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

Question 731--20(1): Unhoused Encampments in yellowknife
Oral Questions

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Mr. Premier.

Question 731--20(1): Unhoused Encampments in yellowknife
Oral Questions

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Mr. Speaker, just waiting for the -- thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is mentioning mischief. I'm not sure if that's reference to the Criminal Code but if it is, if there is something in the Criminal Code that would allow the RCMP to go and address this situation, I would not -- I don't have the ability to direct the RCMP to do that. The justice Minister does not have the ability to direct the RCMP to do that. We have a contract with the RCMP that makes very clear that we do not direct to the RCMP. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 731--20(1): Unhoused Encampments in yellowknife
Oral Questions

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Oral questions. Member from Range Lake.

Question 732--20(1): Action Plan of the Public Administrator of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority
Oral Questions

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, so we have a work plan for the public administrator for NTHSSA. We don't have an action plan. He says he's going to bring forward something in the fall. Can the Minister give us a speak preview of what that's going to look like, because people need action today, and they can't wait any longer. Thank you.

Question 732--20(1): Action Plan of the Public Administrator of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority
Oral Questions

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

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

Question 732--20(1): Action Plan of the Public Administrator of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority
Oral Questions

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, the public administrator, you know, he arrived here, he's been on the ground, he's been going out to the regions. This is where the work is happening. It is going in -- like I said, he went into the Nahendeh first. He visited with the health centre. He visited with the staff. He went into small communities. Now they're doing a pilot on, like how patients are accessing care. This is -- access to care is our priority and within our smallest communities, this is where we're hearing and we're seeing that access to care is almost next to nothing. So we are -- the action plan is going into all of the regional, all the regions, speaking with, he's met with NTHSSA, he's met with the Stanton leadership. You know, he's met with the regional -- the Yellowknife region leadership. There is a lot of work going on and, you know, the action is is the work that they're doing right now, and we did say that we will follow up with quarterly updates to the Members, standing committee. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 732--20(1): Action Plan of the Public Administrator of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority
Oral Questions

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Range Lake

Mr. Speaker, that's an engagement plan, not an action plan, and I'm very privileged to be able to get those updates but members of the public are not. These are the people we serve, these are the people who are concerned, and the staff are concerned as well. They don't feel like things are moving fast enough. So will the Minister commit to bringing forward a clear, concise, set of actions that are going to affect the entire health system, not just one area, but the entire health system? Thank you.

Question 732--20(1): Action Plan of the Public Administrator of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority
Oral Questions

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said before, there are many things going on throughout the entire healthcare system that is -- you know, is improving within the capital, within the regions. There is capital projects that are going on. There is a significant amount of work that is going on. I have discussed this with my department on how to better front-face all of the work that the department is working on and is doing, and I'm -- you know, we're working with our COMMS people to be able to provide a front-facing -- some type of public document that is showing a lot of the different things that are going on within the NTHSSA as well with the department of health. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 732--20(1): Action Plan of the Public Administrator of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority
Oral Questions

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of health and social services. Final supplementary. Member from Range Lake.

Question 732--20(1): Action Plan of the Public Administrator of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority
Oral Questions

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is a lot going on but there there's a lot of -- but what's going on is a system of health care that's failing people. We hear it every day. So, Mr. Speaker, will the Minister -- can the Minister tell us what steps the public administrator is taking to guarantee that the emergency room does not close? Thank you.

Question 732--20(1): Action Plan of the Public Administrator of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority
Oral Questions

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, not only is the public administrator worked on that area but as recently as today, I've had conversations with NTHSSA and they are working with staff. They are working with staff on contingency plans throughout any department that we start to run short on staff in any of our regions because this happens in the small communities, we have to have contingency plans, in the regional centres we have contingency plans, and in the capital. And so that work is going on, and it's engaging those staff to come up with other plans, you know, in case that there are -- there comes a time where maybe there is a shift or two that there is an emergency doctor. Well, there's other physicians. There are other trained physicians that have emergency experience. Those things are being worked on. It's like what we've been asked for evacuations. It's what we are asked for any types of emergencies. We need to plan. And that's the planning that's going on, and those things are being documented within health. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 732--20(1): Action Plan of the Public Administrator of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority
Oral Questions

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Colleagues, our time is up. Mr. Clerk.

Question 732--20(1): Action Plan of the Public Administrator of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority
Oral Questions

Clerk Of The House Mr. Glen Rutland

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Pursuant to Rule 7.2(7), I received follow-up information for oral question 598-20(1). Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 732--20(1): Action Plan of the Public Administrator of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority
Oral Questions

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Oral questions. Oral questions. Written questions. Returns to written questions. Replies to the Commissioner's address. Petitions. Tabling of documents. Minister of Finance.

Tabled Document 348-20(1): 2023/2024 Report on the Departmental Indigenous Employment Plans Results
Tabling Of Documents

May 27th, 2025

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: 2023/2024 Report on the Departmental Indigenous Employment Plans Results. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabled Document 348-20(1): 2023/2024 Report on the Departmental Indigenous Employment Plans Results
Tabling Of Documents

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Finance. Tabling of documents. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Tabled Document 349-20(1): Letter dated May 20, 2025, from Yellowknives Dene First Nation to Premier Simpson regarding Burials of Children Who Attended St. Joseph's Residential School
Tabling Of Documents

Richard Edjericon

Richard Edjericon Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Tabling of documents, Mr. Speaker, I wish to table a Letter dated May 20th, 2025, from the Yellowknives Dene First Nation to Premier Simpson regarding Burials of Children who Attended St. Joseph's School in Fort Resolution. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabled Document 349-20(1): Letter dated May 20, 2025, from Yellowknives Dene First Nation to Premier Simpson regarding Burials of Children Who Attended St. Joseph's Residential School
Tabling Of Documents

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Tabling of documents. Notices of motion. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Motion 59-20(1): Establishment of Electoral Boundaries Commission
Notices Of Motion

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, May 29th, 2025, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the Member for Kam Lake, that the Northwest Territories Electoral Boundaries Commission 2025 is hereby established;

And furthermore, that the Legislative Assembly recommends to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories that the Honourable Judge R.D. Gorin of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, be appointed as chairperson; and Mr. Daryl Dolynny of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories; Mr. Sam Dyck of Inuvik, Northwest Territories; Mr. Kevin O'Reilly of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories; and, Ms. Georgina Rolt of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, be appointed members of the Northwest Territories Electoral Boundaries Commission 2025.

And, Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Motion 59-20(1): Establishment of Electoral Boundaries Commission
Notices Of Motion

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Notices of motion. Member from Yellowknife North.

Motion 60-20(1): Extended Adjournment of the House to October 16, 2025
Notices Of Motion

Shauna Morgan

Shauna Morgan Yellowknife North

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, May 27th, 2025, I will move the following motion:

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that notwithstanding Rule 2.1, when the House adjourns on Thursday, May 29th, 2025, it shall be adjourned until Thursday, October 16th, 2025;

And further, that any time prior to October 16th, 2025, if the Speaker is satisfied after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier or later time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as it has been duly adjourned to that time.

I believe, actually, there was a typo in the beginning and that I meant to give notice that on Thursday, May 29th, 2025, I will move that motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Motion 60-20(1): Extended Adjournment of the House to October 16, 2025
Notices Of Motion

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Notices of motion. Motions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Motion 59-20(1): Establishment of Electoral Boundaries Commission, Carried
Motions

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today. Thank you.

Motion 59-20(1): Establishment of Electoral Boundaries Commission, Carried
Motions

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. The Member from Yellowknife Centre has asked unanimous consent to deal with his motion today. Seeing no nays, you may proceed.

Motion 59-20(1): Establishment of Electoral Boundaries Commission, Carried
Motions

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS Section 2.(1) of the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act prescribes that an Electoral Boundaries Commission be established within two years after the day fixed for the return of the writs of the 2023 General Election;

AND WHEREAS section 2.(2) of the Act requires that the Commission shall be composed of a chairperson and four other members appointed by the Commissioner on recommendation of the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly is prepared to make such a recommendation;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Member for Kam Lake, that the Northwest Territories Electoral Boundaries Commission 2025, is hereby established;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Legislative Assembly recommends to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories that the Honourable Judge R.D. Gorin of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories be appointed chairperson; and, Mr. Daryl Dolynny of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories; Mr. Sam Dyck of Inuvik, Northwest Territories; Mr. Kevin O'Reilly of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories; and, Ms. Georgina Rolt of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, be appointed Members of the Northwest Territories Electoral Boundaries Commission 2025.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.