health and social services staff in the Northwest Territories. Members created a mandate priority to increase the number of resident health care professionals by at least 20 percent during the 19th Legislative Assembly. The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the need for health and social services workers across Canada and within the Northwest Territories.