Question has been called. All those in favor? All those opposed? All those abstaining? The motion is carried.

---Carried

*Deemed read - Report link

Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Committee Report 45-20(1), Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, No. 4, be received by the Assembly and referred to Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Great Slave. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favor? All those opposed? All those abstaining? The motion is carried. Committee Report 45-20(1) has been received and will be moved in the Committee of the Whole for future consideration.

---Carried

Reports of standing and special committees. Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your Standing Committee on Government Operations is pleased to provide its Report on the Statutory Review of the Northwest Territories Heritage Fund Act and commends it to the House.

The Standing Committee on Government Operations conducted a statutory 10-year review of the Northwest Territories Heritage Fund Act to assess whether the Heritage Fund is positioned to function as a credible, disciplined, and forward-looking sovereign wealth fund for the people of the Northwest Territories.

Evidence from public engagement, expert testimony, and comparisons with global best practices, showed that the Act requires modernization to ensure the fund can deliver lasting intergenerational benefits and effectively transform finite resource revenues into long-term public wealth.

The review highlighted several overarching themes essential to the success of any sovereign wealth fund:

• A clear and durable legislative purpose,
• Strong and independent governance, and
• A coherent long-term investment framework.

Committee found that the Heritage Fund's purpose must be more explicitly defined as permanent intergenerational savings supported by a governance model that separates the roles of government, an arm's-length board, and professional investment managers. Strengthening transparency and alignment with international standards, such as the Santiago Principles, is equally critical to building public trust and ensuring accountable stewardship.

Committee also emphasizes the importance of long-term financial discipline. Predictable, rules based contributions and withdrawals, protection against short-term fiscal use, and planning for resource revenue volatility are necessary for the fund to grow to a meaningful scale.

Together, the report's recommendations point towards a modernized, transparent, professionally governed Heritage Fund positioned to convert today's resource wealth into enduring prosperity. With the right legislative and governance framework, the Heritage Fund can stand as a model of intergenerational stewardship and long-term financial resilience.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I will summarize the recommendations of the report.

Recommendation 1: The Committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories amend the Northwest Territories Heritage Fund Act to clearly describe the fund's purpose as intergenerational savings. Committee recommends replacing provision 2(2) and 2(3) in the Act with the following:

• 2(2) The purpose of the Heritage Fund is to serve as a permanent intergenerational savings mechanism for the people of the Northwest Territories.
• 2(3) The Heritage Fund is to benefit future generations of people of the Northwest Territories from ongoing economic development, including the development of non-renewable resources, by maintaining safety of principal while maximizing total return on investment.

Recommendation 2: The committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories develop a comprehensive mandate for the Heritage Fund that goes beyond the wording in the Act and serves to explicitly link the fund's savings rule, spending rule, and investment model.

Recommendation 3: The committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories, through the Minister and the financial management board, establish clear policies, oversight mechanisms, and structured decision-making processes for the Heritage Fund to ensure investment decisions align with the fund's purpose and to ensure that investment decisions remain the responsibility of an independent board free from political involvement.

Recommendation 4: The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories amend the Northwest Territories Heritage Fund Act to create an independent, arm's-length Heritage Fund investment board responsible for administering and managing the Heritage Fund. Committee further recommends that the board's mandate should be set out in in the Act to include:

1. Investing the Heritage Fund in accordance with this Act and any regulations;
2. Providing independent professional investment expertise to safeguard and grow the fund;
3. Acting in the best long-term financial interests of the residents of the Northwest Territories;
4. Ensuring that investment decisions are made free from political involvement; and
5. Performing any other prescribed duties.

Recommendation 5: The committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories repeal all provisions in the Act assigning investment-related powers, duties, or reporting obligations to the secretary to the financial management board and replacing with the Heritage Fund investment board.

Recommendation 6: The committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories establish accountability, appointment, and conflict of interest provisions for Heritage Fund investment board members.

Recommendation 7: The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories amend the Northwest Territories Heritage Fund Act to establish a clear governance model with defined role separation between government as the fund owner, an arm's-length governing board, and professional investment managers to ensure independent and accountable oversight.

Recommendation 8: The committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories align the Heritage Fund with the Santiago Principles to strengthen transparency, accountability, prudent investment practices, and long-term public trust.

Recommendation 9: The Committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories engage with global best practice organizations, including the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds, to support ongoing improvements to the Heritage Fund's governance and investment management.

Recommendation 10: The Committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories establish a comprehensive transparency framework for the Heritage Fund, including regular plain language public reporting, audits, clear disclosure of investment strategy and performance, and mandatory publication of governance and investment policies.

Recommendation 11: The Committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories continue 10-year statutory reviews of the Northwest Territories Heritage Fund Act to be publicly undertaken by a committee of the Legislative Assembly and requiring a government response.

As such, committee recommends that section 10 concerning the 10-year review of the Act remain in place.

Recommendation 12: The Committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories establish a clear, legislated investment mandate for the Heritage Fund that defines its purpose, strategic and long-term investment objectives, and acceptable levels of risk, providing the foundation for strategic asset allocation and performance expectations to be reviewed by committee.

• Committee further recommends that the following comprise the investment mandate:
• Adopting a long-term strategy to support sustained growth and diversification;
• Setting rules-based deposits and withdrawals to ensure predictable contributions and protection against short-term pressures;
• Applying a total portfolio approach to maintain a balanced asset mix and regularly reviewing allocations;
• Identifying and managing investment risks while pursuing long-term returns;
• Once the fund reaches a large enough value, consider a legislated inflation proofing rule to ensure it maintains its purchasing power over time.

Recommendation 13: The committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories amend the Northwest Territories Heritage Fund Act to establish clear rules based deposit and withdrawal provisions, including how often, how much, and under what circumstances, to ensure predictable, long term contributions that support intergenerational wealth and economic stability.

Recommendation 14: The Committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories assess increasing the proportion of resource revenues deposited into the Heritage Fund to ensure the fund grows at a rate capable of supporting intergenerational equity as resource revenues decline.

Recommendation 15: The Committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories maintain the current ban on withdrawals from the Heritage Fund beyond 2033 to allow it to reach a critical threshold.

Recommendation 16: The Committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories amend the Northwest Territories Heritage Fund Act to include a clear provision that the Heritage Fund is not to be used for short-term deficit financing, and recommends inclusion of the following language into section 7:

1. The Heritage Fund shall not be used for the purpose of financing a short-term deficit, including but not limited to:
2. An operating or cash-flow deficit of the Government of the Northwest Territories;
3. Temporary revenue shortfalls; or
4. Any other short-term fiscal pressure arising within a fiscal year.
5. No withdrawal may be made from the Heritage Fund unless expressly authorized under this Act for a purpose consistent with the long-term objectives of the fund.

Recommendation 17: The Committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories enact a legislative requirement that any future amendments to the Northwest Territories Heritage Fund Act, or any authorization of transfers from the Heritage Fund, be approved by a special majority of Members of the Legislative Assembly. Committee recommends replacement of section 8 with the following language:

1. No amendment to this Act, nor any authorization of transfers from the Heritage Fund, shall be valid unless approved by a special majority consisting of not less than two-thirds of all Members of the Legislative Assembly.

Recommendation 18: The Committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories undertake a comprehensive review of mineral and petroleum royalties and taxation to determine whether the Northwest Territories is retaining an appropriate and equitable share of resource revenues for the benefit of its residents.

Recommendation 19: The Committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories strengthen forecasting capacity within the Departments of Industry, Tourism and Investment and Finance to improve accuracy and reliability of resource revenue projections and support long-term fiscal planning.

Recommendation 20: The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a response to the recommendations in this report directed to it within 120 days.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Member for Great Slave, that the remainder of Committee Report 46-20(1), Standing Committee on the Government Operations Report on the Statutory Review of the Northwest Territories Heritage Fund Act, be deemed read and printed in Hansard in its entirety. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Question has been called. All those in favor? All those opposed? All those abstaining? Motion carried.

---Carried

*deemed read - Report link

Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Member for Great Slave, that Committee Report 46-20(1), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Statutory Review of the Northwest Territories Heritage Fund Act, be received and adopted by the Assembly. 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 favor? Opposed? Abstentions? Motion carried.

---Carried

Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Member for Great Slave, that pursuant to Rule 9.4(5)(a), the Government of the Northwest Territories table a comprehensive response to this report, including all recommendations, within 120 days, or at the earliest opportunity subsequent to the passage of 120 days. 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 favor? Opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Reports of standing and special committees. Member from Monfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your Standing Committee on Social Development is pleased to provide its Report on Healthcare Accountability and Sustainability and commends it to the House.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Standing Committee on Social Development presents this Report on Healthcare Accountability and Sustainability to provide the Government of the Northwest Territories with feedback received from experts in health care. Through this report, committee aims to inform the GNWT and, beyond its release, intends to continue holding the Government accountable for adequately addressing the health care needs of residents and the pressures facing the healthcare system.

Committee received six presentations between October 2024 and March 2026. Witnesses and subject-matter experts spoke about the recruitment and retention of healthcare workers and flexible employment models to help the Northwest Territories achieve sustainable vacancy rates in healthcare staff. Experts also spoke of ways to improve upon the administrative workload and burden of healthcare staff in the territory.

Committee learned of the importance of expanding the scope of practice for certain types of nurses in the territory and to invest in the use of registered psychiatric nurses to support the NWT's mental health system. Committee highlighted nursing education programs that are needed in the territory to support the nursing profession.

Committee analyzed the current structure and reform efforts for the NWT's healthcare system, and included sentiments on the initiative of primary healthcare reform, medical travel modernization, and the small community model of care. Committee examined the efficiency of healthcare spending in the territory, one of the highest spending rates in healthcare in jurisdictions across Canada.

With the pressures of population growth and an aging demographic in the territory, identifying efficiencies in spending is crucial to further access to care.

Throughout its study, committee identified gaps in key leadership initiatives such as the 2025-2028 people strategy. Gaps in licensing and regulation were also examined, including in pan-Canadian licensure for physicians, the labour mobility of nurses, and the regulation of allied health professionals.

The delivery of healthcare services in the territory has struggled on numerous fronts in recent years, with examples such as the decline in healthcare staff across the country and continuous issues with poor coordination of medical travel and inadequate associated supports in northern and remote communities.

Committee urges the GNWT to take timely and coordinated action to implement the 27 recommendations outlined in this report. These recommendations reflect the wishes of healthcare staff, experts, and residents of the NWT to strengthen its healthcare system.

LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendation 1: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories work directly with frontline healthcare staff to incorporate their knowledge and connection to social networks into the recruitment of healthcare professionals in the Northwest Territories healthcare system.

Recommendation 2: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories investigate and report on the feasibility of increased incentives for healthcare workers in small communities, such as subsidized rental units and designated spots at childcare centres and day homes for healthcare workers.

Recommendation 3: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories research, identify and address barriers, including those related to privacy within the Health Information Act and related to necessary higher technology upgrades to support the timely implementation of technologies such as online booking, automated reminders for appointments, virtual care, remote ultrasound, and expanded use of artificial intelligence scribing across healthcare settings.

Recommendation 4: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories ensure that procedures are in place for the implementation of new technologies in the healthcare system, including appropriately trained designated staff and clear processes for quick and effective application and execution.

Recommendation 5: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories promote job sharing opportunities for healthcare professionals in the Northwest Territories, based off of Nunavut's model, as a strategy to increase the recruitment of healthcare professionals to the territory.

Recommendation 6: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories significantly increase investments into the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority for their work in providing on-the-job education training to licensed practical nurses to further enhance the sustainability of the healthcare system and the autonomy of this type of nursing profession.

Recommendation 7: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories work with employers and licensed practical nurses to promote awareness of their changed scope of practice, and work with employers to update job descriptions to ensure that they are reflective of the regulatory scope of practice in order to provide proper support to licensed practical nurses.

Recommendation 8: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories create a targeted initiative to expand and support the integration of nurse practitioners in small communities to improve access to timely primary care services, including ensuring that nurse practitioners have continuous and reliable access to consultations with physicians.

Recommendation 9: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories review current job descriptions within the health and social services system to see where registered psychiatric nurses may be best utilized.

Recommendation 10: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories conduct research into the feasibility of establishing registered psychiatric nurse educational programs in the Northwest Territories that would meet the unique needs of our mental health system.

Recommendation 11: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories conduct research into the feasibility of implementing programs to address key nursing education and professional development gaps such as nursing refresher programs, nurse practitioner programs, nursing bridging programs, registered psychiatric nursing programs, midwifery programs, and prescribing and diagnoses programs in the Northwest Territories.

Recommendation 12: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories invest in the professional development of all nurses in the Northwest Territories without reducing the allocated funding envelope for professional development for other health practitioners.

Recommendation 13: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories conduct research into potential changes to the healthcare delivery framework in the Northwest Territories, including governance and reporting structures, with potential changes to be based on the three governance structure principles outlined in this report.

Recommendation 14: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories immediately reassign the initiative of organizing team-based care for frontline healthcare workers to the medical director to ensure there is a clear point person to take over the details of this initiative.

Recommendation 15: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories develop, in consultation with the Standing Committee on Social Development, and publicly report on a plan for how team-based care will be operated in small community health centres and health cabins.

Recommendation 16: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories work with the Government of Canada to share or transfer some decision-making power of the Non-insured Health Benefits Program to Yellowknife, including establishing a physical office for non-insured health benefits in the North.

Recommendation 17: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories create a bursary program for Indigenous residents of small communities and a funding program with the purpose of incentivizing residents of small communities in the Northwest Territories to pursue nursing education programs.

Recommendation 18: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories create a marketing strategy targeting the recruitment of Indigenous residents into healthcare fields and healthcare education programs by showcasing success stories of northern Indigenous healthcare practitioners working in the health field.

Recommendation 19: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories staff patient advocate positions in each small community of the Northwest Territories.

Recommendation 20: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories demonstrate that the work of the healthcare systems sustainability unit and the public administrator of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority is being informed by the experiences and input of frontline health practitioners to better understand where to find efficiencies in the healthcare system, such as with medical travel, and with every decision being made and reported upon, that it notes the input that has informed the decision.

Recommendation 21: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories publicly release how many dollars can be saved by eliminating non-core services including a break down per program/service area.

Recommendation 22: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories publicly release the methodology used by the healthcare systems sustainability unit for the evaluation of the seven program/service areas identified for initial sustainability efforts, and how they will gain an understanding of each program/service area.

Recommendation 23: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories demonstrate costing and milestones of the 2025-2028 People Strategy and commit to an independent analysis of its results.

Recommendation 24: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories prioritize the work of advancing a pan-Canadian licensure at the national level as well as work with the Yukon government and the Government of Nunavut to establish the tri-territorial licensing model.

Recommendation 25: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories establish a scholarship or bursary (similar to British Columbia) that internationally educated nurses can access in the Northwest Territories to support the cost of their Inspire assessment program with a condition that they work a certain number of years in the Northwest Territories healthcare system upon receiving the scholarship or bursary.

Recommendation 26: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories work with the College and Association of Nurses in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut to ensure cultural training programs are afforded to internationally educated nurses as well as cultural competencies for nurses across the board.

Recommendation 27: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories research a regulatory model based on British Columbia's Health Professional Occupation Act with the aim of creating an arm's length regulator that encompasses a group of allied health professionals in the Northwest Territories and report on their findings.

Recommendation 28: The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a response to this report within 120 days.

Masi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Member from Monfwi.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Member for Mackenzie Delta, that Committee Report 47-20(1), Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Healthcare Accountability and Sustainability, be received by the Assembly and referred to Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion. All those in favor? All those opposed? All those abstaining? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Member from Monfwi.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Member for Mackenzie Delta, that the remainder of Committee Report 47-20(1) be deemed read and printed in Hansard in its entirety. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.