Debates of May 22, 2025 (day 57)

Date
May
22
2025
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
57
Speaker
Members Present
Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, Mr. Edjericon, Mr. Hawkins, Hon. Lucy Kuptana, Hon. Vince McKay, Hon. Jay Macdonald, Mr. McNeely, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Morse, Ms. Reid, Mr. Rodgers, Hon. Lesa Semmler, Mr. Testart, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Mrs. Weyallon Armstrong, Mrs. Yakeleya
Topics
Statements
Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. To the motion.

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Question.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? Motion passed.

---Carried

Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Frame Lake, that committee -- I can take it back -- strike it from the record. I'll start again, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Member for Frame Lake, that the Committee Report 23-20(1), Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Review of Land Use Permitting and Water Licensing Regulatory Framework in the Northwest Territories, be received and adopted by this Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. To the motion.

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Question.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? Motion carried.

---Carried

Member from Yellowknife Centre.

And thank you, Mr. Speaker. The last one.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Frame Lake, that pursuant to Rule 9.4(5)(a) that the Government of the Northwest Territories table a comprehensive response to this report, including all its recommendations, within 120 days or at the earliest opportunity subsequent to the passage of 120 days. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. To the motion.

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Question.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Question has been called. All in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? Motion passed.

---Carried

Tabling of Documents

Tabled Document 331-20(1): 2025-2026 Consolidated Budget

Tabled Document 332-20(1): 2024-25 Northwest Territories Power Corporation Amended Capital Budget

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents: 2025-2026 Consolidated Budget and 2024-2025 Northwest Territories Power Corporation Amended Capital Budget. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for NWT Power Corp. Tabling of documents. Minister of ITI.

Tabled Document 333-20(1): NWT Office of the Regulator of Oil and Gas Operations Annual Report 2024-2025

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: 2024-2025 Office of the Regulator of Oil and Gas Operations Annual Report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of ITI. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for WSCC.

Tabled Document 334-20(1): Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission 2025 Corporate Plan

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission 2025 Corporate Plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister responsible for Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission. Tabling of documents. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Tabled Document 335-20(1): Protection of Property Act (Province of Nova Scotia)

Tabled Document 336-20(1): Trespass Act (Province of British Columbia)

Tabled Document 337-20(1): Petty Trespass Act (Province of Alberta)

Tabled Document 338-20(1): The Trespass Act (Province of Manitoba)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the briefest description and my Member's statement and questions, I talked about the -- how easy we could do a Trespass Act. I'm tabling four copies from jurisdictions of their various forms, and they also come with various names, but they all are the same thing.

So I'm going to table the Government of Manitoba's Trespass Act. I'd like to table the Petty Trespass Act by the Province of Alberta. I'd like to table the Trespass Act from Nova Scotia. And finally, I would like to -- oh yes, the Trespass Act from BC. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Notices of Motion

Motion 55-20(1): Staffing Solutions to Rebuild and Reform Healthcare Now

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, May 26th, 2025, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the Member for Yellowknife Centre, that the Government of the Northwest Territories take immediate action to improve the recruitment and retention of all doctors, nurses, and allied health care workers through higher wages, contract flexibility, and enhanced benefits;

And further, that the Government of the Northwest Territories work with the Public Service Alliance of Canada and Union of Northern Workers to develop an inclusive bargaining structure for all healthcare workers to give the frontline a real voice in negotiations;

And furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories undertake the following actions:

Establish a working group composed of Members of the Executive Council and Regular Members of the Legislative Assembly to oversee primary care reform and health system sustainability initiatives;

Move to interest-based negotiations with the Northwest Territories Medical Association before the fall of 2025;

Publicly release the details of the new locum contract for emergency department doctors;

Improve flexibility in locum contracts to assist doctor and nurse retention and recruitment;

Phase out agency nurses with a three-year plan that improves working conditions for frontline staff with improved professional development and compensation;

Enhance financial incentives for shift work for doctors, nurses, and allied health care workers;

Implement minimum staff-to-patient ratios at all Northwest Territories hospitals;

Implement practitioner-led innovation to ensure continuous improvement on the frontline;

Negotiate physician license-sharing between Nunavut and Alberta to eliminate red tape preventing entry of new physicians into the Northwest Territories healthcare system;

Prioritize pan-national physician licensing in the Government of the Northwest Territories federal engagement strategy;

Fast-track development of new policies on emerging medical technologies, such as AI, e-consults and virtual care;

Expand the role of nurse practitioners in all regions of the Northwest Territories to improve access to health care and decrease costs; and,

Modernize auxiliary care and establish a licensing body for paramedics;

And furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories release an action plan to implement the aforementioned actions that is time bound and fully costed by the fall of 2025;

And furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories respond to this motion in 120 days.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Notices of motion. Notices of motion for the first reading of bills. First reading of bills. Second reading of bills. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters. Reports on Committee of the Whole. Third reading of bills.

Orders of the Day

Speaker: Mr. Glen Rutland

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Board of Management will meet at the rise of House today in the Arctic Fox room.

The Standing Committee of Public Accounts will meet at the rise of House today in the Eagle room.

Orders of the day for Friday, May 23rd, 2025, at 10 a.m.

Prayer or Reflection

Ministers’ Statements

Members’ Statements

Returns to Oral Questions

Oral Question 666-20(1), Legal Aid Commission of the Northwest Territories

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Acknowledgements

Oral Questions

Written Questions

Returns to Written Questions

Replies to the Commissioner’s Address

Petitions

Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills

Reports of Standing and Special Committees

Tabling of Documents

Notices of Motion

Motions

Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

First Reading of Bills

Bill 26, An Act to Amend the Public Service Act

Second Reading of Bills

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bill 17, Municipal and Community Affairs Statutes Amendment Act

Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Partnership and Business Names Act

Report of Committee of the Whole

Third Reading of Bills

Orders of the Day

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Mr. Clerk.

This House stands adjourned until Friday, May 23rd, 2025, at 10 a.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 4:14 p.m.