Lesa Semmler

Yes, I do, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So the planning studies -- so within Kakisa, they lost their health cabin to fire so we are doing the planning study to build them a health cabin.

The Jean Marie health cabin was flooded in the very first flood I remember of the 19th Assembly, and that we had to deal with, and that minor repairs were done to it but that facility needs to be replaced.

And Tsiigehtchic's planning study because that health centre also needs to be replaced. So thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the medical travel policy, as it stands right now, there is, you know, I too have heard of that. I've followed up with the department. What is happening within the department is physicians order, they book the appointment. Not all the time are those -- they're going to different facilities within Alberta Health Services when they're leaving or they're coming to the -- from the smaller communities into the capital at different periods of time. And when the person that's booking the travel, they get the piece, they don't know what they're traveling for, they...

Just let me find that. It's a different -- okay, right here. So the department is going to issue -- so this is that child and family service needs to increase its team, but the space they are housed in doesn't allow for any expansion at the Jan Sterling Building, so what we are doing is we are going to have to -- new location will require improvements to meet the needs of the program. The improvements will ensure accessibility and safety of all users. The new location will offer culturally safe environment for all users. So the department has issued a request for proposal for a leased space...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, ensuring access to quality, equitable care is one of my highest priorities. We know that the system still faces challenges in delivering that care, and improving access remains a key focus for myself, as Minister, including for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse people. We're taking meaningful steps to strengthen our system and eliminate barriers residents face while trying to access the care that they need, and we are committed to working in partnership with the Northern Mosaic Network group to ensure that this is done thoughtfully and inclusively...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are talking about the primary care centre, so we're talking about downtown. Liwego'ati building opened up, and we moved the primary care clinic downtown. With primary care, outpatient rehab services now in Liwego'ati, other programs and services will be moved into YPCC building. We have leases scattered out throughout Yellowknife, and I believe that we're trying to utilize more spaces that we -- minimize the amount of leases that we have, and so we need to do some renovations in order for those current spaces at the Yellowknife primary care centre to accommodate the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, yes, this summer I did have the opportunity to sit down and meet with the Northern Mosaic Network. The work to explore gender-affirming care navigation support is underway, and it's being approached collaboratively with the Northern Mosaic Network. This work involves multiple areas, including policy, clinical operations, patient services, and financial planning. The Northern Mosaic Network is interested in working with us on this initiative, and they are in the process of setting up a multi-sectoral working group that will include government and health...

Hopefully next year.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Right now, we need to get the building up and running before we could even get into conversations with moving to how we're going to operate the building. I know we do know we need the facility as child and family services are supporting youth in different ways, and so to be able to open up this facility and come up with a plan to how we're going to operate it, either whether it's internal or through an NGO, that will come at a later date. Right now what we're focusing on is getting the repairs done so that the building is up to code. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the physicians are contracted to the NTHSSA through their own bargaining process, the nurses and other allied health professionals, they do their bargaining through the collective agreement currently. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.