Debates of March 31st, 2021

This is page numbers 2637 - 2658 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was community.

Topics

Question 704-19(2): Visits to Communities
Oral Questions

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Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week, on my way back from Fort Smith, I took the opportunity to drive Highway No. 5 to be able to have a look at the highway from Fort Smith to Hay River, and I was able to spend the night and fly out the next morning. Within that hour, I was able to spend time with the Member and his buddies there having breakfast, so I see where the Member is coming from in terms of going back to the community and being able to speak with some of his constituents. I will work with the Member to come up with dates to be able to come back to the community. I just came from there a couple of months ago. I spent a couple of days, and I spent some time with the Member, toured MTS, went and looked at some of the Power Corporation facilities. Yes, I will work with the Member to be able to figure out a time when I can go back. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 704-19(2): Visits to Communities
Oral Questions

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The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Item 8, written questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Written Question 29-19(2): Vacancy Rates in Housing Programs
Written Questions

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Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and relate to vacant housing units.

  1. Can the Minister provide, as of March 31, 2021, the number of vacant housing units by program, by community; and
  2. For each vacant unit, as of March 31, 2021, can the Minister state how long each has been vacant?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Written Question 29-19(2): Vacancy Rates in Housing Programs
Written Questions

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The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Mr. Clerk.

Return to Written Question 25-19(2): Medevacs in Nunakput
Returns To Written Questions

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Deputy Clerk Of The House Mr. Glen Rutland

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to Written Question 25-19(2) asked by the Member for Nunakput on March 10, 2021, regarding medevacs in Nunakput.

Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table a breakdown of air ambulance transports, by community and calendar year, for the last four years. Please note that some numbers may be different than previously indicated as they have been updated to ensure appropriate patient outcome and transport outcomes were included. These totals do not include scheduled, non-emergency transports.

The Northwest Territories health and social service system does not report on specific event-related delays. An inter-facility patient movement transfer matrix guides the triage and prioritization of patient movement between facilities within the NWT. This matrix takes into consideration:

  • Facility capacity issue: a transfer that is given preference depending on medical resources available at sending site;
  • Deterioration risk: a transfer that is given preference as deferral or delay of treatment/intervention could have significant impact on patient's health; and,
  • Weather considerations: a transfer that may require earlier intervention depending on upcoming weather systems.

In the Beaufort-Delta, the response time between confirmation that a medevac will be activated and medics arriving at the patient's side for transport varies depending on the final destination. It takes a median of four hours and 31 minutes to transport a patient to Edmonton; three hours and 39 minutes transport a patient to Yellowknife; and two hours and 55 minutes to transport a patient to Inuvik Hospital, including the time it takes for the plane to arrive in the community. If there is a concern about medevac response times or the transport quality, the NWT Health and Social Services system has quality risk managers in each region who report issues and review quality assurance processes.

The air ambulance service provider has been contracted to provide coverage for the entire NWT. The provider has bases in Yellowknife and Inuvik. The contractor provides medics and planes to support patient transports. In addition to these daily operational resources, there is a contingency plan for additional resources to ensure critical transports are fulfilled when needed. To protect the privacy of our air ambulance providers, we are unable to release the information related to tail registration numbers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return to Written Question 25-19(2): Medevacs in Nunakput
Returns To Written Questions

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The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to Commissioner's address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, reports of standing and special committees. Item 14, tabling of documents. Minister of Finance.

Tabled Document 374-19(2): Inter-activity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 (April 1 to December 31, 2020)
Tabling Of Documents

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Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: "Inter-activity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 (April 1 to December 31, 2020)." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabled Document 374-19(2): Inter-activity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 (April 1 to December 31, 2020)
Tabling Of Documents

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The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Tabled Document 375-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 509-19(2): Mental Health Tabled Document 376-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 518-19(2): eHealth System and Online Patient Portal Tabled Document 377-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 590-19(2): Mental Health Concerns in Small Communities Tabled Document 378-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 677-19(2): Independent Living for Seniors Tabled Document 379-19(2): Health and Social Services Breakdown of Air Ambulance Transports as of March 2021
Tabling Of Documents

March 31st, 2021

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Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following five documents: "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 509-19(2): Mental Health"; "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 518-19(2): eHealth System and Online Patient Portal"; "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 590-19(2): Mental Health Concerns in Small Communities"; "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 677-19(2): Independent Living for Seniors"; and, further to my return to written questions, "Health and Social Services Breakdown of Air Ambulance Transports as of March 2021." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabled Document 375-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 509-19(2): Mental Health Tabled Document 376-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 518-19(2): eHealth System and Online Patient Portal Tabled Document 377-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 590-19(2): Mental Health Concerns in Small Communities Tabled Document 378-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 677-19(2): Independent Living for Seniors Tabled Document 379-19(2): Health and Social Services Breakdown of Air Ambulance Transports as of March 2021
Tabling Of Documents

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The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Minister of Infrastructure.

Tabled Document 380-19(2): Plain Language Summary for Bill 24: An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act Tabled Document 381-19(2): 2021-22 Corporate Plan - Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation and Northwest Territories Power Corporation Tabled Document 382-19(2): Letter dated March 30, 2021 from Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation and Northwest Territories Power Corporation President and CEO to Minister Archie regarding 2020-21 Capital Spending Budget
Tabling Of Documents

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Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following three documents: "Plain Language Summary for Bill 24: An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act"; "2021-22 Corporate Plan - Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation and Northwest Territories Power Corporation"; and "Letter dated March 30, 2021, from Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation and Northwest Territories Power Corporation President and CEO to Minister Archie regarding 2020-21 Capital Spending Budget." Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.

Tabled Document 380-19(2): Plain Language Summary for Bill 24: An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act Tabled Document 381-19(2): 2021-22 Corporate Plan - Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation and Northwest Territories Power Corporation Tabled Document 382-19(2): Letter dated March 30, 2021 from Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation and Northwest Territories Power Corporation President and CEO to Minister Archie regarding 2020-21 Capital Spending Budget
Tabling Of Documents

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The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Tabled Document 383-19(2): Plain Language Summary for Bill 25: An Act to Amend the Education Act
Tabling Of Documents

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R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: "Plain Language Summary for Bill 25: An Act to Amend the Education Act." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabled Document 383-19(2): Plain Language Summary for Bill 25: An Act to Amend the Education Act
Tabling Of Documents

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The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Tabled Document 384-19(2): Northwest Territories Housing Corporation 2021-22 Consolidated Operating Budget
Tabling Of Documents

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Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: "Northwest Territories Housing Corporation 2021-22 Consolidated Operating Budget." Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.