Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is a question for Minister of Health and Social Services. So I want to ask the Minister what specific financial supports are currently available to NWT residents who fall ill outside the territory and incur illness-related costs, such as extended accommodations -- accommodations or rebooked flights? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I am going to be talking about medical travel.

Mr. Speaker, residents of the Northwest Territories should be supported during medical emergency wherever those emergencies occur; however, when residents fall ill while outside the territory, they are not eligible for GNWT-approved medical travel. While emergency treatment outside the territory may be covered, the expenses that come with an unexpected illness while traveling are not. Rebooked flights, extended stays, and accommodation near a hospital are often unavoidable when someone cannot safely return...

Yeah, there's -- he said there's not a plan in place but I would like to see, you know, like, within the -- you know, within the next fiscal year, maybe it's something that we should start focusing on, not only to the larger regional centre. Because I would like to see a lot of these jobs -- like, decentralizing jobs. It's not just the EIA. From all levels, you know, from the department. People in small communities have to live too. And we -- and I've said it quite a few times, working with young people, you know, many of these young people do -- they don't know about some of these other...

Thank you. You mentioned the transitional housing. You know, I have a lot of constituents due to no housing, due to lack of housing and homelessness. They're in Yellowknife. And a lot of them are waiting to get into that program over there by the airport. When is the opening date for that place? Because often, you know -- like, I talked to about five people from Tlicho region, and they're saying they're waiting. In the meantime, I see some of my homeless because it's cold. I went to visit -- I visited some of my constituents today at the hospital, and I saw some of them. They said this is the...

Yes, thank you. It says here, Premier's office provides Premier and the Ministers' office with political communication, strategic operation, advice and coordinations and, you know, and all related to political commitment. And in here in the business plan, it says, you know, part of the mandate is to encourage private -- or not encourage, not there, but where was it? Okay, no, that's okay, but still, okay. You know, encourage private investment in housing by reducing administrative and regulatory barriers. That's, you know, the mandate. The target, one of the targets is EIA, MACA and Housing...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, given the ongoing concerns raised by families, will the Minister commit to advancing the development of a dedicated special needs facility in Behchoko and/or other Tlicho communities? Thank you.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services.

I want to ask the Minister what services are currently available in Tlicho region for residents with special needs, and how many residents are currently receiving care outside their home community due to a lack of local supports. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what has the department done to identify gaps in supervision and structured care for residents with special needs in the Tlicho region, and what specific steps has it taken to address those gaps? Thank you.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation not provided].

Mr. Speaker, in Behchoko and across Tlicho region, families continue to raise serious concerns about the absence of a dedicated facility to support residents with special needs. For individuals with special needs, stability and routine are essentials to well-being. When supports are not available locally, Mr. Speaker, they are sent away to regional centres or even down south for care. Removing them from their home community can increase anxiety, escalate behaviours, and leave them feeling isolated.

Mr. Speaker, this separation also places a...

Thank you for the information. Thank you for sharing with us. Because I just wanted to ask -- you mentioned NICO. Does the Minister have an idea of why or -- why NICO is not progressing forward? NICO is -- it's also a mine that, you know, could happen tomorrow. But I just wanted to know why, if the Minister has -- why this is not moving forward. And it would be nice if we can have an update, a report on all the drilling, the mining exploration that's happening in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.