Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister of Finance, as I mentioned in my statement the Northwest Territories is the only jurisdiction in compensate our healthcare workers for the increased hazard and workload that they've been dealing with. Will the Minister, with her Finance hat on, comment or commit to finding money to provide Northwest Territories frontline workers with retroactive hazard or pandemic pay? Is there any indication that more money is coming from the federal government for COVID? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Canada that did not use COVID money to financially

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Great Slave. As I mentioned, we continue to go back to the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services unless the Premier delegates another Minister. Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the NWT Health and Social Services Authority and the Department of Finance are working together to review options through the labor market adjustment process which would deal with some of our pressing staffing concerns among nurses. We have no indication that additional money is coming from the federal government. Thank you.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Colleagues, before I continue, I just want to remind both sides, Members and Cabinet, please keep your preambles short and try to keep the questions short because we still have four people after this line of questions, and the clock is running out, so. Member for Great Slave.

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'll play this game. Will the Minister of Health like to revamp her statement from last week saying that there are no ward closures or other ward closures coming? It has been my understanding from several nurses, the union, etcetera, that that is not the truth. Would the Minister like to revamp that statement about further ward closures. Thank you.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Minister for Health and Social Services.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Yes, thank you. I'll just start by correcting something that the Member said in her statement. The obstetrics ward is open at this time, and it will remain open until December the 10th. There was obviously a group of women who were too far along in their pregnancies to be moved to another location to give birth. So the obstetrics unit is open.

I met with leadership of the hospital and the health authority yesterday. I asked that question. I was told that at the hospital, there are no unit closures foreseen at this time.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral -- final supplementary, Member for Great Slave.

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm confused then, because when I look in the paper all I see are advertisements for ER and ICU nurses. So can the Minister speak to what's going to happen when those positions aren't filled and those wards have to close down. Thank you.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Yes, thank you. I'm very pleased that the Member has taken note of our recruitment efforts. And those are ongoing of course. We want to make sure that we have the full component of staff. And I -- as I said earlier, we are not anticipating any more closures at the hospital. We have, through a variety of people foregoing holidays, working extra shifts, locums, and so on, we have enough staff to -- to provide the excellent services that residents are used to. Thank you.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Twin Lakes.

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since the Housing Corporation has assumed the responsibility of both the homeless shelter and the warming shelter in Inuvik, what short-term measures have been put in place to ensure that those who are using the warming shelter have been taken care of? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister responsible for Homelessness.