Thank you, Minister of ITI. Final supplementary. Member from Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the work the Minister's doing at the FPT table -- it's important work -- but I want to know what work we're doing here because we can't wait for that interprovincial work to support our own businesses. People are worried now. Plus, this is an opportunity to actually support businesses locally by acting on a lot of these concerns that have been brought up over time. So will the Minister commit to working with the NWT Chamber of Commerce, the regional Chambers of Commerce, and find ways that we can reduce barriers to business, make -- bring the costs to do so down, perhaps even lower taxes. But will the Minister make that commitment to start that work immediately and not waste another day because time is of the essence, and we need to make sure that the NWT is put first in our decisions as we move forward into an uncertain future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, about three minutes ago I was committed to those relationships, and I remain committed to them. I agree with the Member that those relationships are what are going to let us know how the tariffs are impacting the North, and that information is absolutely critical. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of ITI. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are, again, for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.
There was mention that labour mobility is a priority given the internal/external trade challenges. So can the Minister explain whether there is work underway by the GNWT to create standalone overarching GNWT labour mobility legislation to ensure that we can facilitate better labour mobility between the NWT and other provinces and territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Minister of ITI.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this one falls under my ECE hat. There are other jurisdictions that have overarching labour mobility pieces of legislation, and the Member is absolutely right, we in the territory don't have a piece of this legislation as it stands today so that is certainly something that is being considered. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the Minister have an anticipated timeline for when the government might be able to bring forward such legislation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's almost as if the Member was on some of my earlier phone calls last week. So other jurisdictions are in a position where if they put an overarching piece of legislation in like that, then it goes to all their regulatory bodies. But here in the territory, some of our regulatory bodies are here in the territory and some of them are regulatory bodies in other jurisdictions that we use for some of our licensing. So an example of that would be, for example, a physiotherapist. We don't have a regulatory body here in the territory and so physiotherapists can pick any jurisdiction across Canada to register themselves in, and we'll accept that here in the territory.
With a piece of legislation like this, I would need to ensure that we're aligning with other jurisdictions and that they also have matching legislation so that I'm not indicating that, you know, this has to be a -- licensing has to be accomplished within, say, a 30-day timeframe and imposing that on another jurisdiction simply wouldn't work. So that's where it's really important that as a country we're working together, and that is work that is currently being looked at under the FTP table for labour Ministers across Canada. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So given that one of our most urgent labour mobility issues is around doctors and a pan-Canadian licensure of doctors which certainly the Canadian Medical Association has been calling for and -- so would that be included in this work around overarching labour mobility legislation, or is that become pursued through other means? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, this is a conversation specifically one around health care workers that's currently happening in the context of labour mobility and how we go about doing some work both under the envelope of Team Canada to ensure that we're aligned at the end of the day and to ensure that we are moving forward in a way that respects the diversities of regions across Canada. As you can imagine, every time we peel back a layer, there's another one underneath it. It's a bit of a national onion but certainly a very important one that we work through, and health care workers is absolutely at the top of that conversation. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Oral questions. Member from Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, speaking of provincial trade barriers, alcohol is one of the most cherished areas of protection by provinces. That's why US beer, wine, and spirits are coming off the shelves because governments control what goes on those shelves for the most part in this country. Mr. Speaker, I'm not sure who to ask this to, but this direct sale -- direct-to-consumer sale system that's being proposed, can we get more details on that and how it will affect our businesses in the Northwest Territories that provide sales of alcohol to consumers? Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is one that, again, straddles probably a couple of different departments. I am happy to say that prior to attending the internal trade Ministers' meeting, the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment and myself had the opportunity to discuss this issue and, indeed, we are sitting at that table, we are participating in this working group. At this point, the direct-to-consumer sales I understand is going to go through some reviews, some considerations to what can be workable, not only for us but for other provinces and potentially territories. We're at the table, and we want to see what could be workable for us as well. Thank you.
Thank you. And I know this is emerging territory, so my apologies to the Minister if this is coming fast and furious but, you know, we need to get some clarity here. We have a brewery in the Northwest Territories. They often struggle with our system, the commission system we have here. How will their business be affected by this new system that's being proposed? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's exactly the kind of question that we would like to have the time to examine before signing on to any sort of direct-to-consumer sale system. It's precisely for that reason, and likely precisely for that reason, that other provinces, although we're all committed to reducing tariffs and trade barriers want to just make sure that the businesses that we all represent are understanding what exactly it is that we're putting to them and what kind of opportunities we're creating. What we want to create is more opportunities for Canadian businesses, more markets within Canada for Canadian businesses, and to do that in a way that is supportive of the businesses that we represent. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Finance. Final supplementary. Member from Range Lake.
Thank you. And thank you for that. There's certainly opportunities with these changes, but there could be risks as well. If our tiny brewing company is put into a national wide market, they might be, you know, washed out by all the other brands out there. So what did -- will the Minister -- obviously details are scant. But will the Minister make sure that in these negotiations, we keep in mind that we have an industry here that is chugging along -- it's their tenth year in place -- and make sure that they are one part -- well, that they are part of the conversation and that their interests are protected as we move forward to a Canada free of interprovincial trade barriers? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have had the opportunity, together with the Member for Range Lake, to meet with the brewery. I've met with them on past occasions as well. They're significant contributors to this community in Yellowknife, Mr. Speaker, and this is -- again, I do want to re-emphasize, not only to the brewery but any businesses as we're talking about reducing trade barriers, ourselves, territories, Atlantic provinces, we all have businesses that are small that may be concerned about what it means to open up, but this is an opportunity and we want to seize that opportunity, creating opportunity, creating more markets, engaging in internal trade, having trade tours that are about Canada. So, again, we want to work with our business community, make sure they see this as an opportunity, and that that's how we want to move forward with this change. So happy to continue to work with them and any other small business here so that they benefit from this opportunity for Canada. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Finance. Oral questions. Member from Frame Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciated the health Minister's statement today on vaccine hesitancy and lowered vaccine rates in the territory. I share the Minister's concerns.
To that end, Mr. Speaker, I would like to know from the Minister what measures is the Minister putting in place to help make vaccines more accessible and bring vaccine rates up to pre-COVID levels? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with vaccine rates, you know, I mean, it varies across the territory as to where to get vaccines. Most of the health centres are the venue to get childhood vaccines, any vaccines. The community health nurse can give those. In the regional centres, we usually have public health units that do the majority of those vaccines in those regions, and the appointments can be -- you know, accessing those appointments through public health. Within Yellowknife, I know that the public health unit here there were some -- you know, some staffing, and my understanding is that they've recruited and now they have their unit. So they have well child clinics. They have travel clinics for vaccines. We also do vaccines in the schools with school-aged children as there's -- you know, there's vaccines that happen during the age groups that kids are in school. And, you know, they -- and they do provide the information upfront so that they can bring it home, they can get the consent signed. There's -- at a certain age, you know, the teenagers and stuff can make an informed decision to have the vaccine themselves. So there are many, many ways for this. I think the thing that we are trying to stress -- and that's what I tried to stress in my Minister's statement today -- is that online social media and misinformation is being rapidly spread, and we do not want people to think that that is the information. And so if the information is not coming from a trusted health care provider like the Northwest Territories, you know, one of the territorial provinces, you know, I would question it, and I would bring that information and ask questions to a health care provider. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And certainly I appreciate some of the challenges we're facing.
Mr. Speaker, some of the concerns I received when the first flu vaccines went out this year is just that the timing in the territory was a bit late compared to some of our neighbours. The Yukon, for example, had their flu and COVID vaccines out about a month before us. So I'm just wondering if the Minister is looking to expand the availability, extend the timing that clinics are available, just to make it accessible for residents. I know, speaking for myself, the reason I didn't get vaccinated for the flu this year is simply that I wasn't able to find a time I was able to go. So I know that it's not necessarily hesitancy that's preventing vaccination. Sometimes it's availability too. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know we have a lot of things going on in our life and -- anybody, you know, and I'll be the first to say I do not like needles, and I would try and make any reason why I don't want to get a needle. But I always make a priority to get my flu shot ever since I was young. You know, but I think the thing is is that the reason why -- and I'm going back to my public health days -- is that vaccines are -- yes, some areas, they may have released public clinics in certain areas. There were public -- you know, we start in the high-risk areas. When we look at releasing flu vaccine, that vaccine strain is only good for a certain amount of time and we have to -- and our public health -- the chief public health officer and her team try to measure around how that gets rolled out in the Northwest Territories based on activity that's going on and, therefore, you know, if we're -- what happened here is that each community may roll out sooner than some of the capital regions because the access to care is less in those communities. So there might have been rolling out sooner than the clinics that opened up in the capital. And then seniors will go around, and home care will usually go around and do a lot of those vaccines. You know, inpatient, long-term care, those people will get their vaccine first and then the rollout to the public. And it's unfortunate that -- you know, that some people aren't able to get into these clinics, you know, but it's making the time. And maybe next year we'll make sure that I get out there maybe way before and start highlighting those times and where and the places that you can get those vaccines. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from Frame Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And really that's what the Minister was starting to touch upon towards the end there is what I was looking for, is just considering that the department is concerned about it and the Minister's concerned about it, is the Minister looking at ways to increase availability knowing that it can be hard to find times in your schedule, etcetera, etcetera, just so that we know that hesitancy -- or sorry, hesitancy is a challenge that we have, but we want to make sure that access isn't. That's the point that I want to make, Mr. Speaker. So will the Minister commit to taking measures, if need be, to increase access for vaccines for residents. Make sure it's easy, that it's available, clinics in grocery stores, schools, etcetera, make it easy for people to access. So just advocating for that, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our public health staff are amazing, and they do try to get to everywhere. Here in Yellowknife, they did have in the grocery stores. I mean, I went on Saturdays, they had day clinics here in Yellowknife while I was here and that's where I got my flu and COVID shot. So I think it's -- well, we can look at how we are making sure that that information is -- and as the clinics pop up, you know, sometimes in public health we'll see activity, and that's when people then start to get worried and want their flu shot. And so if we start to see activity, I can bring it back to the department to see if when we start to see increased activity, is there ways that we can, you know, have more clinics. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Returning to my earlier question to the Minister of Health and Social Services. Is it common practice to schedule insured and non-insured medical care simultaneously? Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are many times where there are procedures that may overlap. Those conversations usually happen between the patient and the surgeon and the health care provider. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And arising from those conversations, is there a mechanism, again, to provide -- to seek some sort of exemption or some sort of request for exemption or appeal for service based on the advice that a patient is getting from their medical provider? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, I hear what the Member is raising, you know, I think, but what we're looking at is what the things that are covered that are insured services that have been -- and it's not just here. It's across Canada. There are a standard of things that are covered, what are covered under insured services. These are core services. And then there's other things that would be considered cosmetic and those -- the process -- I can't tell you how the process goes when it's in between patient and doctor. I mean, I can find out the information as to how that process works and possibly get back and have a discussion with the Member. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when an exemption is brought to for an appeal or a request for an exemption is brought and the advice is saying something along the lines of this procedure will reduce medical costs because it's preventative, it will allow a person to live a full life, work a full job, and if we don't do it they're going to be severely impacted in that moving forward. Does any of that matter in terms of this policy which, I might add, is housed within the ministry or with the department rather than the health authority. So does -- is there anything a doctor can do to convince decision makers that an exemption or an appeal is warranted if a procedure's not insured? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will have to take that question on notice. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I just want to go back to the Minister of ECE.
As mentioned, the school in Dettah is 55 years old. The GNWT brought in portable trailers in 1979 with no gymnasium. The GNWT built an undersized gymnasium back in 1978 in Dettah as well as -- and used as a community hall, and the students in the school use that gym for recreation activities.
My question to the Minister, can the Minister confirm if ECE consulted with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and local DEA going back to 1979 to build a new school in Dettah and N'dilo? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. And I may have misunderstood the question but if the question is if I could explain the engagement process that the government undertook in the 1970s, I would be hard-pressed to do so. Thank you.
Okay, thank you, Mr. Speaker. As mentioned earlier that I mentioned that education is a treaty right, the GNWT are acting as the Crown so there's a need for a Crown consultation and accommodation with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation to look at for a new school in Dettah. Can the Minister commit to working with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation chief and council and the Dettah and N'dilo DEA to start a process to get on the ECE capital plan process? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question.
While I can't speak to the exact process that would have occurred in the 1970s, I'm very excited that the process has certainly changed today. We're currently working -- one of the capital projects that we're currently working on is the new school for Colville Lake. And that process is taking on a much different life and one that I am very excited about, and I am very excited to say that those conversations are going very well.
And so the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is working alongside the Department of Infrastructure with the Behdzi Ahda' First Nation in Colville Lake to work on what that school's going to look like and what type of a facility it's going to -- or what role that facility will fill within the community. And I think that's an incredibly huge success story and one that I think that we can continue to build on until that school is fully realized. But the community and those conversations has brought forward things like wanting to have space for a greenhouse, wanting to ensure that they have a full-sized gym and not a small community gym like used to be built, and thankfully, that is a piece that was updated in our school capital infrastructure standards by the previous Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. And I absolutely agree with that one. We shouldn't be building small schools in communities; we should be building right-sized gyms in communities because those gyms really are an epicentre of what happens in a community and often are the only facility of that kind in that community. And so I'm very excited for that project and very excited for the precedent that it sets for the whole territory as to what community school builds end up looking like down the road. And so my longwinded response to the Member -- sorry -- is that I'm absolutely excited to sit down and have these conversations with leadership across the territory. Thank you.
