Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Cleveland. I will now open the floor to general comments on Bill 39.

Is the committee agreed that there are no general comments? Can we proceed to a clausebyclause review of the bill?

Thank you, committee. Oh, Mr. O'Reilly.

Can we proceed to a clausebyclause review of the bill?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, access to healthcare professionals, family diagnosis and treatment is a paramount to our residents.

Mr. Speaker, will the Minister of Health confirm if her department is working on a health recruitment and retention action plan and will it identify why it is that recruitment of professional healthcare workers is proving difficult in the North? Thank you.

SergeantatArms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber.

Minister, please introduce your witnesses.

Thank you, committee. We will continue with the departmental summary for Executive and Indigenous Affairs on page 109. And Indigenous Affairs, operations expenditures, total department, 20222023 Main Estimates, $22,114,000. Does committee agree?

I will now turn to the chair of the Standing Committee on Social Development, the committee that reviewed the bill, for any opening comments on Bill 41. Ms. Cleveland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the past several years, our northern health care system has been tested when it comes to recruitment of health care professionals.

For the community of Hay River, the last two years has been difficult when it comes to ensuring permanency of doctors and other health care professionals who provide services our residents have come to expect.

Mr. Speaker, the issue of recruitment and staffing is not unique to Hay River, or the Northwest Territories. It is a Canadawide issue. Because of staff shortages and burnout, we have relied on current health care and...

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

Carried

Tabled Document 56119(2) will be reported as ready for consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill.

Thank you. And thank you, Minister. Committee, we'll move on to the next item.

Committee, we have agreed to consider Bill 39: An Act to Amend the PostSecondary Education Act. I will ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to introduce the bill.

There is a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is in order and nondebatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. I will now rise and report progress.

Carried

I will now rise and report progress. Thank you.