Mr. Speaker, making health care accessible to every Northwest Territories resident is a core mandate priority of this government. People across the Northwest Territories access our medical travel program, whether they are travelling to access health services in a regional centre, in the capital, or in the south. This means that a reliable medical travel program is vital to the Northwest Territories residents and to achieving this mandate priority.

In every community I have visited, residents tell me how difficult it is to navigate medical travel. This process can be confusing and frustrating, and it is the subject of a great many questions that come to my office from MLAs and constituents.

Medical travel staff work tirelessly to meet the needs of every traveler, but the program is inherently complex and each day they struggle by juggling patient referrals, coordinate with health care providers, and arrange flights and accommodations for dozens of travelers, all at the same time, often on short notice.

During my first year as Minister, it became very clear that this program needs a thorough overhaul so it can better serve Northwest Territories residents and be simpler for staff to manage.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to share some of the work that is underway to modernize this program. When complete, the modernized medical travel program will give residents better support and make the steps for arranging medical travel clearer and easier to follow.

In recent months we have drafted the detailed work plan to improve how medical travel services are delivered in the Northwest Territories. The plan maps current program operations, sets clearer and more consistent processes, and will give residents simpler and more useful information. A dedicated project team is leading this work, and we have already presented the plan to the Standing Committee on Social Development for feedback.

Mr. Speaker, let me be clear: This work will not cut or scale back medical travel services. Residents who must leave their community for care will continue to receive the support that they rely on. Our aim is to make the program more consistent, simpler to navigate, and truly centered on the client's needs.

This work is also supported by the broader efforts being led by the public administrator of the NTHSSA. Through engagement with staff and leadership and presentations to standing committees, we are identifying gaps in client experience and improving how care is coordinated. The goal is to make medical travel smoother for those who need it, and to reduce the need for travel over time by strengthening access to quality care within communities.

Over the next six months, we will focus on examining each step of the program and introducing improvements so residents can understand and access medical travel with greater ease.

The newly modernized medical travel program is expected to come into effect on September 1, 2026. Until that time, we will continue to work with Indigenous governments, staff, and Members of this Legislative Assembly to ensure that we are on the right path. This is part of our broader commitment to improve access to care and build a stronger and more sustainable health and social services system in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.