Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my friend from Great Slave mentioned that other jurisdictions in Canada who are taking heartless steps to traumatize and disenfranchise people for being themselves. I'd like to know from our Minister of Health and Social Services how trans and nonbinary youth or individual -- or other individuals seeking gender affirming healthcare, which would have previously gone to Alberta, are going to get the care that they need through our health system? Thank you.
Range Lake. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to assure the NWT residents that healthcare services for transgender individuals, including children and youth, will continue to be available under our existing model as there -- at this time we are still utilizing the same referral plan as usual. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm sure many are relieved to hear that; I certainly am. When these individuals are going for treatment, where are they going? If not Alberta, is it British Columbia? Is it Ontario? Saskatchewan's out of the picture. Alberta's out of the picture. So where are we sending these folks to get the care that they need? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if an out-of-territory referral is made for an NWT resident, including child or youth, and medically necessary service is not available in Alberta, we arrange to have these services made available in other locations in Canada. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, Mr. Speaker, I think Alberta's feeling pretty unsafe these days and I think this is a safety issue. So is that taking into account if patients are coming to get care, are we ensuring it's gender affirming care and we're taking their safety concerns into account when we're making -- when we're making those travel arrangements for them? Thank you.
Sorry, Mr. Speaker. We are continuing to work with Alberta in -- there's -- nothing has changed, and I want -- I think that's the thing is right now, within our health care system our referral process is to Alberta. There is no change in that referral service. The -- they are still -- they are still providing the service in Alberta. If -- and I think -- so people are aware, we will continue -- like our department is continuing to work with the Government of Alberta to clarify Alberta's proposed policy and how they may impact residents of the Northwest Territories receiving out-of-territorial referrals. And for -- you know, there's referrals that have to go elsewhere, Mr. Speaker, they will still fall within access to care. So if they can't access the care in Alberta, we will provide the medical travel that's necessary for those members to travel to other areas where they can access the care. I hope that answers the question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It does confuse it somewhat. So I mean, Premier Smith's been pretty clear that these changes are taking effect and, you know, these are transphobic and, you know, atrocious policies that no health system in Canada should have, so are they -- is the Alberta government making exception for NWT patients within this policy? I'm just -- want clarity on that. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at this time within the Department of Health and Social Services -- like, within my department, we are, as I mentioned, connecting with the Alberta health department on the proposed policies that Alberta has made. We will continue to keep those discussions ongoing to see if there is any changes and if there are changes that are going to impact the residents of the Northwest Territories, then we -- like I said, we will have other options for those members to be able to access the care that they need. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
