Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what it will help is there will be a better sharing of information, more of a streamlined sharing of information, is my understanding through this. However, the interoperability is not going to be fixed through this master service agreement.

The interoperability is our system. It's our actual computer technology that is outdated and can't do anything more, can't connect into anything. So it's the replacement of that system is where we'll be able to.

But there is work for us to be able to work with Alberta to see what options they have that if we are having...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the NTHSSA, along with I think -- I can't confirm, I know that we're having conversations with the information privacy -- is there's -- with the cross jurisdictional information sharing, there is none like this in Canada right now and so there's legislative -- not on our part but on their part that -- to be able to do this. That's why there's -- there's a whole working group, I think, within Canada on sharing of health information. However, we are looking at trying to find some quick, shorter solutions, and that is where my -- like, NTHSSA and the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, at that level of detail I would have to get back to the Member.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, all I can say is right now they are collaborating with Alberta to try -- with the Office of the Chief Information Officer, the department is trying to collaborate with Alberta to see what we can do. So once we have the information as what we can do, then we can kind of come up with a timeline of when that can happen. And once we have that, I'll let the Members know. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member has stated, this is an important piece. We have been in the process of compiling what needs to be done working, I think, with procurement to be able to put out the RFP. There are some things that are -- there are challenges within our system, and this is an urgent thing and we're hoping that with the delay that we're working -- we're working with the finance Minister's department to be able to move this forward a little faster. At this time, I think we're looking at the procurement within 2026, early 2026, but I can't confirm that to be exact right now...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't have that level of detail. I'll have to get back to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there's already been some changes. I know that when they went and did the assessments, some of the actual assessments had to do with building codes and when the NTHSSA did the visits to the health centres, you know, there was collaborations with other departments to make sure that these things were being repaired. And so right now as we move forward, anything that can be implemented immediately, we will be implementing. Anything that will need to be assessed more and if there is a financial means, that has to go through our processes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this process is being led by the NTHSSA in collaboration with our community, culture, and innovation division at the department. I think it's really important to know that, you know, since coming in and looking at the priorities and knowing and hearing from constituents that there's a real inequity across our territory when it comes to the different health authorities that were amalgamated, and so right now this area is where we've seen the highest -- like, some of the highest needs in -- the highest amount of cabin communities and how it relates into the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, Avens and with the NTHSSA is a very important partnership. I believe that the bed projections are built around accommodating -- like, the future of the need was why Liwego'ati was built; however, it's not to replace the beds that are at the Avens Manor. And I think to be very clear, like, that partnership is ongoing, and I -- and just as most recently, I know that discussions have started as those contract discussions have started with the NTHSSA. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can commit to connecting with my colleagues. I did have a little bit of a one-off conversation in Alberta as they're looking into this as well. But I can reach out to the other jurisdictions and see, like, how it's coming, the pros and cons of it, and how could that potentially be implemented here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.