Candidate Responses to CPS Questionnaire: NWT Election 2019
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Candidate Responses to CPS Questionnaire: NWT Election 2019 Candidate 1. If elected, what will you do to 2. If elected, what will you do to 3. If elected, what will you do to improve access to publicly increase access to paediatric- ensure safer homes, schools and funded mental health treatment trained developmental support communities for children and and resources for children and services such as speech language youth, including by reducing youth? pathologists, occupational rates of childhood poverty and therapists, physiotherapists and addressing threats associated audiologists in rural and remote with addictive substances and locations in NWT? firearms? Kevin O’Reilly (Frame Lake) “There is no child or youth “During my first term, I raised the “Funded maternal and paternal psychiatric unit currently in the issue of wait times for essential leave plays a part in allowing new Stanton hospital, despite all medical services such as speech young parents to bond with their of the additional beds provided in therapy and pushed for improved children. I strongly supported the new psychiatric ward. There public reporting of wait times. the improvements made in the is a child psychiatrist but no All paediatric-trained NWT Employment Standards Act trained nurses. No beds are developmental support services that coordinate territorial presently allotted to provide local and regional benefits with recently made accommodate admissions for services but on a limited basis. federal changes to parental pediatric psychiatry. As a result, Additional public funds need to benefits. Another solution is to children have to be admitted in be provided to ensure the fund universal childcare to the psych unit or in some other provision of developmental provide quality care for pre- unit in the hospital. It is difficult support services to rural and school children and allow parents to admit patients in the pediatric remote communities that to be able to work when unit because it has been currently don’t receive them or childcare costs are affordable. I downsized so there is little room. that are inadequately resourced. supported universal childcare in An alternative has been to send my first term and look forward to them to Edmonton but the same A comprehensive survey needs to raising the issue again. problem arises in that there are be undertaken of remote limited beds or facilities for them communities’ needs for Increasing employment there. Also, doing this causes developmental support services opportunities for family members medical travel expenses to go up and of community perceptions of as well as providing access to and, in addition, the children are the adequacy of available affordable housing or social separated from their family services. It needs to focus in housing would help to reduce support. The system may save particular on the availability of child poverty. More accessible more money by providing these specialized support information must be provided to Answers provided are direct written responses from the candidates and are listed in alphabetical order by riding. The CPS does not endorse any particular candidate or platform. Candidate Responses to CPS Questionnaire: NWT Election 2019 necessary care locally which services to meet remote families about employment and would also likely improve community needs. The results of housing opportunities potentially outcomes. such a survey would then be used available to them. to plan and budget the necessary At present, there are limited resources to serve these needs.” One way to increase safety for resources available to counsel youth is to work with the children or youth, either by education authorities to ensure public or private counsellors. that students are better informed This means that only limited child students (sic) about the dangers counselling services now exist in of using alcohol, tobacco and the Northwest Territories. opioids. The “Don’t be a Butthead” program was There is an urgent need to particularly successful in develop more partnerships with promoting healthy living with southern institutions and regard to tobacco and should be facilities in order to provide revived. appropriate counselling for children and for youth who have Efforts must also be made to specific complicated mental impress upon parents the need health needs. to keep firearms safely stored and not accessible to children More public resources need to be and youth.” devoted to helping youth develop their own personal skills for self-care. More resources need to be provided for information campaigns for kids about the kinds of public and private programs and resources that are available to assist them in addressing their problems.” Answers provided are direct written responses from the candidates and are listed in alphabetical order by riding. The CPS does not endorse any particular candidate or platform. Candidate Responses to CPS Questionnaire: NWT Election 2019 Katrina Nokleby (Great Slave) “I would support the creation of “With the logistical challenges “We need to implement a Child and Youth Advocate presented by our territory and aftercare (post-rehab) and position. An impartial 3rd party our small population, we do not trauma counselling programs who could help clients and have the resources to base these in order to deal with the root families navigate the system and professionals in all communities. issues causing addictions so I believe we need to establish a secure the appropriate people can remain sober after resources. I would ask the mobile team as it is the most efficient and practical way to treatment. We need to create department of Health and Social provide service.” a Family Violence Strategy and Services (HSS) to register all Action Plan to address the Employee Assistance Programs violence and abuse children (EAPs) operating in the NWT. A and youth are experiencing at dialogue must be started with home. We also need to Health Canada, HSS, and front- increase funding, and reduce line mental health workers to barriers, for emergency and foster closer collaboration and transitional housing programs tailor programs to meet the to provide safe spaces in the specific needs of our event of homelife (sic) and communities and the territory. I financial instability. The GNWT would work towards the goal of acquiring a Child and Adolescent should continue to promote Psychiatric unit for the NWT. I healthy lifestyle choices and would advocate for the provide opportunities for establishment of Professional community activities that Support Staff (PSS) that are don’t involve alcohol or school based: Psychologists, drugs.” M.S.W. Social Workers, Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists. I would advocate for the return of the Social Worker Program at Aurora College.” Robert Hawkins (Kam Lake) “I have always believed that “I’ve seen firsthand that this is an “I believe this is a challenge that there are many areas that have underfunded program while at requires ongoing efforts and is a Answers provided are direct written responses from the candidates and are listed in alphabetical order by riding. The CPS does not endorse any particular candidate or platform. Candidate Responses to CPS Questionnaire: NWT Election 2019 large gaps in directly supporting the same time, I’ve seen the multifaceted problem, whereas the education system, this being backlog and needs keep not one single step will solve all one whereas mental health growing. I would be pleased to the issues. That said, we need programs should be inserted. champion this program because laws, policy’s (sic) and options any delay hurts the young person that support family safety and That said, I’ve often wondered in the long run.” immediate options that are there why these professionals and for those that feel they are at services are not embedded into risk. schools so that they can assist in early detection, hands on We need to continue to look at diagnosis and finally a timely expanding housing programs for response for support. the working poor to support their needs so that the day to day I don’t suggest that these stresses are lifted and at the resources become ‘school same time, this helps build employee’s (sic), however it towards the broader issues of would makes sense as they call it, safety, stability and security for when you want boots on the everyone – which is a supportive ground, to put them where they step to help lift the challenges of could offer the most effective family poverty and more and timely response, especially specifically, the impacts directly when it is this important.” on children. Poverty is a community challenge and I have supported progressive steps in the past. Such as, financial top-up programs as run by the NWT Housing Corp, so that the family that needs that little extra to make it to the end of the month, can get that help. Furthermore, I also believe the income support program needs Answers provided are direct written responses from the candidates and are listed in alphabetical order by riding. The CPS does not endorse any particular candidate or platform. Candidate Responses to CPS Questionnaire: NWT Election 2019 to expand the option for more earned income without penalties. What better way to support people and families trying to get on their feet as they work towards financial independence.” Kieron Testart (Kam Lake) “My platform commits to ensure “A chronic shortage of medical “This is a complex issue with young people are heard in the specialists is a major problem many different solutions. I conversation about mental with health care delivery in the believe the best way to address health and suicide through the NWT. Limited availability [of] these issues and begin to address establishment of a Youth Mental medical specialists create[s] the effects of intergenerational Health Advisory Committee made longer wait times for patients trauma and systemic poverty is up of young people from around and places undue stress on our through developing universal the territory to support the hardworking medical basic income support programs delivery of youth mental health professionals.