Thank you, Member from Hay River North. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Well, I appreciate the Premier's creative imagination, but I wasn't formalizing there's a party politics. I was talking about the guise of the government collaborating together in a manner that they never do. So the Premier does have an imagination on this particular guard, I didn't specifically make that illustration clear enough, and I didn't say the party of one that already acts like that. I mean, I am making a clear point of the impression. So he can be creative in his thoughts and his imagination but he's completely wrong. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Colleagues, I'm going to have to review what was actually said with the Hansard and that before I make a formal decision on this. But, colleagues, please remember when we're in this House debating that we are respectful to one another and that we move forward in a positive manner so that we can have honest debate here. Thank you. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I look forward to your ruling when it does come, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the latest revision of this particular policy by the government has eked out seven Members of this side of the House spoke against it. Guess what happens? The typical going down the hall or whatever the calls are made, I mean, how do you describe this (audio) --

(audio) on the motion. Thank you. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

And hence, Mr. Speaker, we have the policy now before us and that's why this motion is coming forward. Mr. Speaker, I have asked different times at committee when did they review the affirmative action policy. They have not. There's no answers. That's why this motion exists. Mr. Speaker, the Premier and everyone else can talk about the impacts on these people -- on folks, but there are equity groups that are being impacted by this. That's why it needs to go back to committee.

Mr. Speaker, this isn't the -- there was at least four letters that said slow down, have consultation. That's what this motion's all about.

Mr. Speaker, as the motion and my colleagues have said, many Indigenous governments feel steamrolled by this process, this drive-by consultation. Back in 2022, there was never a detailed consultation as to what you're getting. That's why this motion is being sent back, Mr. Speaker.

At the heart of the issue, as I said in my original comment, this is about problems with education, as people mentioned the credentials, job opportunities, and even, let us not forget, not everyone wants to work for the GNWT.

Mr. Speaker, the affirmative action program wasn't meant to solve every problem but what worked in it allowed -- there were things that could have worked, and we could have modified the current policy to fix the small gaps. And, sure, there may have been larger gaps; that's true. But we wouldn't know because it's never been reviewed.

Now it's often been brought why it needs to go back, brought up as the issue of it needs to go back because oh my goodness, if we don't follow the new direction of the government, it's unconstitutional, yet unproven other than a statement, Mr. Speaker.

So specific to committee comments, you know, the policy may never have been perfect but, ultimately, the affirmative action policy was an important foundation in the North. That's why it needs to go back to committee to talk about it. The EIP program isn't making things better. It's just a reinvention of something that I'm not sure what's happening.

Mr. Speaker, sure, I agree that we could do better. We've heard people say that their Indigenous colleagues, they want to follow their direction. Some have said yes. Some will say they support this motion going back to committee. Mr. Speaker, much work has to be done, as pointed out by Member for Frame Lake, hence it needs to go back to the committee.

Mr. Speaker, this isn't -- this current policy of the affirmative action program hasn't made things worse. The problem is is the application hasn't had the reviews and statistics and measurements as my colleague from the Sahtu has pointed out are key. So, Mr. Speaker, that's why it needs to go back. Mr. Speaker, the Minister says this isn't an -- or equity policy. Yes, you know, if it was, then we'd be talking about something different. She's right that there might be Northerners who are Indigenous but not Indigenous to the Northwest Territories who are impacted by the current policy of the affirmative action policy. But there's nothing stopping us from editing that and making that contribution acknowledged.

Mr. Speaker, I like the fact that she pointed out that women -- statistics on women in the government employment sector have increased. Fantastic. Empowering people. Mr. Speaker, taking away P2s is not disenfranchising Northerners because they came after them. So this new policy rendition doesn't change anything. It doesn't fix anything either.

Mr. Speaker, she highlighted in 2005 -- in 2014, which actually I happened to be there at the same time, I can tell you right now that everybody fought for the recognition of long-term Northerners, and even the finance Ministers of those days were Indigenous fighting for long-term Northerners to ensure that they get appreciated.

Mr. Speaker, the finance Minister pointed out this work was, you know, some of it or maybe largely or whatnot or you can say it's a continuation, but it's a lot of work was done last term. So back to my point my colleague from Range Lake had said, there was no mandate. So are we just simply doing the work of the last term because the Minister didn't get it through in the last time? I mean, it sort of makes you wonder what's the value of elections if the Cabinet's going to just keep dredging up old work that used to be done. We had a reset a year and a half ago. And, again, it wasn't in the mandate as pointed out. It wasn't in the Minister letters that isn't pointed out. It wasn't even on the campaign trail by anybody, Mr. Speaker.

There's frustration abound. That's why this needs to be done. There have been many P1s who have told me that they don't want to see this lost. I agree there are ways to fix the current policy which is exactly why it needs to go back. My colleague from Tu Nedhe, you know, brought up the issue of what's the point of committee advice if it's just going to be ignored? It makes you wonder what is happening.

Mr. Speaker, to wrap up this is that what it does is it creates a new format that we're trying to solve southern Indigenous hiring problems. I support northern Indigenous empowerment hiring opportunities, whether it's education or jobs. I've always held the line that I would do what I can to be a champion of the causes and certainly a champion of their success. And that doesn't change today. To my last breath, I'll be working to support the North, its people, its Indigenous people. But it feels like when we have such overwhelming criticism, it makes you wonder are we not following the direction of the people, or are we following the direction of the finance Minister and Cabinet?

Mr. Speaker, the people of the North don't like this. The finance Minister likes this. The Cabinet likes this. And it's been tweaked in a manner that a few of my Indigenous colleagues feel like at least their groups are protected. And I'm glad it can be. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, on that note, I will heed your advice and finish with this is frustrating, this is divisive, and it's been led by the government, and our committee colleagues wanted to be part of the solution. This is how we get it back on track, working together. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Member from Yellowknife Centre has requested a recorded vote. All those in favour, please stand.

All those opposed, please stand.

All those abstaining, please stand.

Those in favour, 4. Opposed, 13. One abstention. The motion is defeated.

---Defeated

Colleagues, we will take a brief recess to deal with the other motions. We have to give the translators a bit of a break. Thank you.

---SHORT RECESS

Motions. Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS nurses and healthcare workers deliver essential healthcare services to residents of the Northwest Territories, including in rural and remote communities that present challenging operating conditions;

AND WHEREAS the delivery of quality health care in the Northwest Territories depends on a stable, well-supported workforce of regulated healthcare professionals, including nurses and allied health workers;

AND WHEREAS healthcare workers are suffering from increased workloads and staffing shortages that contribute to low morale, burnout, and reduced staff retention which in turn leads to disruptions in continuity of patient care;

AND WHEREAS management practices of the Northwest Territories healthcare system are currently under review through the appointment of a public administrator;

AND WHEREAS recruitment and retention of nurses and healthcare workers remain a serious challenge and require proactive review of management and labour policies to ensure fair treatment, safe working conditions, and adequate professional support to improve working conditions and job satisfaction;

AND WHEREAS access to health care and addressing the effects of trauma is a priority
of the 20th Assembly;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Member for Monfwi, that the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly undertake a comprehensive review of healthcare management practices, bargaining structures and labour policies, in consultation with nurses, labour unions, independent professional associations, frontline healthcare workers, and other key stakeholders to identify and recommend measures that:

(i) reinforce workplace protections for nurses and healthcare workers, including improved work-life balance initiatives, competitive compensation, and mental health supports;

(ii) address management practices that contribute to low workplace morale, fostering a supportive and collaborative working environment;

(iii) strengthen recruitment and retention strategies for nurses and healthcare staff through focused incentives and stable workforce planning;

(iv) increase accountability in the administration of health care in the Northwest Territories to ensure that policies reflect the realities of frontline work and lead to real improvements in working conditions in all healthcare settings including hospitals, health centres and health cabins;

AND FURTHER, that the Legislative Assembly engage thoroughly with labour unions, professional associations, health agencies and Indigenous governments to ensure that these measures accurately reflect the needs of healthcare workers in the Northwest Territories;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the comprehensive review of health care management practices, bargaining structures and labour policies be referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development for further study.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I want to thank the Member for Monfwi for seconding the motion, and I want to thank the Member for Range Lake for coming up with the idea for this motion in the first place, as a way to show nurses and healthcare workers that we see their struggle. We see the pain that they endure amidst staff shortages and increased demands trying to keep our healthcare system afloat and do right by the patients that they try to help day after day after night after night.

Mr. Speaker, we cannot run a good quality healthcare system if the majority of our nurses and doctors are temporary contract workers. We need a stable workforce who live in our communities, know their patients, understand cultural safety, and understand who else to reach out to within our health and social services system to make referrals and help patients access the more wholistic supports they need. Temporary workers just can't do those things well.

Now, we've spoken many times in this House about the need for healthcare worker recruitment and retention. We've talked about policies and strategies and statistics, the cost of agency nurses and contract workers in terms of our budget and the health authority's deficit, but we rarely put our healthcare workers themselves at the centre of the solution. We rarely give them a platform to have their voices heard, to have their ideas considered, to let them be co-designers of the system we want to see, to empower them to be leaders in healthcare system reform.

Mr. Speaker, I am a Member of the Standing Committee on Social Development -- I am the seconder of this motion -- the Member from Monfwi is the chair. And the committee has already identified it wants to broadly examine how to make our entire healthcare system more sustainable.

This motion is asking the committee to take a deeper dive into examining healthcare recruitment and retention from the perspective of its workers, to hear from them directly so that our recommendations better reflect the realities of frontline workers.

The committee, of course, should focus on the things that we as MLAs have some control or influence over - our government and health authority's policies and management practices and our own government's legislation, including how we legislate bargaining structures and regulation of health care professionals. I look forward to hearing from my colleagues on how they envision this Assembly and our committees moving forward to address this important issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am making a motion to amend Motion 52-20(1), strengthening support for nurses and healthcare workers.

I MOVE, seconded by the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, to amend Motion 52-20(1), strengthening support for nurses and healthcare workers, by adding the words the "employer's" between the words "of" and "management" in the fifth clause of the preamble, such that the clause reads:

AND WHEREAS recruitment and retention of nurses and healthcare workers remain a serious challenge and require proactive review of the employer's management and labour policies to ensure fair treatment, safe working conditions, and adequate professional support to improve working conditions and job satisfaction.

Thank you, Member from Great Slave. The motion to a -- or the motion to amend the motion is in order. The question before the House is now the amendment debate must be on the amendment and not the main motion. To the motion. Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this amendment and the two that follow are simply to clarify that it is not the intent of the motion to interfere with how the union conducts its internal business. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will support the amendment as it was always my intention for the committee to focus its work on the government's own legislation and policies. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. To the motion.