Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, working with the NTHSSA, you know, I think that's the plan is the new HR, human resource plan, that will include, you know, working -- that's coming up, the people's plan, that will help to highlight some of those issues. And the ongoing conversations that I have with the governing council of the NTHSSA at this time, you know, those ongoing discussions that happen, the ongoing -- you know, the ongoing discussions that I have with my own senior officials to ensure that there is work going on, you know, so that the frontline staff are hearing this. But...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will not commit to our territory doing what Alberta can do and support or what Ontario can do and support. We are very different than those two provinces. What I do know that in hearing from what's going on in Ontario, they're now having to build in supports within their health system to support their quick transition of allowing international nurses into the system. So now they're having to build in supports for that. That is not something that we can just turn around and do. We already have a taxed health care system and frontline workers that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The last discussion that I had on this was that the CAN was actually working on the solution, and I know that the Minister and I have touched base again to follow up on further discussions to have another updated meeting with them to where this is. I know that they're looking at the same model that -- they're looking to work with BC on the model that they have because of the -- to try and shorten the process of the assessment of the nurses that are -- international nurses that are coming into Canada to be able to come to work in the Northwest Territories. So as for...

Mr. Speaker, as the Member is saying this, right now there is actual leadership training going on within the NTHSSA to support those managers to do the work that the Member is asking for. Why this is only happening now? I can't speak as to what happened in the past or what changes. But we know that our managers are taxed with a lot -- we know our frontline staff is taxed with a lot. How do we support our managers to help, you know, to work with their frontline staff to let their frontline staff feel supported? That's the work that's going on right now. It might not be out there nice and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the make-up of the authority for the operations, which are the frontline staff which we hear a lot about from the Members of this House, lies within the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services. They are -- they have a governing council. So within the authority, where the Minister's relationship is is I get to work with the governing council over that authority. And, you know, when these issues are raised, I, you know, will have those conversations, not just with my own -- with the governing council chair but with my own deputy minister to be...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this work is going on internally within the NTHSSA, and so what I can do is I can have a conversation with the governing council to ensure that they are working with their frontline staff, their management, and so everybody is aware of what's coming down, and if there is input that's needed and if they're not feeling heard, then I will ensure that I inform the governing council to ensure that this is getting done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The people plan is the -- so we have the human resource plan that is coming to an end. We have the bridging plan that's going to continue on that human resource plan until the new people plan is ready for the -- like, to roll out. And that would be in 2025. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that has been my direction. It has by been my direction to look at what -- in what circumstances can those hours be limited to reduce those barriers. As I can't commit to it across the board for all staff coming in from different parts of the -- like, you know, international educated nurses come into Canada, I'd have -- like, that's where I have to draw the line because I have to ensure that, you know, the staff that are coming in are going to be supported, are going to be able to just, you know, come in and do the work. We have new graduates that are...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, within this, what I would suggest is is that I will work with my counterpart, Minister of ECE, to get a follow-up and an update on where we are with this as to, you know, with the hours and the practice. The one thing that I would like to say is that, you know, in -- it's just been mentioned in this House that the staff are taxed with supporting other staff, mentoring. You know, we have a nursing program here that's a four-year degree program. They go into the system, they have to be mentored by nurses in the hospital. We are trying to create training...