Great Slave

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 128)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm glad to hear that there is still time to input on this. I guess at times, though, in this era of overconsultation and survey burnout, it is tough sometimes for the public to realize that they still can input on things and other times when things are inputted on, the government just does what they want anyway. So not a question, just more of a comment. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 128)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm glad to hear about the tool. I think that's really useful, and people can answer their own questions before they come to us to ask. I guess my question would be that data provided by the NWT Bureau of Statistics, how old is that data? I'm curious because we've really seen over the last year or two, postpandemic, an escalating rise in the cost of living. So I'm wondering if the last two years, that change, has been factored into these thresholds. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 128)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, apparently, I jumped the gun when I recognized my page the other day; she wasn't here. So I would like to recognize Carys Lyall who is a page from Great Slave riding. And as I said, I really enjoy having the pages here and thank them all. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 127)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I guess I struggle to understand how we can spend money and support people to learn why they're not getting pregnant but then not help them to get pregnant after the fact when we talk about growing our population. So can the Minister speak to whether or not she would look at changing the medical travel benefits to include those that are seeking fertility in the south? As I mentioned in my statement, a small investment here could lead to further babies being born in the Northwest Territories and future cotransfer payments from the federal government. Thank you, Mr...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 127)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services.

Will the Minister commit to completing a jurisdictional scan to learn what other Canadian provinces and territories are doing to support their residents with infertility and report back on it to this House? Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 127)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one in six couples struggle with fertility. Approximately 10 percent of the female population has polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, which routinely leads to infertility. For many, medication can make a difference but for others it doesn’t work, or they face other fertility issues and complications.

Mr. Speaker, in the Northwest Territories, it can take eight months just to get an initial appointment with a fertility specialist. The GNWT does provide services to treat underlying medical conditions that may cause infertility. However, when it comes to in...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 127)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think this speaks a lot to how women's health is treated in our medical profession and healthcare system. If it were men that wanted to get pregnant and they couldn't, I'm sure we would have found a cure for it a long time ago, so. I would like to ask that the Minister work with her counterpart, the Minister responsible for Human Resources, and look to at least adding this to GNWT benefits going forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 127)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would ask that the Minister maybe share that with me. I've missed it somewhere in my research.

The Minister's alluded to it a bit, but what other options and ideas has Health and Social Services explored to help our residents on their fertility journey; can she elaborate a bit on what work has been done so far? Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 127)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker I'd also like to recognize the page from Great Slave, Carys Lyall, who is here. One of my favorite things about being a Member is to have the pages here and getting to interact with them. So I'd like to say welcome to them all. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 127)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, October 31st, 2022, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Tabled Document 69419(2): Northwest Territories Coroner Service 20212022 Early Release of Suicide Data and Minister's Statement 26419(2): Response to the NWT Chief Coroner's Report on Suicide, be referred to Committee of the Whole for consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.