Kate Reid

Mr. Speaker, there has been a great deal of interest from the 20th and 19th Assemblies on the topic of Extended Health Benefits before and after the program changes. As the Minister of Health and Social Services knows, I am keeping tabs on the roll out of this program and need ways to ensure that they aren't making choices between paying rent and their bills or having the medication that they need. I had many questions for the Minister and, happily, I got many answers that I would like to share.

As of October 16th, 618 residents are registered in the new EHB program. Applicants are assessed...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And so in this line item, there is quite a bit of funding contemplated and I understand from the Minister's previous comments that they're looking for another location. Do they anticipate using the full dollar amount? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And thank you to the Minister for that. I'm hoping the Minister might be able to explain, then, what the department wishes to do at that location. I'm sure she's quite aware that that location is a bit of a public safety issue. The grade of the road going down to the water is dangerous for folks who are using recreational craft, and it is a well loved docking area. So if she can expand on that a little bit more, I'd appreciate it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Improving Fertility and Family Planning Supports in the Northwest Territories.

In June 2024, 189 residents of the Northwest Territories petitioned the Legislative Assembly to direct the Minister of Finance to investigate the impacts to the territory of a declining birth rate and how it may impact population growth; the increased demand for fertility treatments for individuals and families to conceive in the Northwest Territories; and, the feasibility of providing fertility treatments at no upfront cost to the Government of the Northwest Territories by providing a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm just frantically writing here.

Mr. Speaker, EHB was touted as a way to address cost savings by putting some costs back to those who could afford to pay a portion of their medical necessities. Can the Minister explain what cost savings we are anticipating based out on the rollout of this program extrapolating on the data collected to date over the last seven weeks, I guess. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm using my colleague from Mackenzie Delta's microphone; he's been very gracious.

Mr. Speaker, what is the Minister of Health and Social Services doing to clearly communicate to EHB applicants that they have payment plan options? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Okay, I will stop.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Nothing further.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Recognizing that the Giant Mine remediation project will be shutting down some public access to Great Slave Lake, I would anticipate that this dock and other public points of entry will be greatly increased. So does the Minister have any contemplation of that impact on the Robertson Dock at this time? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak to reviewing policing outcomes. As discussed in this House many times, including our last sitting, with a motion on supporting mental health response, the NWT relies a great deal on the services of the RCMP. The NWT asks more of them than what is truly their role, Mr. Speaker, and I don't believe it's fair to treat them as social workers.

RCMP services are one of the last places we should be asking people to do more with less. I'm glad that there is some change on that front, for instance through partnerships between NGOs and multiple levels of...