Kieron Testart

Okay, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I was going to ask the Minister if she cares about obstetrics. Clearly, she does, so I appreciate that. So when's this going to kick in, right? Like, because it's it sounds like a plan. It sounds like we have the resources coming together. So when can we expect this new model to take over and the agency nurses to be relieved of their contracts? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It just and I appreciate that, and it was my sense. But it just seems like if we're trying to if we're closing this facility because it's under they're both underutilized and is going to save money that is going to help us achieve fiscal sustainability, creating an untested wellness centre that would require new staffing, new resources, new special areas of specialty that we don't have we don't have efficiencies around, so it would be piloting a lot of these things, it seems like we'd be replacing a less than optimal facility with an even more expensive facility. So...

So the like, the labour market supplement was brought in around like, many provinces and territories were bringing in those kind of bonuses during COVID when health care professionals were leaving their profession or going towards private agency jobs that are much more lucrative, and the supplement existed outside of the collective bargaining process through an agreement with the union. So can the Minister explain why that why we're waiting for collective bargaining to decide whether or not to bring that back? Because my understanding is it's not a it's not related to that. It's in...

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, June 5th, 2024, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the Member for Frame Lake, that the Government of the Northwest Territories complete the block land transfer of land to communities within municipal and community boundaries without delay;

And further, that the Government of the Northwest Territories remove requirements from communities that are impeding this transfer, such as the requirement for surveying, community zoning and bylaw development for land that is under Government of the Northwest Territories authority...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I think that this is an odd Minister or department to kind of look at because it's very much a political department, and it houses the Premier and Cabinet Minister offices, and then a bunch of kind of not really statutory but, like, things that don't really fit in anywhere else. So I appreciate and Indigenous relations, which, of course, is crucial to how things operate. So it's very much it is an executive department.

But one thing I think is missing is more of a focus on that executive function. The business plans and the budget as well and how the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, the Minister could tell me there are five right now so I thought she'd be able to look back with that recollection.

Mr. Speaker, we're going to keep asking questions about agency nurses as long as nurses who live and work here are upset about it and have a right to raise these concerns with their MLAs.

Mr. Speaker, how many times have agency nurses been used in small community health centres? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Different topic.

Mr. Speaker, how many agency nurse contracts have been utilized since 2021? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the story I told, that's $6,000 outofpocket for a retired couple. I have another constituent that's $7,000 outofpocket. People work paycheque to paycheque in the Northwest Territories. They can't afford these costs. Will the Minister take action and commit to solving this problem? There's a whole bunch of problems but this is a very specific one affecting a small amount of people in a very significant way; will she solve this problem? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. And, yeah, I assume that was the answer but if you need support, please bring it to the standing committee. I'm sure we'll write you a letter.

Switching gears, the Protection against Family Violence Act is scheduled to be updated. Could the Minister speak to what changes are being contemplated by the department? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate this is a mandate item as well, to fix this problem, but, I mean, we have when we hear stories of people who are being asked to zoom in to their loved one who is intubated at a hospital and make decisions for them because that's the option instead of flying them down, I don't know how that's compassionate. So will the Minister specifically review this set of circumstances where there are people who cannot advocate for themselves, who are in critical condition and require a spouse or someone who can speak with power of attorney or on their...