Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Colleagues and visitors in the gallery are wearing purple to promote awareness for this important day.

Mr. Speaker, our work towards eliminating Elder abuse is done in partnership with the NWT Seniors Society and the NWT Network to Prevent Abuse of Older Adults. I would encourage all Members to read Creating Safe Communities for Older Adults: A Five Year Strategy for the Northwest Territories 2015-2020 prepared by the NWT Network to Prevent Abuse of Older Adults.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment in its Mandate to continue implementing the Building Stronger Families Action Plan to transform child and family services, including work around the Child and Family Services Act.

The main purpose of the Child and Family Services Act is to protect children in situations where they may have been harmed, or where there is a risk of harm. The Act serves the best interests of children by protecting them from exposure to abuse and neglect.

Mr. Speaker, in February 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that certain provisions in the Criminal Code related to physician-assisted dying were unconstitutional. June 6^th is the day the Supreme Court’s ruling takes effect across the country. Medical assistance in dying is an option for eligible Canadians.

YELLOWKNIFE (APRIL 25, 2016) - The Government of the Northwest Territories is pleased to announce that Med-Response will now play a key role in coordinating Medical extractions. Further, we are pleased our air ambulance provider, ACCESS, will now assist with remote medical extractions of known persons from a known location outside a defined community. This means that injured people in remote locations will now be picked up by fully equipped air ambulances.

NORMAN WELLS, NWT (April 13, 2016) – Residents in Norman Wells and Inuvik will have an opportunity to meet face-to-face with the Premier and all Ministers of the Government of the Northwest Territories Cabinet (GNWT) this week.

YELLOWKNIFE ( April 11, 2016) — The Minister of Health and Social Services, Glen Abernethy, is seeking nominations for appointments to Regional Wellness Councils across the Northwest Territories.

Regional Wellness Councils are new and are being established to ensure residents from across the Northwest Territories have the opportunity to provide input into the territorial health and social services system. These groups will help inform policy and programming decisions across the territory.

YELLOWKNIFE (March 31, 2016) - Representatives from the GNWT, Aboriginal governments, communities, non-government organizations and businesses met in Yellowknife this week to continue collaborative efforts to identify and implement effective solutions to combat poverty in the Northwest Territories. They shared success stories, provided updates and set shared priorities for the coming year.

The Roundtable focused on the five pillars from the Anti-Poverty Strategic Framework:

Mr. Speaker, this Assembly has made it a priority to focus on culturally appropriate delivery methods for mental health and addictions services in our communities.  To accomplish this we need to improve the services and supports that are provided to residents. We know that the current system needs improvement, and we must rethink the way mental health and addictions services are delivered.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to provide Members with an update on an exciting new initiative to support On The Land programming in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, we know that there is huge demand for On The Land programs in the NWT. They are important components of community wellness, healing, healthy living, and environmental stewardship and protection. They support the traditional economy, sustainable livelihoods, and building capacity in our communities.

YELLOWKNIFE (February 29, 2016) – The Government of the Northwest Territories continues its planning to meet the future needs of the residents of the Northwest Territories with a review of long-term care released today by Minister of Health and Social Services Glen Abernethy.