Debates of February 10, 2026 (day 77)

Topics
Statements

Okay, thank you. Thank you, Minister, and thanks to the witnesses for appearing before us. Sergeant-at-arms, please escort the witnesses from the chambers. Thank you.

I am going to go to the Member from the Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that committee rise and report progress.

Okay, thank you. There's a motion in order. The motion is non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion carried.

---Carried

Report of Committee of the Whole

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Document 448-20(1), Tabled Document 453-20(1), Tabled Document 454-20(1), and would like to report progress with two motions carried and that the consideration of Tabled Documents 453-20(1), 454-20(1) is concluded and the House concurs and those estimates and that the appropriation bill to be based on thereon be introduced without delay. And, Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Can I have a seconder? Member from the Deh Cho. All those in favour, please raise their hand. All those opposed? Abstentions? Motion passed.

Point of Order

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise on a point of order. Earlier today, the Premier breached the rule of the Legislative Assembly contrary to section 3.2. In a debate, the Speaker will call on Member to order. If the Member each makes allegation against another Member, a house officer, a witness, or a Member of the public: (i) imputes false or hidden motives to another Member; (j) another Member while uttering deliberate falsehood. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, did you wish to speak further on your point of order?

In response to my oral questions, the Premier said, thank you, Mr. Speaker. While I don't accept the premise of the Member's question that we do uphold the spirit of consensus government, Ministers appear in front of committee, committee gives feedback to Ministers, Ministers go and give direction to the departments informed that feedback just because a Member is not getting everything they want or they made promises that the Minister can't deliver -- deliver on for them, it doesn't mean that we're not fulfilling the promise of a consensus government, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Furthermore, the Premier also stated I am very confident in the Minister of health, and when I travel around the territory and I meet with different leaders, including Indigenous leaders from the Member's own riding, they go out of their way to tell me what a good job the Minister is doing and how much faith they have in her.

Stating that, I made a promise that the Minister can't deliver on and further suggesting that Indigenous leaders from a Member's own riding disagree with my line of questioning are clear allegations against me, suggesting that I am motivated by a personal gain and also that I am intentionally misrepresenting the interests of leaders in the Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh riding in pursuing questioning against a Member of the executive council concerning treaty rights and the concerns of my constituents with respect to medical travel.

As per Appendix D of the rules of the objectives of question period is (a) is equal for Regular Members to raise individual concerns of constituents; (b) as an opportunity for the House as a whole to probe the actions of the executive; and (c) as means of illuminating the difference of opinions on the policies of the executive on a major issue and judging that parliamentary skills of the individual Members of the House that I and many Dene Metis treaty people who I represent have different opinions on government Members' fidelity to Treaty 8 and 11 should be subject to allegation by the Premier.

Raised in the concerns are my Dene Metis constituents around both provision and medical care and treaty -- sorry, treaty right obligations are equally valid lines of questioning and should be cast in the doubt by allegations.

Furthermore, it is not the Premier's place to speak for Akaitcho leaders, nor is it acceptable to suggest that any one Indigenous leaders' confidence in particular Minister's performance is sufficient to discharge treaty obligations from the Crown. Without further evidence being provided is a direct allegation that can easily be perceived as an attempt to discredit my line of questioning.

In summary, the Premier doesn't have to like that I am holding government to account with my questions, but that does not give him the privilege to cause disorder by suggesting that I am motivated by a personal gain or deliberately misrepresenting the wishes of my leaders. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I never -- so there's a number of different things going on here. I will address them as I kind of remember them.

So I have heard from -- I have actually heard from leaders in the Member's riding who have told me one thing. I don't think it's a point of order for me to get up here and say that. So I think that one is, you know, an easy one.

I don't speak for the Akaitcho leaders. I've never said I do. So I don't know where that one came from.

I was trying to discredit his line of questioning because I don't think it's a very credible line of questioning. I didn't accept the premise of what he was saying, and so that was the entire point of my comments. And if that is the point of order and you rule that a point of order, I would be happy to apologize and withdraw those remarks, but I don't see that as a point of order.

In terms of personal gain, I said that -- if I recall, I said that the Member -- just because the Member's not getting what he wants, I don't think that's an accusation of personal gain or that he is -- the Minister can't fulfill promises that he's made, I don't see how that's a personal gain.

So I will say, Mr. Speaker, that the debate in this House has been a little testy. There's been a lot of misinformation, and not intentional. I am not saying anyone's lying; I am just saying the information being stated in the House needed correction, and so I did make an attempt to correct it. But I don't think that is a point of order.

So I am happy to hear your ruling on this and hear what has to be said on it. But if the -- if you would like to allow debate, I would rather just apologize and close this off because I don't want to sit here and waste everyone's time listening to, you know -- to comments that might not have a lot of value, just given the -- what's been going on in this House here. So I will leave it with you, Mr. Speaker. I have faith in your abilities. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Okay. Colleagues, I am going to take this under advisement, and I will come back at a later date. Thank you.

Orders of the Day

Speaker: Mr. Harjot Sidhu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Orders of the day for Wednesday, February 11th, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.

Prayer or Reflection

Ministers’ Statements

Members’ Statements

Returns to Oral Questions

Oral Question 974-20(1), Medical Travel Policy and Ministerial Exemptions

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Replies to the Budget Address (Day 5 of 7)

Acknowledgements

Oral Questions

Written Questions

Written Question 31-20(1), Prenatal, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Costs

Returns to Written Questions

Written Question 26-20(1), Application of Waters Act Provisions to the Sale or Transfer of Mining Assets

Written Question 27-20(1), Physician Recruitment and Retention

Written Question 28-20(1), Medical Travel

Written Question 29-20(1), Paramedic Contracts

Written Question 30-20(1), Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority Action Plans

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

Second Reading of Bills

Bill 40, An Act to Amend the Vital Statistics Act

Bill 41, An Act to Amend the Real Estate Agents’ Licensing Act

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Tabled Document 448-20(1), 2026-2027 Main Estimates

Report of Committee of the Whole

Third Reading of Bills

Orders of the Day

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. This House stands adjourned until Wednesday, February 11th, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 7:46 p.m.