Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will not hold up this policy any longer. The changes will be implemented on September 1st. You know, we will be monitoring the program and, you know, if there are people that are impacted, you know, with the changes that are made, I would suggest them come back. You know, there is appeal process going to be you know, within it and so that's you know, we can look at each case by case once the program rolls out September 1st. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the extended health benefits policy addresses gaps in some of the NWT residents. Like I mentioned that they did not have services. It's not taking away any benefits from anybody. The policy before, you had to fall under a specific disease. Senior benefits haven't changed. Extended NIHB, like, they all have their own programs. So this is just actually giving access to health care benefits for those residents who never had access before. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I just mentioned it. I mentioned it in this House. I mentioned it before I got here. I think one of the things that in order for us to be able to tackle the mental health issues that we all have stressed in this House is collaboration with our communities, collaboration with our Indigenous governments, collaboration with NGOs. You know, and I think that, for myself the direction has gone to the department. That is what the department is doing, and I'm committing here that we'll continue to do that work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the work required to bring regulations in is a minimum of two years. What we are projecting is a 2025 comeintoforce date for the pharmacy regulations, and we are very pleased with the support and commitment of the pharmacists' working group with the department to move this work forward as quickly as possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, last week the Department of Health and Social Services hosted the second ever Weaving our Wisdom gathering for which 350 leaders, elders, and knowledgeholders from across the Northwest Territories came together to celebrate and share Indigenous communitydriven wellness knowledge. The gathering featured inspiring guest speakers, workshops, facilitated discussions on important topics such as:

Frameworks for total health optimization;

The impact of colonization and systemic racism on Indigenous people's health;

Practical strategies to heal the wounds of intergenerational trauma;

Indig...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe I answered the Member. As this list is changing and the model may change, and so that is the work that we're doing. So as there's a list, whether it's changing, those are things that you know, everybody has access to a physician whether it's a family like, the model is changing and it's changing across the country. And so I've answered the question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I understand where the Member's coming from. There is also question on waitlists. And like I said specifically, there is a model that's been going on in Yellowknife, and it's not the same model that's been going on the rest of the territory. You know, and so I think with this model, everything will be changing, or we're looking at making changes so that there's equitable access to everybody in the Northwest Territories. And so there may not be waitlists in the Northwest Territories because we'll be defining how we provide service differently in the city, in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, diabetes is a chronic disease, and it's a major problem for many NWT residents, specifically Indigenous people. This is why our priority is to work in partnership with individuals, families, communities, and to encourage healthy lifestyle choices and provide supportive disease management services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we know that diabetes is a significant chronic disease in the Northwest Territories impacting approximately 10 percent of residents over the age 24, Mr. Speaker.

I've asked and I've answered the Member. I will get back to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.