Debates of October 23, 2025 (day 68)

October
23
2025
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
68
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Mr. Edjericon, Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, Mr. Hawkins, Hon. Lucy Kuptana, Hon. Jay MacDonald, Hon. Vince McKay, Mr. McNeely, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Morse, Mr. Nerysoo, Ms. Reid, Mr. Rodgers, Hon. Lesa Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 33: Technical Safety Standards Amendment Act
Committee Motion 83-20(1): Deferral Motion – Tabled Document 385-20(1): 2026-2027 Capital Estimates – Department of Infrastructure – Deferral of Estimates, carried
Committee Report 26-20(1): Report on the Statutory Review of the Legal Aid Act
Committee Report 27-20(1): Report on Bill 23: An Act to Amend the Children’s Law Act and Bill 24: An Act to Amend the Family Law Act
Committee Report 28-20(1): Report on Bill 27: An Act to Amend the Protections Against Family Violence Act
Member’s Statement 756-20(1): Garbage Disposal on Municipal Lands
Member’s Statement 757-20(1): Potential for Remediation Economy in Sahtu Region
Member’s Statement 758-20(1): Contingency Electricity Options in the Mackenzie Delta
Member’s Statement 759-20(1): Mental Health Supports for Northwest Territories Youth
Member’s Statement 760-20(1): Value of Gardening
Member’s Statement 761-20(1): Lead in Yellowknife Schools’ Water
Member’s Statement 762-20(1): Housing Northwest Territories Maintenance Conference
Member’s Statement 763-20(1): Crime Prevention in the Northwest Territories
Member’s Statement 764-20(1): Public Safety around Homeless Encampments
Member’s Statement 765-20(1): Nahendeh Region Premier’s Award Winners
Minister’s Statement 156-20(1): 2025 NWT Environmental Audit
Minister’s Statement 157-20(1): Homelessness Strategy
Motion 63-20(1): Creation of an Emergency Management Agency, Carried
Question 838-20(1): RCMP Staffing in Small Communities
Question 839-20(1): Emergency Backup Generators in Schools
Question 840-20(1): Mental Health and Wellness Support in Schools
Question 841-20(1): Regulations and Inspections related to Unhoused Encampments
Question 842-20(1): Lead Levels in Drinking Water at Yellowknife Schools
Question 843-20(1): Support for NorTran
Question 844-20(1): Transfer of Commissioner’s Lands within Municipal Boundaries
Question 845-20(1): Economic Impact of Diamond Mine Closures
Question 846-20(1): Fiscal Strategy / Fall 2025 Fiscal Update
Question 847-20(1): Mental Health and Psychiatric Supports for Children and Youth
Question 848-20(1): Medical Travel Expenses
Question 849-20(1): Online Booking for Yellowknife Primary Care Appointments
Question 850-20(1): Supports for Transitional Housing in the Northwest Territories
Question 851-20(1): Transfer of Commissioner’s Lands within Municipal Boundaries
Question 852-20(1): Homelessness Strategy and Transitional Housing
Question 853-20(1): Update on Pharmacy Act Regulations
Recorded Vote
Tabled Document 410-20(1): Administration of the Northwest Territories Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act Annual Report 2024-2025
Tabled Document 411-20(1): Housing Northwest Territories Annual Report 2024-2025
Tabled Document 413-20(1): Aurora College Corporate Plan 2025-2026
Tabled Document 414-20(1): Northwest Territories 9-1-1 Service 2024-2025 Report
Written Question 21-20(1): Changes to Child and Youth Counselling Services
Statements

Question 849-20(1): Online Booking for Yellowknife Primary Care Appointments

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Members have raised the issue of online bookings for primary care appointments in this House often. If you go to a private clinic in Yellowknife, you can do online booking, as I have done from time to time, to stay out of the emergency room. So my understanding is the Health Information Act is preventing this change. Can the Minister confirm if it is, in fact, the Health Information Act that prevents us from online booking systems in primary care appointments? Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is more complex, and so in order for to get the okay, we have to go through the -- I think it's information systems. And so that is a critical part of this. The other piece is it's not connected to our EMR, and that is the system that they use for appointments in our EMR system, and they will not talk, and therefore it will duplicate work making more work for the frontline staff if there were more processes. We are looking at options in the interim; however, you know, we are just looking to replace our EMR. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So just for absolute clarity, the issue is a system's issue and not a legislative issue? Thank you.

For that level of detail, I will have to get back to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I have spoken to information system's consultants, and this is a concern. So will the Member -- the Member's going to get me information -- will the Member -- sorry, will the Minister explore this with her department and see if there are holdups in the Health Information Act and identify any legislative change that needs to be done and report back to either me or the House? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What I will do is I will have my staff talk to the information protection of privacy, and we will get back to the Member. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.