Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from Frame Lake.
Debates of June 4th, 2026
This is page numbers of the Hansard for the 20th Assembly, 1st Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was work.
Topics
Question 1299-20(1): Supported Living Review Recommendations
Oral Questions
Question 1299-20(1): Supported Living Review Recommendations
Oral Questions
Julian Morse Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for the Minister elaborating on that point. Mr. Speaker, what's the timeline for health care sustainability unit recommendations with relation to this item, supported living, and the recommendations of the supported living report? When can we -- when can we in the public look forward to seeing the results of that work? Thank you.
Question 1299-20(1): Supported Living Review Recommendations
Oral Questions
Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't currently have the timeline for the health sustainability unit, but I know it's No. 2, and I know it's going through its processes right now to -- and so hopefully -- I can't give a date, but I can commit to providing that information. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 1299-20(1): Supported Living Review Recommendations
Oral Questions
The Speaker Shane Thompson
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from the Deh Cho.
Question 1300-20(1): Class of Fort Providence Airport
Oral Questions
Sheryl Yakeleya Deh Cho
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister tell me if NWT airports are -- they're classified different ways? And what class is the Fort Providence airport? Thank you.
Question 1300-20(1): Class of Fort Providence Airport
Oral Questions
Question 1300-20(1): Class of Fort Providence Airport
Oral Questions
Vince McKay Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, yeah, airports are different across territories, depending on the length of the runway and what instruments are available at the runway. The actual certification for the Fort Providence runway, I am not aware of, but, however, they do -- they are capable of handling essential aircraft like the medivac plane and stuff like that, so. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 1300-20(1): Class of Fort Providence Airport
Oral Questions
Sheryl Yakeleya Deh Cho
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. When and if we get trained personnel and an operational ambulance in our community, will our airport be shut down? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 1300-20(1): Class of Fort Providence Airport
Oral Questions
Vince McKay Hay River South
Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, all our airports are utilizing medivac aircrafts across the territory, so it would never shut down due to the fact that you have trained personnel in the community that provide emergency response. So the airport would remain open. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 1300-20(1): Class of Fort Providence Airport
Oral Questions
Question 1300-20(1): Class of Fort Providence Airport
Oral Questions
Sheryl Yakeleya Deh Cho
Mahsi. And thank you to the Minister for that response. Can the Minister tell me why there isn't a terminal building at the airport in Fort Providence? Thank you.
Question 1300-20(1): Class of Fort Providence Airport
Oral Questions
Vince McKay Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not aware of that one. I'd have to ask the department if there ever was one. I mean, you would probably know as a resident. But if there is the ability to put one there or at least get it on our capital plan or anything like that, so I will work with the department to find out what the plan is for that area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 1300-20(1): Class of Fort Providence Airport
Oral Questions
The Speaker Shane Thompson
Thank you, Minister of Infrastructure. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife North.
Question 1301-20(1): Changes to the Public Service Act
Oral Questions
Shauna Morgan Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So my questions now are for the Minister of Finance. So earlier today, Bill 32 received assent, and that was the first phase of much-needed changes to the Public Service Act. But there is important work left to do. Last fall, the government committed to pursue a second phase of changes to the Public Service Act, focused on overhauling Section 41, to allow public servants to choose the bargaining agent that represents them and specifically to create a fair and lawful process for union certification and decertification in the NWT public service. So can the Minister describe what work has been completed since last fall on these phase 2 changes to the Public Service Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 1301-20(1): Changes to the Public Service Act
Oral Questions
The Speaker Shane Thompson
Minister of Finance. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, quite a lot has, indeed, taken place. So, Mr. Speaker, there's been a robust series of engagement sessions, so not the least of which, first and foremost, with bargaining partners, Mr. Speaker, but also a period of public engagement. And then with that, Mr. Speaker, we were able to submit a legislative proposal for review by standing committees. And, thereafter, once that is -- once that's complete -- when that review gets complete, Mr. Speaker, we take that over to be drafted, and that's the stage that we're at now. We're also engaging quite regularly with the federal government. We were relying, likely, on a Yukon model that relies on the Federal labour Relations Board and so on to talk to them and make sure that we could utilize that. So that has all been happening during that period. Thank you.
Question 1301-20(1): Changes to the Public Service Act
Oral Questions
Shauna Morgan Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Minister for that update. Can the Minister tell us what's the expected timeline for the introduction of a bill in this House that would create that fair and lawful process for union certification and decertification in the public service. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 1301-20(1): Changes to the Public Service Act
Oral Questions
Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am anticipating a fall introduction of the bill. Thank you.
Question 1301-20(1): Changes to the Public Service Act
Oral Questions
Question 1301-20(1): Changes to the Public Service Act
Oral Questions
Shauna Morgan Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So given that a what we heard report has been complete, can the Minister tell us if there were any big takeaways from the public consultation process so far that may have altered or enhanced the direction of this bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 1301-20(1): Changes to the Public Service Act
Oral Questions
Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for folks who are very keen, the GNWT's Have Your Say web page does provide links to all of our what we heard reports, including this one. By way of just high-level summary, Mr. Speaker, we do -- there was quite a range of responses, including, in particular, support for increasing employee choice in representation, as well as concerns around ensuring that that process be fair, wanting to make sure that there's opportunities for that choice to include specific sector representation, wanting to know -- have certainty around what that process -- what the decision-making process would be around certification and who would be involved in it. Some concerns raised around reflecting the ongoing need for diversity and inclusion in the public service, Mr. Speaker, in the course of these processes. But again, as I say, Mr. Speaker, I don't want to do a lack of justice to the detailed reports that we had and would commend folks to the Have Your Say web page. Thank you.
Question 1301-20(1): Changes to the Public Service Act
Oral Questions
The Speaker Shane Thompson
Thank you, Minister of Finance. Oral questions. Member from Range Lake. Oh, sorry. Okay, yeah. Member from Range Lake.
Question 1302-20(1): Leaving the Northwest Territories for Health Care
Oral Questions
June 4th, 2026
Kieron Testart Range Lake
Yes, the ongoing problem with Yellowknife lakes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week I spoke of a constituent of mine who is being forced to leave the territory due to her acute medical needs. Can the Minister of Health and Social Services explain to this House how it's acceptable that a specialized front line health care worker is being told by her own physicians that she has no choice but to leave the NWT for care. And I know the Minister knows this because I have sent the file to her office, so I expect a full response. Thank you.
Question 1302-20(1): Leaving the Northwest Territories for Health Care
Oral Questions
Question 1302-20(1): Leaving the Northwest Territories for Health Care
Oral Questions
Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have not gotten any information back yet on the -- as there has been some back and forth with my office and the Member's office. So I will take that on notice, and then I will provide the information as soon as I have that information. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 1302-20(1): Leaving the Northwest Territories for Health Care
Oral Questions
The Speaker Shane Thompson
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.