Debates of Feb. 13th, 2026

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I know a number of government departments themselves, infrastructure, housing, in business plans have their own targets for numbers of apprentices. And so what is the Minister doing to work with other departments to try to meet those targets in business plans around apprenticeships to find, perhaps, government employees who may not be red-sealed but might be experienced journeypersons to take on those apprentices? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, I don't just talk in the House about SNAP; I also speak to all of my colleagues. I've sat down with the Minister of housing, I've sat down with the -- well, Minister of strategic infrastructure when she was the Minister of Infrastructure, sat down with the Minister, as well, of Finance, who is also the Minister of human resources, to ensure that the government is also playing a part when it comes to making sure that we're supporting the growth of apprentices. A lot of times people in communities who are journeypersons, who are Red Seal tradespeople, do work for the Government of the Northwest Territories in some form, and so making sure that we are capitalizing on our human capital as best as possible across the territory is critically important to our success in this area. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It goes back to an old sports-related injury. Actually, so, basically, what it comes down to is we know that we've had some financial difficulties in the department with getting athletes to the games, travel costs, everything else, so, you know, I've got a few things going on also, so I've asked the department to take me off the list to travel there to help save money and hopefully use some of that money for the athletes and their travels. So some fiscal sustainability there. And also just to -- I will be attending the meetings, however, virtually, so there are meetings there that I will be attending virtually. And, you know, there are staff that are going -- sorry, there are people going that will be representing the Northwest Territories. So thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure what the Cabinet's hoping for after hearing that answer. My goodness, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, someone at a political level should represent the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, if the Minister doesn't have the time, maybe one of us. I sit on the committee that oversees it. And, if anything, Mr. Speaker, I am sure the senior envoy has nothing to do; he could go. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister be willing to designate someone or put an offer out there, because those parents and youth really appreciate us joining arm-in-arm with them, supporting them, and waving the NWT flag? Because it matters, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, you know, the role of the Minister, obviously, is to take part in some of the activities but it's also to take part in some of the meetings that are happening there. We all know the cost of doing government. We've heard time and time again how much money it costs and how much money we waste, and that goes on and on and on. So I've decided to use some of that money, and hopefully it goes towards some of the travel that the athletes are going towards. And at the end of the day, I've decided not to go and attend the meetings virtually. We have the Commissioner going. I hear the Speaker's going. And I hope the Speaker will be waving our flag high for us. And my understanding is he's quite keen on going, as he normally is -- likes to go to the Arctic Winter Games, and he's going to hopefully hand out some medals for us and hopefully attend the opening ceremonies for us. So thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Final supplementary. Member from the Yellowknife Centre.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister talks about the budget, the money. Can the Minister confirm to this House that 100 percent of what would have been his travel budget is going to support our northern athletes at the Arctic Winter Games? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I could guarantee that that money, and then some, is going to be going to the travel and everything else at the Arctic Winter Games. So if we can get back to the Member, once the games are done and all expenses are out and you can see where all the money has gone, we can get all that information from Sport North and all the other organizations that might be dipping into my travel funds that go to the Arctic Winter Games. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Oral questions. Mr. Clerk.

CLERK OF THE HOUSE (Mr. Harjot Sidhu) Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Rule 7.2(7)(2), I've received follow-up information for the following oral questions from the first session of the 20th Legislative Assembly, 945 and 950. These follow-ups will be printed in full in today's Hansard. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further to the response provided to the Member for Yellowknife Centre on
February 5, 2026, the following additional information is provided:

The Department of Health and Social Services' Professional Licensing Office is responsible for the administration of the legislation that governs the registration and licensing of health and social services professionals that are regulated by the Department of Health and Social Services, to ensure public safety through independent, quasi-judicial regulation of health and social services professionals, maintaining statutory obligations and national regulatory standards. The Office manages licensing and regulation for 14 different health professions under 11 separate Acts with 1294 registrants as of February 6, 2026.

The Office is comprised of three positions with statutory appointments: The Registrar and Chief of Profession Regulation, the Deputy Registrar and Senior Licensing Officer, and the Complaints and Regulatory Affairs Officer, and is currently also supported by an Intern, Licensing Officer. The Registrar position is currently filled but was vacant for a short period recently. In the absence of a Registrar, the Deputy Registrar and Complaints and Regulatory Affairs Officer maintained continuity of essential operations and responsibilities for professional licensing and complaints, respectively. Additional senior management support was provided by the Director of Corporate Planning, Reporting and Evaluation.

The Professional Licensing Office publishes disciplinary actions on the Department website. In addition, the public registry of all licensed registrants is available upon request. The registry includes any conditions on practice currently in effect.

Upon application for registration in the Northwest Territories, health professionals are required to submit certificates of standing from all the jurisdictions including international and national jurisdictions, where they have been registered in the past 15 years. Certificates of standing include information on complaints, disciplinary actions, and other disclosures. Additionally, several health professions regulated by the Professional Licensing Office are required to submit a criminal record check or a vulnerable sector check when applying for registration. Upon renewal of registration, health professionals must answer disclosure questions to notify the Office if they have a new complaint, disciplinary action, criminal conviction, etc. If the registrant has a new disclosure, the Professional Licensing Office will assess the situation to determine if they are eligible for renewal.

Further to the response provided to the Member for Yellowknife Centre on
February 5, 2026, the following additional information is provided:

The Department of Health and Social Services' Seniors and Continuing Care division met with the new president of the Alzheimer's Society of Alberta and the Northwest Territories in August 2025. To date, discussions have focused on the Society's role, information available and opportunities for collaboration to increase awareness and access to resources in the territory.

A follow-up meeting is scheduled for March 2026 when Society representatives will be in Yellowknife. During this meeting staff will discuss access pathways for Society resources and determine how best to share this information, including posting to the Government of the Northwest Territories website.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Time for oral questions is up, colleagues. Oral questions. Written questions. Replies to written questions. Replies to the Commissioner's address. Petitions. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee would like to report on its consideration of Bill 29, First Responders Workers' Compensation Amendment Act.

Bill 29 received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on May 29th, 2025, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations for review. A motion extending the committee's review of Bill 29 by 120 days was adopted by this Assembly on October 16th, 2025.

The committee is actively continuing its review of the bill but has not yet conducted a clause-by-clause review; therefore, Mr. Speaker, in accordance with Rule 8.3(2) of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, I move, seconded by the Member for Great Slave, that the review period for Bill 29, First Responders' Compensation Amendment Act, be extended to February 27th, 2026. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstentions? The motion is carried. Standing committee review of Bill 27 is extended to February 27.

---Carried

Reports of committee on the review of bills. Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you again, Mr. Speaker. Your committee would like to report on its consideration of Bill 32, An Act to Amend the Public Service Act, No. 2.

Bill 32 received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on October 21st, 2025, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations for review.

The committee is still reviewing the bill and has not yet conducted a clause-by-clause review; therefore, Mr. Speaker, in accordance with Rule 8.3(2) of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, I move, seconded by the Member for Great Slave, that the review period for Bill 32, An Act to Amend the Public Service Act, No. 2, be extended by 120 days. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? The motion is carried. Standing committee review of Bill 32 is extended for 120 days.

---Carried

Reports of committee on the review of bills. Member from the Yellowknife Centre.