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

Oral Questions
Members Present
Prayer Or Reflection
Winter Road and Ice Crossing Implementation
Minister Absesnt from the House
Arctic Economic and Security Corridor Memorandum of Understanding
Mackenzie Valley Highway Community Sessions
Compassionate Accommodation for Medical Travel
Cultural Safety in the Health Care System
Black History Month Events in Yellowknife
Opening Comments
Abandoned Vehicles Amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act
Mandate and Priorities of the Legislative Assembly
Economic Future of the Northwest Territories
Celebration of Life of Dolphus “Duffy” Cazon
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Community Engagement on Makenzie Valley Highway
Cultural Safety and Stabilizing Workforce in Healthcare System
Accelerating Resource Development in the Northwest Territories
Land Tenure and Land Transfers
Amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act Concerning Abandoned Vehicles
Long-term Benefits of Resource Development in the Tlicho Region
Diamond Mine Socioeconomic Agreements
Implementation of United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Persons Concerning Healthcare
Fire Safety in Encampments
Cost of Living Subsidies for Power Rates
Air Ambulance Contracts
Taltson Hydro Expansion
Arctic Economic Security Corridor
Fire Marshall's Office and Encampments
Aspen Apartments
Tabled Document 459-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 26-20(1): Report on the Statutory Review of the Legal Aid Act Tabled Document 460-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 30-20(1): Report on the Review of the 2024-2025 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Information and Privacy Commissioner Tabled Document 461-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 32-20(1): Report on the Review of the 2024-2025 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission
Bill 40: An Act to Amend the Vital Statistics Act, Deemed Read
Bill 41: An Act to Amend the Real Estate Agents Licensing Act, Deemed Read
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026
Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 454-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization), No. 3, 2025-2026
Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Point Of Order
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

The Chair

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 448-20(1), 2026-2027 Main Estimates. We will now consider the Department of Health and Social Services. Does the Minister of Health and Social Services wish to bring in witnesses into the House?

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

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Yes.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

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

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

The Chair

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the chambers.

Thank you. Would the Minister please introduce her witnesses.

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

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To my left, I have deputy minister Alan Doody. And to my right, I have assistant deputy minister Jeannie Mathison.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you. Committee, we will resume consideration of Department of Health and Social Services where we ended yesterday. Committee, we were considering the information items on page 217 to 221. Are there any questions? Okay, thank you.

Members, return now to department summary found on page 189, with information items found on pages 190 to 196. Are there any questions? Seeing no further questions, committee, I will now call the department summary.

Health and social services, operations expenditures, total 2026-2027 Main Estimates, $728,039,000. 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

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

The Chair

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you, committee. Thank you to the Minister and thanks to the witnesses for appearing before us. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses from the chambers.

Committee, we will now move on to Tabled Document 453-20(1), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026.

Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 453-20(1), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026. Does the Minister of Finance wish to bring in witnesses to the chamber?

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

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Yes, please, Mr. Chair.

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

The Chair

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. 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

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

The Chair

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the chambers.

Thank you. Would the Minister please introduce her witnesses.

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

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, on my left I have Bill MacKay, the deputy minister of finance. On my right, Mandi Bolstad, the deputy secretary to the financial management board.

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

The Chair

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. Does the committee agree to proceed to the detail contained in the tabled documents?

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

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

The Chair

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Committee, we will begin at page 5 with the Department of Environment and Climate Change.

Department of Environment and Climate Change, capital investment expenditures, wildlife and forest management, not previously authorized, $74,000. Are there any questions? Okay, seeing no further questions.

Department of Environment and Climate Change, capital investment expenditures, wildlife and forest management, not previously authorized, $74,000. 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

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

The Chair

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. Department of Environment and Climate Change, capital investment expenditures, total department not previously authorized, $74,000. 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

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

The Chair

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. Committee, we will now consider the Department of Finance on page 6.

Department of Finance, capital investment expenditures, Office of the Chief Information Officer, not previously authorized, negative $1,811,000. Are there any questions? Seeing no further questions.

Department of Finance, capital investment expenditures, Office of the Chief Information Officer, not previously authorized, negative $1,811,000. 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

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

The Chair

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. Department of Finance, capital investment expenditures, total number, not previously authorized, negative $1,811,000. 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

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

The Chair

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. Committee, we will now consider the Department of Health and Social Services on page 7.

Department of Health and Social Services, capital investment expenditures, administrative and support services, not previously authorized, negative $221,000. Are there any questions?

Sorry, not previously authorized, negative $221,000. Are there any questions? Seeing no further questions.

Department of Health and Social Services, capital investment expenditures, administrative and support services, not previously authorized, negative $221,000. Does committee agree?