Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I spoke today in my statement about the need for more psychology services in our territory. I guess, first, I would like to ask just for some basic information about how many psychologists the GNWT presently employs and who exactly they are available for, whether they're available to just members of the general public through some sort of referral system or how you would go about seeing one? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you for the question. The Member, I think, does not want to hear about counsellors and the community counselling program; he wants to hear about psychologists. They are not part of the NWT health plan. We don't employ any at the Department of Health and Social Services. The Department of Justice employs two who serve the incarcerated population. Thank you.

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, I do appreciate that a lot of work has gone into the community counselling program and those wait lists and those times have gotten shorter. It is an improvement that this government has made. But it's clear to me, in speaking with people, that for certain disorders you need a psychologist. You know, that is the recommended treatment from their psychiatrist.

Are there currently any plans for the Department of Health and Social Services to hire any psychologists? I really do believe we need to start down that path. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you for the questions. We have no plan to hire psychologists. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that's a very unfortunate gap. There is clearly demand for this. You speak to any private psychologist in the territory, their wait list is extremely long, and their fees are extremely high. Many people do not get reimbursed. I am just wondering if right now if a person goes and sees a private psychologist and, you know, they've been told to do that by their doctor, is there any part of that treatment that is covered by our government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you for the question. The GNWT does not cover the cost of psychologists or their services. There are, however, private insurance programs, such as the GNWT Employee Benefit Program, that will pay for psychologists' services and so people can obtain them in that way. But this is not a funded service. And so it is not provided by the GNWT.

And an analogy that people may be familiar with is massage. Massage may be very beneficial but it is not a service that is offered by the GNWT, but it is offered in Yellowknife, for example, and it can be paid for through private insurance. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't have any information about what other jurisdictions do. I can certainly commit the resources to see what Alberta does as our closest neighbour. There is no path forward for this service unless the health budget is increased. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Written questions. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories intervened in Attorney General of Quebec et al versus the Attorney General of Canada, which is a challenge to a federal law, C-92, which provides for First Nation, Inuit, and Metis governments to implement their own child welfare laws. My questions are for the Premier.

1. What was the legal basis and rationale for the Government of the Northwest Territories intervening in this case before the Supreme Court of Canada?
2. How does the GNWT justify its intervention in this matter when the public position of the GNWT has been in support of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation's child welfare law?
3. What direct engagement and/or consultations did the GNWT undertake with the IRC, or other Indigenous government, prior to making the decision to intervene in this case before the Supreme Court of Canada?
4. Both the IRC and federal government have expressed their frustration and disappointment with the GNWT's intervention in this case. What direct steps have been taken to engage with the IRC and Canada on the position taken by the government; and,
5. How does the GNWT rationalize the position taken in its intervention in this case with its intention to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as law in the Northwest Territories, in particular, with Articles 21 and 22.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Written questions. Returns to written questions. Replies to the Commissioner's address. Petitions. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee would like to report on its consideration of Bill 77, Nursing Profession Act.

Bill 77 received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on March 29, 2023 and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development for review. The standing committee held a public hearing on May 10th, 2023 and completed its clause-by-clause review of the bill with the Minister of Justice on May 31st, 2023.

Mr. Speaker, the committee reports that Bill 77, Nursing Profession Act, is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee would like to report on its consideration of Bill 82, Legal Profession Act.

Bill 82 received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on March 30th, 2023 and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development for review. The standing committee held a public hearing on May 10th, 2023 and completed its clause-by-clause review of the bill with the Minister of Justice on May 31st, 2023.

Mr. Speaker, the committee reports that Bill 82, Legal Profession Act, is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Reports of standing and special committees. Tabling of documents. Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 47-19(2), Homelessness Prevention: Supporting Pathways to Housing NWT Residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Premier. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for Finance.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following three documents: Plain Language Summary for Bill 92, An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act, No. 3; Inter-activity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 (April 1st to December 31st, 2022); and, Inter-activity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 (April 1st, 2022 to March 31st, 2023). Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Notices of motion. Motions. Notices of motion for the first reading of bills. Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to request we return to item number 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Boot Lake. The Member is seeking unanimous consent to return to item five. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.