Julie Green

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the questions. So in the work plan attached to the response to the Auditor General's Report that was tabled in May of last year, we made a commitment to engage with Indigenous governments and communities to inform approaches. First of all, to define what is equitable and what do people want in more detail. So I've met with the NWT Council of Leaders to begin that discussion. And in the next year, according to the work plan, we will be establishing a territorial addictions working group with key stakeholders and to develop a work plan...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item four on the order paper, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I certainly support BC doing this. However, the NWT has only less than one percent of BC's population, and so it would be difficult for us to roll out a universal contraception program right here right now. But there's an election coming up. So it could be an election issue.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today we have a group of visitors from the Registered Nurses Association of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. We have Vivian SilverioChua who is the president of the association; Denise Bowen, the executive director; Anna Tumchewics, who is one of my constituents and she's the lead on the Nursing Profession Act; and Jan Inman, director of professional conduct. Thank you for coming.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what I can tell now tell you now about the inventory is that adult and youth residents of the NWT who are eligible for noninsured health benefits as well as the people who are eligible for Metis health benefits have access to contraceptives at no cost. There may be other residents who receive employee benefits or other third party insurance who may also have access to no cost contraceptives. The Member may recall last fall that we because we were concerned about the proliferation of syphilis throughout the NWT, installed 200 free condom dispensers...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to be joined today by the NWT Seniors Society. Here in the gallery, I see Don Webb, the president from Fort Smith; Pat Burnstad from Hay River, who is the vice president; John Hazenberg, the treasurer from Yellowknife; Martina Norwegian, secretary from Fort Simpson; Elizabeth Kunnizzie, the director from Inuvik; John Norbert, who is also a director from Tsiigehtchic, and staff of the society Karen Willy, the executive director, and Myrna Matheson, the project coordinator. Thank you all for being here today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to present to the House Bill 77, Nursing Profession Act, to be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents: Followup Letter for Oral Question 136719(2), Health Care in Small Communities; and, Followup Letter for Oral Question 143519(2), Dental Hygienist Regulations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Oral Question asked by the Member for Kam Lake on February 28, 2023, regarding Child Care Funding Supports for Teen Parents.

The department will take the Member's suggestions into consideration, particularly as we advance the Child and Family Services Action Plan and explore ways in which we can work with other departments to provide integrated services.

As the department continues to enhance the delivery of services, we recognize there is a need for options. Currently, child and family services has two types of voluntary support services agreement options...

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Tuesday, March 28th, 2023, I will present Bill 77, Nursing Profession Act, to be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.