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Track Robert

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In the Legislative Assembly

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Crucial Fact

  • His favourite word is know.

MLA for Yellowknife Centre

Won his last election, in 2023, with 42% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Motion to amend Motion 9-20(1): Establishing a Public Inquiry into the 2023 Wildfires - Council of Leaders, Carried February 22nd, 2024

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First off, I'm going to ask for a recorded vote to make sure that doesn't get forgotten.

The next part is part of the -- I just want to further elaborate on the amendment made by my colleague from Monfwi. The issue is this side of the House is trying to make this the most collaborative process as possible, and we want to work with Council of Leaders. We believe the Indigenous governments do have a role to play on the guidance of this inquiry, and we think it would be strengthened by their vision and input on it. So the Members aren't doing this in isolation so the House may be able to count every single one here showing their support. But that said, I want people to know is we've reached well beyond our ranks in this House to get into the communities to speak to the chiefs, to speak to folks and families who have been impacted by this, so that's, you know, part of the underlying reason of this amendment to ensure that we're demonstrating, we're reaching very far and collaboratively to make it a good process. Thank you.

Motion to amend Motion 9-20(1): Establishing a Public Inquiry into the 2023 Wildfires - Increase Board to 6 Persons, Carried February 22nd, 2024

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think I was part of that earlier confusion. I thank the Member for Monfwi for moving the amended motion obviously and the Member for Range Lake for clarifying what it is, the intent of the amendment. That said, it's already been explained on the record so there's no sense in repeating what it was, but I want to further underscore I think the Members would like a recorded vote in this amendment process so therefore I'll formally ask for it. Thank you.

Minister's Statement 17-20(1): Reaching Average $10 a day Child Care in the NWT February 22nd, 2024

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, the Minister's statement called Reaching Average $10- a-day Child Care in the NWT be referred to Committee of the Whole for further consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery(reversion) February 21st, 2024

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wanted to return -- and thank you, colleagues, by the way -- to recognition of visitors in the gallery. A near and dear friend of mine, their son is a page today. And he wasn't in the gallery earlier when we did it, and I wanted to recognize him when he was here, Mr. Seth Gordon. Thank you very much for being a page in the Legislative Assembly.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery(reversion) February 21st, 2024

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to the orders of the day, item number 5. Thank you.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery(reversion) February 21st, 2024

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to item number 7 on the orders of the day. Thank you.

Question 65-20(1): Use of Private Agency Nursing in the Northwest Territories February 21st, 2024

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I appreciate your eye on the clock because, my goodness, we'd be through question period before we got to all the Members based on some of these answers.

She said we're doing whatever we can. You're paying the agencies too much. It's that simple. That simple. Mr. Speaker, money is the problem and the Minister says well, you know, I don't know but the reality is people leaving here because they know they get paid more coming back here. It's not about family.

So, Mr. Speaker, my question specifically to the Minister is is she willing to table publicly a wage comparison package of what our local nurses are paid versus what the agencies are paying their staff just to come back to the Northwest Territories and work? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 65-20(1): Use of Private Agency Nursing in the Northwest Territories February 21st, 2024

Well yeah, I'll start with that. That's a good point. Seven too many, of course. And I spoke to one who was a former nurse in the Northwest Territories, and she told me it's way more lucrative to quit her job and move south to become an agency nurse. Mr. Speaker, as I said, what is the department doing to reengineer the nursing agency problem and to define this; what is the issue that seems to be blocking the problem that the department doesn't seem to understand? Why are nurses quitting to become agency nurses to come back home to the Northwest Territories and work?

Question 65-20(1): Use of Private Agency Nursing in the Northwest Territories February 21st, 2024

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I've recently talked to some nurses -- let me try it again. Agency nurses; there we go. So I'm not sure, there's six, there's ten, there's a hundred; I have no idea. How does the Minister know that there's this minimum, or maximum as she's trying to describe as six or seven, and where are they? I'm trying to -- because if she says the numbers are so low, it should be easy to explain where they are. Thank you.

Question 65-20(1): Use of Private Agency Nursing in the Northwest Territories February 21st, 2024

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm going to have questions for the Minister of health as well, and as a matter of fact I have doctor questions but I was just realizing I have nursing agency questions, so I'm going to build on my colleague's questions here, Mr. Speaker.

What has the department done to reengineer the nursing agency problem because this is an attack on the health system as pointed out by my good colleague. And even the Premier of Manitoba has defined it as a crisis and attack on the health system. So in other words, to the question, Mr. Speaker, what is the department doing to reengineer the nursing agency problem and fixing it here in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.