Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm a big supporter of the community safety officer program that's currently being piloted in Fort Liard. Unfortunately, I've learned recently, and I think maybe the public has as well, that the feds are going to be clawing back that funding after this if -- for the provinces and territories that don't have community safety officer legislation. Can the Minister -- or sorry, the Premier as Minister of Justice, can he let us know what that would entail, community safety officer legislation looks like. Because if it is something that's important to our...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister work with territorial and provincial counterparts to ensure that schools are carved out of any stringent funding applications, because that seems to be the issue. You know, we've heard the stories, including from the family, the initial family that this money was being used for X-boxes and ballet lessons and things like that, so there's a sense to put some guardrails around it but our schools shouldn't have to suffer for that. So can the Minister commit to advocating for our schools when she does reach out to her territorial and provincial...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize Dave Wasylciw. He is the YK1 board chair here in Yellowknife and a member of the Range Lake constituency. Welcome, Dave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier this sitting I had asked questions about physician staffing in the Northwest Territories. We learned that nine physicians have left since fiscal year 2023-2024, and now we're hearing that 64 percent of physicians in the Northwest Territories are planning on leaving. This is a crisis to put it mildly, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what is the Minister's plan to reverse this trend and bring either new physicians here or -- or bring new physicians to the Northwest Territories and keep the ones we currently have? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that is interesting news, Mr. Speaker. I believe the Northwest Territories has already welcomed around 80 asylum seekers and refugees to the Northwest Territories. Seems like something we can do. Is the Minister going to be taking the federal Minister up on his offer and get our quota back? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, is it a plan, though, that's being executed, or is it piecemeal decisions called primary care reform? We're hearing a bunch of different facts. We're seeing a bunch of different actions being taken. We still don't have online booking. Other places do. So is this, again, a comprehensive costed plan with clear milestones that this Assembly can judge, the public can judge, and we can actually see some improvement? And not just for us but for the people who work within the system as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister of Health and Social Services provide this House with a comprehensive plan for primary care reform that is fully costed, has clear milestones, and is based on input from patients and healthcare workers? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that's a great assessment of the problem but we're looking for solutions, and the Minister mentioned the work the association's doing. But what's the work that the department is doing for recruitment and retention of physicians? She mentioned university spots, there's too few. Are we funding new university spots? Are we expanding the residency program? There's a ton of things we do that are actually very helpful that we've heard from physicians are useful. Are we going to expand those programs? Like, when are solutions going to come forward? We all know the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, the clock is ticking on the federal government. I don't think we have much long left with them. And certainly many people who are asylum seekers are able to work in the Northwest Territories as well. This seems like it could be two birds with one stone. And certainly the North is welcoming to people, and this would help solve a lot of problems. We have precious little time to get it done. When will the Minister have an answer for the House on this issue? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since the Northwest Territories nominee program has opened its doors to new applicants, well my office has been flooded with frustrated and worried people about their fate in the program. I am hearing through various sources that there may be options to restore our numbers back to 300. Can the Minister clarify some of these -- the information that's been going around this space and let us know where her negotiations with the federal government are at. Thank you.