Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the 20th Assembly set four priorities, and the fourth one is safe residents and communities. Mr. Speaker, all communities in the Northwest Territories have fire cell towers that they have access to in the event they need for emergency purposes. Mr. Speaker, my constituents in N'dilo struggle to have cell services for an emergency. My question is to the Minister of Infrastructure. How can the GNWT infrastructure work with CRTC cell phone providers to provide much needed cell towers in the community of N'dilo for emergency purposes? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can speak for the work that's happening within the Department of Finance and that has been underway for sometime. We have advocated and continue to advocate to CRTC, as well as to federal colleagues, in ISED responsible for the broadband fund, that these funding pots need to be available to support telecommunications around the territory, around remote communities, and to better support these access points. So this was an opportunity when we saw some increases in funding. For example, when the broadband line went up to Whati, it was an opportunity for the Tlicho government, a project on their lands. There could be opportunities here for YKDFN, projects on their lands. And we certainly do want to see those opportunities made available with funds that are otherwise available on the table. So we'll continue that advocacy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I brought this issue up in the 19th Assembly, and I'm glad that there's some movement now to look at ways as to how we could deal with this problem. My question, Mr. Speaker, is that can the Minister work with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation to come up with an emergency backup plan for the residents in N'dilo in the event they have to call for an emergency for fire, ambulance, and police protection? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can perhaps start by saying that I'll work with my colleague, the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, on this area. It's one that I know is dear to his heart, to ensure that all residents have appropriate access to emergency services, and I'm more than happy to do so. I think he, and also my other colleague, the Minister of Health and Social Services, similarly share that we want to ensure folks have access to such services. So happy to begin to have that conversation or perhaps join their conversation so that we are all working towards that common goal and, similarly, to ensure that we are involving the Yellowknives Dene First Nation given that it would be for the benefits on their land. So absolutely, Mr. Speaker, we can move that forward. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Infrastructure. Colleagues, before I turn to the question again, please be very specific to the departments. Don't go multi-departments because I sometimes have a question of where you're asking the question. So Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I did say the Minister of Infrastructure. But anyway, I just want to -- I'm looking forward to work with the Minister and also the Yellowknives Dene First Nation to come up with a plan. But it's really important that we need to address this issue because this issue's been ongoing for a very long time. And I just want to just leave that there, and it's just a comment. So I want to say mahsi.

So thank you. Colleagues, first and foremost, when you ask questions for Infrastructure and you include MACA and health in it, it means -- doesn't matter just because you asked the question for Infrastructure, the Minister for Infrastructure cannot answer the questions for the other ones.

As well, I don't need commentary. If you don't have questions for a third one, please pass it on to the other one. I think I've said this numerous times so I'm going to reissue it again.

Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

All right, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the opportunity for a second round. Mr. Speaker, my questions will be directed to the Minister of health for clarify and surety that the House knows where the questions are going.

In previous sessions, I've raised the issue of licensing requirements of nurses who have received training outside of the country. The hours weren't the issue. The gatekeeper of the nursing association is controlling who can be qualified under their rules to practice here. Mr. Speaker, I referred a specific case to a situation where Ontario has approved a license, Alberta's approved a license, but NWT has no pathway to approve this. So in short, Mr. Speaker, while we have cost of living going up and industry is packing up, we can't risk losing nurses who want to work here. It's that simple. What has the Minister done to help solve or resolve this issue? Thank you.

Member from Yellowknife Centre. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The last discussion that I had on this was that the CAN was actually working on the solution, and I know that the Minister and I have touched base again to follow up on further discussions to have another updated meeting with them to where this is. I know that they're looking at the same model that -- they're looking to work with BC on the model that they have because of the -- to try and shorten the process of the assessment of the nurses that are -- international nurses that are coming into Canada to be able to come to work in the Northwest Territories. So as for the details of that, I will have to get back to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will accept the details in writing. Mr. Speaker, the BC model, if I remember correctly, is to further train and assess them at their cost. Is that how it is going to -- is that how the model's intended to roll out under this leadership of this Minister and working with CAN and the NWT Nursing Association, or will there be a bridging support program to help these individuals? Because the last time I was told this person, this family, was instructed to move to Alberta, go get your hours there, then hey, move back. We have to have a reasonable model. So, please, can you elaborate on the BC idea. Thank you.

Colleagues, I would appreciate you looking to me instead of the Minister that you're asking the questions. Please and thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, within this, what I would suggest is is that I will work with my counterpart, Minister of ECE, to get a follow-up and an update on where we are with this as to, you know, with the hours and the practice. The one thing that I would like to say is that, you know, in -- it's just been mentioned in this House that the staff are taxed with supporting other staff, mentoring. You know, we have a nursing program here that's a four-year degree program. They go into the system, they have to be mentored by nurses in the hospital. We are trying to create training for those nurses, those senior nurses, to -- you know, to support them in their duties as mentoring. So we're trying to build that capacity within the authority right now. As for bringing on new international nurses to do this, that support would have to be built into this. So this would be a new, like added on to the NTHSSA where we are currently. Not necessarily will, you know -- as for more of the details, this is something, again, that I would offer a briefing on standing committee, and I would -- we could send a letter once we've had an update from CAN where they are with this. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I think it's fair to say -- at least I know I've been briefed to death on this particular initiative, I'm not speaking for the social development committee, I'll let them make their own decisions -- but that said, Mr. Speaker, would the Minister show some leadership by either, A, eliminating the hours required on qualified nurses, obviously, because they've gone to school, or immediately issue a directive to the nursing -- in writing, in other words, direction that they co-partner with either BC -- sorry, Alberta or Ontario that if nurses qualify there, by defacto they qualify here in the Northwest Territories to practice. Thank you. Two ideas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will not commit to our territory doing what Alberta can do and support or what Ontario can do and support. We are very different than those two provinces. What I do know that in hearing from what's going on in Ontario, they're now having to build in supports within their health system to support their quick transition of allowing international nurses into the system. So now they're having to build in supports for that. That is not something that we can just turn around and do. We already have a taxed health care system and frontline workers that would need to do this. So what I will commit to is getting more information as to where we are ready for this and, again, providing that. You know, whether the Member has been -- is fully aware of this, you know, standing committee may and some of the Members, the other Members, you know, we would love to have more nurses into our system. And how we get there, we need to make sure that Northwest Territories and the frontline staff that are going to be mentoring them can support that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Mr. Speaker, we have genuine qualified professionals who want to live here in the Northwest Territories. They want to be contributing to the fabric of who we are and where we're going to be to care for Northerners. Mr. Speaker, they view this, in short, is protectionism without creating opportunities that we're inviting. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister be willing to assess and recommend the elimination of those hours required to practice assuming they qualify in all other areas of education and experience? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that has been my direction. It has by been my direction to look at what -- in what circumstances can those hours be limited to reduce those barriers. As I can't commit to it across the board for all staff coming in from different parts of the -- like, you know, international educated nurses come into Canada, I'd have -- like, that's where I have to draw the line because I have to ensure that, you know, the staff that are coming in are going to be supported, are going to be able to just, you know, come in and do the work. We have new graduates that are coming out of Canadian institutes that also need to be supported, so we have to balance that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday in Committee of the Whole, the Minister of Finance was speaking to how they were going to satisfy the concerns raised by this side of the House. Especially -- and on the subject of health care, the three commitments were completing a review of core programs and services in the health and social services system to ensure equitable and sustainable delivery of health and social services programming. Premier's doing that. Conduct a review of the lead policies and their implementation for health care professionals and solve the challenges faced in engagement with employees at all levels of the health and social services system. I'd like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services how she plans to do that last one, solve the problems of engagement in all levels of the system. Thank you

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, working with the NTHSSA, you know, I think that's the plan is the new HR, human resource plan, that will include, you know, working -- that's coming up, the people's plan, that will help to highlight some of those issues. And the ongoing conversations that I have with the governing council of the NTHSSA at this time, you know, those ongoing discussions that happen, the ongoing -- you know, the ongoing discussions that I have with my own senior officials to ensure that there is work going on, you know, so that the frontline staff are hearing this. But, again, you know, these are some of the things that I would -- you know, there's areas that we've heard over and over again that are affecting. Like, we've heard from other Members, you know, like, the physicians. We've heard from, like, within Stanton. And it's those issues that I feel like if the Regular Members need more detail as to what's going on, you know, I can sit here and speak to them in my few little minutes that I have, but I would encourage standing committee to highlight the areas that they really want to dig down deep into and to request those technical briefings, you know, ministerial briefings as to how we're going to be doing this thing. But right now, there is a lot of work going on within the NTHSSA to try and resolve this issue and work with the staff. You know, whether I can answer that all here on the floor today I would take up all the time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For me, at least, it's not a problem of understanding. As my colleague said moments ago, I'm kind of briefed out. What I do understand is that the workers who are in our health care system providing the service don't feel like their concerns are met. The Minister just spoke to a people plan. Can she elaborate further. Thank you.