Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe for anyone watching and eager to take one of these programs, it's the certified service professional I believe. Certified service professional and certified service manager work. They have been going on for many years, but they have shifted a few years ago to being an online program so they wouldn't necessarily get fully subscribed, Mr. Speaker. But so folks who are interested certainly can contact -- it's the OCIO that actually manages this particular program as that is our contact point within the Department of Finance, and they continue to receive quite a number of attention, quite a lot of attention from public servants. So I'm not concerned about oversubscription. If people are interested, they should check in with the OCIO. Thank you.
Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister for that. What I really like about these programs is that it talks about citizen-centric service, so we're putting the people that we serve first. So that's really good that they're popular.
I'd like to ask the Minister is there any way that we are measuring or demonstrating that the public service is improving as a result of these workshops? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we do conduct every two years the Employee Engagement and Satisfaction Survey, which obviously is internal, wouldn't necessarily be an outward-facing with respect to the perspective of the clients of the front-facing -- front-service providers but certainly does engage in it and measure the degree to which public servants themselves are sensing their improvement or seeing their engagement are feeling the level of delivery of service that they provide. There's a number of different measures, and, in fact, it's a little plug, Mr. Speaker, because that survey has just gone out again. I know I look at them. The deputy ministers certainly look at them. So that is one way that I would suggest we are able to measure a bit of what's happening in terms of the development and the benefit of training. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Finance. Oral questions. Member from Monfwi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Question for Minister of housing.
Mr. Speaker, with housing crisis in Tlicho region, in previous budget a commitment was made for an allocation of ten houses going to Tlicho region: Six in Behchoko, three in Whati, and one in Gameti. Can I get an update on the status of where this project is at in Tlicho region? Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the work with housing over the last couple of years has been extensive. Again, we've had a hundred units across the North from the 19th Assembly, and then we're completing the work of the 20th Assembly. So, again, in terms of specifics, I would have to give the Member some information. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for the answer, Mr. Speaker. I have been talking to the communities about the status of these units, if they've seen anything, and a lot of them are saying there's nothing happening right now. So I would like to get the report for -- I just wanted to ask if it's going to go ahead, is there a timeline of when this project is going to be completed? We have a lot of people on the waitlist like I have said many times, so I just wanted to know where it's at and what's the timeline. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, understanding the situation, I do know for a fact that with the 84 -- 94 units, because the Tlicho have been assigned 10 of those units, Tlicho government, that the community of Behchoko will be assigned ten of the modular units over the next two years. So these are being constructed in the Northwest Territories at the METCAN facility and in Behchoko in partnership with Tlicho government. So over the next couple of years, we'll have ten units for the community of Behchoko. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing NWT. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recently, a number of us were at a Yellowknife Catholic School Board meeting and they talked about their ability to, say, continue this year because they had, in essence, protected Jordan's Principle money, and that was simply by happenstance that they had a contract in place so the cuts didn't affect them directly. But they're recently quoted in the news of saying basically their funding is at risk if not -- yeah, their funding's at risk, a future risk. And knowing that the government is moving forward on wanting to spend current year money on Jordan's Principle money, it begs the question what will the government be planning? So noting that both the health Minister and the education Minister have both said and stated that Jordan's Principle is important for our education system, my question for the Minister of education is what are they doing to get back into the stream of Jordan's Principle support beyond this current proposed contribution? Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, the Member is right, there was a news release that went out yesterday from Yellowknife Catholic schools expressing future risk. Mr. Speaker, we are waiting to hear from the federal government as to what changes they're making to the current program, and we expect to hear more on budget day. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the Prime Minister has said clearly buckle up. And if nothing comes, is it the government's plan to start strategizing to build this type of educational funding into our current and future plans? Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Our plan at the moment -- and we've been working on it for the entire year now -- is working on a review of our inclusive schooling directive. And so a lot of the funding that goes into schools is to support students, for us to meet them where they're at and make sure that they are supported in their classrooms. And so that review will tell us what those recommendations are, what teachers are looking for, what families are looking for, what students are looking for, so that we can take a look at that directive and take a look at our system globally. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So as a collective, let's say it this way, we have Jordan's Principle money being lost and a number of students being impacted; we have teachers, assistants being impacted; and we have inclusive schooling in general at risk here. Does the Minister have the numbers of how many students are impacted by these financial, we'll say, changes that are at risk? And if she does have them, can she share them with the Members of the House? Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a lot of the funding -- well, a portion of the funding goes to classroom assistants, and those classroom assistants could be supporting one student, they could be supporting multiple students. Funding also goes for speech-language pathologists. It goes to occupational therapy. The funding is also used for things like pontoon boats or skidoos in order to do on the land activities as well. And so one could say that this would have an impact directly or indirectly to every student across Canada. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Oral questions. Member from Frame Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I just have a follow-up question for the Minister of Infrastructure. I understand that there's priorities that need to be set therefore I'm seeking a commitment that the GNWT be ready to action a building standards framework at the start of the 21st Assembly. That means getting the preparatory work done now. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I guess part of the problem is, is that we do have a lot of the work completed, and there's been a lot of background work going on with it; however, you know, we're not building a made-in-the-north standard building agreement. It is a Canadian one and, of course, with the things that have been changing, we're constantly updating it. So moving ahead, you know, there is a commitment to put it forward here the next year, and hopefully by the 21st Assembly we have it ready to go. So thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm noticing a bit of a -- there's a theme of hope developing in the sitting today. Mr. Speaker, can we go a little bit beyond hope and just get a commitment that this is going to be ready in the 21st Assembly for adoption by the Assembly or for a legislative proposal to come forward? It's important work. The human rights commission has been asking for it for years. Let's get it done, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Listen, I don't disagree with the Member. This is a commitment that has been -- with the Member, sorry. This is a commitment that's been made. It's been on the table for a long time. The department is continually working on it. Like I said, the priorities of the Legislative Assembly and legislative proposals are all -- yeah, they're all there, and sometimes these ones get pushed on the back burner a little bit. It depends on what the appetite of all the Members are, and apparently this one here has been slowed down a little bit. But, again, the commitment is to have this completed hopefully in 2026 and the beginning of the 21st Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Final supplementary. Member from Frame Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I keep hearing that word hopefully. Can we just get a commitment in place? This is a long time coming. It's a piece of legislation for a future Assembly. Let's get the work in place so that we're ready to bring it forward in the 21st. I think the problem that we've identified, a few of us in talking back and forth, has been, you know, when this Assembly came into place, we didn't have legislation ready to go right off the bat. I think it would be great to see that happen. It will certainly be a recommendation I make to the transition committee. Can we just get a commitment on the floor to get this ready and have it ready for the 21st Assembly so we can get that Act in place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I don't know how else to word this. I've been pretty much agreeing with him but I don't know how else to -- yes, I guess so. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have three written questions today.
The Government of the Northwest Territories continues to face significant challenges in recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals, including physicians and nurses. As a result, locums have been and continue to be utilized by the Government of the Northwest Territories in health care delivery.
My questions are for the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services:
How many physicians who previously held full-time or part-time positions in the Northwest Territories have returned to work as locums in the past three years?
How many nurses who previously held full-time or part-time positions in the Northwest Territories have returned to work as locums in the past three years?
What is the average cost difference to the Government of the Northwest Territories between employing a full-time or part-time physician versus hiring the same individual as a locum?
What is the average cost difference to the Government of the Northwest Territories between employing a full-time or part-time nurse versus hiring the same individual as a locum?
Mr. Speaker, that was my health care professional returning as locum question.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges is pleased to provide its Report on the Review of Motion 56-20(1): Code of Conduct Referral to the Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
The Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges is pleased to Report on the Review of Motion 56-20(1): Code of Conduct Referral to the Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
On May 27th, 2025, Motion 56-20(1) ("the Motion") was carried in the House and referred to committee for further review. The motion, moved by the Member for Great Slave and seconded by the Member for Yellowknife South, was introduced to raise concerns regarding the potential impacts of Members' online and social media activities on the credibility and institutional integrity of the Legislative Assembly.
The motion highlights concerns about how online statements may affect public trust. Even when a Member's post complies with legal and procedural requirements, it can still influence how the public views the Legislative Assembly, all Members, and affect confidence in government processes. The motion emphasizes the value of respectful communication and the importance of maintaining professional standards in public roles.
The motion is attached to this report as Appendix A.
Committee has considered these matters and is prepared to provide a report to this House.
Within the Legislative Assembly, freedom of speech is a core privilege. Members have the right to speak freely during official Assembly business, including in committee meetings. This is a key part of their role. The Assembly's rules currently only govern what Members say during those formal proceedings. These rules do not apply to what Members say outside of those settings, including online settings.
Additionally, the Code of Conduct, which is legally binding under section 75 of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, sets expectations for the behaviour of all Members. The Code of Conduct exists to ensure Members act in ways that build public trust, both inside and outside the Assembly. What one Member says or does can affect how the public views other Members and the Assembly as a whole.
The guide to the rules relating to the conduct of Members notes that Members are expected to hold themselves to a high standard of conduct. This reflects the public trust placed in elected officials and applies to both public and private behaviour. However, the Code does not define what constitutes a "high standard," nor does it provide specific limits or examples.
The Code of Conduct affirms that it does not restrict the Assembly's authority to regulate its internal affairs. This means that any restriction on Member conduct, whether inside or outside of these proceedings, depends on a collective decision-making by all Members. Members must be willing to define and adopt reasonable boundaries on individual privilege to safeguard the institution's credibility.
Committee discussion and deliberations related to this matter were guided by a deep respect for the importance of parliamentary privilege, the Guiding Principles of consensus Government in the Northwest Territories, the principles of the Member's Code of Conduct, the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, as well as the individual experiences, expectation, and views of committee members.
Open and respectful communication between Members is a key guiding principle of consensus Government in the Northwest Territories, as is the ability and willingness of all Members of the Legislative Assembly to work together, within their respective roles, for the collective good of the people of the Northwest Territories. Together these principles can help build the foundation for a legislature that is seen as a safe and respectable workplace and space for all Members, staff and visitors, and can help build public confidence and trust in the Legislative Assembly, all Members, and government processes.
Committee recognizes the need for respectful communication among Members, both during proceedings of the Assembly and in other settings. However, committee does not believe that the Code of Conduct is the appropriate mechanism to address these concerns. This applies whether the concerns relate specifically to online comments, as outlined in the motion, or to broader forms of communication. Committee believes that leaving the Code of Conduct open to the interpretation of the Integrity Commissioner is both appropriate and desirable. To that end, committee makes the following recommendation:
The Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges recommends that the Office of the Clerk develop a document outlining principles for public statements by all Members of the Legislative Assembly, whether made online, in traditional media, or spoken outside of proceedings of the Assembly, and that this document be reviewed by all Members of Caucus. Further, if adopted by Caucus, the document should be made publicly available in a manner directed by Caucus.
This concludes the Committee's report on its Review of Motion 56-20(1): Code of Conduct Referral to the Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Member from Great Slave.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Committee Report 34-20(1), Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Report on the Review of Motion 56-20(1): Code of Conduct Referral to the Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges, be received and adopted by the Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Great Slave. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried. Committee Report 56-20(1) has been received and adopted by the Assembly.
---Carried
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents: Plain Language Summary for Bill 34: Trespass to Property Act; and, Statement of Consistency for Bill 34: Trespass to Property Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. Tabling of documents. Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for the power corp.
