Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister of Health and Social Services give northern seniors her word that there will be no increases to seniors' benefits, no cuts to seniors' benefits, for as long as she is Minister?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said in my Member's statement, I was contacted by two very distraught seniors who were charged full price for over-the-counter medicine that should have been covered by supplementary and extended health benefits. I'd like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services why this was the case. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, constituents are also wondering why we haven't historically tested schools for safe drinking water. Can the Minister explain why this has been a pilot project and not just ongoing work for the department. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I'd like to recognize the source of my brilliance, as my colleague said, and my favorite constituent, my lovely wife Colleen Wellborn.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table Backgrounder Document for the First Responders Workers’ Compensation Amendment Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, while healthcare administration is a territorial responsibility, the federal government still plays an important role in ensuring all provinces and territories comply with the Canada Health Act, an Act which guarantees universal, comprehensive health care to all Canadians based solely on their needs and not their financial abilities. While not an outright guarantee to a right to health care, it is compliance which determines the eligibility of provinces and territories to receive health care funding through the Canada health transfer and a cherished part of Canadian identity...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you, colleagues. I think today was a very good show of the unity of this House to address health care on very strong terms. I think having these conversations in here is really important as well. It's the heart of our government, a heart of our democracy; the heart of our society in many ways. And knowing that we are listening, we're having these conversations in a very public forum is exactly what so many people want us to -- want to see when they feel like they're, quite frankly, banging their heads against the wall to be heard. So I think this is a good...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS the Canada Health Act guarantees access to ensure health services that are accessible, universal and publicly funded;

AND WHEREAS the "medicine chest clause" is a treaty promise of ongoing health care provided to Indigenous peoples as recognized by section 35 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms;

AND WHEREAS the provision of healthcare services is the responsibility of the Government of the Northwest Territories;

AND WHEREAS only 59 percent of Northwest Territories residents aged 18 and older have reported access to regular health providers in 2023 compared to an...

Mr. Speaker, that's an engagement plan, not an action plan, and I'm very privileged to be able to get those updates but members of the public are not. These are the people we serve, these are the people who are concerned, and the staff are concerned as well. They don't feel like things are moving fast enough. So will the Minister commit to bringing forward a clear, concise, set of actions that are going to affect the entire health system, not just one area, but the entire health system? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister develop some sort of exemption or exclusionary measure in this program for this very small class of people who are experiencing this issue. We want to keep people in the North, we want to keep people working, and we certainly want to keep people who have already contributed to the community in those jobs doing that work. So will she commit to an exemption to support expectant mothers who are in this program who are currently being shut out of that opportunity? Thank you.