Debates of Feb. 24th, 2026

Thank you, Member from Inuvik Boot Lake. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, yes, I have met with the Minister for Transportation Yukon. We were in contact over the holidays. In fact, Christmas Day we were in contact over the closures, trying to assist Inuvik with their propane shortage. So we've been in contact numerous times to support the opening and keeping open the Dempster Highway. Unfortunately, climate change has been an issue. We all know that, and it's impacted our side of the highway, the Dempster Highway, and also the Inuvik ITH. So it's no different on the Dempster Highway with all the mountains and everything else, so. Yes, I've been in contact with her, and we continue to work with the Yukon government on maintaining the highway of -- and the open Dempster Highway. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you for that. And, yes, I am aware; I know the Minister was very helpful during the closure crisis we had during the fuel delivery issue we had in Inuvik when the highway was closed. And I understand, yes, climate change is real; it's happening. It's happening on both sides of the border, but our contractors seem to be able to keep it open. I understand there's a little more mountainous areas on the other side. But 18 days is a long time. So does the Minister have any comments, or did he get any comments from his counterpart, the Minister of transportation in the Yukon, as to actually putting more capacity, more resources, to ensure that we don't get a month where there's 18 days or a 20-day period where there's nine days in February where it's closed? Has there been any commitment from the Yukon side? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, just to add to what the Member says, you know, we have a lot of good contractors on both sides of the Yukon and NWT. Our contractors have been working hard to maintain the roads and keep them open. I know Yukon -- our departments have been communicating, and they are doing a bunch of work to the Dempster Highway, and there's plans being developed on exactly what they're going to do. Unfortunately, I don't have details on what their action plans are for maintaining the road during winter events and when there is winter storms or anything like that on the Yukon side. So I will reach out to the Government of Yukon to see if there's an opportunity on how we can work together, and maybe some better communication on helping keep the Dempster Highway open for less impacts. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Infrastructure. Final supplementary. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that. And I know there's funding to do some upgrades on that highway, and certainly appreciate that too. In the summer, the Minister mentioned that he will meet again and talk about doing some commitments. Will the Minister include with that -- and I know in speaking with our contractors on the NWT side, they've often went down and said, yeah, we could get that open but yet a couple of days pass before it's actually done. Is there a potential that we could actually provide some of that service to the Government of Yukon?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Those discussions have never happened -- or those discussions haven't happened that I am aware of, and I don't know if that idea has ever been tabled. So it's something we could talk about and look at and maybe work with the Member on what exactly the idea looks like, but definitely, you know, always open for solutions of ways to keep the Dempster Highway open longer. I think it's important to get supplies and services to all the communities in the North, so thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, following up on my statement earlier today, does the department of health -- and these questions are for the health Minister. Does the department of health have a system navigation or cross-departmental service access function which could receive clients with disabilities or their families and help coordinate access to services across programs and departments for them? Thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, no. Persons with disability access supports, like any other Northwest Territories resident, based on what their assessed needs are. So within health, if they have certain needs, then health will look within their system to support those needs. Many GNWT departments provide supports, so this is not just a health services area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the 2023 supported living review recommended wraparound case management as a key systemic change needed. Has the department made any progress enacting this recommendation?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is on the work plan; however, as I said last week, the health care sustainability unit is analyzing and looking at the supportive living program as it is, so we have paused any of this work until we get the outcomes of that because we don't want to be investing into areas where there's a higher need that may come through the analysis through the healthcare system sustainability unit. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I consider this health sustainability unit more of a fiscal responsibility exercise. I mean, the department has had a number of years with that review and the recommendations from it. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister consider establishing a systemic support role similar to the integrated service delivery team at EIA for persons with disabilities and supported living clients or working with the Premier to see if such a role could be added to the ISD team that exists? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as per the -- you know, the comments about, yes, this is a -- it's going to analyze -- it's analyzing because of the overspend in the supportive living area. Every year, we're spending, you know, millions and millions of dollars on supportive living, and so when we got this report it's also recommending to spend many, many more millions. So we have processes that we need to go through for that in order to implement all those recommendations; however, we have -- within health, we have child and family services recommendations, we have health care, you know, hospital service recommendations, we have primary care recommendations. So I am trying to balance all of those recommendations as to implementing the highest needs. But at this time, you know, what I can do is I can have a conversation with the Premier and with EIA as to how we could establish or work together better. But not at this time we won't be establishing that within health because it is across the board. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in his response to my Written Question 22-20(1), the Minister of MACA wrote that the Dog Act is designed to provide flexibility so communities can address dog control and welfare issues in a manner that reflects their specific needs. This includes the authority for communities to adopt tailored local bylaws.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister elaborate on what resources currently exist or need to be developed so that NWT communities can work collaboratively and share their good work with other communities that have partnered and seen success with Veterinarians Without Borders so they may also update their bylaws to improve animal welfare? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Communities across the Northwest Territories use a range of tools to promote animal welfare, including local bylaws, public education, and partnership with external organizations. The GNWT supports community governments by providing them guidance, developing, and updating animal control bylaws, and help strengthen local capacity. While the Government of Northwest Territories does not deliver veterinary services, communities interested in expanding their animal welfare programming can explore partnerships with organizations like Veterinarians Without Borders and their northern animal health initiatives. Some communities are finding success in these programs other than the ones mentioned by the Member, such as Arctic Paws in Inuvik. The GNWT can assist sharing information and highlight success approaches already underway by other communities. This helps ensure that communities interested in updating their bylaws and are enhancing their animal welfare practices have access to examples, resources, and partnerships needed to support informed decision-making at the local level. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, and I believe -- and thank you to the Minister for that. I also believe that he's met with representatives from Vets without Borders. And could the Minister explain if any -- he's identified any actions that MACA could take coming out of that contact with that group? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Actually, Mr. Speaker, I can confirm that I have not met with the Veterinarians Without Borders. However, when communities express interest, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is prepared to facilitate any connections. Communities are also welcome to reach out to the Veterinarians Without Borders directly at any time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Final supplementary. Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My mistake. They're great people to talk to.

Mr. Speaker, I hazard to guess that all bylaw officers in the territory would rather help stray animals than to destroy them. Can the Minister commit to sharing resources to put interest -- and I think he has, but can he commit to pathwaying communities that have changed their bylaws such that communities that want to change their bylaws could then have support to do so with learning from other communities who have? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.