Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that pursuant to Rule 9.4(5)(a), the Government of the Northwest Territories table a comprehensive response to this report, including all recommendations, within 120 days, or at the earliest opportunity, subsequent to the passage of 120 days. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife is the NWT’s largest healthcare facility and serves residents across the territory and Nunavut’s Kitikmeot region. The original 1988 hospital was replaced on the same site in 2019. The former facility, later named the Liwegoati Building in October 2023, was designated for future leasing.

On March 11, 2020, Members of the Legislative Assembly requested a performance audit to be conducted by the Office of the Auditor General of the Stanton Territorial Hospital Renewal Project, which used a public-private partnership (P3) model.

The OAG...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister of Health and Social Services give northern seniors her word that there will be no increases to seniors' benefits, no cuts to seniors' benefits, for as long as she is Minister?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said in my Member's statement, I was contacted by two very distraught seniors who were charged full price for over-the-counter medicine that should have been covered by supplementary and extended health benefits. I'd like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services why this was the case. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, constituents are also wondering why we haven't historically tested schools for safe drinking water. Can the Minister explain why this has been a pilot project and not just ongoing work for the department. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, so we have a work plan for the public administrator for NTHSSA. We don't have an action plan. He says he's going to bring forward something in the fall. Can the Minister give us a sneak preview of what that's going to look like, because people need action today, and they can't wait any longer. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't know if I can tell the people experiencing this issue that an exploration is going on and that will be sufficient. So what does exploring mean in real terms to people with real lives who are experiencing this situation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you to the Minister for clarifying some of these points. The problem is when the work plan says as applicable, that's a very big window, and I think when people read that without that clarification. So will the Minister agree to update this work plan to make it clear that insured services will not be a fee-for-service in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the public administrator for NTHSSA's work plan, it tasks him to, quote, "work with NTHSSA and DHSS to find ways to increase and reduce expenditures within the health and social services system, including supporting the establishment of income assessment and fee collection structures as applicable."

I've had two people reach out to me today, constituents, who are concerned what this actually means. So can the Minister clarify, are we looking to recoup the costs of the health system on the back of patients and people who need health care in the Northwest...

Mr. Speaker, while healthcare administration is a territorial responsibility, the federal government still plays an important role in ensuring all provinces and territories comply with the Canada Health Act, an Act which guarantees universal, comprehensive health care to all Canadians based solely on their needs and not their financial abilities. While not an outright guarantee to a right to health care, it is compliance which determines the eligibility of provinces and territories to receive health care funding through the Canada health transfer and a cherished part of Canadian identity...