Ronald Bonnetrouge

Mahsi cho. Thank you for all those numbers. Those ones you're referencing from the 37, I wonder: they're not just administration positions, are they? The three you mentioned?

Mahsi, Madam Chair. I see from the corporate management activity description that this is kind of like a high-level division within Infrastructure. I can imagine that there is probably quite a bit of very experienced people in those positions. I note from the active positions for that division that there are 37 in headquarters. I am wondering how many of those are P1 Indigenous in management in that division. I'll ask that first question. Mahsi.

Mahsi for that. I know you have a set criteria for the funding because you did mention those other, the different criteria for the grants that people can use, but I have never, ever seen or heard anything in the community that any of that money given to those four areas created employment. That is why my question is: can we have this modified, the criteria changed, so it benefits the community so that they can maybe look at building something or getting a large infrastructure, maybe a community freezer, that type of stuff? Then it creates some employment in other areas, constructing a building...

Nurse practitioners are left to their own devices, so to speak. Can the Minister provide assurances and action to develop an evaluation program for health centre nurse practitioners for the small communities?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The residents of my community of Fort Providence are up in arms over the services provided at the local health centre. Most who I have spoken with state they no longer want to deal with the local health centre and are reaching out to other health centres in the outlying communities. Residents are constantly being mistreated, misdiagnosed, and being brushed off for any assistance, even with compensation forms that are required to file a disability claim. Medical travel is in question as patient escorts are not being provided for serious ailments to people being diagnosed...

I think the evaluation program that I am referencing is in relation to evaluations of nurse practitioners and how they conduct their work within the communities. That's what I was referring to. I understand that complaints are filed with the Registered Nurses Association of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. I, myself, have filed a complaint on behalf of several residents back in November 2019. There has been no action on this file, no notices or acknowledgments that they were received from that association. The Minister stated on February 27, 2020, that the department does conduct...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My questions are to the health Minister regarding concerns raised by local residents of the health centre. Mr. Speaker, I've raised this issue with the Minister on February 27, 2020, on the same issue: the issues that residents are having with nurse practitioners at the local health centre. This continues to be a serious issue. Residents want action, and they want action now. Can the Minister provide assurances to the residents of Fort Providence that this issue can be looked to as soon as possible? Mahsi.

So does that mean you are going to be consulting with the Dehcho First Nations? Mahsi, Madam Chair.

I don't know. Maybe it's happening already, but do the municipalities get a share of any fees that are charged on the lands? Mahsi?

Mahsi, Madam Chair. I think the plan is for the department to amalgamate the Commissioner's lands with the territorial lands. Presently, I believe the Commissioner's lands are administered by the municipalities. The territorial lands would be by the GNWT. I could be wrong on that, but you can correct me. When you do the amalgamation there, I am wondering what the picture is looking like for the municipalities, whether they're going to control all these lands, or is it the territorial government that's going to control all these lands? I'll just start with that. Mahsi.