Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the healthcare system sustainability unit is looking at different areas in the healthcare system and doing an analysis. It's going to provide that analysis to Cabinet to help us make determinations about future budgeting and future structure of the healthcare system.

The work is ongoing. It is a little behind schedule, but we're going to have hopefully all of the information we need and if not, we'll have the vast majority of the information we need prior to the upcoming budget cycle, so that for next year's main estimates we'll be able to factor in that analysis. Thank you Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, that's disappointing but -- because it is important work. But my concern about it is if it's just for Cabinet and we don't get to see it or the public gets to see it, we're letting the unit decide what is core. Right? They're defining non-core or discretionary medical services. We're letting this unit decide what Northerners need and what Northerners don't, and that could have big impacts because the most expensive services are definitely in small communities. So will the Minister commit to transparency around this process so we can make sure we all have an understanding of what core services are and what non-core services are? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And so just to correct the record, I know that we don't do a lot of correcting of misinformation in this House, but the unit is not going to make a determination about what core services are. So the way that government works is that public servants will provide advice to decision-makers, the Ministers, and then those Ministers will make decisions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Final supplementary. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, of course Ministers are the final word. That's how governments work. I think everyone understands that. Mr. Speaker, the unit has spent two years inventorying problems that frontline staff have been complaining about for a decade. So why are we spending $2 million a year of federal money on an administrative process to build more plans, to build more studies, when we could be putting it into frontline services like an MRI machine or even security in the waiting room, in the emergency room, Mr. Speaker? That's what's important to Northerners, and until we actually see what this plan is it's all talk. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I was in Cabinet four years prior to becoming Premier, and during that time I had a lot of questions about the expenditures in the healthcare system, and despite repeated requests for information I had trouble receiving it. And, Mr. Speaker, you were there. You probably shared some of those same frustrations. And so when we started this government, I said we need to get a handle on where our money is going, what we're spending it on and put some structure around that. Because for many years, the health authority had a deficit budget, they were allowed to spend money, create programs, hire people without oversight of Cabinet. And despite all the calls we get for, you know, a new arms-length body here or there, it's clear that people want the elected officials to maintain some control and responsibility for these systems. And so this unit was put together so we could get an understanding of what's going on in the healthcare system and where the money is going. The people in the system are busy doing other things. They're busy keeping that system running. And so we needed a way to get that information, and so that's why this unit was created. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Member from the Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to raise a serious topic here just to ensure that everyone's aware. Just after lunch I was sent a letter from a parent from one of the schools in -- I guess it is public now. It's -- but one of the schools of Yellowknife. And I guess there is now a story up. It's with respect to a hold and secure situation. And I was trying to exercise caution before I brought this up now that it's a public story, Mr. Speaker. So my questions will be focused to, obviously, the education Minister, noting it's a school.

Mr. Speaker, in essence, the question is really about how do we address these through protocols? Does the department of ECE consider some type of serious incident review after these types of serious incidents happen, and how does it communicate any type of review if it does do these reviews? Thank you.

Thank you, Yellowknife Centre. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, all 49 schools in the Northwest Territories are required to have and maintain safe school and emergency response plans. These plans are reviewed every three years. In between that time, Mr. Speaker, as we know the world quickly changes and so schools themselves can update their plans at any time, can lean on the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to ensure that they've got the support that they need for any updates within that timeframe. But every three years, on a cycle, those plans are also audited on a regular basis. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate finding out what the schools do, but I am more concerned about what ECE does when students bring guns to school, which I am thankful this isn't an incident that we talk about very often. So, Mr. Speaker, specific to the overall issue, is there a protocol to review these types of incidents? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, all of the superintendents, as you can imagine, are in close contact with their principals of schools that would be in question during these incidents, and we have direct linkages between our senior management at ECE and our superintendents.

I just spoke with the superintendent of this incident earlier today, and so I am also in regular contact with our education leaders in the territory. Thank you.

Thank you, Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The parent that sent this to me is concerned about the trauma and support for the students, including the staff, by all means. And, lastly, Mr. Speaker, protocol review would identify systemic failures, prevention of data analysis, resource allocation, and certainly back to the mental health issue, Mr. Speaker. That's the type of issue. Could the Minister look at a protocol review on what happened at this particular incident? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during incidents like this, it is incredibly important that everyone involved understand exactly what their role is and follow that process. I can report here that everybody followed protocol to a tee following this incident, and in dealing with this incident. That includes contact with the RCMP, that includes making sure that teachers responded how they needed to, that students responded how they needed to. And in this, there is regular contact between the department and the education bodies to ensure that if there is support that is required that they have access to that support, and we continue to maintain contact with our education bodies throughout incidents but also throughout the year as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Colleagues, our time is up for oral questions. Oral questions. Written questions. Returns to written questions. Replies to the Commissioner's address. Petitions. Tabling of documents. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to table some documents today. Mr. Speaker, I would like to table the following document: The Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 25-20(1), Report on the Review of Bill 26, An Act to Amend the Public Service Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Finance. Tabling of documents. Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table a document titled Securing Canada's Link to the Arctic - The National Defence and Security Benefits of the Mackenzie Valley Highway Project. Mahsi.

Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Tabling of documents. Notices of motion. Motions. Member from Yellowknife North.

Mr. Speaker, I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that notwithstanding Rule 2.1, when the House adjourns on Tuesday, February 17th, 2026, it shall be adjourned until Tuesday, February 24th, 2026;

AND FURTHER, that any time prior to February 24th, 2026, 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.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Motions. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? Motion passed.

---Carried

Motions. Notices of motion for the first reading of bills. First reading of bills. Mr. Premier.