Masi. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The GNWT, we fully support our employees in their efforts to access support services, so they can safely address the broad spectrum of mental wellness issues related to the impacts of residential school, but by doing so, we are bound by the lead provisions in our collective agreement. For example, for employees accessing counselling services in Yellowknife, they may access up to two hours of casual leave with pay to attend the counselling session. When accessing a recurring counselling session, there is a possibility of accessing up to a maximum of a one day of casual leave with pay. However, a maximum of one day may be insufficient for many employees, depending on the required travel time and schedule to and from their home community to Yellowknife. Where that is the case, we also have the ability to grant up to three days of leave with pay, which is not charged to any leave bank where an employee applies who qualifies for medical travel assistance. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As I understand it, the federal government covers the cost associated with the counselling services, including the cost of travel, accommodations, and meals. They are costs normally covered by medical travel assistance, making this different than most other travel associated with medical appointments. I am concerned that some employees may end up unnecessarily using their annual leave time when having to go through this medical travel process, which seems unnecessary. Can the Minister please explain why most employees who require more than one day of leave go through the medical travel process?

I do take the Member's point and acknowledge that having to apply for medical leave assistance when the costs associated are covered by the federal government in order to access up to three days of leave of absence with pay may be an unnecessary burden to some employees. However, we do have to apply the terms of the collective agreement in providing access to this leave. I have asked my officials to reach out to the unions to discuss whether we could agree to a different process for employees attending counselling sessions through this federally funded program.

I would like to thank the Minister for that commitment. I very much hope a less cumbersome process can be arranged. Could I also receive a commitment that both the current and any new process be consistently applied across all the departments and regions?

Our officials will ensure that the process is clearly and consistently communicated across all the GNWT departments and all regions of the NWT.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I greatly appreciate the Minister's answers. I have one last question here, however. I am currently dealing with a number of situations where constituents have been advised that they still need to take sick leave to attend these appointments, including one day. I have been advised that employees approved access to federal residential school survivor programs and counselling services in Yellowknife, they may seek approval for sick leave, provided the person has a medical note. This seems to be contrary to what I am understanding the process to be. Will the Minister have his staff reach out to the regional staff to ensure the process we discuss here today is followed properly? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Here in the Northwest Territories, we fully understand and respect the effects that residential schools have had on a number of our people in the Northwest Territories, and we try to work with them. I can commit to the Member that we will reach out, we will work with people, and if the Member or Members have any specific cases where folks are having trouble navigating through the system, I would encourage them to bring that to my attention so we can deal with it in a fair and timely manner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.