Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Madam Chair. I don't want to prolong this. I think we share the same objective. We probably just disagree on maybe how we're going to get there. I just think that housing needs to be our top priority, probably, and that we can't let this glass ceiling get in the way of this. I'm not convinced that, even if we increase the housing stock by 100 units, that's even going to start to take care of the waiting list to get into public housing period.

In any event, I think we agree on where we need to be. I read the On Level Ground report from the last Assembly, where it would cost, at least a...

Merci, Madame la Presidente. I am convinced of the Premier's passion on this issue. I know she has got lived experience. I have already seen evidence that housing is going to be a higher priority with this Cabinet, and I am very supportive of that. I just question the number here, the increase in 100 units while we're also going to transition 100 units for home ownership. It looks like it's going to be a wash. Maybe I am misunderstanding this. I get where the Premier is coming from. I think most of us share that priority. If she can explain the numbers a little better to me, that would be...

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. There are actually a lot of people in Yellowknife who don't have access to a computer or cellphone, either. We have got to find ways to reach out to them and provide the service. Here is another idea I would like to toss the Minister's way. We have a great Service Canada storefront operation here in Yellowknife. I have used it myself for passport applications. It would seem to make sense that maybe there is a way to get that office to offer information about GNWT services. Would the Minister commit to investigating whether...

I want to thank the Minister for that great promotion of the hard work that our GSOs do, and I recognize that, as well. We just need to complete the network. I want to ask the Minister whether there is a plan to actually complete the network for all of our communities, including the regional centres, and, if not, why?

Thanks, Madam Chair. Yes, I am challenging the Premier right now about how we ensure where the evidence is going to be, and how the public is to find out about that evidence, that climate change will actually become a consideration in terms of funding new programs, services, infrastructure projects, those kind of trade-offs. I guess that I am hearing that there are some kind of guidelines that might get changed, that there might be a Cabinet committee that looks a little bit different. I am not getting a lot of comfort that this is actually going to result in evidence-based decision-making and...

Merci, Monsieur le President. The GNWT began setting up single-service window centres in small communities in 2010-2011, and we now operate in a total of 23 communities. The most recent is Jean Marie River in 2018-2019. These centres house government service officers, or GSOs, who help residents gain much-improved access to government, especially for residents in more remote communities where GNWT staff may not be located. An annual training camp provides professional skills development, functional training, and updates from various departments and Service Canada, and team-building...

Merci, Monsieur le President. Clearly, the practice of excluding family members during an ultrasound is contrary to Best Health, Best Care, for a Better Future; that's the vision of the strategic plan we have in place for the NWT health and social services system, and the concept of cultural safety. There is nothing in the guidelines that prevent family members from being there, so what is the Minister going to do in terms of developing a policy for chaperones for patients undergoing an ultrasound in the NWT, and how soon will we see that in place? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks, Madam Chair. Just a couple, or one last question, perhaps. Can the Minister tell me whether any of this $200,000, or indeed any of the $40 million, is actually going to be used to protect caribou and their habitat? Thanks, Madam Chair.

I want to thank the Minister for that, because I have a constituent who confirmed to me as recently as December that was not the case, so I look forward to the Minister carrying out the new practice. In July 2019, the practice of allowing family members was changed so that family members could not be in the same room as a patient who was getting an ultrasound, so why was that practice changed in July of 2019?

Thanks, Madam Chair. Can the Minister tell us whether there is actually a full project description or a business case for this project? Thanks, Madam Chair.