Mr. Speaker, today I would like to provide Members with an update on the draft Child and Family Services Quality Improvement Plan. The Quality Improvement Plan sets out actions that we are taking right now to address issues identified as part of internal reviews, the 2018 Auditor General’s Report, and from staff feedback.

Mr. Speaker, this Legislative Assembly has committed to support early childhood development and today I want to provide Members and the public with an update on our work to provide equitable access to a range of inclusive, culturally informed programs and services for and children under five years of age and expecting parents.

À l’occasion de la publication par le ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du rapport Votre bien-être, notre priorité : Plan d’action sur le respect de la culture de 2018 à 2020, une déclaration d’engagement a été signée pour intégrer le respect de la culture au système ténois de santé et de services sociaux.

Les signataires de cette déclaration sont :

Mr. Speaker, the government is committed to addressing health inequities experienced by our residents. In October of last year I provided information on the Department of Health and Social Service’s plans to move forward with our cultural safety and relationship-based care approach, and today I am pleased advise that the 2018-2020 Caring for Our People: Cultural Safety Action Plan will be tabled later today.

Le ministre de la Santé et des Services sociaux a rendu public le questionnaire de 2019 sur l’expérience des patients aux TNO. Ce questionnaire peut être rempli au format papier et en ligne.

Le questionnaire est conçu pour aider le ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) à en savoir plus sur la qualité des soins que son personnel prodigue. Les réponses lui permettent d’améliorer les services et de faire le suivi des progrès réalisés.

Au Canada, mars est le Mois de la nutrition. Nos diététistes nous aident à tirer parti de ce que nous mangeons pour améliorer notre santé, soutenir nos activités et nous rassembler.

Mr. Speaker, Regional Wellness Council members are a critical part of our health and social services system.  They are change leaders in their communities and a voice for residents in their regions.  They champion the ideas and concerns of residents and are passionate about using that information to shape and improve our health and social services. 

Mr. Speaker, we know that mental health and addictions issues are top of mind for many NWT residents and they are also priority area in the mandate of this Legislative Assembly.  To guide our work to address these important issues affecting our communities, the Department of Health and Social Services developed a Strategic Framework for Mental Health and Addictions Recovery in the fall of 2016.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to update Members on our government’s recent work on cannabis public education and community health engagement.   

Northerners have told us that they want more evidence-based, culturally relevant information on the health effects of cannabis. In response to that call, the Department of Health and Social Services has been working in partnership with other Departments and agencies, as well as the federal government, to ensure that NWT residents have access to the information and resources they need in order to make informed choices.

La crise des opioïdes continue d’avoir des effets dévastateurs sur les personnes, les familles et les collectivités partout au pays. Sans un accès accru à des options de traitement efficaces et fondées sur des données probantes, les gens continueront d’être à risque de surdose.