Michael Nadli

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize two pages from Deh Gah School from Fort Providence. Nyssa Mackenzie and Shannan Bonnetrouge, along with their chaperone Trisha Landry will be here this week from February 6 to 9. I'd like to encourage my colleagues in joining me and welcoming them to the Legislative Assembly. Mahsi.

Mahsi. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Deh Cho region is one of the most spectacular in the Northwest Territories. Our territorial parks are the first people reach when they enter the NWT from either BC or Alberta.

Between campgrounds and day-use areas, parks in the Deh Cho area offer a variety of opportunities for recreation and relaxation. We are welcoming increasing numbers of visitors and want to ensure they enjoy their stay.

The government has worked hard to improve parks infrastructure and visitor experiences. For example, parks throughout the Northwest Territories now have more...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, wanted to take a moment to honour a late elder that passed away in Kakisa or K'aagee, the late Monique Providence. In my language. [English translation not provided.] Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Deh Cho is the gateway to the NWT with its communities of Enterprise, Kakisa, the Hay River Reserve from Fort Providence and situated along the highway.

Mr. Speaker, these communities have been very busy over the last year. A stand-up crew of 12 led by Fire Chief Blair Porter brought the Enterprise volunteer fire department back to life. The hamlet also welcomed the wood pellet start-up, Aurora Pellets Limited, clearly enterprises on arise. Further down the road, Kakisa opened its brand new long-awaited community hall with a wonderful feast. Kakisa also...

Mahsi, colleagues. Facing these challenges will be hard, Mr. Speaker, but I remain optimistic. I look forward to the implementation of the Commercial Fisheries Revitalization Strategy -- key leadership in future morel harvests. I'm also pleased to see strong Deh Cho participation in traditional activities like hunting, fishing, trapping, arts and crafts, and serving country food, while at the same time rates of violent crime and property crimes are going down.

As we dig into the 2017-18 budget, we must keep in mind the mandate that we built together. I think of government's commitment to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it seems very clear that the Minister is committed to improving the services of the healthcare system, the wellbeing of the residents of the NWT. He seems to emphasize that we are going to have a better product.

However, my final question is: if we are really focusing on the idea of quality control, has that position been filled for the regions to ensure that there is such a unit or a position out there that they will ensure that residents with healthcare concerns can raise it with this position or this unit to ensure that, indeed, we have good quality...

The Minister seemed to suggest that I have answered my own questions. The question verges on the complexities of the healthcare system and also highlights the differences. In my understanding, the initiative towards the health transformation is to alleviate those differences and try to come to some commonality in terms of bringing better service to communities. This change was brought about by the recently established Territorial Health Authority. What is the protocol for constituents who want to raise a concern with the healthcare service they have received?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since we last gathered here together in this house, residents of the Deh Cho have come to me with questions and concerns. They are worried about the quality of healthcare they can access in their home communities. Mr. Speaker, in particular, I'm aware of cases where a person after repeated visits to the health centre for a checkup on their health concerns was given Tylenol and told to go home.

In Yellowknife, Inuvik, or Hay River, you might be able to go to another doctor for a second opinion, or to the emerg at the hospital if you are frightened, and needed...

The final question is: what is the role of the regional wellness councils? The Minister seems to highlight that, you know, more the system to really try to improve the system, but at the same time ensuring that residents have access to good quality healthcare. We also have Regional Wellness Councils. What is the role of the leadership council in such a situation?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier I spoke on the health transformation initiatives that became an effort that the Department of Health have worked on for some time. My question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services. For those listening at home, can the Minister describe some of the real changes that will be brought about in small communities by the move to a single health authority? For example, how will a visit to the health centre be different for the average patient? Mahsi.