Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. As the manager of public lands, the GNWT is required legally required to charge rents and fees for use of public lands. However, as I mentioned previously in this House, the GNWT would like to collaborate with the Indigenous governments and find a way to change the administration and management processes on traditional lands and cabins on public lands. But until that work is complete, Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories will have to continue to charge fees on those cabins as is outlined in our legislation and our regulation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thanks to the Minister for that clarification here. My next question is in that same exchange, the Minister confirmed that his department will pause collections onto the lease rents arrears from the Indigenous recreational leaseholders. Can the Minister confirm what this means? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as of August 28th, 2023, the department committed to not sending any arrears for Indigenous leaseholders that qualify to collections. And they would also go so far as to suspend any of the collection actions that were previously started against Indigenous leaseholders from that while we work on a collaborative process to address the concerns regarding the traditional lease. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Final supplementary. Member from the Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thanks for that clarification. It's comforting to know that these collections for additional costs will be paused on the leaseholders.
The Minister mentioned collaboration with Indigenous governments on a new process to address traditional cabins. Can the Minister confirm this work is just about lease rents, or is this engagement broader? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department is looking to work collaboratively with the Indigenous governments across the Northwest Territories to develop a new approach to administration and management for camps and cabins on public lands that support traditional use. We are hoping to talk about the administration and management of these structures in a more broad way than has been done in the past. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Oral questions. Member from Monfwi.
This is still for the housing Minister. What does the public housing tenants do if they are evicted? Thank you.
Member from Monfwi. Minister of Housing NWT.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If a public housing tenant is evicted, so most LHOs have a minimum time, up to six months, before they will allow an evicted tenant to reapply for public housing. So they have a sixmonth period where they won't allow any applications. And after that six months, the evicted tenant can reapply for a public housing unit. The tenant may be asked to show that they're they won't resume their same behaviours that they were evicted for before allowing them to reapply for housing. So the LHOs will refer the former tenants to other social agencies and programs that may be able to assist them in securing housing. For example, Housing NWT offers a rent supplement program that can assist with the rental costs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister of Housing NWT. Oral questions. Member from Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one thing that's become clear from the debate around safe disclosure to public processes is that we don't have adequate legislative protections in the Northwest Territories for public service workers. Is the Minister or is the Premier considering bringing forward either an amendment to the Public Service Act or standalone legislation to protect whistleblowers in the public service? Thank you.
From Range Lake. Mr. Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have to confer with the Minister of Finance, but I do know that public servants do have some whistleblower protection under section 2 of the Charter, freedom of expression, and in certain circumstances. But that's not a decision for me. I have to confer with my colleague, the Minister of Finance as she is responsible for the Public Service Act. So I will do that as soon as reasonably possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I thank my colleagues for their indulgence.
Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services following up on some of my questions yesterday. And one of the questions the nature of the question or the heart of the question is transparency on the doctors' waiting list, and her brazen response is, you know, that's only an issue in Yellowknife. Actually half the population here is in Yellowknife but it's a respect factor of how people in Yellowknife feel. And I got some phone calls how upset people were about that perspective. So my question here, specifically to the Minister of Health and Social Services, is simply this: What can she do to bring transparency to the waiting list? Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in this House, the we are doing a review and the primary health care reform is going to look at how we provide services to all residents in the Northwest Territories. And I understand that there is a model that's been used in Yellowknife which, yes, it is the half of the population but, you know, on the other opposite end is there's the other half of the population that doesn't have access to physicians and services. And, you know, we've heard from Members in this House that said they don't have even an access to a nurse all the time. So we are looking at the entire territory and how we provide services to the residents in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I really wish the Minister would answer the question. What is her hesitation for putting some transparency on the doctors' waiting list? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I understand where the Member's coming from. There is also question on waitlists. And like I said specifically, there is a model that's been going on in Yellowknife, and it's not the same model that's been going on the rest of the territory. You know, and so I think with this model, everything will be changing, or we're looking at making changes so that there's equitable access to everybody in the Northwest Territories. And so there may not be waitlists in the Northwest Territories because we'll be defining how we provide service differently in the city, in the towns, in the hamlets, in the villages. You know, so that's something that we're looking for in the future and so, you know, we provided the numbers to the Member, and if you know, if the Member wishes to share that information. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm convinced the Minister doesn't understand the question. Her response to me was written response, sir, is the 2,000 people are on the waitlist. So they know what the waitlist for a doctor means. That said, what is the apprehension or hesitation for providing some level of transparency, so you know where you are on the waitlist? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the opposite sense is why is there a waitlist? You know, I went and seen a physician on Saturday. I didn't have to see you know, so this is why I'm saying the primary health care reform is changing how we're looking at how patients have access to services, not necessarily how everybody's going to have a specific physician to this many clients or this many patients or within this system. So that is you know, when we provided the information that we do have to the Member, and if he wishes to share the information. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Final supplementary. Short supplementary.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yeah, they provided information, but it wasn't detailed such as can a doctor refuse to take a client. So, Mr. Speaker, when people are waiting six to eight years on the medical waiting list to get a family doctor, they have no idea when it's coming. So, Mr. Speaker, I'm asking again what can the Minister do to bring some level of transparency to the doctors' waiting list for the public? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe I answered the Member. As this list is changing and the model may change, and so that is the work that we're doing. So as there's a list, whether it's changing, those are things that you know, everybody has access to a physician whether it's a family like, the model is changing and it's changing across the country. And so I've answered the question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents: The Natural Resources Conservation Trust Fund Financial Statements for the Year ended March 31st, 2022; and, Inuvialuit Water Board 20222023 Annual Report and Financial Statements. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Tabling of Documents. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents: Education Accountability Framework - South Slave Divisional Education Council Operating Plan for the 20232024 School Year; and, Annual Reports for the Education Bodies of the Northwest Territories for the School Year Ending June 30th, 2023, Volumes 1 and 2. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Tuesday, February 27th, 2024, I will present to the House Bill 3, Carbon Tax Repeal Act, to be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to present to the House Bill 2, Missing Persons Act, to be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister for Justice. Pursuant to Rule 8.2(3), Bill 2 is deemed to have first reading and is ready for second reading.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Member from Kam Lake, that Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, be read for a second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act to adjust the maximum amounts allowed for Members' expenses as adjusted by using the average change in the consumer price index over the last past five years. This aligns the Act with changes already made in the previous Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 8.2(7) and to have Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council, moved to Committee of the Whole for consideration later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member. Can you read the second time and then ask after that, then ask for unanimous consent to go into Committee of the Whole.
Déjà vu. Or as a former Speaker used to say, déjà vu all over again. Mr. Whitford. So starting from the top, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues, for your indulgence.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Member for Kam Lake, that Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, be read for a second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act to adjust the maximum amounts allowed for Members' expenses as adjusted by using the average change in the consumer price index over the past five years. This aligns the Act with changes already made in the previous Assembly.
In order. To the principle of bill. The principle of the bill.
Question.
