Kieron Testart

Mr. Speaker, for many Northerners lacking access to a family doctor, the emergency room, once a last resort, has now become the only option for care. Month after month, I hear from constituents in Range Lake enduring six to ten-hour wait times for emergency room treatments that should be routine. How can we reasonably expect our doctors and nurses to provide safe and timely emergency care when their volume of patient overflows month after month thanks to gridlocks, cancellations, understaffing, alongside the alarming lack of access to primary care. Yet, year after year, the health and social...

Thank you. Well, I hope it does because adding a shift without the doctors to fill it seems to be a problem here.

Mr. Speaker, are all the shifts, these four -- there's four shifts in the ER now. Are all the shifts currently scheduled covered through June to August of this year? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the Premier's sessional statement, he celebrated the new emergency room plan as being codeveloped, and yet I hear very different from the frontline. The Minister of Health and Social Services explained what went into the co-development. Was it sitting down with doctors, nurses, and other staff to figure out what it needs; like an interest-based negotiation and build a cohesive plan, or was it we listened to the presentations to the standing committee from the doctors and we implement their recommendations? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the deadline for these kids to get on the bus is 3 p.m. today. Will the Minister have a resolution before that deadline? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to welcome our guests from the Auditor General's office, Mr. Jerry Demarco, Ms. Carey Agnew, and Ms. Emilie Anne Duval. It's great to have their assistance at the Standing Committee of Public Accounts. We had a wonderful meeting with them last night, and we look forward to seeing them again soon. Thank you. Thank you for being here.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, I had the opportunity to visit Fort Simpson on the request of their district education authority. Obviously, this is somewhat expectational but nonetheless, when Northerners anywhere need this Assembly's help, I'm happy to play my part, and I know you would do the same for my Range Lake constituents.

Mr. Speaker, it became clear to me from these discussions that a common theme was emerging: the lack of support from the education system. It is heartbreaking to see duly elected community representatives and hard-working parents not getting the help they deserve to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, talk is not what these individuals are asking for, that these elected officials are asking for; it's action. So let's put the staffing issues aside. Will the Minister commit to the other things that they've raised, an independent review of these incidents, trauma-informed support for the affected parties, and to instill inclusive leadership within the region? If she doesn't want to talk about one issue, can she talk about the other three because talk is cheap, and this is -- the community has run out of patience for this. They need to see real action. The...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said in my Member's statement, there's very serious concerns in Fort Simpson and in the Deh Cho education region. Mr. Speaker, the district educational authority, the district educational council, have all made recommendation along the following lines: Immediate administrative action to remove or reassign the individuals in question pending investigation, an independent review of the incidents of leaderships practices, trauma-informed support for affected staff and students, and inclusive leadership that reflects community values, fosters trust, and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, May 26th, 2025, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the Member for Yellowknife Centre, that the Government of the Northwest Territories take immediate action to improve the recruitment and retention of all doctors, nurses, and allied health care workers through higher wages, contract flexibility, and enhanced benefits;

And further, that the Government of the Northwest Territories work with the Public Service Alliance of Canada and Union of Northern Workers to develop an inclusive bargaining...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I hear what the Minister is saying but what about the due process of parents? Of students? Of the elected board, so the people who ran to solve problems and are being told they're not allowed; what does the Minister have to say to them? Thank you.