Debates of March 5, 2026 (day 89)

March
5
2026
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
89
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, Mr. Edjericon, 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, Mrs. Weyallon Armstrong, Mrs. Yakeleya
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 45: Civil Forfeiture Act, Carried
Bill 46: Prevention of Proceedings that Hamper Expressions of Matters of Public Interest Act, Deemed Read
Bill 47: Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures) 2026 2027, Carried
Bill 47: Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures) 20262027, Carried
Bill 47: Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures) 20262027, Deemed Read
Committee Motion 159-20(1): Committee Report 37-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 34: Trespass to Property Act - Application of Trespass to Property Act in Schools, Carried
Committee Motion 160-20(1): Committee Report 37-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 34: Trespass to Property Act - Ticketable Offences for Trespassing, Carried
Committee Motion 161-20(1): Committee Report 37-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 34: Trespass to Property Act - Statistics on Prosecution for Trespassing Carried
Committee Motion 162-20(1): Committee Report 37-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 34: Trespass to Property Act - Legislation to Regulate Private Security Companies, Carried
Committee Motion 163-20(1): Committee Report 37-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 34: Trespass to Property Act - Policy Guidance on Use of Trespass to Property Act, Carried
Committee Motion 164-20(1): Committee Report 37-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 34: Trespass to Property Act - Government Response, Carried
Member's Statement 973-02(1): College Nordique
Member's Statement 974-20(1): Celebrating Hailey Rodgers' 33rd Birthday
Member's Statement 975-20(1): Colville Lake Modular School Building
Member's Statement 976-20(1): Indigenous-Led Mining Economy
Member's Statement 977-20(1): Healthcare Workforce Plan
Member's Statement 978-20(1): Legislation Development
Member's Statement 979-20(1): Northwest Territories Alcohol Strategy
Member's Statement 980-20(1): No fault Insurance
Member's Statement 981-20(1): Northwest Territories Association of Communities Annual General Meeting Awards
Member's Statement 982-20(1): Celebration of Life for Kevin Nitsiza Jr.
Minister's Statement 197-20(1): Repairs to Social Housing Units
Minister's Statement 198-20(1): Northwest Territories Power Corporation's New Hybrid Board and Future Opportunities
Motion 70-20(1): Referral of Tabled Document 483-20(1): 2025-26 Electoral Boundaries Commission Final Report, Carried
Motion 71-20(1): Referral of Tabled Document 445-20(1): 2025 Review of Members of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly Compensation and Benefits Report Carried
Motion 72-20(1): Protection of Transboundary Waters and Rights of Northerners, Carried
Motion 73-20(1): Strengthening the Government of the Northwest Territories' Medical Travel Policy, Carried
Motion 74-20(1): Transfer of Housing Northwest Territories Market Rental Units to Tenants
Motion 75-20(1): Waiving of Rent for Elders in Public Housing, Carried
Question 1169-20(1): No Fault Insurance
Question 1170-20(1): No Fault Insurance
Question 1171-20(1): New Colville Lake School
Question 1172-20(1): Northwest Territories Alcohol Strategy
Question 1173-20(1): Capacity to Move Legislation
Question 1174-20(1): Extended Health Benefits Program
Question 1175-20(1): Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority Spending
Question 1176-20(1): Dental Review Officer
Question 1177-20(1): Inclusive Education Review
Question 1178-20(1): Dental Review Officer Contract
Question 1179-20(1): Inclusive Education Review
Question 1180-20(1): Promoting Population Growth
Question 1181-20(1): Land Tenure Applications
Question 1182-20(1): Naming of the 50th Street 50-Plex
Recorded Vote
Tabled Document 490-20(1): Trespass Legislation What We Heard Report
Tabled Document 491-20(1): Annual Report for the Education Bodies of the Northwest Territories for the 2024-2025 School Year
Tabled Document 492-20(1): Inter-activity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 (April 1 to December 31, 2025)
Tabled Document 493-20(1): CBC News Article Titled "Yellowknife Family Calls for Changes to Medical Travel Policy After Troubling Experience"
Statements

Question 1176-20(1): Dental Review Officer

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. February 12th I followed up with the Minister regarding the dental review officer, and I am still waiting for some answers, so maybe I can get a couple of them at least to keep the discussion moving forward. I have constituents that are concerned that it's going very slow, so we'll just get a couple of questions out to see if we get some answers and they feel that the government's responding to their concerns in a timely way.

Mr. Speaker, my questions -- I will put one together -- two questions into one, which is simply who is the current dental review officer, when did their appointments start, and does it come with a scope that the Minister can enlighten the House with? Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. That was three questions instead of two, but. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Mr. Speaker, I believe I had sent that information to the Member, but I don't have it at -- through a BF. But I don't have that at my fingertips. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I don't seem to have it in my inbox, so we'll again try to probe for information for the public good, Mr. Speaker. The dental review officer currently, my understanding, is from Edmonton. They took a contract. Is there a reason why the department of health doesn't go to the college of dentistry, recognizing the expertise to be a member of that college rather than a regular dentist to review our local dentists? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't have the exact details, but I do believe the legislation says that it has to be a dentist, so thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Who approves the expenses of the dental review officer when they come to the Northwest Territories to review our local practitioners of dentistry? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that the Department of Health and Social Services is obliged by the legislation that when there is a complaint or any investigation that's brought forward -- or a complaint brought forward, an investigation has to be, you know, followed through, and this is the process that we use. However, we do not get a lot of complaints, so we don't contract somebody on a permanent basis. However, when there is one that comes up -- but I don't have the exact details. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

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