Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just first following up quickly on -- my colleague asked some good questions about the 24/7 lab that is being proposed in this budget. And I am wondering -- so the last item on the list for $317,000 to provide funding for laboratory and diagnostic imaging for outpatient collections -- well, first I am wondering why this is coming to us in supps but also whether this is again something that might be mitigated by a 24/7 model at the Stanton lab. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Debates of Feb. 10th, 2026
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
Committee Motion 137-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 10th
Committee Motion 137-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 10th
Committee Motion 137-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 10th
Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, this was an occasion that will connect in to the proposed 24/7 lab staffing. This would bridge where things were at through to what is hoped to be the change that will take place as of April 1st if the main estimates are approved. It provided for early hiring of eight outpatient laboratory diagnostic imaging positions at Stanton. That addressed some of the immediate wait times and returned the same-day appointments back to the position -- or to the frequency with which they were previously, so -- and it is certainly expected that with a 24/7 staffing model that that will subsume this temporary measure. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Committee Motion 137-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 10th
Committee Motion 137-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 10th
Shauna Morgan Yellowknife North
Okay, thank you, Mr. Chair. Again, that's helpful to know.
I also wanted to ask about the funding for the in territory child and family supports program. That's $832,000. So why is this coming to us in supps, and what exactly is involved there? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Committee Motion 137-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 10th
Committee Motion 137-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 10th
Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So this in territory child and family supports, this is an area that supports youth who are in need of supports through, for example the Tlicho Community Services Agency as well as Hay River Health and Social Services Agency, foster placements by both of those agencies, family support agreements, group homes across different regions and communities. As for why it comes in the form of a supp, Mr. Chair, there -- it is demand driven and so if there's a higher than anticipated need, then that -- then the budget amount that is allotted for the course of a fiscal year obviously doesn't cover it. And in some cases, the health and social services system don't necessarily know what the final numbers will be until they're later in the fiscal year. So I would also note one of the other things that has happened over the last few years, there have been increases in per diem rates in the last few years which is impacting the cost of foster placement care. As well, Mr. Chair, some changes in the types of supports that are being driven by changes to the Child and Family Services Act, and so as a result of all that, even with forced growth increases in the last couple of years, this -- the program saw, it was in a shortfall. Thank you.
Committee Motion 137-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 10th
Committee Motion 137-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 10th
Shauna Morgan Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Minister referenced changes to the Child and Family Services Act. My understanding was that we are expecting to start reviewing changes to the Child and Family Services Act later this Assembly and that changes were not made in the last Assembly, so I am not sure what recent changes the Minister is speaking of. Can the Minister clarify? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Committee Motion 137-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 10th
Committee Motion 137-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 10th
Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, absolutely. So there was amendments back in 2016, but that then has resulted in, you know -- at least it's one of the reasons that's resulting in increased costs, which is to say that there are more children who are staying in their homes and then under voluntary support services agreements which do have costs associated as well as a last round of changes extended services for youth to the age of 23, which again increases the costs if there's a group or a cohort within that age bracket that are drawing on those services. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Committee Motion 137-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 10th
Committee Motion 137-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 10th
Committee Motion 137-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 10th
The Chair Richard Edjericon
Thank you. Are there any further questions from Members? Okay, seeing none. I am going to continue on seeing no further questions.
Department of Health and Social Services, health and social services programs, not previously authorized, $10,692,000. Does committee agree?
Committee Motion 137-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 10th
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 137-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 10th
The Chair Richard Edjericon
Thank you. Department of Health and Social Services, operations expenditures, long-term continuing care services, not previously authorized, $3,700,000. Are there any questions? Seeing no further questions.
Department of Health and Social Services, long-term care and continuing care services, not previously authorized, $3,700,000. Does committee agree?
Committee Motion 137-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 10th
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 137-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 10th
The Chair Richard Edjericon
Thank you. Department of Health and Social Services, operations expenditures, out of territory services, not previously authorized, $26,624,000. Are there any questions? Seeing no further questions.
Department of Health and Social Services, out of territory services, not previously authorized, $26,624,000. Does committee agree?
Committee Motion 137-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 10th
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 137-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 10th
The Chair Richard Edjericon
Thank you. The Department of Health and Social Services, operations expenditures, supplementary health benefits, not previously authorized, $4,293,000. Are there any questions? Seeing no further questions.
Department of Health and Social Services, supplementary health benefits, not previously authorized, $4,293,000. Does the committee agree?
Committee Motion 137-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 10th
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 137-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 10th
The Chair Richard Edjericon
Thank you. Department of Health and Social Services, operations expenditures, total department not previously authorized, $47,510,000. Does committee agree?
Committee Motion 137-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 10th
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 137-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 10th
The Chair Richard Edjericon
Thank you. Please turn to page 9, the Department of Infrastructure.
Department of Infrastructure, operations expenditures, asset management, not previously authorized, $1,095,000. Are there any questions?
I am going to the Member from Great Slave.
Committee Motion 137-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 10th
Kate Reid Great Slave
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, this is $1.095 million for repair costs associated with the Deh Cho Bridge. Could the Minister please provide a substantiation around what those repair costs entail. Thank you.