Debates of Feb. 12th, 2025

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

Oral Questions
Members Present
Prayer
Respecting Tradition, Building a Strong Future: NWT's Commitment to Indigenous-Led Stewardship
Aurora Polytechnic Transition
Office of Integrated Services Delivery
Aurora College Community Learning Centres Closure
Trades and Labour Workforce Development (NORTRAN Program)
Housing Support for Dechcho Residents
Implementation of United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Inuvik Bypass Road
Stanton Territorial Hospital Public-Private Partnership Project
Challenges of Consensus Government
Retirement of Gary Schauerte
Eviction Notices Issued during the Winter
Inuvik Bypass Road
Public Feedback on Draft Climate Action Plan
Aurora College Community Learning Centres Closures
Publication of NORTRAN Program
Implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Improving Northwest Territories Healthcare Cards
Stanton Territorial Hospital Public-Private Partnership Project Leases
Northwest Territories Early Learning and Childcare Agreement
Stanton Territorial Hospital Public-Private Partnership Project
Aurora College Polytechnic Transition
Stanton Territorial Hospital Public-Private Partnership Project Leases
Stanton Territorial Hospital Public-Private Partnership Project Records Management
Northwest Territories Early Learning and Childcare Agreement
Indigenous Employment Policy
Discontinuation of Northern Bonus for Student Financial Assistance
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery(reversion)
Tabled Document 289-20(1); Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 9-20(1): Report on the Review of Bill 8: An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act
Tabled Document 290-20(1): Letter from Northwest Territories Family Violence Shelter Network regarding Building Shelter Capacity Funding
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Orders Of The Day

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the chamber.

Would the Minister please introduce her witnesses.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Madam Chair. To my left is the deputy minister Jo-Anne Cecchetto. And to my left -- or my right, my other left -- to my right is Jeannie Mathison, ADM finance.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

The committee has agreed to forego general comments. Does the committee agree to proceed to the detail contained in the tabled document?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Committee, we will defer the departmental summary and review the estimates by activity summary beginning with administrative and support services starting on page 199 with information items on page 202. Are there any questions?

We're on administrative and support services starting on page 199 with information items on page 202. Are there any questions? No further questions -- oh, sorry. Member from Great Slave.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Kate Reid

Kate Reid Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Chair. And I'm sorry, I have a lot of paper here, please forgive me. So my question is can -- I think underneath this function is listed information services on page 199. So my question would be, to the Minister, if she can provide a status update on the electronic medical records program, what the timeline for completion is. And I'll stop there and follow up with the rest of my time. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Minister Semmler.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Madam Chair. I believe the electronic medical records would be under capital as it is an infrastructure project.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Thank you, Minister. Member from Great Slave.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Kate Reid

Kate Reid Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yeah, I guess I'm thinking about it more from the business plan perspective which is where it's listed, so I was wondering if you could just give the House an update on that project even though it -- yes, it would be, I guess, in capital. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Minister of health.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Madam Chair. As I wasn't prepared to speak to that piece, I'm going to just turn it over to the deputy minister. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Deputy minister Cecchetto.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Jo-Anne Cecchetto

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you for the question. Just of a reminder to folks, the electronic health record is a multicomponent to that -- there's about seven components within that initiative in and of itself. What I can say is that over this calendar year for 2025 is the plan for procurement, and our hope is that we are doing the implementation, for example, of the electronic medical record over a phased approach, and we will begin that work in the start of the calendar of 2026.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Thank you, deputy Cecchetto. Member from Great Slave.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Kate Reid

Kate Reid Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yeah, just wanted to have that info out in the public as it is a question I get. Thank you. Nothing further.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Member for Range Lake.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. So the changes here seem to be all related to forced growth. $4 million for ratification of the UNW agreement, $3 million for medical travel funding within NTHSSA. So is that kind of -- etcetera; is that an accurate description of the additional spending under this activity? Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Thank you. Minister Semmler.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Yes, that is correct.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Thank you. Member for Range Lake.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Range Lake

Thank you. So when we have things like labour market supplements or anything that falls kind of outside of collective agreement but represents additional pay or for nursing or incentives for nursing or doctors or any medical professionals, is that this activity as well; would they cover that? Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Sheryl Yakeleya

Thank you, Member for Range Lake. Minister Semmler.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Yes, that's correct. So anything that's negotiated for the staff, if in the collective agreement, if it's in our department then that's where it would lie. Thank you.