Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to speak to committee's report and its recommendations. The auditor general's report evaluated the Government of the Northwest Territories work on implementing the Healthy Land, Healthy Peoples work plan, focusing on the GNWT's work to establish new protected areas, support the management of existing protected and conserved areas, and secure long-term funding for conservation activities.

The committee's review was informed by in-camera briefings and the exchange of correspondence between the committee and the GNWT.

The committee held a public briefing on...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories establish a process to obtain independent reviews, including legal or analytical reviews conducted through an Indigenous lens when co-management partners encounter an impasse. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Rule 1.2(i) states Private Members' bills are bills introduced by a Member who is not a Minister which does not involve the appropriation of public funds or the imposition of tax, which is the subject of the point of order.

I would point out, however, that when signing the Minister -- the Minister moving the point of order cited Westminster parliamentary traditions around Private Members' bills. It is very important to consider that Private Members' bills are different and distinct in each legislature in Canada and, indeed, in the Commonwealth as well, and...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories update the regulatory legislative and policy framework so that it works coherently with territorial protected areas under the Protected Areas Act and resolves existing gaps;

And further, the Government of the Northwest Territories should begin the required policy work to identify and assess options for legislative amendments and bring forward recommended changes for decision. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to that information and so do healthcare workers.

Mr. Speaker, how is this government balancing permanent staff and contract agency workers in northern health care? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories table, by the end of the May/June 2026 sitting a detailed update, including an implementation framework for territorial protected area agreements that responds fully to the auditor general's recommendation at paragraph 56 of the audit report. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, heavy reliance on contracting out healthcare staff is expensive and doesn't build local capacity. Investing in permanent northern staff will save money long term and improve continuity of care, particularly in regional and small communities. My question for the Minister of health is how much money are we spending annually on contract and agency staff? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories publish the annual report committed to in the nature agreement, including progress on commitments scheduled for the previous fiscal years and anticipated timelines for establishing the candidate protected areas under the Healthy Lands and Healthy People work plan. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think the biggest thing that BC is learning is that they don't have enough nurses. So some of the things they're doing is fast-tracking the licensing of international-educated nurses, providing financial incentives for retired or inactive nurses to return to the frontline, and expanding nurse seats in schools across the province. So will the Minister pursue those lines of incentives to ensure we are recruiting nurses along the same lines as British Columbia? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories table, by the end of May/June, 2026, setting a comprehensive action plan for advancing Dinaga Wek'ehodi and the four Dehcho candidate protected areas. The plan should set clear timelines, milestones, and accountability measures aligned with the 2028 nature agreement targets and include a strategy for resourcing and capacity support. Thank you, Mr. Chair.