Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today marks a major milestone for healthcare delivery in the Northwest Territories. On May 26, 2019, we began accepting patients at the new Stanton Territorial Hospital, and we implemented a detailed patient move plan to bring patients from the old Stanton hospital to our brand new facility.
I am pleased to report that our patient transfer was successful and that the new Stanton Territorial Hospital is now providing health services and care to residents. Our team successfully transferred 55 patients at approximately three-minute intervals over three hours. These transfers were provided by porters and healthcare staff through an above-ground tunnel built specifically for this move to ensure patient safety and privacy. Our partners from Health Care Relocations, who are experts in this area, provided us with guidance on this elaborate move process and also helped us through the facility activation phase of our new territorial hospital.
Having a brand new hospital that provides improved patient care requires that our entire healthcare team of professionals are knowledgeable and confident in their new work environment. This process is called "Facility Activation" and was another crucial milestone for the Stanton Hospital Project. Led by the Stanton Renewal team, dedicated hospital staff, and our P3 partner Dexterra, Facility Activation is the process for making sure that everything from work stations, machines, equipment, and the overall flow for patients and staff work as they need to. I can tell you that this is no small feat and that countless hours and work have gone into making the new hospital, from top to bottom, as ready as it possibly can be to provide improved patient experience and care.
Mr. Speaker, it is one thing to say that things are better and nicer at the new hospital, but I want to take a moment and provide a few highlights and examples of how the new Stanton Territorial Hospital will help us provide residents with the best patient care we can, both now and well into the future.
Our new hospital is twice the size of the old facility and houses new systems and features on every floor that make it possible for us to support the health and wellness of patients as never before. The new hospital has:
100 single in-patient rooms;
a significant expansion of the Emergency Department, Ambulatory Care Centre, and Intensive Care Unit;
operating rooms that are double the size and equipped with surgical booms; these structures provide equipment support, which is something that we didn't have in our old hospital;
a secure dedicated outdoor space, especially for mental health patients;
a designated non-denominational Sacred Space for spiritual ceremonies that can support smudging ceremonies;
an expanded cafeteria featuring northern artwork, lots of natural light, and a living green wall;
upgrades including a pneumatic tube system, patient lifts, a nurse call system, integrated bedside terminals, and Wi-Fi;
a therapeutic garden space, complete with a ceremonial fire pit, playground area, and natural flora and fauna, which is completely wheelchair accessible;
wood pellet boilers, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and making the new hospital more energy efficient;
dedicated elevators for the public, which are separate from elevators for patients and staff, to enhance privacy and mobility throughout the facility; and
375 parking stalls, almost double the 188 that were available for staff and public at the old hospital.
These are just some of the highlights of our new territorial hospital. It has also been designed to maximize natural light throughout and to be able to grow and adapt to our future healthcare needs. It is a beautiful facility, and it will welcome patients, their loved ones, and staff from throughout the North.
It should come as no surprise that there has been a great deal of public interest in the new facility. Earlier this month we escorted over 250 guests on tours of the new hospital. Unfortunately, we weren't able to accommodate all requests, but we plan to make videos available that will feature all of our program and service areas. These will be available on the Stanton Renewal website later this summer.
I also want to thank my MLA colleagues and all of those who shared information on changes in services in and around our first patient day. This allowed our staff and patients to move into the new facility as efficiently as possible and prioritized emergency and labour services. As is the case whenever you move into a brand new facility, we know that there will be some hiccups as staff and patients get used to our new hospital. During these early days of operation, staff will be working diligently to minimize any inconvenience wherever possible and to ensure that we can deliver the best service possible
Mr. Speaker, later this summer we will hold a grand opening event for the new Stanton Territorial Hospital. It will be an opportunity to thank all of our staff, partners, stakeholders, and volunteers who have been involved in making this project a success and a chance to celebrate our new hospital as a key part of how we hope to achieve our goal of Best Health, Best Care for a Better Future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories made a mandate commitment to develop a territorial climate change strategy that takes into account northern energy demands and the cost of living, while reflecting international and national commitments to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Last year on May 1st, the Government of the Northwest Territories released the 2030 Northwest Territories Climate Change Strategic Framework. This is our government's coordinated, comprehensive response to mitigating and adapting to climate change, outlined in the following three goals:
Transitioning to a strong, healthy economy that uses less fossil fuel, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030;
Increasing understanding of climate change impacts occurring in the Northwest Territories; and
Building resilience and adapting to a changing climate.
Last month, the Government of the Northwest Territories publicly released the first five-year action plan to put the vision of the framework into motion. The 2019-2023 Action Plan identifies work currently under way or resourced to take place within the next five years, as well as high-priority areas that we need to secure partnerships to accomplish and a tracking process for implementation.
The Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to reviewing the action plan and reporting on our progress annually. After five years, a review of the action plan will guide the development of an updated action plan for 2025-2029 to ensure that we continue to meet the coming challenges and opportunities related to climate change.
Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories is on the front lines of climate change and has been experiencing impacts for decades. We remain committed to addressing the threats that climate change poses to the sustainability of Northwest Territories communities and the health and safety of our residents.
We know we cannot do this alone. The action plan was informed by input from partners, including Indigenous governments and organizations, community governments, the Government of Canada, co-management boards, non-government organizations, industry, and academia. All partners, including the Government of the Northwest Territories, need to make significant commitments to implement the action plan. The Government of the Northwest Territories' commitment and investment to addressing climate change is demonstrated by the actions it is leading or partnering to achieve.
As the Northwest Territories is a small jurisdiction with limited resources, support from Canada and other partners will be essential for action plan implementation. We continue to work with the Government of Canada to find funding that supports our long-term vision and approach to energy and climate change that will enable the Northwest Territories to transition to a strong, healthy economy that is less dependent on fossil fuels. As the lead department responsible for climate change, Environment and Natural Resources will provide strong leadership on related coordination within the Northwest Territories and with other jurisdictions.
Mr. Speaker, through implementing the 2019-2023 Action Plan, I believe that the Northwest Territories will be able to respond to the challenges and opportunities associated with climate change by improving knowledge of climate change impacts, increasing adaptation and resiliency, moving towards a lower-carbon economy, and doing our part to contribute to national and international efforts on climate change. We look forward to working with our partners to achieve the actions set out in the 2019-2023 Action Plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.
Mr. Speaker, in the Northwest Territories, responsible resource development is at the core of who we are. It drives our economy, has generated billions in opportunities for northern and Indigenous-owned businesses, and provides thousands of jobs to residents.
Our natural resource wealth is not limited to minerals. We also have some of the world's largest reserves of natural gas and oil, both onshore and offshore, and these resources, if developed safely and responsibly, will result in significant long-lasting benefits and returns for NWT residents.
Mr. Speaker, as part of advancing the territorial vision of land and resource management in accordance with the Land Use and Sustainability Framework, our government made a commitment to introduce a new petroleum resources strategy.
The Petroleum Resources Strategy: A Path to Northern Benefits and Energy Security was tabled in May of 2018 and is part of our government's overarching vision for addressing energy and climate change in the NWT. It has set the stage for the steps that our government is taking to restore confidence and investment in NWT petroleum resources.
We have introduced amendments to the Northwest Territories' Petroleum Resources Act and the Oil and Gas Operations Act to increase transparency and accountability.
We have formally begun negotiations on the agreement for the management of oil and gas resources in the Arctic offshore that we hope will result in a new offshore oil and gas regime comparable to those already in place off Canada's east coast.
Although disappointed with how the moratorium was imposed, we also recognize that Canada has a need to provide a legal basis upon which to implement this moratorium.
The Government of the Northwest Territories' current focus is moving forward towards co-management of the Northwest Territories' Arctic offshore waters and resources. We are working with Canada and other partners on the five-year review of the moratorium.
We also want to ensure that the review is evidence-based and evaluates the different regions of the Arctic individually, as the Beaufort in particular has benefited from many years of study. The Government of the Northwest Territories needs this new management regime, comparable to the Atlantic accords, to ensure Northerners will be decision-makers on oil and gas exploration and development in our offshore, including making decisions on if, when, where, and how it happens.
Mr. Speaker, as we adapt to the realities of climate change, the transition to a strong, healthy economy, less reliant on fossil fuels, will benefit all residents and communities. Our government's petroleum strategy also recognizes more immediate opportunities that exist for our gas to be developed locally to reduce the cost of living, displace diesel for a cleaner environment, and create long-term jobs. These opportunities include working with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation to support the completion of a feasibility study to produce natural gas from local wells and use those resources to generate electricity and heat in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region.
With a view to the future, we are also working with the federal government to address the infrastructure deficit that exists in our territory.
If our government is going to promote economic growth and prosperity for all residents, strategic investments in infrastructure that support responsible development are key. Investments in the Mackenzie Valley Highway, in particular, will help increase the viability of oil and gas resources in the Sahtu. However, if we are going to get our petroleum resources to market, we must also change the way we look at traditional infrastructure like pipelines.
As we continue our work to implement the Northwest Territories petroleum strategy, our northern perspective offers a unique competitive edge and an opportunity to consider a new direction for getting our gas to market, both figuratively and literally. Instead of going south, where the shale boom has flooded the gas market, we have been approached by investors interested in transporting our LNG resources west from the Arctic coast, where the Beaufort Sea offers a route to the Bering Strait and on to Tokyo.
We know that LNG is being sold in the Asia-Pacific region at six or seven times North American prices, and consensus research tells us the demand for natural gas in this region will continue to grow until at least 2050.
Mr. Speaker, we have incredible, proven reserves of Arctic natural gas, once destined to flow south through the prosed Mackenzie Valley pipeline. While controversy rages across Canada over pipeline megaprojects to move gas to tidewater, more than 6 trillion cubic feet of defined NWT gas sits in our Mackenzie Delta, just a short pipeline away from the Arctic coast.
Technological advances mean that, once these resources reach the coast, they could be processed and distributed for transportation from floating platforms, where ships capable of navigating through Arctic ice can make the journey to Asia.
These are not unproven technologies. Icebreaking LNG tankers are already in use between the Yamal Peninsula and Vancouver, and floating LNG platforms are in use off the coast of Russia, Malaysia, and Australia. From the delta of the Mackenzie River, it is just over 3,800 nautical miles through the Beaufort Sea and the Bering Strait to Tokyo. By comparison, it is 4,300 nautical miles from Vancouver to Tokyo and well over 5,100 nautical miles from the Yamal Peninsula to Tokyo.
The Mackenzie Delta is well positioned to be a supplier of LNG globally. It is a region of potential and ultimately can be Canada's first highway to the Arctic Coast without crossing other jurisdictions. The region has active Indigenous businesses with experience in oil and gas and a history of working with industry to get things done. This is all a stark contrast to what companies must navigate in other jurisdictions.
There is still a lot of work and research needed to make this concept a reality, but as we continue to implement our petroleum strategy and advance and define our approach to climate change, the development of our territory's natural gas resources offers a means to reduce our use of fossil fuels, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and realize greater energy security, all while providing economic benefits and opportunities. Secure and sustainable sources of energy will create a more prosperous territory for everyone. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Lands.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has a mandate commitment to have land use plans in all regions of the Northwest Territories. Furthermore, the government's vision of land management, articulated in the Land Use and Sustainability Framework, states that we will promote and support land use planning in all regions of the Northwest Territories.
Regional land use planning in the Northwest Territories has been a key component of our evolving land and resource management regime since 1983, when the Basis of Agreement on Northern Land Use Planning was signed by the federal and territorial governments, the Dene Nation, the Metis Association of the Northwest Territories, and the Tunngavik Federation of Nunavut. The concept of land use planning has been incorporated into each land claim agreement that has been signed since that time.
To foster the conversations and relationships to support these objectives, the Department of Lands created the NWT Land Use Planning Forum in 2015 to bring Indigenous, regulatory, territorial, and federal planning partners together. Each year, the partners gather to exchange ideas and build a shared understanding of how to advance land use planning in the Northwest Territories. In other words, by finding common ground, Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories can facilitate and coordinate the important and necessary work to complete land use plans in every region of the Northwest Territories. The Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to land use planning as a central feature of our land and resource management regime across the territory.
Mr. Speaker, a land use plan is both a process and a document. Land use plans are developed collaboratively to reflect the values of Indigenous people, residents, and communities in a planning area. The plans create the rules for use of the land that will promote their social, cultural, and economic well-being. The process of land use planning itself builds confidence for communities, and the completed plan provides certainty for land users on how and where development can proceed. Completed land use plans will improve investor confidence, which in turn will support growth in important economic sectors such as tourism, agriculture, and resource exploration and development.
Our government remains committed to land use planning as a central feature of our land and resource management regime in all areas of the territory, and continues to create tools to help us advance this commitment in partnership with other land managers in the Northwest Territories. Later today I will table "Finding Common Ground," our commitment to strengthen partnerships and support land use planning.
Finding Common Ground describes the approach to advance land use planning and the accountability framework for that approach. It was developed in partnership over four years, beginning with the first NWT Land Use Planning Forum in 2015. The Finding Common Ground approach aims to strengthen existing government-to-government relationships among the Government of the Northwest Territories, Indigenous partners, and Canada to:
advance land use planning in a way that supports the completion of outstanding land, resources, and self-government agreements with the Akaitcho Dene, Dehcho, and Acho Dene Koe First Nations, and the Northwest Territory Metis Nation;
establish a new land use planning process for Wek'eezhii; and
renew the land use plans for the Sahtu and Gwich'in.
Mr. Speaker, who gets to use the land and resources in the Northwest Territories and how it is managed matters to all of us. Finding Common Ground is one way the Government of the Northwest Territories and federal and Indigenous government partners are working together to provide clarity and certainty around how land and resources are managed and used, and this renewed commitment to land use planning will help us make wise land use decisions for this territory and its people. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm proud to be a Canadian and a Northerner, and I'm proud of our shared history as a country and many peoples and nations, but not all of our history deserves celebrating. As we share international achievements, we must equally share in the mistakes from our past, and those which are still repeated today. We must reflect on the pernicious legacy of wrongheaded policies that work to victimize and harm the peoples with whom we co-exist.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in the wrongs inflicted on Indigenous Peoples and Nations through cruelty of the residential school systems, the all-too-frequent failure to honour treaties, standing by and ignoring third-world conditions which exist on many First Nation Reserves, and the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. These wrongs must not be forgotten, yet we must have hope for the future. Governments can learn from mistakes of the past and, in some important respects, the GNWT has made meaningful progress towards real reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in the Northwest Territories.
This House is considering a concert of bills respecting lands and resources which were co-drafted with Indigenous governments. Well beyond consultation, Indigenous leaders had a seat at the table to ensure these crucial laws respecting what happens in their traditional territories included their values and perspectives.
During recent committee hearings, honourable Members were told directly that this process works and represents a clear realization of reconciliation. Co-drafting can be slow, and it's not without differences of opinion, but if this ensures our government is actually walking the walk when it comes to reconciliation, then it's crucial we continue down this path and invite Indigenous governments back to the table for the development of regulations and other matters arising from these proposed laws. This model of law-making should be celebrated and used as an example in Canada and the world on how to honour and respect Indigenous Peoples, develop meaningful government-to-government relations, and deliver on the promises of reconciliation.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to commend this government for establishing the co-drafting mechanism for these laws, encourage our Premier and Cabinet to stay the course, and show Canada and the rest of the world that we can continue to do better. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Giant Mine remediation project is crucial for the people of Yellowknife. Constituents have concerns with the process that they've been raising with me. It's important that the plan accommodates everyone's legitimate concerns and interests.
Mr. Speaker, two groups with significant interests are the Yellowknife Historical Society and the Great Slave Sailing Club. Over the years, both have made substantial investments in the area. Now, they're concerned that the remediation plan won't meet their needs.
The Historical Society is developing a destination site that reflects our mining heritage. That includes a community museum in the old Giant Mine Rec Hall. While their current sublease guarantees them continued use of that building, it doesn't assure them access to other adjacent areas and buildings they also plan to use as part of their development. The Historical Society also promotes the preservation of the natural landscape, and is concerned about plans for extensive blasting. The blasting would provide material needed to fill in existing pits, but it's planned for areas that are highly visible to the public. The society is concerned about the potential environmental degradation.
The Sailing Club has operated in its current location for 40 years and has a significant investment in infrastructure. The club supports the remediation plan, but members understood that it would happen in stages. That would allow them to continue to use the dock and mooring locations, but in the remediation plan that was released last summer, that suddenly changed.
Mr. Speaker, the remediation of such an enormous contaminated site is a huge and complex task. We should acknowledge the Giant Mine Project team and all the people involved at every level, and the enormity and scale of the work they've taken on. Environmental rehabilitation and public safety are the highest priorities, but there are extensive public interests in the area, and I suggest that it's important that the remediation plan take everyone's needs into account.
Mr. Speaker, the project's work plan outlines opportunities for public hearings and intervention by interested parties. I urge everyone to participate fully and make sure the process is truly responsive. It's important for everyone with interest in the area to be part of finding solutions, to make sure that the remediation project is done right. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Mackenzie River has for generations resupplied the communities along this corridor and connecting communities in the Beaufort Sea area while supporting industry. The Mackenzie River is 4,240 kilometres in length, the longest in Canada, a lifeline for many communities; in most cases, the only means of bulk and personal resupply. With the reality of climate change and environmental impacts, the changing of navigational river channels by deposits presents many challenges to the logistics of resupply planning and, more importantly, delivery.
The Marine Transportation Service Division is as important to the resupply chain Highway 1 leading into Yellowknife. A resupply vessel that supports home and commercial building projects, grocery stores, family home appliances, community fuel inventory, just to name a few. As you can understand Mr. Speaker, the growth and sustainability of our remote communities are very dependent on this supply chain system.
The Sahtu region holds a significant amount of this waterway corridor, and holds two sets of rapids with potential portage delays. This previous winter road season was drastically shortened by the warmer weather. Our next resupply season is upon us, the Mackenzie River barging season.
Mr. Speaker, later I will have questions for the appropriate Minister. Mahsi.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. At the end of the last sitting, the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment reported on the Income Security Forum she hosted last December. To recap briefly, service providers from non-government organizations and some of their current and former clients met to discuss about how the income assistance program could be improved. Mr. Speaker, as a former ECE minister yourself, you can imagine there was no shortage of suggestions.
First, the application and rules around staying in compliance are complex. They need to be simplified. Second, eligibility must be based on the need for housing, food, and other necessities first of all, before taking compliance with the productive choice program into account. Third, clients want to be treated with respect and be provided with simple information on dispute resolution. Fourth, the department must promote accountability by staff of mistakes.
Mr. Speaker, these are a few of the points that caught my attention. They resonated with anecdotes I heard while I worked at the YWCA, and with constituency issues I've been asked to help with in the last three years. Many of the issues arise start with a lack of understanding about what the rules are or with information that has been lost. This often results in late payments, which in turn creates additional expenses for loans and arrears, and ultimately ends up with the client having less money to spend on essentials. What is needed is a fundamental shift in promoting compliance where the program transitions from a highly regulated, punitive approach to one that is flexible and solutions-based. This change can't happen soon enough.
Mr. Speaker, there's another shift required that addresses the bigger picture; that's to figure out how to create incentives that will encourage clients to come off income assistance. Once again, this needs to be a solutions-based approach. Maybe it means people are able to keep more of their earned income by pro-rating assistance, for example. Maybe it means that, when clients are cut off, it's for less than 60 days so that they don't lose their housing or fall into arrears. We have to offer people on low income the tools to change their circumstances and those of their children.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister has a lot of work to do in this area. I know she is committed to program improvements, but we have just three months left in our term. I will have questions about her priorities. Mahsi.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. As the Member whose riding has the new Stanton Territorial Hospital, I am welcoming the new facility, which officially opened yesterday, to Frame Lake.
The Minister of Health and Social Services has provided statements on the new Stanton Territorial Hospital and its many features and attributes, and even today in his Minister's statement, as well. I will not repeat these, but I would like to focus on a few key areas and improvements.
First of all is the space. The 280,000-square-foot new building approximately doubles the size of the old Stanton Hospital. Operating and emergency rooms are twice the size. There are 50 percent more beds. All patients will be in private rooms, proven to improve and speed recovery. Interiors are open and airy, with all the rooms facing the exterior of the building to maximize the natural light, also proven to promote healing.
The new Stanton hospital also includes more culturally inclusive spaces. There is a meditation room or "sacred space" designed to simulate a glass-enclosed half-teepee and equipped with ventilation to allow for traditional smudging ceremonies. Northern and traditional foods in an expanded cafeteria and interior designs keyed to northern landscapes provide a northern feel to the hospital care.
People who want a closer look at the facility and its features can go to the Stanton renewal website to see photos, videos, and diagrams and, as the Minister said, there will be an official ceremony later this summer.
The redevelopment of the old Stanton Hospital will also benefit NWT residents. There has already been an announcement of 18 extended-care and 72 additional long-term care beds, and specialized services and programs are expected to occupy the renovated space.
This major investment in the health and well-being of our citizens represents the biggest social development expenditure development of our term. I would have preferred to see this as a government-owned asset, not a P3 project. However, with the facility now open, I want to congratulate the Minister, the project team, and all the facility staff for their hard work in this immense contribution to the quality of life for NWT citizens. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. As you may recall, I spoke to the House in 2017 about calls from local leaders of Fort Providence for the establishment of a long-term care facility in Fort Providence. Deh Gah Got'ie Koe has somewhere in the neighbourhood of 116 residents aged 60 years and older. Nevertheless, the government decided to regionalize long-term care, placing beds in larger facilities in larger communities and forcing many elders and seniors to move away from their communities, their homes, and their loved ones.
For those seniors and elders who do not require long-term care, Fort Providence has come to rely on the Deh Gah Got'ie Seniors' Home for seniors' housing. However, having been built in the 1970s and having the capacity for about 18 residents, this facility has been in dire need of renovations.
Today I am pleased to report that much-needed upgrades to the Deh Gah Got'ie Seniors' Home will soon be under way. This coming fall, the residents of Deh Gah Got'ie Koe can expect to see renovations completed to the main complex, including eight interior units, common area, and kitchen. Security for the building will be enhanced. It's expected that about seven seniors will be housed as a result of the improvements, providing some relief to the waiting list for public housing.
Mr. Speaker, while it's great to see our elders receive better-quality accommodations, community members have made it clear to me that the seniors and elders of Fort Providence need more. Most seniors want to live at home for as long as possible, not to move into a seniors' home or move away for long-term care. What we really need is a new seniors' centre, a facility with programming and activities tailored for all older people in the community. At present, the common area of the Deh Gah Got'ie Seniors' Home is the only space in Fort Providence where elders can gather safely and regularly. I will have questions on this matter at the appropriate time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Members' statements. Member for Hay River North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier this month Hay River was in the midst of a serious physician shortage. We had one physician in the community, one physician to service not just Hay River but all of the South Slave communities served by the regional health centre, one doctor to manage the workload usually allotted to five full-time positions. The number of scheduled appointments was limited, and walk-in appointments, which are hard to get on a good day, were either limited or sometimes cancelled entirely, so, as you can imagine, the emergency room turned into the walk-in clinic.
Mr. Speaker, this shortage has further eroded public confidence in our healthcare system. It is unacceptable, and we have to take steps to ensure it does not happen again.
This situation also makes it harder to attract staff to Hay River. What doctor wants to work somewhere when they think they might be put in a position to be on call for days on end to do the job of five people? I understand that it's tough to find full-time doctors and even locums, and I acknowledge that there is a doctor shortage all across rural Canada. However, Mr. Speaker, there are things we can do to attract more full-time physicians to Hay River, and we need to start doing them.
First, we need to break down the barriers that isolate Hay River from the rest of the territorial health system, including those barriers that prevent authorities from sharing resources like staff and physicians.
We need to make more land available for development so there are actually homes for potential physicians. Mr. Speaker, while the availability of land does not sound like it's related to the healthcare system, it's a practical consideration that has become a real issue.
We have to shore up our electronic records management system so that, when a locum works in Hay River, he or she does not return south and tell everyone that it's difficult and time-consuming to simply find information about patients.
We have to fix administrative issues so doctors are not frustrated when they tell a client to book an appointment to see them in two weeks and then they never see them again because it's impossible to book appointments.
We need to support our residents who are attending nursing school or taking pre-med courses at university by offering them summer jobs. That has not happened in Hay River in years.
Mr. Speaker, these are just a few of the examples of things that need to change. They are not insurmountable challenges, but, when you add them all up, they stack the deck against us. I will have some questions for the Minister of Health at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Floyd Edward "Bo-Boy" Diamond-C was born on April 1, 1967, to Theresa Diamond-C in Fort Nelson. He lived his life in Fort Liard and, as a youngster, Theresa and his Grandpa Edward taught Floyd about trapping, the traditional way of life, and surviving off the land. His grandpa and brother Dale would go out to Bovie Lake to go trapping and hunting on their trap line. He would often find himself out on the land with different family members to help them out any way he could. Floyd was a happy and giving man who would be there when needed for anybody who asked.
Floyd was the oldest brother of five siblings. He worked in and around Fort Liard all of his life, doing everything from construction, building camps, slashing, heavy equipment operator, supervisor for forestry, being a foreman and a labourer for local companies. He worked his whole life building a name for himself and his family. Floyd started Wolfe Trail Slashing in 2005, and operated his business for 10 years. A lover of the land, he started going out to his favourite place, Bovie Lake, and enjoyed his family and friends by his side there. It took him a few years, but he started building his own cabin, and some of his best memories there were fishing and camping with his two sons, Trevor and Trenton. Floyd wanted his boys to learn how to live off the land and have good survival skills, and there was no one better than Dad to teach them. Floyd would not only pass on his traditional knowledge to his family, but also to his friends or to whoever wanted to learn. He was proud of his kids, Trevor, Trenton, and Natasha. He was a proud grandfather, too. They all brought so much happiness to his life. In 2010, Floyd was proud to be the best man at his younger brother's wedding.
In 2013, Floyd decided to make a career change and went to live off the land at Bovie Lake, and that was one of the greatest decisions he made. Floyd would go trapping, hunting, set snares and fishing nets. More recently, Floyd had dreams of bringing back the traditional ways for youth. He wanted them to develop new skills and to retain the Dene way of life. He dreamt of making this a reality for his community, alongside his sons, Trevor and Trenton. Remember Floyd when you are out on the land fishing or trapping, because he is forever part of these lands and our territories now. He will continue to smile down on us with his smiling face and protect us when we need it. Floyd was just that kind of a man, to never leave us but watch over us and protect us. He is not here in person, but his presence will never leave us.
Floyd is survived by his mother, daughter, sons, his brothers and sister, a number of grandchildren, and his uncles. He is predeceased by his grandfather Edward, grandmother Pauline, daughter Angel, and auntie Elizabeth Diamond-C. We will miss him dearly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Our condolences to the family and to the community, as well. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to compare some laws in the NWT regarding alcohol and cannabis possession. As we all know, last October marked the legalization of recreational cannabis across Canada. This shift in federal policy has triggered a massive legislative overhaul to all laws pertaining to the purchase, transportation, and possession of cannabis, along with newer penalties for alcohol- and drug-impaired driving.
Mr. Speaker, at this time I believe that we should consider the harmonization of cannabis and alcohol because there exist several key differences in terms of legal limits on purchase, possession, and transportation that encumbers one substance but not the other. Currently, it is cannabis that is more tightly regulated than alcohol, which is only because alcohol prohibition ended sooner than for cannabis and has thus become less restrictive over time. However, from a harm reduction perspective, such restrictions for one substance over the other makes little sense, especially when you consider that the more restricted substance of cannabis is actually less harmful to people than alcohol.
Mr. Speaker, the harmonization of certain policies is nothing new to the NWT. In fact, there already exists some elements of policy harmonization between alcohol and cannabis. For example, the punishments for selling cannabis or alcohol to minors is exactly the same, as is the purchase of either substance from an unlicensed vendor and driving under the influence of either substance, as well.
The point that I am trying to make, Mr. Speaker, is simple. If the government wishes for our citizens to consume legal substances safely, responsibly, and in moderation, then the policy should be more consistent across the board. After all, both cannabis and alcohol already share the same minimum age for purchase, possession, and consumption. Why is it that we have purchase limits on the amount of cannabis, but no limits on how much alcohol one can buy? There is also zero limit to the amount of alcohol anyone can carry in person or transport to their homes. Why are we treating one substance differently than the other?
To be clear, Mr. Speaker, I am not advocating for the deregulation of either cannabis or alcohol. I am merely suggesting that we place them both on an even playing field. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. If there exist restrictions for one, there should be restrictions for the other. I believe that alcohol should not be sold without limits. There should be limits to prevent bootleggers from buying unlimited amounts of alcohol for illegal resale. According to many in my riding, bootlegging is a booming business. It is more difficult to charge bootleggers because there are no limits on the amount of alcohol that one can possess. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to acknowledge someone joining us all the way from beautiful Vale Island in Hay River, my spouse and constituent, Ms. Chantelle Lafferty.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just a moment ago I spoke about the need for more permanent physicians at the Hay River Health Authority, and I talked about some of the issues, some of the barriers that we are facing, in terms of being able to recruit physicians. There are just a few. I often get complaints about the work environment as well, but I didn't want to delve into that too much.
I have a series of questions for the Minister of Health. My first is: what steps is the Hay River Health Authority, along with the Department of Health, doing to recruit more physicians in Hay River? Is there a strategy? Is there a plan, or are they going to continue to use the same recruitment practices that have had failed results? Can the Minister please elaborate? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I understand the frustration that the residents of Hay River have had. Obviously, we need to do better in Hay River than we have done.
The authority is actually currently developing a new formal recruitment strategy in order to help them find more physicians, hopefully on a permanent basis. A lot of work needs to be done. I think the Member did a great job of articulating some of the things that need to be done. Some of those things are the types of things that they are doing, but I will reach out to the authority and figure out where we are on some of those exact items.
In addition to that, Mr. Speaker, the NWT Health and Social Services Authority is currently recruiting an area medical director who would actually be based in Hay River. This individual would be working in Hay River to serve patients while also being part of the territorial medical staff for the entire territorial health authority. This will help build a relationship, an important relationship, within the system to help address challenges that we know are arising.
They are also working with the territorial authority to understand how we can better coordinate our physicians on staff, potentially looking at options to make Hay River physician staff formally part of the territorial physician staff. This would allow us to benefit from shared resources in a more coordinated, system-wide approach to recruitment and retention, and we are working closely with the territorial authority to help make those steps a reality.
There are a number of things happening. The Member did raise a lot of things that need to be addressed in the Hay River authority, and I will be following up on those as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As I mentioned, we have a budget for five physicians in Hay River. Maybe we need six. Maybe we need seven, but we are probably never going to get there. Our healthcare system seems to rely on that model, the one that is heavily dependent on physicians. Are there any systematic changes that are being implemented to improve patient care, in light of the fact that it is so difficult to get full-time physicians?
Yes, absolutely. As part of our Cultural Safety Action Plan, the territorial health authority and health system have recently embarked on work to undertake a reform of our primary healthcare services across the Northwest Territories. This work is being led by the territorial authority and the department, with pilot projects happening in the Yellowknife, Fort Smith, Deh Cho, and Tlicho regions.
Just as an example, Mr. Speaker, two of these projects in this reform effort focus on the implementation of integrated care teams. The goal of this team approach is to provide safe, high-quality care that makes the best use of existing resources by creating integrated multidisciplinary care teams, where each member works to their full scope of practice to provide what we hope and we expect will be flexible, responsive primary healthcare and health promotion.
These teams, and this is the exciting part, will have a wide range of providers, including mental health supports built in, different scopes and practices, nurse practitioners, community health nurses, admin staff, all to work as part of a team to provide high-quality primary care to our residents.
