Kate Reid

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd also like to ask some questions about population and public health services.

As the Minister knows, there has been difficulty keeping the level of staff needed to provide COVID and flu vaccinations outside of the flu clinic that I think happened here in Yellowknife in November. I've also had constituents reach out and say, you know, I want to get vaccinations for travel, and that's not a possibility right now. I think that that was work to be resolved recently, which is great. So I guess my question is how are we planning to build capacity in vaccinations? Thank you...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Turning to a different part of your business plan, under housing, the priority of housing, ECE has noted that you will complete a review of ECE's lands, reserves, and surplus, and all surplus land will be identified by the end of March of 2026. Is there a reason for why it's taking that long? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the shelter network funding is used for more than training. It's also used for sector-based meetings and gatherings in person. Does the Minister believe that in-person connections for a sensitive sector such as this are not necessary? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And when might a draft outline of process conventions be available for a review by this House? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize several visitors in the gallery who are part of the Family Violence Shelter Network. As mentioned, Hawa Dumbuya-Sesay, who is the executive director of YWCA-NWT; Sherri Tambour, program manager, Hay River Family Support Centre; Donna Rogers, executive director, Inuvik Transition House Society; Terry Esogak, a shelter worker, Inuvik Transition House Society; Sandra Elias, Aimayunga Women's Shelter, Tuktoyaktuk; Brenda T'seleie-Pierrot, safe home coordinator, Fort Good Hope with the YWCA; and, Amy Fraser, victim services coordinator and safe home lead from...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is a very perhaps silly question but on page 37 of the mains, the fees and payments line under expenditure category has gone up since 2023-2024. Can the -- and I've looked throughout the various functions of BC, and it seems to be going up through most of them. So can the Minister explain what fees and payments going up means? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And great, I'm so glad that you're able to relieve some of those pressures. My question specifically is the $8.8 million which is allocated from -- what I understand from HSS to the health authorities, that's always allocated that way? It was never administered by HSS; it's always been administered by the health authorities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And, yeah, just correct me if my understanding is incorrect, but it's my understanding that the city of Yellowknife is really the only public library in the Northwest Territories -- has the only public library in the Northwest Territories that is not funded by this line item. So every other public library is funded in this line item, is that correct? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I guess I'm misunderstanding or misstating my question. The item on page 218 is listed as an HSS expenditure but then on page 219, it looks like it's shifting to the health authorities, so the -- to my mind, this $8.8 million is moving from the department to the authorities to deliver, or am I misunderstanding? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And, yeah, I appreciate that. It's important to know where we're starting so we can know where we're going.

When does the Minister feel that she might have that baseline a little bit more on firm ground? Thank you, Mr. Chair.