Richard Edjericon

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in 2024, the Northwest Territories Ombud issued a special report entitled Ineligible for Public Service Fairness and Rehiring. The report examined the Government of the Northwest Territories' practices of barring certain employees from reapplying to the public service.

The report found that this practice has never been considered through an equal equity lens despite the major consequences that these bans have for Northerners, particularly those in small communities, where the territorial government is one of very few employees. At the time, half of those...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, March 5th, 2026, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the Member for Monfwi, that the Legislative Assembly calls upon the Government of the Northwest Territories to strengthen the medical travel policy by establishing a rapid-response emergency support mechanism, including a contingency fund, to provide interim approval and funding for medical travel escorts in extraordinary circumstances while awaiting federal NIHB decisions, where the delays risk undermining patient safety, continuity of care...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Two years after the ombudsman recommended that this practice be maybe halted until it's reviewed through an equity lens and lawfully authorized in legislation, Northerners are still being placed on the rehire ineligibility list. Why has this government failed to cease this practice as directed, and on what legal authority are these bans still being imposed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Finance, follow-up to my Member's statement.

Mr. Speaker, for many, many, many fear they are never truly removed from the rehire ineligibility list once they are placed on it. Given that the department may have access to this information across the public service, how does the government ensure that someone who is no longer on the list is not effectively and indefinitely prejudiced in seeking public service employment? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, March 5th, I will be moving the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the Member for Dehcho, that this Legislative Assembly calls on the Government of the Northwest Territories to formally oppose Alberta's Bill 7, Water Amendment Act, 2025, and any upstream policies that could enable inter-basin transfers or basin mergers without robust science-based safeguards and full consideration of downstream impacts on the Northwest Territories;

And furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories urge the Government of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, how does the Minister reconcile in maintaining a list of Northerners banned from rehire to the public service with her stated efforts to increase Indigenous employment when at least half of those affected by these bans are Indigenous employees? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? Motion carried.

---Carried

Thank you. I will go back to the Member from the Range Lake.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? Motion carried.

---Carried

I am going to go back to the Member from Range Lake.

Okay, thank you. I will go to the Minister.

Okay, thank you. I will go to the Minister.