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 726-20(1): Indigenous Governance and Guidance in Healthcare
Oral Questions

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The little bits and pieces, what I do know of the First Nations BC health authority are from my old practices with NIHB. And I know from the -- within BC, all of the Indigenous groups have gotten together, the reserves got together, and so they do run clinics on their reserves. They draw down those funds. And I know that we've had these conversations that they're getting larger amounts of money per capita because they've drawn down some of these services on their reserves. And they also encompass administering NIHB in their province solely.

But within the Northwest Territories, because we have so many different Indigenous groups, like we have the First Nations, but then we have self-governing nations, then we have Inuit, then we have Metis, it gets very complex in the Northwest Territories and I'm not saying it can't be done. Maybe in the -- you know, in those conversations, and those are the conversations that would be something that I would, you know, suggest that, you know, we could continue to have those conversations with Indigenous governments and Indigenous leaders throughout the Northwest Territories. But how we get there, you know, that would take a lot of work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 726-20(1): Indigenous Governance and Guidance in Healthcare
Oral Questions

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Question 726-20(1): Indigenous Governance and Guidance in Healthcare
Oral Questions

Richard Edjericon

Richard Edjericon Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was passed by the last Assembly two years ago. Can the Minister provide any progress on the part of health and social services to uphold the rights outlined in UNDRIP which the GNWT must start implementing? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 726-20(1): Indigenous Governance and Guidance in Healthcare
Oral Questions

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that the legislation was passed. I was part of that amazing work that was done. And, you know, and I think that work that continues to happen, I don't have the specifics on that, but what I do know is that within our department, we do continue to work with the Indigenous advisory body and with the culture safety and anti-racism unit to ensure that when we get those federal dollars, they're well -- like, each community has wellness funds that we give to each community based on their wellness plans, and those things are driven from their own communities to provide those -- some services and programs in their community. But I can -- again, I will share that information with the Member of what's going on and in Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 726-20(1): Indigenous Governance and Guidance in Healthcare
Oral Questions

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Question 727-20(1): Aven Manor 2023 Wildfire Evacuation Costs
Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the 2023 evacuation, Avens was forced -- not of their own volition, but they were forced by the government to evacuate 57 vulnerable residents with little to no assistance. Mr. Speaker, they were even in carriage of people from Hay River and Fort Smith who needed that specialized care, and they were all too happy to do so, to support them. Avens was forced to cover a cost of $1.3 million that they had to take a mortgage out.

Now, after some long discussion, the government agreed to carry -- sorry, cover $900,000. They left 30 percent shortfall. That's $400,000. Will the Minister direct her department to work through this process and pay Avens the outstanding debt they have -- they are owed by this government?

Question 727-20(1): Aven Manor 2023 Wildfire Evacuation Costs
Oral Questions

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Could the Member tell me who the question is going to, please.

Question 727-20(1): Aven Manor 2023 Wildfire Evacuation Costs
Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Well, Minister of health. Thank you. She can start.

Question 727-20(1): Aven Manor 2023 Wildfire Evacuation Costs
Oral Questions

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Okay. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Question 727-20(1): Aven Manor 2023 Wildfire Evacuation Costs
Oral Questions

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what I do know about the -- what happened within that situation, there has been discussions that's gone back and forth. It came back between the disaster funding that it wasn't eligible or applicable, and these were things that didn't meet for reimbursement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 727-20(1): Aven Manor 2023 Wildfire Evacuation Costs
Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, let's start with not typical. Massive fire evacuation. Not typical? Find a way to remove everyone on your own. And furthermore and lastly, Mr. Speaker, the direction of oh, sorry, the plane you've arranged on your own without a plan, without support from us, we're commandeering it. You're right, none of it was typical. And in some ways, Mr. Speaker, not fault, but we have to figure out these things.

So, Mr. Speaker, knowing the situation, would the Minister go back and review the situation to see if they can assess on why this outstanding amount is still there and, furthermore, close that gap because Avens should not be subsidizing the GNWT. Thank you.

Question 727-20(1): Aven Manor 2023 Wildfire Evacuation Costs
Oral Questions

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have gone back. I know the Minister of MACA has gone back. My department went back and had further discussions, and the decision that was -- that there were benefits that were given to employees over and above that was what is -- and so that's why they didn't qualify under any of their collective agreement or under the disaster mitigation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 727-20(1): Aven Manor 2023 Wildfire Evacuation Costs
Oral Questions

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Question 727-20(1): Aven Manor 2023 Wildfire Evacuation Costs
Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, that's -- over and above is all fair and game when someone says this is what you're supposed to do and this is how you're supposed to do it. That wasn't the situation. They were left on their own, told to solve this problem, and they did in the best goodwill that they could. They took Yellowknife residents, Hay River residents, and Fort Smith residents.

Mr. Speaker, to the point of the question is Avens was faced with a Judgment of Solomon. Do they take some, which some, or do they take them all? They took them all. So back to this. Mr. Speaker, is the Minister saying some seniors mattered more than others during this evacuation, because Avens had no other option, or is she willing to find a way to support Avens through this terrible financial crisis? Thank you.

Question 727-20(1): Aven Manor 2023 Wildfire Evacuation Costs
Oral Questions

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the relationship between the NTHSSA and Avens is between the NTHSSA and Avens, and they were supported. This -- as we've been talking about in this House today, that was something that nobody else has experienced. And I understand where the Member is coming from but, like I said, we looked at all of the, and we worked with the Minister of MACA, and the decision still stands. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 727-20(1): Aven Manor 2023 Wildfire Evacuation Costs
Oral Questions

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

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

Question 728-20(1): Northwest Territories Nominee Program
Oral Questions

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Range Lake

Mr. Speaker, I know the Minister's going to -- or the Minister for Education, Culture and Employment is actively going to be working on this immigration file when she goes to Ottawa. So there's another issue that's come up that hasn't been raised on the floor of the House to my knowledge, and that's from workers who are now expecting children, if they wait for the NTNP to reopen next year, some of them will go on maternity leave which may make them ineligible to apply, forcing them to wait another year to -- for access.

What is the Minister doing to ensure that expecting parents aren't excluded from this program, or is the message that women must delay pregnancy in order to qualify?

Question 728-20(1): Northwest Territories Nominee Program
Oral Questions

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Question 728-20(1): Northwest Territories Nominee Program
Oral Questions

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question from the Member. Currently, within the policy, there is a leave provision in there and that is something that I am currently exploring with the department given the existing parameters of the program. Thank you.

Question 728-20(1): Northwest Territories Nominee Program
Oral Questions

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't know if I can tell the people experiencing this issue that an exploration is going on and that will be sufficient. So what does exploring mean in real terms to people with real lives who are experiencing this situation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 728-20(1): Northwest Territories Nominee Program
Oral Questions

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do want to fix this issue. I do think that it is an equity issue. And I don't have an answer for the Member right now other than the fact that I am live to this issue. Currently, the program says that people must be employed at the time that they apply, and so I have committed on the floor of this House that I'm currently reviewing that and seeing what parameters we can push this to within the program. Thank you.

Question 728-20(1): Northwest Territories Nominee Program
Oral Questions

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary. Member from Range Lake.

Question 728-20(1): Northwest Territories Nominee Program
Oral Questions

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister develop some sort of exemption or exclusionary measure in this program for this very small class of people who would are experiencing this issue. We want to keep people in the North, we want to keep people working, and we certainly want to keep people who have already contributed to the community in those jobs doing that work. So will she commit to an exemption to support expectant mothers who are in this program who are currently being shut out of that opportunity? Thank you.

Question 728-20(1): Northwest Territories Nominee Program
Oral Questions

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm absolutely agreeing with the Member that this was an equity issue, that we want to keep people in the North, and that we want to ensure that people can also add to their families and not be concerned about their applications. This is one of those frustrating parts of administering a program on behalf of another level of government, and so I need to see what my parameters are within our ability here in the territory to make adjustments to this extended lever part of the policy. Thank you.

Question 728-20(1): Northwest Territories Nominee Program
Oral Questions

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Oral questions. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.