Debates of Feb. 24th, 2026

Thank you, Member from Inuvik Boot Lake. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just briefly, even with the benefit of spectacles age is creeping up on me, it's hard for me to make faces out in the gallery, but to that I want to say to my friends up there in the -- the new ones and the old friends, my kindest regards. But, Mr. Speaker, I do know recognizing Indigenous Language Month that my favourite interpreter, Ms. Sarah Cleary, is here today and I want to say a shout-out to her. I always try to say hi to her because she's one of my fondest friends. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The Member from the Sahtu forgot somebody so I will go back to him.

I am privileged there, Mr. Speaker. I'd be in the bad books if I didn't recognize Ida Manuel from Fort Good Hope, my home community. And the Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty. Welcome to the gallery. Mahsi.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Somebody else forgot. Member from the Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also too would like to recognize the Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty here and also former president of the Fort Resolution Metis Lloyd Cardinal, I believe he's up here. So welcome. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize our former colleague and Tlicho Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty. As well, I want to recognize the individuals that my colleague from Hay River South recognized and all of the mentors, apprentices, and language champions that we're lucky enough to have with us in the gallery today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Hay River North. Recognition of visitors in the gallery.

I have to recognize a constituent from Nahendeh, Sheryl Cli. Welcome to the Assembly. As well, Tammy -- sorry, I have to say her first name because I can't say her last name properly, so. Steinwand was but she's got this other part to it, so. And I turned her a nice colour of red, so.

Anyway, welcome to the Assembly. If we missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to your Assembly. You put us in these seats. We appreciate the fact that you honour us with this opportunity to represent you for the four years, and we have two years left, so I hope you enjoy the proceedings. And it's nice to see people in here. And if we missed anybody, welcome to your Assembly.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Reports of standing and special committees. Returns to Oral Questions. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And since you didn't see my hand, I am just going to recognize Anna Pingo because I know she is my constituent.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to oral question asked by the Member for Range Lake on February 9, 2026, regarding medical travel policy and ministerial exemptions.

Mr. Speaker, the medical travel policy is in place for residents who need support with travel to and from scheduled appointments for services not available in their home community to ensure that residents have access to necessary health services.

Mr. Speaker, the medical travel policy does not apply in circumstances where an individual is transported by a ground or air ambulance and is receiving inpatient care from medical professionals.

Requests for non-medical escorts in scenarios where a patient is transported by air ambulance are denied because the patient does not require support during navigating travel to and from the appointment; however, through an exception request an individual's circumstance may be considered through the medical travel exception policy. In these situations, the applicant or advocate must clearly demonstrate the medical travel event has created undue financial hardship or the patient is experiencing extraordinary health needs that require a non-medical escort while admitted as an inpatient.

The medical travel exceptions are assessed at the Department of Health and Social Services, not the medical travel office, making it very important that the application detail and supporting documents are provided to ensure a timely assessment.

Mr. Speaker, medical travel continues to be a key priority for me. The first phase of the medical travel modernization work has focused on enhancing the medical travel process by ensuring the administration of available benefits is done consistently and transparently.

Phase 2 of the medical travel modernization will work to consider the needs for further updates to the policy and will consider options and costs of expanding the escort criteria.

Mr. Speaker, in addition to the ongoing medical travel modernization work, I've also directed the NTHSSA public administrator to rapidly advance operational improvements in 2026 that will result in improved experience for NWT residents. We are also working closely with Indigenous Service Canada for NWT residents to review the process for handling medical travel appeals and exceptions related to non-insured health benefits, with the goal of simplifying the process where possible and supporting more escort decision-making by the medical travel office rather than waiting for the approval from Indigenous Service Canada. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Returns to oral questions. Acknowledgements. Oral Questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Member's question. It's a very important question and a very important topic. All of us are dealing with rising prices, whether it's food or rent or power, and this is happening across Canada. The Member asked a very detailed question with specifics in there, so I will take this question on notice and reply to the House with something in writing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Oral questions. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said in my Member's statement, yesterday a number of MLAs met with the Yukon's child and youth advocate, and I think it was eye-opening for a lot of us, but to see the important good work they do. One of the statistics that was shown to us was that 30 percent of the files dealt with at the Yukon child and youth advocate are from outside of territory. Many of those deal with Indigenous children in the Northwest Territories.

So I'd like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services, who is responsible in particular for children in care, which is the majority of the work of these offices, how are we tracking the concerns from parents, from foster families, from biological families, and from children themselves when concerns are brought forward? Can she demonstrate a similar volume of concern so we know that our system is, in fact, being responsive to the concerns of children in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when any family comes into contact or children come into contact with child and family services, the role is between the family -- the family protection worker or the family preservation worker to work with that family to bring forward their concerns. If there's protection issues, then the child protection worker works with the family to ensure that there's a safe place for the child. They'll work within the system, usually working with the families. If there's children that come forward which is, you know, more than likely, if the children are raising concerns, I do know that the social workers do meet individually with the children if they're able to do so. They would document and look towards a plan of care that supports the children and family to stay together. And then the other piece is with foster families. If there is no placement in the family or if there's no support -- immediate support that there could be for the safety of the child, they'll usually look towards family members or other members within the community and then foster families. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That was a good summary of how our system works, how our child and family services system works, but what I am asking about is when people are raising concerns about the well-being of children in the system that aren't in custody or that are in custody, who's looking after the system? So if the very system is the problem, where do Northerners go to get assistance? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the director of child and family services, which is not within the operations -- the director is within the department -- investigates any complaints coming forward, works with the families, works with whomever the complaint is coming forward and investigates that complaint thoroughly and always puts the best interest of the child first and foremost. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, once again, the director is part of the system. There needs to be independent oversight and an independent advocate as well. That's why MLAs have been calling for, to establish a child and youth advocate in the Northwest Territories. Will the Minister establish that? If she does, I can get rid of this motion I am going to give notice to later. But if she just says yes today, then we can all move forward and get a much-needed advocacy and support for children in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am only the Minister of Health and Social Services so if I established it within the housing of health and social services, that would defeat the Member's concern. So this is a conversation, I think, that is beyond my role, I think, so. You know, we've been having these conversations, and the Member is correct that, you know, we've heard from Members in the past government, and I was part of the other side of the House, where these concerns come up. But what we need to do is we need to identify is it the -- you know, where these concerns are coming, what is the actual concern, how is that going to be improved, and so I look forward to working with the Regular Members and my Cabinet colleagues to resolve this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.