Debates of May 26th, 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 Or Reflection
Intergovernmental Meetings
Capital Delivery Status Update
Strengthening Community Wildfire Preparedness
Minister Absent from the House
Plebiscite for Preferential Balloting System
Cost of Electricity in Northwest Territories
Midwifery Services in Yellowknife
Arctic Expo
Shortage of Healthcare Professionals in Northwest Territories
Public Service Grievance Process
Wellness Support in the Northwest Territories
Support for Community Coaching Programs
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Update on Taltson Hydro Project
Healthcare SErvice Standards
Immigration Supports
Cost of Electricity in Northwest Territories
Community Counselling Program
Collective Bargaining Rights in the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories Trespass Legislation
Pay Increases for Daycare Providers
Northwest Territories Nominee Program Extensions
Northwest Territories Nominee Program Extensions
Nurse Practitioners
Staffing of Yellowknife Emergency Department
Northwest Territories Nominee Program Extensions
Interest-based Negotiations for Northwest Territories Physicians
Provision of Gender Affirming Care in the Northwest Territories
Status of Northwest Territories Project Finance for Permanence
Tabled Document 345-20(): Northwest Territories Law Foundation 42nd Annual Report for the Period End ing June 30, 2024 Tabled Document 346-20(): Legal Aid Commission of the Northwest Territories Annual Report 2023-2024
Tabled Document 347-20(): Statement of Consistency - Bill 26-20(1), An Act to Amend the Public Service Act
Notices Of Motion
Motions
Bill 28: An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act, No. 2
Bill 29: First Responders Workers' Compensation Amendment Act
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery(reversion)
Bill 26: An Act to Amend the Public Service Act
Recorded Vote
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Bill 17: Municipal and Community Affairs Statutes Amendment Act
Recorded Vote
Bill 18: An Act to Amend the Partnership and Business Name Act
Recorded Vote
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

May 26th

Shauna Morgan

Shauna Morgan Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll take the opportunity, I wanted to ask for the $528,000 that is to be allocated to Aurora College to support the delivery of the practical nurse program, my understanding -- and I could be mistaken on this -- but that the nurse practitioner program at the college was suspended in 2016. It was more formally cut in 2019. But then just recently, in the fall of 2024, formally reinstated.

Can the Minister or the witnesses explain why this amount is coming forward as a supplementary appropriation? Does it have to do with additional money that's required to get this program back up and running again, or is it for next fiscal year looking ahead? Maybe the Minister can give some context as to why this amount of money at this time is needed for the program at Aurora College. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

May 26th

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Member of Yellowknife North. Minister of Finance.

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

May 26th

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I can't speak to what may or may not have been going on back in 2016. But, Mr. Chair, this is an appropriation that is meant to move -- there was -- sorry, there was some funding that sunset previously in health and social services, and then we are now looking to fund this out of ECE and to step in where the funding was previously sunset to now go from what was a federally funded program in health to a GNWT funded program through ECE. Thank you.

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

May 26th

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Minister of Finance. Any further questions? Seeing none, thank you.

We'll carry on with Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Department of Education, Culture and Employment, operations expenditures, languages and culture, not previously authorized, $222,000 -- excuse me, $5,507,000. Does committee agree?

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

May 26th

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

May 26th

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, committee. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Department of Education, Culture and Employment, operations expenditures, languages and culture, not previously authorized, $222,000. Are there any questions?

Seeing no further questions. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Department of Education, Culture and Employment, operations expenditures, languages and culture, not previously authorized, $222,000. Does committee agree?

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

May 26th

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

May 26th

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, committee. Sorry, Members, I will make that correction.

Operations expenditures, education, not previously authorized, $5,507,000. Does committee agree?

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

May 26th

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

May 26th

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Department of Education, Culture and Employment, operations and expenditures, total department not previously authorized, $8,121,000. Are there any questions?

Seeing no further questions. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Department of Education, Culture and Employment, operations expenditures, total department not previously authorized, $8,121,000. Does committee agree?

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

May 26th

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

May 26th

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, committee. Committee, we will turn to page number 4 for the Department of Environment and Climate Change, page 4.

Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Department of Environment and Climate Change, operations expenditures, environmental management, monitoring and climate change, not previously authorized, $2,563,000. Are there any questions?

So no further questions. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Department of Environment and Climate Change, operations expenditures, environmental management, monitoring and climate change, not previously authorized, $2,563,000. Does committee agree?

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

May 26th

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

May 26th

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, committee. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Department of Environment and Climate Change, operations expenditures, policy and strategic planning, not previously authorized, $1,877,000. Are there any questions?

Seeing no further questions, Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Department of Environment and Climate Change, operations expenditures, policy and strategic planning, not previously authorized, $1,877,000. Does committee agree?

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

May 26th

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

May 26th

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, committee. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Department of Environment and Climate Change, operations expenditures, wildfire and forest management, not previously authorized, $4,446,000. Are there any questions? To the Member of Frame Lake.

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

May 26th

Julian Morse

Julian Morse Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I was just wondering the section 11, cost-shared funding, can you give us a better explanation of that. It's not self-explanatory. Not you yourself but the Minister, sorry. Thank you.

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

May 26th

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you to the Member. Minister of Finance.

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

May 26th

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This refers to section 11 of the federal Species at Risk Act, and this funding is going to support entering into the implementation of a conservation agreement with any government in Canada, organization, or benefit to support a species of risk. This funding will help ensure that we as the GNWT are fulfilling obligations under a two-year conservation agreement, and the project proposed here is titled the Conservation of Boreal Caribou in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

May 26th

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Minister of Finance. To the Member, Frame Lake.

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

May 26th

Julian Morse

Julian Morse Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That's it for me for -- yeah.

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

May 26th

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you to the Member. Any further questions on this item?

Seeing no further questions, Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Department of Environment and Climate Change, operations expenditures, wildfire and forest management, not previously authorized, $4,446,000. Does the committee agree?

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

May 26th

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

May 26th

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, committee. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Department of Environment and Climate Change, operations expenditures, total department not previously authorized, $8,886,000. Are there any questions?

Seeing none, Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026. Department of Environment and Climate Change, operations expenditures, total department not previously authorized, $8,886,000. Does the committee agree?

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

May 26th

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.