Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a constituent who had a medical referral down south. Their paperwork was lost. This can't be the only time. So is it normal for files to be lost? And if so, could the Minister speak to how often this is the case? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that is very detailed information that I don't have here available. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from the Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What type of information can the Minister provide the House given the fact that I would assume at least the structural concepts of these questions could be answered. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the health authority has an established process that sends referrals to specialty -- like, to specialists throughout our system; however, I don't have the level of detail here in the House today to be able to respond to that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from the Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister update the House as to our doctor levels for general family doctors, or GP doctors sometimes they're referred to; so in other words, can she tell us what the capacity is in the Northwest Territories currently operating and I'd certainly like to hear details with respect -- certainly with respect to Yellowknife. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from the Yellowknife Centre. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With those questions coming at this time, I don't have that direct information on the floor, as doctor levels, staffing levels change all the time. And so what I've updated the Members in some of the written questions that recently were reported could have changed today, so I don't have that level of information here today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think on both sets she's keenly avoided the phrase I will provide the Member. So I will add hopefully she'll provide some detail.
Mr. Speaker, specific to doctors and replacements of doctors in the sense of vacancies, have any doctor been refused the opportunity to be a locum here in the Northwest Territories, certainly in the last while and certainly over the last few years, if possible. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, these are questions that vary in the operations, and it's not something that I keep at my fingertips. So I know that we are constantly in recruitment of physicians and health professionals throughout our entire system; however, when there are -- you know, they have to meet certain criteria. They have to have registration and be able to practice. So, you know, I don't -- like, again, like I said the detail in this type of a question I don't have at my fingertips. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from the Yellowknife Centre.
Mr. Speaker, if a doctor is in good standing and retires and offers to be a locum in the Northwest Territories -- I am getting to the very specific point is -- has the department refused doctors from staying on as locums because they no longer wish to be full-time practitioners in that field? So if the Minister can't answer the question, could she at least provide the information in writing to me. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are many physicians who have left the territory and do return back and are locums. There are many physicians that are currently employed here in the territory that do not work full-time. And, you know, this is a conversation I just had today, actually, with my staff on looking at models, you know, within how to -- like, within our entire system, the workforce has changed. We have to be able to adapt. People want a work-life balance and that doesn't mean -- you know, in some sense that means, you know, they have family in the south and, you know, they have young children and they may want to only come and do shorter term contracts. And that's in all areas. So this type of information and these questions, you know, if the Member wants to send me a BF on specifics, I am glad to be able to respond to those. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Colleagues, our time is up for oral questions. Oral questions.
Colleagues, by authority given to me as the Speaker under Rule 2.2(4) I hereby authorize the House to sit beyond the daily hours of adjournment to consider the business of the House.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two notices of motion. I will deal with one at a time.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, March 5th, 2026, I will move the following motion:
Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Tabled Document 483-20(1), 2025-2026 Electoral Boundaries Commission Final Report, be referred to Committee of the Whole for consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Notices of motion. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My second notice of motion is today. It is, Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, March 5th, 2026, I will move the following motion:
Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Tabled Document 445-20(1), 2025 Review of Members of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly Compensation and Benefits Report, be referred to Committee of the Whole for consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
To Member from Yellowknife Centre. Notices of motion. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, March 5th, I will be moving the following motion:
Now therefore I move, seconded by the Member for Dehcho, that this Legislative Assembly calls on the Government of the Northwest Territories to formally oppose Alberta's Bill 7, Water Amendment Act, 2025, and any upstream policies that could enable inter-basin transfers or basin mergers without robust science-based safeguards and full consideration of downstream impacts on the Northwest Territories;
And furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories urge the Government of Canada to ensure that "one project one review" agreements preserve strong, enforceable protections for water quality, aquatic ecosystems, and cumulative-effects oversight, including in shared watersheds that affect the Northwest Territories;
And furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories ensure its transboundary water agreements allow for transparent, timely, and proactive notification and information sharing from Alberta and federal regulators regarding any incidents or releases with potential transboundary effects, consistent with best practices learned from the Kearl tailings seepage events;
And furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories ensure that its transboundary water agreements allow for transparent, timely, and proactive notification and information sharing from Alberta and federal regulators regarding any proposed or actual treatment, discharge, or release of oil sands tailings with potential transboundary impacts;
And furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories reaffirms that First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples must be meaningfully consulted and involved, consistent with their rights, on decisions affecting shared waters and watershed governance;
And furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories strengthen and publicly communicate its ongoing hydrologic monitoring and drought reporting for the Northwest Territories, including clear summaries of conditions, drivers, and implications for communities and ecosystems;
And furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories respond to this motion in 120 days.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Notices of motion. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. And Member, can you just slow down a bit, please, with your motion. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, March 5th, 2026, I will move the following motion:
Now therefore I move, seconded by the Member for Monfwi, that the Legislative Assembly calls upon the Government of the Northwest Territories to strengthen the medical travel policy by establishing a rapid-response emergency support mechanism, including a contingency fund, to provide interim approval and funding for medical travel escorts in extraordinary circumstances while awaiting federal NIHB decisions, where the delays risk undermining patient safety, continuity of care, or the exercise of Indigenous peoples' rights to access health services beyond territorial borders as per recognized treaty obligations;
And furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories build greater flexibility into medical travel determinations of whether in-territory care is "reasonably available," explicitly considering significant diagnostic, surgical, and treatment wait times;
And furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories implement a compassionate medical evacuation policy with all reasonable speed so that medivac supports complement and integrate with the medical travel policy, including guarantees for patient escorts where needed;.
And furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories ensure that all amendments to the medical travel policy are made in accordance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Act, consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and in a manner that respects and uphold Indigenous and treaty rights recognized and affirmed under section 35 of the Canadian Constitution;
And furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories respond to this motion within 120 days.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Notices of motion. Member from Monfwi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have two motions.
Now therefore I move, seconded by the Member for Mackenzie Delta, that this Legislative Assembly calls upon the Government of the Northwest Territories to conduct a detailed assessment of its market rental inventory to determine which units are suitable for transfer, taking into account building condition, community needs, and long-term housing strategy impacts;
And further, that the Government of the Northwest Territories develop and implement a program allowing for the transfer or sale of selected market rental units to the current tenants occupying them subject to clear eligibility criteria including, but not limited to, tenancy duration, payment history, and demonstrated capacity for property ownership;
And further, that the Government of the Northwest Territories be encouraged to support this initiative by reviewing any legislative, regulatory, or policy adjustments necessary to facilitate the orderly transfer of market rental units to current tenants.
And furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories respond to this motion in 120 days.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Notices of motion. Member for Monfwi.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, March 5th, 2026, I will move the following motion:
Now therefore I move, seconded by the Member for Dehcho, that this Legislative Assembly calls upon the Government of the Northwest Territories to implement a policy to waive rent for all elders aged 65 and over residing in public housing units as soon as administratively feasible;
And furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories respond to this motion in 120 days.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, March 5th, 2026, I will present Bill 46, Prevention of Proceedings that Hamper Expression on Matters of Public Interest Act, to be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of the committee? Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Your committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 448-20(1), 2026-2027 Main Estimates, the Department of Housing Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Now we're going to call for a short break. Thank you.
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Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 448-20(1), 2026-2027 Main Estimates. We will now consider Housing Northwest Territories.
Committee, Housing Northwest Territories is included in the main estimates as information, and the totals are not votable. We will continue to review these estimates as we have for the previously considered departments; however, we will not vote on the totals. If Members have comments or questions, they can be raised at the appropriate time.
Does the Minister responsible for Housing Northwest Territories wish to bring witnesses into the House?
Yes, Madam Chair.
Committee, does the committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the chamber. Thank you.
Would the Minister please introduce her witnesses.
Thank you, Madam Chair. To my left is Erin Kelly, president of Housing Northwest Territories. And to my right is Michael Saturnino, associate deputy minister, housing sustainability and partnerships.
The committee has agreed to forego general comments on Housing Northwest Territories. Does the committee agree to proceed to the details contained in the tabled document?
Agreed.
Committee, we will defer the totals and review the estimates by activity summary, beginning with community housing services, starting on page 377 with the information items on page 379. Are there any questions? Member for Great Slave.
