Good afternoon. Colleagues, before we begin today, I want to take a moment to extend the condolences of this House, as well as my personal condolences, to those impacted by the tragic and horrendous events that occurred in Tumbler Ridge, BC, yesterday. Our hearts are with the residents of Tumbler Ridge at this time, and we will hold you all in our prayers. The flags at the Assembly will be at half-mast for the week to show respect and condolences for all of the families and community members impacted by this terrible event.
Colleagues, please join me in a moment of silence for all those who have been impacted by this tragic act of violence. Thank you, colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is making practical investments to strengthen our energy systems and make energy more reliable, affordable, and sustainable for communities across the territory.
The energy initiatives report released on February 3rd shows how we are building a strong foundation for long-term change. We are improving how energy systems are planned, regulated, and delivered, while moving forward with projects that meet local needs and reflect northern realities.
Mr. Speaker, a key part of this work is supporting the public utilities board and advancing integrated power system planning. This approach looks at the territory's power systems across regions, technologies, and timelines so we can better coordinate investments, lower long-term costs, and support the transition to cleaner energy. Engagement with communities, Indigenous governments, utilities, and partners is central to this work, and those conversations are already underway. We are not just planning on paper; people across the territory are helping shape how power is delivered for years to come.
We are also proud to support projects that bring widespread attention to the North. Last month, Yellowknife hosted the Arctic Bioenergy Summit. People across the Northwest Territories, Canada, and from around the world came together to share ideas on sustainable bioenergy solutions for northern and remote communities. The return for our support of events like this gives us modern, practical and northern-led solutions that make a real difference in Northerners' energy options. These events also demonstrate that the Northwest Territories is leading in cold-climate energy innovation, firmly placing us on the national and international stage, and shows other jurisdictions what is possible in the North.
Mr. Speaker, I am also pleased to share that the Government of the Northwest Territories, in conjunction with the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, Indigenous governments and communities, and project partners, are working on energy related pilot projects across the territory. The aim of these pilot projects is to test new technologies and equipment for suitability in our communities and for our conditions, and with a goal of identifying new long- term energy options that optimize generation, reduce reliance on diesel fuel, increase efficiency of local power plants, and improve community well-being. The first of these projects will occur in Fort Simpson this spring, and we look forward to sharing details of this project as it progresses.
Looking ahead, together with the Department of Environment and Climate Change, we will be releasing a whole of government climate change and energy strategy. This strategy will set a clear and coordinated path for how we manage energy, reduce emissions, and support more resilient communities grounded in practical northern solutions. These energy initiatives we are advancing are intentional stepping stones toward our long-term climate objectives. They support the transition to cleaner energy, help control costs, and strengthen community resilience while recognizing the unique realities of the North.
Mr. Speaker, these investments are not one-off announcements. They are part of a deliberate, step-by-step approach to how energy decisions are made and how projects are delivered. By strengthening long-term planning, supporting innovation, and working closely with our partners, we are building an energy system that is reliable, affordable, and resilient, one that meets the needs of Northerners today, while positioning our territory for a stronger, more sustainable future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister responsible for Strategic Infrastructure, Energy, and Supply Chains. Ministers' statements. Mr. Premier.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise the House that the honourable Member for Nunakput, the Minister responsible for the Status of Women, will be absent for a portion of the House proceedings today to virtually attend the federal-provincial-territorial Ministers' meeting on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, non-insured health benefits are meant to reduce barriers to care for Indigenous peoples, but today in the Northwest Territories this federal program is not meeting the needs of the people it is meant to serve. The GNWT administers NIHB on behalf of Indigenous Services Canada, yet ISC continues to underfund this program, leaving our territorial health system to subsidize a federal responsibility.
Mr. Speaker, it is like asking a small mom and pop shop to cover the costs of a billion-dollar corporation. It simply isn't fair, and it is not sustainable.
Mr. Speaker, these shortfalls place growing strain on our system which cannot continue to cover the gap indefinitely. I have travelled with Cabinet and the Council of Leaders to Ottawa, and I have seen firsthand how strongly the Minister of health and her Indigenous government partners have pushed for ISC to address these chronic issues. The message has been clear: The federal government must fund its own program properly so Northerners are not left behind.
Mr. Speaker, we also know what happens if NIHB is handed back to the federal government to administer themselves. Services get slower, barriers increase, and patients and families must pay upfront and seek reimbursement for every medical trip. This is not what we want for NWT residents. But unless ISC steps up, we risk being forced down that path. Meanwhile, Mr. Speaker, we continue to face rigidity and administration barriers for escort criteria. This leaves families to apply for exceptions and wait for answers whenever their situation doesn't fit rigid outdated policies created in Ottawa, and every time a person is sent by air ambulance, one of the most frightening and vulnerable moments in anyone's life, families are again forced to apply for an exemption to be with their loved one with no guarantee of approval. At the moment when these patients need support the most, Mr. Speaker, NIHB makes them prove it.
Mr. Speaker, Indigenous residents deserve dignity, compassion, and timely care. I call on Indigenous Services Canada to fix these systemic issues, to work with our GNWT to modernize these policies, and properly fund NIHB so that people in our territory receive the fair and respectful service they deserve. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Inuvik Boot Lake. Members' statements. Member from Range Lake.
Mr. Speaker, it took nearly a decade for the Government of the Northwest Territories to assess the services it provides to persons with disabilities, only to reveal significant failures in their design and delivery. Yet almost four years after this work accumulated in health and social services' landmark supported living review final report, only a handful of its 33 key recommendations have been meaningfully implemented.
Once you speak to families affected by these systemic failures, you will notice that these are not just service gaps but service canyons - fragmented disability and continuing care programs, limited cross-departmental coordination, and inadequate mechanisms to respond to unique or complex circumstances force caregivers to fill operational and staffing shortfalls in GNWT service delivery, simply to ensure that adults with disabilities receive the care they need. Addressing these systemic failures are the very foundation of the final report.
Life for caregivers should not be this difficult, Mr. Speaker. In particular, I have witnessed the shock families experience when their disabled children age out of child and family services. Suddenly, they are cut off from support and left at the mercy of the income-assistant model, which is far from adequate given the rising cost of living. NGO supports exist, but these are often tied to employment, a requirement people with more profound disabilities simply cannot meet.
One recommendation with the greatest potential to support caregivers is expanding the supported living model to private homes, opening access to supports, respite, and paid caregiving resources that are currently eliminated to designated providers. The closest progress towards this goal was the paid family community caregiver pilot project which was successfully introduced before the final report but cut shortly afterwards.
This Minister knows that people want to stay in loving homes, and those homes want to stay whole. People with disabilities are not a burden. The burden lies with a government that fails to deliver the services they need. Now the Minister must answer what the families are asking. Why, years after the release of the final report, has there been no meaningful or measurable progress in addressing the gaps in access, coordination, and accommodation for adults with disabilities and their families? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife North.
Mr. Speaker, we want electricity that is cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable with less power outages. Is that so hard?
The Minister of NTPC has been taking every opportunity to argue that the solution to all of these problems and more is the Taltson expansion and transmission line, most recently saying that power outages can only be prevented by connecting our two grids. I know that there is an appetite for big ideas, big solutions to all of our problems, but it's dangerous to believe in panaceas, especially when they're estimated to cost several billions of dollars, especially when they may not deliver the level of reliability we're hoping for or the lower cost, and especially when it means we fail to focus on shorter-term, lower-cost practical steps we could be taking. We need to always ask what is the priority problem that we're trying to solve and then what is the most cost-efficient way to get there.
If our priority is to prevent power outages in the North Slave grid, well most outages are caused by a supply failure rather than a transmission failure and most outages last less than 15 minutes, despite our recent experience. Spending billions to tie our two grids together may or may not prevent future outages, depending on the location of any supply failure.
Alternatively, we could install a complete battery backup that meets peak grid demand with its own substation. Right now, there's a battery being installed in Alberta, sized for 80 megawatts, so more than what we need, that would provide backup power for two hours, and it costs $120 million. Still pricey but a fraction of the cost of Taltson. If we just wanted 15 minutes of reserve energy to prevent a majority of the outages we currently experience, we could get a smaller 10 megawatt battery at Jackfish for maybe 10 to $20 million. This idea and others were proposed by NTPC itself and a backgrounder listing potential solutions to chronic low-water challenges.
Some other ideas proposed by NTPC were to install modular units at Jackfish, increase the generation capacity at Bluefish, and add more solar and wind energy to the Snare system. Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my point is that if we want to reduce power outages, Taltson is by no means the obvious answer. Let's look at each of our electricity challenges one by one and find the most practical solutions to each. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member from the Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] INSERT* [Translation Ends] Happy birthday, Rosemary.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Across the Northwest Territories communities to face the devastating impacts of drugs and alcohol. These challenges affect individuals, families, and the well-being of our community as a whole. While clinical and facility-based treatment options are important, they cannot stand alone. We must continue to invest in on-the-land programming that brings people back to the places where healing as always begun - on the land, guided by elders, culture, and traditional knowledge.
Mr. Speaker, on-the-land programs reconnect individuals with purpose, identity, and belonging. For many at risk of substance use, the structure and teachings found on the land offer a path forward that is culturally meaningful and emotionally restorative. Whether it is building a fire, harvesting from the land, travelling by river, or learning stories and teachings from elders, these experiences provide more than skills. They provide grounding, pride, and hope.
Our elders remind us that healing is not only about treating symptoms but about restoring balance. When individuals spend time with knowledgeholders, they build relationships that strengthen resilience and reduce isolation, two of the most significant risk factors tied to substance abuse. Participants gain confidence, reconnect with culture, and rebuild their sense of identity.
Mr. Speaker, investing in these programs is not just an investment in cultural preservation. It is an investment in prevention, recovery, and long-term community health. I urge our government to continue expanding accessible, sustainable, and community-driven on-the-land opportunities, ensuring that those most at risk have a chance to heal in ways that honour who they are and where they're from. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from the Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member from Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last October, my colleague from Yellowknife North expressed frustration with the lack of transparency on what changes are made for improvement based on data collected by the Office of Client Experience and also with past iterations of the NWT patient experience questionnaire. While I am happy that the desire to understand the patient experience continues, Mr. Speaker, and while the 2025 questionnaire Have Your Say website notes that a what-we-heard report will be produced that will guide delivery -- service delivery and quality improvements, I want to get back to an even more foundational question: Are we asking the right questions?
The two survey options were explain your last appointment in the outpatient questionnaire and an inpatient questionnaire for folks who stayed at NWT hospitals for at least one overnight stay. Most people's primary care experience would fit into the former, and that is my focus today.
I understand that HSS tracks 40 performance indicators on behalf of the health and social services system since 2019, Mr. Speaker, but to understand the patient experience in the NWT, we have to dive deeper than just what happened during a one-off appointment.
I consider myself a frequent user of the health system, and I have good experiences and not so great ones, Mr. Speaker. As we hear in this House regularly, there's too many not so great ones. In assessing those less positive experiences, it's crucial that people are able to give meaningful feedback.
Mr. Speaker, when the 2025 patient experience questionnaire was promoted on GNWT social media, one comment I saw really stuck with me. Quote, sadly, this survey misses what really matters, how the system works over time across multiple points of care. It doesn't ask about the ease of moving through typical, sometimes iterative processes from booking an appointment to getting referrals, results, and treatment. It doesn't explore patients' deeper experiences, especially patients with complex needs. I hope HSS considers more substantive structured engagement with the public to complement these annual surveys. End quote. I could not put it any better myself, Mr. Speaker.
My constituents who are frequent users of the health system flag consistently the need for better continuity of care. It's best to map that journey with feedback from the people who are experiencing it. I will have questions for the Minister of health at the appropriate time. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Members' statements. Member from Monfwi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak about the need for a dedicated Tlicho administrative region to improve coordinations of government programs and services for Tlicho communities.
Mr. Speaker, one of the challenges with the current North Slave regional structure is that it combines Tlicho communities with Yellowknife, the largest urban centre in the territory. This creates an imbalance in planning and resource allocation because regional priorities are often dominated by the needs of Yellowknife, which has a population of over 21,000 compared to over 3,000 across the four Tlicho communities. As a result, smaller communities like Behchoko, Whati, Gameti, and Wekweeti struggle to have their voices heard and their unique needs addressed.
Issues such as housing shortages, aging infrastructure, and health service gaps can be overshadowed by urban priorities, making it difficult to ensure equitable service delivery and accountability for Tlicho residents. A Tlicho administrative region establish a clear administrative boundary for planning, reporting, and accountability so that commitments to housing maintenance, health staffing, education support, and local infrastructure are clearly tied to the needs of Tlicho communities.
Mr. Speaker, it would allow for better coordination of GNWT programs and services, reduce duplication, and improve transparency in how resources are allocated and delivered. By improving coordination and accountability, this change would help address longstanding gaps in housing, health care, and infrastructure, and strengthen trust between government and Tlicho communities.
Mr. Speaker, a dedicated Tlicho administrative region is a practical step toward better outcomes for families and communities across the Tlicho region. Mr. Speaker, I will have question for the Minister of Finance at appropriate time. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Members' statements. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The drug crisis sweeping the North is a tragic example of what happens when intergenerational trauma meets the modern marginalization of our communities. Cut off from vital services and with limited access to employment and education and opportunities, our people are increasingly vulnerable to the rising flow of drugs into the territory.
Moving people struggling with trauma and addiction into treatment programs is critical, but the absence of these services in the North is a serious gap in our healthcare system. And even when people complete the treatment program in BC or Alberta, what comes next? Recovery doesn't end when they leave treatment. The next vital step is aftercare or a sober living program. That is why it is so disappointing that my constituents are denied funding for these programs.
The Minister said that she supports people seeking help in the North yet critical gaps remain, especially in our communities. Community leaders do their best with what they have and healing camps and culture programs, but these are only part of the larger and still incomplete network of services. To deny this support is to deny my constituents to their treaty rights to health and well-being. It's a shift responsibility on to communities and Indigenous governments who try their best but simply lack the resources.
Aftercare and sober living programs cost far less than treatment, about a hundred dollars a day compared to $600 for a 50-day minimum treatment program. Yet these essential services remain underfunded. Without them, recovery is fragile and incomplete.
I am calling on this Minister to fund the wholistic recovery process. Anything less is a failure to uphold the long-term health and dignity of our people. I will have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Members' statements.
Colleagues, today, my Member's statement brings great news. Sometimes in life, you find yourself in the right place at the right time.
Last summer in Yellowknife, I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Kenneth Peter Judge, visiting from Monaco. As we discussed his work, businesses, and personal life, I learned he was part of the legendary Australia II crew that ended America's 132-year winning streak in the 1983 America's Cup, a historic sailing triumph. Despite his achievements and honours like the Order of Australia, Ken came across as refreshingly down-to-earth. Our conversation turned to Clean Design, a Canadian company specializing in AI-driven hybrid energy solutions. With over 15 years of proven success and 25 plus systems operational, including the B@ Gold's Goose Mine in Nunavut, this technology is transforming remote energy challenges. We explored bringing it to the Northwest Territories, zeroing in on Fort Simpson as a prime opportunity.
Clean Design focuses on reducing diesel consumption, cutting emissions, minimizing blackouts, and enabling silent running at night via advanced hybrid and battery integration. For diesel-reliant communities like Fort Simpson, these innovations deliver reliability, affordability, and environmental gains essential for our North.
It is my understanding that Ken and Clean Design have collaborated with the Minister responsible for strategic energy and staff, including NTPC, on a pilot project being launched in Fort Simpson, tentatively scheduled for April 1st, 2026. While the terms of the pilot project are still being finalized, I am confident it will make a real difference. In conversations with the Liidlii Ku First Nation and Fort Simpson Metis Nation 52, they expressed excitement about this pilot and its potential future impacts on the community and their local governments.
I extend my thanks to the Minister, her staff, and Peter Judge and the Johnston family for prioritizing our community and partnering across the aisle. I also thank Minister Wawzonek and her team for their urgency in advancing this. My hope is this pilot succeeds in Fort Simpson and scales as a permanent solution for NWT communities reducing diesel dependency for generations.
Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we need to move from a very fickle power system to an opportunity of resilience.
Mr. Speaker, last Thursday evening, in case some of you might have missed it, Yellowknife sat in darkness for four hours as temperatures plunged at minus 25. Mr. Speaker, a four-hour outage in a southern city may be an inconvenience but in the subarctic, it's a ticking clock that's deafening.
Mr. Speaker, again, an inconvenience to some, but a tragic experience for many. I heard over the weekend stories of frustration where pipes in modular homes had frozen and broken in some cases, Mr. Speaker. With today's understanding of technology and opportunities, there must be a better way.
Mr. Speaker, as you just alluded to, Clean Design may be that opportunity to help stabilize our power. The technology is there. It's proven. It manages ups and downs of power waves. It even turns on the system when it gets interrupted. Again, an uninterruptible system working for people. It reduces the consumption of diesel, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure where there's a problem here. It sounds too good to be true. But it's real, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, this is proven technology, Mr. Speaker, and this potential investment will save tragedy as well as massive amounts of stress for Northerners who worry about power. Mr. Speaker, at the same time, as pointed out just moments ago, the diesel system could be turning off which reduces noise pollution in the evening in some communities. Mr. Speaker, this will give folks a much-needed night's rest.
Mr. Speaker, people are dreaming of the future, but the truth is the future is here. Mr. Speaker, this smart technology has been in effect for decades, and now we could be doing it here. Wait a minute, Mr. Speaker, we are doing it here.
Mr. Speaker, the project moving into Fort Simpson, your community, is bringing this technology to life. I say now let's bring it to Yellowknife where we need it. Because when the power goes out, there is no plan B, Mr. Speaker, other than hope, and as we said yesterday, we can't eat or spend hope. Mr. Speaker, on our biggest investments, we can't put them at risk, and we can't count on luck. In the North, energy security is public safety. Last week was yet another warning that if the outage had lasted 14 hours instead of four hours, we'd be discussing a disaster, Mr. Speaker, not an inconvenience.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, Clean Design provides intelligent energy management. It helps the system to ensure the faults are smoothing out and, Mr. Speaker, it demonstrates a reliable power in places like Fort Simpson, and I hope in Yellowknife, will be there for Northerners at the greatest risk and when we have the greatest need. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I've been contacted by families that are affected by the lack of action on support to persons with disabilities. So I'd like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services, the supportive living review has only, as I've mentioned in my statement, had a handful of its 32 recommendations implemented. When will the Minister get around to completing the implementation of this very important report? Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe that the supportive living review, the ones that were -- the actions that have been implemented currently within the funds that the health authority and the department has; however, a large portion of the recommendations are tied to significant costs. And so what we're doing at the department right now with NTHSSA is working through that with our partners. We're also establishing -- there's a review going on currently with the amount of residents that are living out of the territory and what the needs would be in bringing them back into the territory. So within that area, there's also the -- it is flagged, and it's one of the top priority areas under the health sustainability unit that is doing a review on this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's always disappointing when we make recommendations that we can't afford because we should be just doing it. That should be with our top priority when we make them because why make them otherwise.
Mr. Speaker, what policy or formal mechanism exists to ensure individualized accommodation and access is ensured for persons with disabilities across departments and programs, so not just with health and social services but across the entire government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when clients come into the health system, the system works with individual, whatever the -- if there's disabilities, if there's health issues, if there's other areas, then they support them within their system and then there are ways that they interact with other systems. However with many adult placements, we do have an adult placement worker and that can help with navigating, you know, what systems are available to the family in the territory. There is also the NWT disability that we fund that helps navigate families to different areas of support. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So what this all reveals is there's not a single coordinated pathway for someone -- for an adult experiencing these difficulties to access government. There's no one-stop shop that they can go and receive that support if they're having trouble accessing that support. So will the Minister commit to establishing that coordinated support, so it's very easy for people to get the help they need, and also attach service standards for it so there are clear measures that kick in if someone has not received the help they need within a timely manner, not received it at all, or is struggling. Because we can't leave these people, you know, quite frankly, you know, banging their heads against the wall trying to get help that they desperately need. So will the Minister establish that centralized coordinated service pathway with clear measurements for service standards. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, under the supportive living review, I am going to be waiting for the health sustainability unit. There will be recommendations coming from that and when I do have that, I will, you know, bring those to my colleagues, and we will also be working with the Regular Members on some of those recommendations that come back. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the health Minister please tell me how the methodology and the survey questions for the 2025 Patient Experience Questionnaire and previous questionnaires, as I understand as it tracks the same metrics over time, were selected. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Minister for Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't have that level of detail. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what work is contemplated for a Yellowknife patient journey and will it review patient experiences with quality of care over time and multiple interventions from intake appointment to diagnosis to referrals, results, and treatments? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
