This is page numbers of the Hansard for the 20th Assembly, 1st 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 know.

Topics

Question 381-20(1): Healthcare Sustainability Unit and Potential Service Cuts
Oral Questions

Shauna Morgan

Shauna Morgan Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So can the Premier clarify whether the work of the health care sustainability unit will include workforce planning. So that could include how many clinicians and which kinds of clinicians we'll need to deliver integrated care to all NWT residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 381-20(1): Healthcare Sustainability Unit and Potential Service Cuts
Oral Questions

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So looking at the inventory of programs and services and how those programs and services are operating and what their operational needs are is part of that work, and the number of staff, number of physicians, clinicians you need to do your work falls squarely in that, so that is part of the work. Thank you.

Question 381-20(1): Healthcare Sustainability Unit and Potential Service Cuts
Oral Questions

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife North.

Question 381-20(1): Healthcare Sustainability Unit and Potential Service Cuts
Oral Questions

Shauna Morgan

Shauna Morgan Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So finally, can the Premier commit to making the work of the unit public, including ongoing progress reports that we can expect here in -- to be given to Members. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 381-20(1): Healthcare Sustainability Unit and Potential Service Cuts
Oral Questions

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So without knowing exactly what the unit is going to encounter in their investigations because they're investigating -- they're looking into all of the data that's been collected over the years, all of the reports that have been published, they're hearing from frontline staff, from others within the department and the authorities. I can't say that we'll make everything public but I can definitely commit to providing regular updates to the Members and to the public through this House and other forums over the course of this initiative so that people can see what's happening and hold us accountable if what we're doing is not working. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 381-20(1): Healthcare Sustainability Unit and Potential Service Cuts
Oral Questions

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Oral questions. Member from the Deh Cho.

Question 382-20(1): Approval of Non-medical Escorts and Review of Medical Travel Policy
Oral Questions

Sheryl Yakeleya

Sheryl Yakeleya Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of health. Who is the authority making the decisions on medical escorts being approved? Thank you.

Question 382-20(1): Approval of Non-medical Escorts and Review of Medical Travel Policy
Oral Questions

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

So, Member, are you asking for the health and social services --

Question 382-20(1): Approval of Non-medical Escorts and Review of Medical Travel Policy
Oral Questions

Sheryl Yakeleya

Sheryl Yakeleya Deh Cho

-- yes.

Question 382-20(1): Approval of Non-medical Escorts and Review of Medical Travel Policy
Oral Questions

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Okay, thank you. Sorry, I thought I heard housing, my fault. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Question 382-20(1): Approval of Non-medical Escorts and Review of Medical Travel Policy
Oral Questions

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, non-medical escorts are recommended by the health practitioner and may be approved by the medical travel officer if their request for medical escorts meets the criteria in the respective policy. And so the Northwest Territories -- the Government of the Northwest Territories, we have a policy that lays out what a non-medical escort for when people are travelling for insured services and then there's also -- like, I mean, this is where we can get complicated and then if it was -- it doesn't meet the GNWT, there is an option to -- if they're Indigenous, we could put a request through NIHB but then that would go to NIHB, and we would have to wait for an approval from them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 382-20(1): Approval of Non-medical Escorts and Review of Medical Travel Policy
Oral Questions

Sheryl Yakeleya

Sheryl Yakeleya Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. How many non-medical escort requests have been denied for elders requiring assistance in the last year?

Question 382-20(1): Approval of Non-medical Escorts and Review of Medical Travel Policy
Oral Questions

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When I look at what non-medical escorts that have been denied, I don't have that data. I can find out if the department tracks that data as to breaking it down to who was denied or what the reason was denied or -- and when I look at -- when they say denied, it's they don't meet the criteria. So within the medical travel policy, some people may not meet the criteria, or the person who's recommending the non-medical escort may not put in detail and are aware of the policy so that they need to ensure that they document what those reasons are so that the medical travel staff can do the proper approval. But what I will do is I will commit to the Member on this information if we do have that information available. Thank you.

Question 382-20(1): Approval of Non-medical Escorts and Review of Medical Travel Policy
Oral Questions

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Colleagues, before I go back to the Deh Cho, Member from Deh Cho, I'd like to recognize representatives from the Office of the Auditor General in the Assembly today, Andrew Hays, Shawn McEleny, and Emily Ann Devalle. So welcome to our Assembly. Member from the Deh Cho.

Question 382-20(1): Approval of Non-medical Escorts and Review of Medical Travel Policy
Oral Questions

Sheryl Yakeleya

Sheryl Yakeleya Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister commit to review the policy to ensure it is being followed properly? Thank you.

Question 382-20(1): Approval of Non-medical Escorts and Review of Medical Travel Policy
Oral Questions

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, yes, the plan is for the review of the medical travel policy and some of these areas that the Members have raised are a part of the review of the policy. Thank you.

Question 382-20(1): Approval of Non-medical Escorts and Review of Medical Travel Policy
Oral Questions

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Final supplementary. Member from the Deh Cho.

Question 382-20(1): Approval of Non-medical Escorts and Review of Medical Travel Policy
Oral Questions

Sheryl Yakeleya

Sheryl Yakeleya Deh Cho

I don't have any more questions, sorry. Thank you.

Question 382-20(1): Approval of Non-medical Escorts and Review of Medical Travel Policy
Oral Questions

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Oral questions. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Question 383-20(1): Self-determination of Indigenous Governments
Oral Questions

Richard Edjericon

Richard Edjericon Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is consensus in the Northwest Territories for Indigenous governments to govern themselves. And in the selection of the Premier this year, we talked about making it happen within the next 50 years. Mr. Speaker, can the Premier update the Assembly on the progress made this year towards improving self-determination as we approach the end of this first year of this government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 383-20(1): Self-determination of Indigenous Governments
Oral Questions

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Mr. Premier.

Question 383-20(1): Self-determination of Indigenous Governments
Oral Questions

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, that's a big question, what's been, what progress has been made towards self-determination. It's not an easy path, as everyone is well aware, but this government, we've released a mandate that makes very clear that we intend to work with Indigenous governments as partners, not as, you know, vassals of the state. So we've done our best to implement that work. The Council of Leaders meetings have been, I think, more successful every time that we've met. We recently travelled to Ottawa with a number of Indigenous leaders to lobby on shared priorities. And I think that when you do that, you're empowering, from the GNWT's perspective, we are working with the Indigenous governments that so their voice is also heard. They're helping determine the resources that are coming to the territory by going to Ottawa together with them. And just in case I misspoke, we didn't bring Indigenous governments to Ottawa. We went together as the Council of Leaders. So that's one area.

Earlier today, we heard about the project finance for permanence that the government and a number of Indigenous governments have been working on together, and that's a way to advance self-determination. We are working together with Indigenous governments on implementing or creating an action plan to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, so that work is ongoing. So those are a few examples of the work that's happening. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 383-20(1): Self-determination of Indigenous Governments
Oral Questions

Richard Edjericon

Richard Edjericon Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you, Premier. The 1992 Bourque report made it clear that the work towards self-determination and decentralization couldn't be accomplished without constitutional reform. The Bourque report lays out much of the groundwork needed towards more equitable future for Indigenous governing. My question to the Premier is does is the Premier agree on the relevancy of the recommendation of the Bourque report provides, and does he support revisiting the updating -- revisiting and updating the report's recommendation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 383-20(1): Self-determination of Indigenous Governments
Oral Questions

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I've been furiously trying to find the Bourque report online. It's not that easy to find so I don't have it at my fingertips right now. But from what I've heard in the territory, the path forward is settling land claims. That's what I'm hearing from the Indigenous governments. I am interested in looking at the report. Whenever I hear about constitutional reform, I think that that would take all of our efforts and all of our focus would be on that and we wouldn't be achieving other things that might be more close -- closer in reach for us. So I'll leave it at that, and I'll have a look at the report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 383-20(1): Self-determination of Indigenous Governments
Oral Questions

Richard Edjericon

Richard Edjericon Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you, Premier. During the previous Assembly, a special committee on reconciliation and Indigenous affairs was struck to study the implementation of UNDRIP.

My question to the Premier, will the Premier commit to striking a similar committee or a comparable working group that can work alongside the Council of Leaders to maximize Indigenous and self-government in the Northwest Territories and to ensure the working group establishes proper consultation and engagement on the subject? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.