Debates of Oct. 29th, 2024

Thank you, colleagues. I'd like to thank elder Jonas Lafferty for the opening prayer and reflections here today.

Ministers' statements. Premier.

Mr. Speaker, the cost of delivering health and social services is increasing faster than our resources can handle, at a time when our government is also facing additional costs related to climate change and inflationary pressures. This is why the delivery of sustainable health and social services is an important part of this government's mandate and the priorities of the 20th Legislative Assembly.

Through the mandate letter I provided to the Minister of Health and Social Services, we are addressing several initiatives that aim to deliver a more sustainable health and social services system. The initiatives are complex and multifaceted, and not something the Department of Health and Social Services or the health and social services authorities should undertake alone. Consequently, on July 15th the health care system sustainability unit was created within the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs.

The focus of this unit is to provide a deeper understanding of which health and social services programs and services should be core to the NWT, analyze how these programs and services can be delivered more efficiently, and determine how these programs and services should be funded within our limited fiscal framework. The goal is to achieve all this while still working to provide our residents the highest quality of care. This work will require careful coordination with the Department of Health and Social Services, as well as our three health authorities. It will also require analysis of a lot of information, including information gained from reviews that have already taken place, and engaging with those who are contributing most to our system - frontline workers and operational staff.

Previous reviews of the health and social services system were foundational in guiding operational changes based on our current service delivery, but they did not examine whether these services are fundamental to what our health system should provide.

If we expect a transformative change to happen, Mr. Speaker, we need to define and prioritize what programs and services are core to the Northwest Territories by using evaluative data, including our current population and demographics, legal and policy frameworks, and technological advancements. We are no longer able to keep expanding our health and social services to meet our growing needs; instead, we need to transform the way we provide health care and social services in a fiscally sustainable manner.

Moving forward with this initiative will better position us to actively respond to these challenges in real time and consider recommendations that can be implemented more quickly than others. We will engage the people who will be affected by change in the work of understanding challenges and identifying solutions and ensure our work is informed by northern expertise and lived experience, as well as wise and emerging practices within the sector. This will assure our unique fiscal, political, and legal factors are considered in any changes.

The work will be challenging. I am committed to working closely with the Minister of Health and Social Services and look forward to providing progress reports to Members of this House on a regular basis as we engage on this initiative for the benefit of all residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Ministers' statements. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Mr. Speaker, when students have food security, they can focus on learning, growing, and participating within their school communities; and most importantly, on being kids. To help students succeed, the Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories are working towards signing a three-year funding agreement that will support the expansion of the NWT school food program: Healthy Food for Learning.

Once signed, this new agreement will provide a significant and important boost to the program, creating real results for students and families across the territory. Since 2015, the territorial government has continually invested $650,000 annually into this program. This agreement is part of Canada's broader national school food program plans, which will invest $1 billion over five years across the country, with the goal of providing meals to up to 400,000 children every year.

With the high cost of groceries, the new funding agreement will help provide relief to families experiencing pressures of food insecurity and socio-economic challenges. All 49 NWT schools, and all junior kindergarten to grade 12 students will have access to the Healthy Food for Learning Program as needed so families can feel confident that their children will receive substantial and nutritious meals and snacks at school.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to conclude my statement today in French.

[Translation] ... The schools have shared wise practices for what successfully a food program for them. This has included partnering with the local grocery stores, government departments and businesses, enabling students to play an active role; for example, in growing the food in school gardens. Elders and community members have also been involved in traditional food preparation.

Ensuring that all students have consistent access to healthy meals is vital as we work towards improving the students' outcomes and providing all Northerners with the best possible start in life. We want to make sure that all residents will have the best outcome. I am happy to conclude this agreement, and I will explain all of the details with the Canadian government in the next few weeks. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Translation Ends]

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Colleagues, before we go any further, I'd like to recognize some special people here today. Range Lake North School, grade 8 class, welcome to our Legislative Assembly. We really appreciate you being here. As well as their teacher and chaperones. There's just one teacher or -- four teachers. I thought it was four so, yes, the four teachers. So thank you very much for bringing your students here today. As well as our students from Aurora College, thank you very much for being here today. Thank you very much.

Ministers' statements. Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to maintaining ecosystem health while supporting sustainable economic growth for our communities. A key part of this is the NWT Project Finance for Permanence Agreement, now known as the Our Land for the Future Agreement, which will help to fund Indigenous-led conservation initiatives.

The NWT Project Finance for Permanence Agreement provides participating Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations with the funding to do the things we agree to do together in our shared conservation work plan Healthy Land, Healthy People. The GNWT has negotiated a separate agreement with Canada to fund its own needs.

Mr. Speaker, since 2018, the GNWT has been seeking long-term funding solutions to support the management of protected areas like Thaidene Nene while creating jobs in nearby communities. The NWT Project Finance for Permanence Agreement is an innovative model that brings both funding and partnerships to ensure Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations lead in the protection of important lands while creating local jobs and economic benefits through initiatives such as Guardians programs, eco-tourism, and sustainable development activities. The funding supports progress on shared conservation priorities and will also contribute to Canada's goal of protecting 30 percent of its land and waters by 2030.

The NWT Project Finance for Permanence Agreement is an Indigenous-led initiative that includes 23 Indigenous governments, the GNWT, the federal government, and three private donors. It works within our existing land management process and laws, including the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act, and established land-use planning processes, ensuring that decisions about the land remain in the hands of the people connected to it. It does not override these frameworks but provides funding to support Indigenous-led initiatives we agree upon through these decision-making processes.

The Healthy Land, Healthy People plan continues to guide our conservation efforts, and the agreement helps provide the resources needed to accomplish these shared goals.

Mr. Speaker, in April of this year, the federal government announced $300 million to support the NWT Project Finance for Permanence Agreement, enhanced by an additional $75 million coming from private donors. The agreement includes a strategic plan and financial plan, which outline how the funds will be used to ensure proper oversight and accountability. These plans are designed to ensure that the funding will be directed toward Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship efforts and related economic development activities. The agreement also creates an endowment that will ensure the long-term sustainability of these transformative benefits into the future.

Mr. Speaker, the GNWT recognizes the importance of maintaining a balance between conservation and economic development. The NWT Project Finance for Permanence Agreement will contribute to a strong, diversified economy that includes new, culturally supportive opportunities in the conservation economy, alongside continued investment and development in the resource sector. By ratifying the agreement, the GNWT is taking a significant step to deliver its mandate commitment to promote reconciliation and responsible land management while supporting economic diversification in small communities. This agreement will help to support our shared conservation goals while ensuring that the land and water of the NWT continue to provide diverse opportunities for future generations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Ministers' statements. Members' statements. Member from Range Lake.

Mr. Speaker, the digital age dawned so long ago that now our kids are almost born with a smartphone in hand and could not ever contemplate a world without high-speed internet. Indeed, our kids are now teaching us how to use our own laptops and phones. Yet, here in the NWT where the latest generation of health care professionals enter the workforce, they are forced into the way-back machine to relearn obsolete technology. Why? It's because NTHSSA still sends most diagnostic imaging onto CD-ROMs while other jurisdictions continue to upgrade dedicated medical communication networks. Using CDs to transmit and store vital data circumvents secure medical communications and therefore poses risks to both patients and medical providers, like leaking confidential information or opening the door to ransom ware attacks at a time when health care institutions are increasingly targeted. It should come as no surprise, then, that health technicians in other provinces are fed up with the NWT's backwards system.

Those aren't the only risks outdated systems have to our patients, however. Our cumbersome medical communication often prevents physicians down south from even accessing data at all. A patient sent for a CT scan in Edmonton would need their imaging sent to Calgary to be finalized and then sent back to Yellowknife to be burnt onto a CD for NTHSSA only to be sent back down to the appointment in Edmonton, on a CD I might add. That data may not arrive on time or be damaged resulting in physicians missing vital information and having to order whole new sets of CT scans which can bombard patients with 500 times more radiation than a simple chest x-ray.

That level of unworkable obsolescence is only matched by medical professionals here having to deal with three different charting systems, some still only available on paper. Sure, endlessly printing charts and burning CDs might save us from Y2K if it was 1999, but it's 2024 and we need to get with the times if we want more efficient public service. Our doctors and nurses can't keep working in the past; we need to bring them into the future. Thankfully, we don't need Doc Brown's DeLorean; we just need a Minister willing to work to bring our health care system into the 21st century. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Members' statements. Member from Monfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Municipal funding gap. Mr. Speaker, on May 29th of this year, the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight tabled a report in this House that noted the municipal funding gap under the current formula would not work without substantial investment. Members discussed a funding formula that equalizes the gap for communities across the Northwest Territories. The government responded on June 13th, noting that MACA recently updated its community government funding policies to, one, provide a more equitable distribution of funding by basing allocations on a needs-based formula. The new funding policies came into effect in 2024-2025. Allocation will not be implemented until 2025-2026 to allow time to engage with community governments.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to know how the government plans to engage community governments. These changes will not only affect Tlicho region but other small communities as well. The change will have the greatest impact on small communities with population under 500 people. Mr. Speaker, I fear this formula change will negatively affect our Indigenous communities. We have been told that allocations will be implemented over a three-year transition period.

The Minister has noted that funding sustainable community government services is a shared responsibility across all levels of government. But, Mr. Speaker, what have the community government told MACA about the implementation of these new formula funding policies? How have the community government been engaged in decision-making? Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for MACA at appropriate time. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Members' statements. Member from Great Slave.

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak to reviewing policing outcomes. As discussed in this House many times, including our last sitting, with a motion on supporting mental health response, the NWT relies a great deal on the services of the RCMP. The NWT asks more of them than what is truly their role, Mr. Speaker, and I don't believe it's fair to treat them as social workers.

RCMP services are one of the last places we should be asking people to do more with less. I'm glad that there is some change on that front, for instance through partnerships between NGOs and multiple levels of government. Crucial services have begun to be supported, such as Street Outreach here in Yellowknife.

I believe everyone in this House is familiar with the Yellowknife Women's Society's report Overpoliced and Underprotected. It examines the relationship between unhoused Indigenous women in the NWT and their interactions with the RCMP. A key recommendation from this report asked the Minister of Justice to support a comprehensive review of policing practices in the NWT by the federal Civilian Review and Complaints Commission. Notably, such a review must be requested by the Minister of Justice, and it would be at no cost to the GNWT. When some Members have put this recommendation forward to the Minister in correspondence, he has responded that such a review would be too narrow in scope and take too long to see results.

There has also been interest in investigations on RCMP actions and whether they can be impartial without an independent external agency review. Currently, in the NWT the RCMP investigates the RCMP, albeit it from detachments from other jurisdictions, as we have seen in a recent inquest on a death in custody. Cabin Radio recently wrote an article discussing whether it is time to consider an oversight arrangement like that of the Yukon and the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, a civilian police oversight agency allowed by the federal RCMP Act.

Mr. Speaker, I realize I'm speaking about reviews about systemic problems and serious incidents and that these will likely require different approaches and processes, and that is fine. Residents need assurance that if there are negative outcomes in our current policing structures that an impartial review is possible for both serious incidents and systemic issues. I will have questions for the Minister of Justice at the appropriate time. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Members' statements. Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I raised the a Sahtu issue of recruiting a regional medical travel coordinator during our past spring sitting. Mr. Speaker, the NWT health care system is in high demand. It seems, Mr. Speaker, today's society is impacted by many challenges beyond our control.

Mr. Speaker, the NWT is resilient in many ways to the challenge that it faced and is facing. One can only view the reactive approach to climate change impacts.

Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity during the week of September the 23rd for an invited ministerial tour of the Sahtu region. During this tour, many Sahtu residents raised the need for a medical travel coordinator and improvements to our medical escorts.

Mr. Speaker, after some research, the Sahtu region, in particular Norman Wells, there exists 24 funded vacancies. Can we restructure to create one or two medical travel PYs?

'Mr. Speaker, I have engaged discussions with many private sector enterprisers, workforce recruitment is a national concern particularly in the trades sector. Similar challenges are faced by the Government of the Northwest Territories. Later, Mr. Speaker, I'll have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mahsi.

Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Members' statements. Member from Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak about a critical issue in our territory and especially in our small communities. It's housing. We know there is a housing crisis in this territory. Shortages of housing, inadequate housing, and a great need for public housing. Last week, the Minister of Housing NWT stated that the waitlist for housing across the North is 897 applications. I've asked myself, Mr. Speaker, in this House, how can this be the case if suitability, accessibility, and affordability of housing is a priority of this government.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories isn't doing enough to ensure a path forward for people in need of housing. Indigenous governments are doing what they can, Mr. Speaker, to leverage federal funding and develop housing solutions for their participants and beneficiaries. Just last week, Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Social Development received a public briefing from representatives of the Gwich'in Tribal Council on their new and innovative programming that is putting homes on the grounds in communities and housing families. But they can't do it all, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories must meet its obligations for delivering on public housing programs.

Mr. Speaker, I won't speak on the capital estimates investments in the housing as it is before Committee of the Whole. But what I will say is that housing is a human right. This Assembly passed a motion to acknowledge and affirm housing as a fundamental human right, and I will state again that housing is a priority in this Assembly. And I will have questions for the Minister responsible for Housing NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Mackenzie Delta. Members' statements. Member from the Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about medical travel in the Northwest Territories. As residents, we may all come to rely on the health and social services medical travel program at some point in our lives for health care that isn't available in our home communities. Travel is necessary, Mr. Speaker. This is a reality in our territory with 33 communities spread across the vast land. With little access in and out, limited services are available.

A principle of the medical travel policy is that the cost of medical travel should not be an economic barrier to access insured health services. Many patients who require medical travel also require non-medical escorts to accompany them for many reasons. For example, elders who travel south or to a larger centre may face language barriers and unfamiliar terrain. This makes it difficult to communicate and navigate in these settings. They need an escort to ensure their appointments go well because of the language barrier. Without this support, the service itself is at risk.

The criteria for non-medical escort says escorts can travel with a patient to provide interpretation if needed. When it comes to the government policy, Mr. Speaker, I hear from residents that they're often not allowed an escort even though one is needed. I often hear that doctors and practitioners approve an escort for medical travel but then the health care centre staff arranging turns around and says no, and their request is denied. I would like to know who is making these decisions on behalf of our elders and why they are being denied non-medical escorts. One of the principle of the medical travel program is that it should be transparent and accountable. I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services later. Thank you.

Thank you, Member for the Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Mackenzie Valley fibre line was completed in 2017 -- oh, sorry -- Government of the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, this was welcomed news for the residents on the anchor tenants, the Inuvik satellite station facility, and the new north networks and their satellite station facility as well.

The Government of the Northwest Territories has made a long-term investment to improve telecommunications service and to support economic development along the Mackenzie Valley. Mr. Speaker, with the ability to handle greater volumes of high-speed data traffic with increased reliability, the link provides better access to health, education, and many government services in the Mackenzie Valley communities.

For the town of Inuvik, Mr. Speaker, the benefits of being connected to the Mackenzie Valley fibre link are immense. The connection allows Inuvik to strengthen its position as a base for satellite ground stations in Arctic research organizations and additionally qualified local contractors have been able to participate in contracts related to the long-term physical maintenance of the fibre optic link.

Mr. Speaker, I also understand that the second line, the redundancy line, is now complete. Once the 778-kilometer Dempster fibre line to Dawson becomes operational, it will offer backup. That means if one line goes down, the other can pick up the load. But, Mr. Speaker, businesses and commercial entities in Inuvik are questioning whether or not it's truly redundant given that our line, Mr. Speaker, runs from Inuvik down to McGill Lake and on through to High Level and into Alberta. The line that's being proposed on the Dempster Highway runs down as far as Fort Nelson. Now, I do understand that there is a potential to have another link go from Fort Nelson over to McGill Lake but, again, that's creating a loop and to get true redundancy, Mr. Speaker, I think we're going to need that link from Fort Nelson into Alberta as well. So, Mr. Speaker, those are the concerns that have been brought to my attention, and I will have questions for the Minister of finance later. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Inuvik Boot Lake. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, health care sustainability should not be about cuts to services. It is unfortunate that that's the message that the media took away from last Wednesday's public briefing on the new health care sustainability unit. From the perspective of those working on the frontlines of our health care system, we have neither the Cadillac nor the Ford Focus that the Premier was referring to but, rather, a vehicle with the wheels coming off that is running on fumes.

Yes, the health care system has expanded over the years but let's put this in perspective. This is not just about the addition of noncore services. Some of the positions that have been added that remain unfunded include pediatricians, a fifth emergency room nurse. These are not frills or nice-to-haves. The tool that we need here is not an axe but it's a screwdriver to tighten things up. And if we're using the vehicle metaphor, we need to first know what our destination is and then take the right amount of fuel for this journey, so we don't keep ending up stranded on the side of the road out of gas.

Our quest for health care sustainability must fundamentally be about delivering the basics right. There is resounding consensus that we need to focus on delivering primary care right. It's about using our resources wisely to offer the best possible care as efficiently as possible.

Now, last March, the NWT Medical Association offered valuable recommendations about how we can reduce medical travel and medevacs when someone could receive better care at home. In small communities, community health nurses can be assigned a physician to work with on a regular basis who would act as kind of a consultant. We can embrace the full potential of Telehealth. Now, frustratingly, the recent primary care reform ignored what doctors have been calling for many years and missed the opportunity when rearranging the team assignments to assign doctors to small communities.

Mr. Speaker, the fuel we need for this journey is our health care staff. We need this new unit to center its work around the insights of frontline staff. The Premier referred to how complex this initiative is but actually we need to focus on a simple goal. We need to figure out how to ensure we have the right amount of staff, the right kinds of staff, doing the right things. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in July 2024 the GNWT released the 2023 Employee Engagement and Satisfaction Report and attached an employee satisfaction action plan to that report. I do note, with some disappointment, that favourability scores were noted to decline across all indices relative to the 2021 survey. A couple of items I'd like to highlight, Mr. Speaker:

• Only 58 percent of staff felt that innovation was valued in their work.
• Only 52 percent said they felt valued as employees or that commitment to quality was a high priority.
• Overall, morale lowered by 4.9 percent since the last report was done.

I do note that an action plan was published with the report, and I support all those action items; however, I do wonder if a few items were missing. One of them that I'd like to highlight today is the prevalence of overly burdensome bureaucratic processes and how those can, over time, grind people down and reduce morale. I've spoken to staff who have had to go through processes of multiple weeks to get approval to do something like respond to a comment on Facebook.

The other thing that I wonder needs more emphasis is the need for empowerment. I would note, Mr. Speaker, that when employees apply to the GNWT, they go through an incredibly burdensome hiring process where they have to do exams, they have to go through sometimes multiple interviews, and provide pretty serious qualifications only to get into a position sometimes where they have very little decision-making power and very little power to act without oversight by management. So I think reduction of micromanagement needs to be looked at as well.

Another quote that has stood with me, and I wanted to share today, is something that someone said to me the other day when I was chatting with them about how things are going at work - If you truly care about your work, your time at GNWT will be limited. That's an unfortunate sentiment for someone to hold in their job.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that we have an excellent, excellent public service. We have excellent staff at the public service. I request unanimous consent to finish my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, I believe that we are going through processes that ensure that we have excellent people in their roles, and then often we're in that role putting them through processes which effectively tell them that their expertise isn't as valued as it could be. So I want us to be looking at that when we're thinking about employee satisfaction, and I want us to be looking at our processes and empowerment of staff, I think it could help us save money over time as we build up our internal capacity for decision-making, maybe we don't need so much management. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Mr. Speaker, the clock is ticking to get started on the Premier's 50-year vision for the future of the Northwest Territories, a vision of decentralization of services and power to Indigenous self-governments. The vision is supported by the action of the previous Assembly which is committed to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, a declaration that internationally mandates the right to self-determination.

Furthermore, decentralization of services for Indigenous governments was mandated in the devolution process passed a decade ago. As well, in fact, these rights have been pursued for generations. Yet, today, we stand here in this Assembly, year after year, with no real progress towards goals once more.

The cost of inaction is seriously holding our communities back. Indigenous governments alone passes the knowledge, traditions, and perspectives that are needed to solve our health and housing crisis, and they need access to the resources to make it happen. Indigenous governments are allocated $1.6 billion out of the $2.2 billion budget this government gets on an annual basis.

Mr. Speaker, but, yet because of the stages of the colonial remain in place, much of those funds don't make it to our small communities or are allocated through restrictive policies that don't work for our people. A new deal for the North that respects Indigenous governments would therefore give them the resources and empower them are largely entitled so their communities can thrive. This new deal for the North will take a lot of effort and a lot of time, but thankfully a lot of that work has been done already.

In 1992, as the Northwest Territories was on the cusp of division, a report was commissioned in the Future of the Government of the Northwest Territories written by the late Jim Bourque that outlined the solutions of the North, needs for the fair future, and this Assembly is committed to working towards. The biggest solution offered in Jim Bourque's report was the NWT Constitution which would clearly outline the role and functions of Indigenous governments and have governance in our territory. Unfortunately, despite all the time and money spent on the research, a Constitution to produce the report, it was never enacted and instead it was shelved for generation.

Well, Mr. Speaker, I can call on this government to take another look at the Jim Bourque report. We need to work as soon as possible as the claim is being settled. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member's statement. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. To do so, we must work together to figure out a process to achieve these goals through the Council of Leaders and working group and committee to make this progress that has been promised for decades. As Canada makes its way for a long journey towards justice and reconciliation for Indigenous people, the North can -- sorry, the North can use this critical junction we are striving for as an opportunity to develop a model of governance. Mr. Speaker, I would have questions for the Premier at the appropriate time. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In economics, there's a phrase called Jevons paradox which occurs when technology progresses in a manner to increase efficiency but the resources actually inversely further demanded because we've lowered the cost. So in order, Mr. Speaker, historically governments have been trying to find ways to be more efficient, but in turn, people -- efficiency gains enthusiasm which increases consumption. This is called the rebound effect of Jevons paradox.

So a good example is when you make fuel efficiency vehicles, Mr. Speaker, people tend to drive more and hence consume more fuels. Mr. Speaker, in the end it results that just because you make something cheaper and solve a problem, you don't necessarily take into the greater consideration of the demand it's now created.

Now the EU has noted, Mr. Speaker -- and this is where it's important -- that this principle of efficiency on economics also applies to government policy, and it can apply to us. So how does it apply to the GNWT?

Well, take the encampment, for example, Mr. Speaker. Are we addressing the cause or are we addressing the system of some of these problems? By fixing it with a Band-Aid solution, Mr. Speaker, is the government temporarily making things worse? Are we empowering people? That is really addressing the cause. Are we finding ways to create sustainable communities and independent people? I'm not so sure.

Mr. Speaker, I agree something needs to be done, hands down. I would definitely stress that, you know, things -- solutions like Aspen Apartments, you know, fixing it up is not a terrible solution in any way. But for 38 units, 38 potential families waiting for a solution between one and two years away from now, has done nothing to solve the problem.

Mr. Speaker, you know, sometimes I say a four door Corolla could solve our problems; why are we buying Escalades? We don't need them, Mr. Speaker. There's nothing wrong with Aspen Apartments that couldn't House people today. In other words, we could be saving and changing the lives of 38 people -- 38 families. By sewing these seeds, possibly we'd be getting the right effect.

Mr. Speaker, we also have other temporary solutions when we're scrambling for them. The government has the Territorial Treatment Centre, the TTC, right across the street from the encampment. We could be partnering with the women's society, we could be partnering with the YWCA, or even the Salvation Army to temporary solve the solution. Let's not bring a hammer when we don't need one, Mr. Speaker. We could work with our communities in partnership with our social agencies. And I'll have questions for The Ministers during question period later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Members' statements.

Colleagues, it has been over a year since Adam Yeadon passed away on the fire line while protecting his home community of Fort Liard. Family members, residents and fire crews led a small, private ceremony in Fort Liard in remembrance of Adam. Colleagues, He leaves behind a partner, a young daughter, dad, brother and sister. And many cousins and nieces and nephews.

I can tell you it weighs on us a lot of his passing, and it is my understanding that firefighters across the territory doing the same difficult work Adam did, are thinking of him and how he lost his life. When you hear the message that the fire crew staff heard each day, the safety of your team must always be the first priority, it brings it home about the critical importance of safety in the field.

The family, his friends, community, would like to thank NWT Fire for creating the scholarship in Adam's memory for people in post-secondary education in forest-related fields.

This past fall, Adam was remembered by the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation at the Canadian Firefighters Memorial in Ottawa. The family would like to thank the department for all its support to get there and be part of this event as well for having the Minister attend.

In closing I would like to use the words of Adam's partner, Keanna McLeod's word: He was such an outgoing person. Everyone liked being around him, and he was loved by all his friends and family. He liked being outdoors, being on the land, discovering new places, experiencing new things and more importantly meeting new people.

In closing, I wish to use the quote I heard from NWT Fire: Though nothing will repair the hole his absence leaves in the lives of those who knew and loved him, our steadfast support remains with his family and friends as they navigate the difficult path forward.

Members' statements. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Monfwi.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker [Translation] ... Anita Wedzin, Diane Lafferty, Deniza -- and Linda Mantla, they're all here; they live here in Yellowknife, going to school. They want to, they are looking to further, to education. I know that their parents and their family members and also a lot of these young kids, I don't know who they are from the school, I am happy that they are here, I do believe, and also they are here with their teachers as well, the ones that are here, masi cho. [Translation Ends]

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize Ms. Tarlson's grade 8 class from Range Lake North, which is a school in my riding. Great to see you here today, and it was lovely to speak with you before the session. Go Hoyas.

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a constituent of mine, Verna Abel Catholic. I just want to say welcome to the Assembly. Also to all the students from the college and the students from Range Lake as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to recognize my CA, Georgina Neyando, who has travelled down with me from Fort McPherson to be here to take in some -- do some work here in the Assembly on my behalf. I'd just like to welcome Georgina. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize the students of Aurora College. That's an excellent campus downtown in the Yellowknife Centre riding. It's not exclusive in Yellowknife. Yes, we have a campus college in Fort Smith and Inuvik, but today we have the Yellowknife students. Hooray.

Also, Mr. Speaker, I'd also like to recognize a constituent, Corinna -- it looks like Pookas. I haven't met her but that said, I'd like to -- or Puskas, my apologies. Corinna Puskas and our -- seeing our proceedings before the House. Thank you very much.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to welcome Amy Lee, a long-time colleague of mine way back when. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Inuvik Twin Lakes. Recognition of visitors in the gallery.

If we've missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to your chambers. I hope you are enjoying the proceedings. It's always nice to have people -- or see people in our gallery.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills. Reports of Standing and Special Committees. Member from Monfwi.

Your Standing Committee on Social Development is pleased to provide its Report on the Statutory Review of the Mental Health Act and commends it to the House.

And, Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Member for Mackenzie Delta, that Committee Report 16-20(1), Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Statutory Review of the Mental Health Act, be deemed read and printed in Hansard in its entirety. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? Motion passed.

---Carried

*Report Link

Member from Monfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Member for Mackenzie Delta, that Committee Report 16-20(1) be received and adopted by the Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? Motion passed.

---Carried

Member from Monfwi.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Member for Mackenzie Delta, that, pursuant to Rule 9.4(5)(a), the Government of the Northwest Territories table a comprehensive response to Committee Report 16-20(1), including all recommendations, within 120 days or at the earliest opportunity subsequent to the passage of 120 days. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried. And Committee's Report 16-20(1) has been received and adopted by the Assembly.

---Carried Reports of Standing and Special Committees. Member from Great Slave.

Mr. Speaker, Your Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges is pleased to provide its Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that pursuant to Rule 6.1(2)(n), Committee Report 17-20(1), Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, be deemed read and printed in Hansard in its entirety. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Great Slave. The motion's in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? Motion passed.

---Carried

*Report Link

Member from Great Slave.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Committee Report 17-20(1), Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, be received by the Assembly and referred to Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Great Slave. The motion's in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried. Committee Report 17-20(1) has been received and adopted by this Assembly.

---Carried

Reports of Standing and Special Committees. Member from Great Slave.

Mr. Speaker, Your Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges is pleased to provide its Interim Report on the Report of the chief electoral officer on the Administration of the 2023 Territorial General Election.

INTRODUCTION

Pursuant to subsection 266(2) of the Elections and Plebiscites Act, the chief electoral officer must report on the administration and event initiatives seen through that office within six months following a territorial general election. The report has any matters the CEO thinks should be brought to the Legislative Assembly's attention. It also includes recommendations on how to improve election administration alongside any suggested amendments to the Act.

The Speaker tabled the CEO's report on May 21st, 2024 in the Legislative Assembly and was subsequently referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges for review and response.

Committee sought public feedback on the CEO report from September 2, 2024 to September 27, 2024, receiving two written responses.

On September 27, 2024 committee held a public briefing with the CEO Stephen Dunbar and deputy CEO Charlotte Digness. Mr. Aleksi Toiviainen of Vote 16 Canada also provided testimony at the public hearing, speaking specifically to the recommendation from the CEO to lower the Northwest Territories voting age to 16.

BACKGROUND

Due to the wildfire evacuation of almost 70 percent of the Northwest Territories population, which represented 14 of the 19 electoral districts, the Legislative Assembly passed an Act to postpone polling day for the 2023 general election on August 28th, 2023. This Act moved the previously established September 3rd, 2023, expiration date of the 19th Assembly to November 14th, 2023. The Commissioner of the Northwest Territories ordered the CEO to issue the writs of the election on October 16th within the prescribed 29-day campaign period. On election day, 34 polling locations opened across the territory for the 16 electoral districts. In total, 10,797 votes were cast, representing a 52.54 percent voter turnout.

Committee wishes to thank the CEO and staff of Elections NWT for both the management of the 2023 Territorial General Election and their work on their report. The challenges faced by Election NWT following the evacuation was unprecedented, however the election process occurred as seamlessly as possible due to their hard work and dedication to their roles.

REPEAL AND REPLACE THE ELECTIONS AND PLEBISCITES ACT

The current Elections and Plebiscites Act was developed following the 2003 territorial election and first used in the 2007 territorial election. It has been substantially amended five times since: In 2010, 2014 (twice), 2018 and most recently in 2022.

The Elections and Plebiscites Act has not been wholistically reviewed since 2007. Given that previous amendments to this Act are often made to address specific issues, the CEO, throughout their report, has noted many inconsistencies, contradictions, or limitations to appropriately and flexibly support the elections processes in the Northwest Territories. Although the mass evacuation of the Northwest Territories highlighted some obvious vulnerabilities within the current Elections and Plebiscites Act, including a lack of direction and guidance for emergency management situations, this is supplemented by other challenges faced by a lack of modernized legislation. Clarity is required as modern society grapples with more varied uses of social media. This is impactful not only for advertising guidelines or the use of third-party advertisers but also for the growing use of artificial intelligence. A more modern regulatory framework that better reflects the operating reality of our everyday communications should be better reflected in the Elections and Plebiscites Act.

The CEO's report also outlines the need for more concrete guidelines for mobile polling stations, absentee ballots, and special voting opportunities. The need to ensure that more people have access to, and options for, their ability to vote is a concern that both the CEO and committee members agree with. Beyond that, updated guidelines for provision of food during candidate events or the removal of the elimination nomination deposit can be changed to better reflect national best practices in those areas.

The list of suggested amendments is extensive; however, it reflects the nature of how this important piece of legislation is ultimately updated and requires that at a certain point, a more complete update must occur. Addressing specific amendments does not necessarily ensure that more comprehensive legislative or policy goals can be addressed which has led to a lengthy list of clean-up, modernization, and consistency concerns required to be addressed throughout the current Act.

Recommendation 1:

The Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges recommends that the Legislative Assembly direct the chief electoral officer to undertake a repeal and replace of the Elections and Plebiscites Act before the end of the 20th Assembly.

EXPAND ELECTIONS NWT MANDATE

The CEO's report highlights Elections NWT's capacity and willingness to do more to support all election activity within the Northwest Territories. Expanding the mandate of Elections NWT to include local authorities would allow for greater collaboration and support for logistics, voter list management, a more comprehensive register, improved information sharing, and to refine the capacity to deliver on election activities. Allowing Elections NWT to support local authorities has the potential to better streamline and capture important information that then feeds into more complete data sets of all communities, regardless of the type of election occurring. It also creates opportunities to reduce duplication of materials and build broader capacity throughout the Northwest Territories for election activities. The CEO's report highlights that they can and wish to play a larger role in all elections, similar to how other election bodies run throughout Canada.

Recommendation 2:

The Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges recommends that Legislative Assembly direct the chief electoral officer to engage with the Northwest Territories Association of Communities to determine how to better support local authority election activities.

REDUCE THE VOTING AGE TO 16

Voter turnout in the Northwest Territories remains very low and, as noted in the CEO report, particularly low for voters under the age of 30. Committee wishes to continue their investigation into the request of the CEO to lower the voting age to 16 and will provide a separate report in the 2025 Winter Sitting of the Legislative Assembly on their findings and the response to this recommendation.

CONCLUSION

Committee again wishes to thank Elections NWT for their hard work, dedication, and support to not only candidates of the election but also the residents of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Committee Report 18-20(1), Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Interim Report on the Report of the chief electoral officer on the administration of the 2023 Territorial General Election, be received by the Assembly and referred to Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Great Slave. The motion's in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? The motion has passed, has been received, and the report has been received and referred to Committee of the Whole.

---Carried

Reports of Standing and Special Committees. Member from Great Slave -- or no, sorry, Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Your Standing Committee on Government Operations is pleased to provide its Report on the Statutory Review of the Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Implementation Act.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Member for Great Slave, that Committee Report 19-20(1), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Statutory Review of the Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Implementation Act, be deemed read and printed in Hansard in its entirety. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The motion's in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? The motion has passed.

---Carried

*Report Link

Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Member for Great Slave, that Committee Report 19-20(1), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Report on the Statutory Review of the Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Implementation Act, be received and adopted by the Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The motion's in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? Motion carried.

---Carried

Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Member for Great Slave, that pursuant to Rule 9.4(5)(a), the Government of the Northwest Territories table a comprehensive response to Committee Report 19-20(1), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Statutory Review of the Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Implementation Act, including all recommendations, within 120 days or at the earliest opportunity subsequent to the passage of 120 days. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. The motion's in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried. Committee Report 19-20(1) has been received and adopted by the Assembly.

---Carried

Reports of Standing and Special Committees. Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Your Standing Committee on Government Operations is pleased to provide its Report on Committee's Initiation of the 10-Year Review of the Northwest Territories Heritage Fund Act.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Member for Great Slave, that Committee Report 20-20(1), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Committee's Initiation of the 10-year Review of the Northwest Territories Heritage Fund Act, be deemed read and printed in Hansard in its entirety. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. The motion's in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? Motion is passed.

---Carried

*Report Link

Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Member for Great Slave, that Committee Report 20-20(1), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Committee's Initiation of the 10-year Review of the Northwest Territories Heritage Fund Act, be received and adopted by the Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. The motion's in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried. The Committee Report 20-20(1) has been received and adopted by the Assembly.

---Carried

Reports of Standing and Special Committees. Returns to oral questions. Acknowledgements.

Before we go into oral questions, folks, I've had a number of people bring forth their concerns about lengthy conversations between Members during statements and oral questions, and it's becoming a distraction. So even when people put their hearing -- or their earpieces in, they keep on hearing -- there's been distractions. So if you have the -- required to talk to your colleagues, please do it outside the chambers so we can move forward so we can -- everybody can do their business. Thank you.

Oral questions. Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Member of -- sorry, off to a great start here, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of ECC.

Mr. Speaker, I spoke in previous sessions about targeted amendments to the waters regs, and I'm just looking for -- the department presented to standing committee recently, and I am looking for an update from the Minister on their progress towards making targeted amendments to the waters regs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. The proposed approach for the waters regulation, the department has been looking at the recommendations from the chamber of mines, the land and water boards of the Mackenzie Valley, as well as some requests from Indigenous governments in how we can work together through your process with the Intergovernmental Council and through the legislative development protocol to advance the amendments to the regulations as well as some targeted amendments that have been identified by the Department of Environment and Climate Change. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, is the Minister able to give us any kind of a timeline? I think the idea with the recommendation from all these different entities for targeted amendments is that we get them done quickly, that this could be a quick win for the department and a quick win for regulatory fairness and certainty in the territory. So can the Minister give us a timeline for when they expect the targeted amendments to be concluded? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the process to address the targeted amendments will require the participation of the Intergovernmental Council as well as the Intergovernmental Council legislative development protocol. And so the Department of Environment and Climate Change is not able to set that timeline, but we certainly do recognize the urgency of attempting to move this as quickly as possible, and we will continue to work with all parties to advance that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It might have been ambitious to ask for a conclusion timeline. Maybe I could get a timeline on when this process is going to be established. So it sounds like the department's been looking at it but hasn't actually established a process. Mr. Speaker, I've been asking about this since our first sitting. So has the department actually initiated these conversations knowing that it might take some time? It's time to get the discussions going. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, the department is in the very early stages of discussions with the ICGS, and we are hoping to advance that in a timely fashion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Final supplementary.

Oral questions. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Finance given my statement today on the redundancy of the fibre optic line travelling up the Mackenzie Valley. I'm wondering, Mr. Speaker, if the Minister could give me an update on where they are with the true redundancy plan for this line. Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Boot Lake. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is a part owner on a P3 which is the Mackenzie Valley fibre line that goes up the Mackenzie Valley. And recently, we are now connected in to a project that goes through the Yukon which is creating a loop that goes down into British Columbia. So we are well underway to having a loop that connects all throughout the two territories. And of course then beyond that, there are services that go down into Alberta through our line or through British Columbia through the other line. So once that is all in place, Mr. Speaker, we would have, again, a loop that connects all -- or both of the two territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister, and I certainly applaud the efforts to get the -- from the Yukon government and both ourselves to get that redundant line in. My concern, Mr. Speaker, is the beyond Fort Nelson. So the redundancy line right now goes into Fort Nelson. Is the Minister aware of any negotiations either taking place or planned to take place to ensure that we have access to that line as well so if -- to that line as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we do have what's called an indefeasible right of use or the ability to use the line that goes from McGill Lake down into British Columbia. That's that last piece that connects our loop. It ensures that we are using -- we have the ability to use that infrastructure which would otherwise be entirely that of NorthwesTel just as -- as there's agreements with us and the government of the Yukon to use either side of this network or the loop, as I was describing earlier. Mr. Speaker, with respect to what happens after McGill Lake, that piece does belong to NorthwesTel just as we would be looking at other carriers when ours goes down from our side of the loop down into Alberta. So I'd certainly have to go back and confirm the degree to which we're having those discussions and ensure that we maintain an ability to use those lines or that our carriers have the ability to use those lines. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I understand there is the IRU for the line beyond High Level, but I guess my question is if there's a disruption beyond High Level, then do we not -- we won't have the access to go the full loop from Alberta up to Fort Nelson. So is there any conversations taking place to have an IRU, as the Minister mentioned, on that line as well, the Fort Nelson to Alberta line?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe there are still conversations underway right now with the Department of Finance on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories and NorthwesTel. We were also involved just this past summer and into the fall in terms of producing -- or, rather, providing completion of a fibre line all the way up into Tuktoyaktuk, and stemming from those conversations we were -- again, this is part of the -- part of the bigger conversation that's happening with them about how we can maximize the services in the telecommunications space in the Northwest Territories. So, Mr. Speaker, the conversations continue, and I'm more than happy to keep the Member up to date. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Finance. Oral questions. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said in my Member's statement, the NWT has no access to -- does not have access to a medical communication system that's vital for diagnostic imaging which requires health care professionals to put scans on disks and then send it down with patients on appointments on medical travel. Can the Minister speak to what her plan is to resolve this so we can bring our health care system into the modern era. Thank you?

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are currently seeking -- we are working on the procurement process for the new electronic medical records. As I've said in this House many times, our EMR is coming to an end. They will not be supported any longer. But what I will say is is that -- you know, the things that the Member is raising, it is -- we are well aware of these issues and that's why the urgency on this RFP going out to ensure that the procurement process rolls out. And then depending on the system that they think that meets the needs will depend on how long that rollout takes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it took years to implement the current EMR system across the Northwest Territories. My concern is that this RFP won't go far enough to correct the issues that nurses and doctors are experiencing. So can the Minister reassure our health care workers that this RFP will address these concerns throughout the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you know, and I appreciate the Member's bringing this up. And as far back as I think it was 17 years ago is we started rolling out EMR and then up until last year was the final community that received the rollout, and now the program is not able to be supported. So I agree with the Member that this -- the process, and I know the technology has changed. I know that our access to internet throughout the territories is much better than it was 17 years ago, so as I have more details as the procurement process and the rollout of that, I will provide -- you know, I'll offer a briefing to the Members if that's what they choose. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, nurses and doctors have to deal with as many as three systems, not just one. Only -- I think only one of them is electronic. The other two are paper systems. So what is the Minister's -- will these changes phase out paper? Let's just leave it limited on Stanton where a lot -- a great deal of these issues are creating bottlenecks. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm not going to delve down into which programs. Yes, there are multiple systems and that is the problem, is that none of them inter -- none of them talk to each other. And so when physicians and any practitioner has to access blood work or the appointments or the charting tool, yes, they have to log into multiple different levels. They're -- you know, they have to have -- they can't get other staff to support them because of access to information and all of these different barriers, and those are all of the things that we're looking at. And there's been many -- I think it says we've engaged over 400 individuals in the requirements that we're gathering to do this RFP, to be able to do the thing that the members and the staff -- that they need. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I appreciate the Member's willingness to share information with this side of the House, and I'll take her up on that at the appropriate time when it's available.

Mr. Speaker, the diagnostic imaging partner site is in Calgary. So we send our requests to Calgary, they send it up to us, we put it on a disk, it goes back to Edmonton. Can the Minister look to find a new partner in Edmonton so we're -- because the systems in Calgary and Edmonton don't talk to each other either. So we have multiple systems in multiple jurisdictions that aren't talking to each other. So can the Minister explore this, try to find a partner closer to where our patients go in Edmonton, so we can stop this triangle of sadness? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can commit to looking into what the process is and why we're using Calgary and not in Edmonton and all our patients are going to Edmonton. Yes, I'll commit to looking into that process. Thank you.