Richard Edjericon

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the last year I raised the issue in the House about emergency medical transportation for small communities and services they provide to help save lives for our members in our community. I spoke to the Minister of MACA and health in collaboration to look for a solution. I have a question for the Minister of Community affairs, and my question is will the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs commit to a plan establishing life-saving paramedic and drone ambulance services in the community of Lutselk'e and Fort Resolution? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, in the small communities when someone has had a medical emergency, time spent reaching the health centre can be the difference between life and death. In Yellowknife, we often take ambulance for granted, but my constituents in Fort Resolution and Lutselk'e don't have access to any dedicated emergency medical transportation, and that puts lives at risk.

Emergency medical transportation is essential no matter the size of the community, even if the health centre is nearby. That short distance means little. It is no safe way to rush someone in a critical condition to the care they need...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Pursuant to section 106(4) of the Legislative Assembly Executive Council Act, as deputy Speaker, I wish to table the report of the Northwest Territories Integrity Commissioner on the complaints by Mr. Benjamin Adams about Mr. Shane Thompson, MLA. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If there's no plan to introduce paramedics and drone ambulance services any time soon, when will the Minister commit to establishing a volunteer emergency first responder program to address this critical services gap in our small communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wanted to recognize Matthew Unka who is also a page here. I want to also recognize all the translators that are here today. It's good to see you guys here again, and all the visitors in the gallery. Welcome. Mahsi.

Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the bill, at this time, there's no -- there's nothing there for my small communities from the 19th and 20th Assembly. I got a letter that was brought in with all my issues. Two years in this mandate, I don't see anything there. And March of this year, I brought it up. But anyway, Mr. Speaker, at this point in time, I don't support this bill. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to also thank the Member from Range Lake for bringing this bill forward. This bill is very important to all communities in the Northwest Territories, in particular small communities, and we know the work that goes into this position of fighting the fires in the communities, etcetera, and so, no, Mr. Speaker, I don't have an issue with supporting this bill, and I just want to thank all the frontline workers that are here today and throughout the Northwest Territories. Mahsi cho.

Mr. Speaker, before we break for the summer, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge and congratulate the high school graduates in my Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh riding starting with:

Hannah Beck and Caleb Simon

from Fort Resolution;

Leona Lockhart from Lutselk'e.

And at K'alemi Dene School in N'dilo, I want to recognize

Patricia Black-Quitte

Tadeh Betsina

Owen Charlo-Zoe

Lora Lee Stiopu.

I also want to congratulate the Indigenous high school graduates here at both high schools in Yellowknife, starting with Indigenous graduates from Sir John:

Sara Elizabeth Anderson

April Ansetti

Rhiannon Balmer

Bianca Bates

Keenian...

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in the House here today to speak about the bill, and I don't know where to start but the best way for me to talk about this is that I want to say small communities do matter. We got 33 communities in the Northwest Territories, and we all have our own needs and wants and ask, and I got to work with our own Indigenous governments that are bringing their issues to me all the time. And I get calls every day, evenings, weekends, and I continue to advocate for them.

Mr. Speaker, in the 19th Assembly I came in through a by-election, and at that time I brought my...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize Mr. and Mrs. Testart. Thank you for being here. And I also would like to thank all the firefighters that are here in the gallery. Thank you for your services. Mahsi.