Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was feeling ignored. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services about medical travel policy. So I spoke of a terrible circumstance that happened to a constituent of mine when they were sent to Edmonton under emergent circumstances and were incapacitated and very much on death's door. And thankfully they've now recovered. Their spouse was denied on their claim to go down and provide care and support. So I'd like to know why do we have why is it okay for a spouse to travel on a scheduled trip but not during a medical emergency...

And how many officers does that fund or positions, I guess, in the community? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The money from Public Safety Canada, is that funding that could be expanded, or are they just funding the pilot, or is this a larger or is this a broader initiative that they are providing financing for around community safety officer programs? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Is this where we would find the funding for the community safety officer program in Fort Liard? Thank you.

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...