Caitlin Cleveland

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister. I can confirm that the people who I serve when I stand in this House would like to not have to pay out of pocket for essential health care and that would be to deliver a child and would like to not have to pay the $400 copayment fee in order to access required health services.

My next question, Mr. Speaker, is will Health and Social Services increase the $50 hotel benefit to a hundred dollars regardless of escort presence to ensure all parents travelling to deliver in Edmonton have access to equitable hotel benefits regardless of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, housing is in crisis. Lack of adequate and suitable housing has forced families to sacrifice safety, mental wellness, and sobriety; has meant more children in government care; and impedes education levels and education rates.

This is not news to the 900 Northerners on housing wait lists or the thousands living in core need, meaning their home needs repairs, is overcrowded, or unaffordable.

We have one of the highest levels of core housing need in the country, where over 50 percent of housing in NWT communities requires major repairs.

The success of healthy...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that this is the norm for medical travel, but most medical travel patients aren't travelling for three plus weeks and expected to foot the unexpected bill of thousands of dollars in hotel costs.

What I will also say is that I do have residents in the constituency that I serve who have been reached out by the OBS team and it doesn't seem that the OBS team is able to make decisions on the phone, which I appreciate that this is an evolving situation and is a new situation for everybody. And so I would like Health and Social Services to...

Sorry about that, Mr. Speaker. I'm operating electronically today. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services today, and I'd like to continue my conversation from yesterday.

My first question is will Health and Social Services waive the $400 copayment fee being charged to families for travelling to Edmonton to deliver between December 10th and February 21st. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The committee was grateful for the sponsoring Member’s work to draw attention to and advance solutions for the impacts of unaffordable electricity bills on NWT residents, particularly some of his constituents in Nunakput. The committee admired the advocacy and compassion of the sponsoring Member and was sympathetic to the intentions of Bill 23. However, the committee had concerns about some of the potential impacts of Bill 23, most significantly that the bill would likely increase residential electricity rates for all customers.

The committee noted contrary anecdotal...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. your committee would like to report on its consideration of Bill 30: An Act to Amend the Aurora College Act. Bill 30 received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on June 2, 2021, and was referred to the Standing Committee On Social Development for review.

On September 9, 2021, the standing committee held a public hearing on this bill. The committee completed its clause-by-clause review of the bill publicly with the Minister Of Education, Culture, and Employment on this bill on September 27, 2021.

Mr. speaker, the committee reports that Bill 30: An Act to Amend the...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and I appreciate that. I think that's important information. If we want a viable market, it needs to have value.

Mr. Speaker, my next question is does the department expect to remove the authority of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation in the Northwest Territories; and, if so, what timeline is the department working toward?

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

My first question is will the department commit to advocating on behalf of NWT fishers on the FFMC board to ensure any NWT fishers who wish to supply southern markets can obtain broad exemptions from the corporation within a timely manner? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this democratic institution is a place of strength because we are able to discuss issues, reach new understandings, and make inclusive decisions. One of the most valuable tools we have at our disposals is the combination of our diverse work experience and unique lived experience. We have all travelled different journeys to be here. Mr. Norn himself has worked as an RCMP officer; MLA Semmler as a public health nurse; Minister Archie worked as a chief negotiator and spent her childhood living a traditional lifestyle; MLA Martselos served her people as Chief...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table a letter received from multiple constituents on November 8th, 2021 regarding compensation and incentives for essential workers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.