Kate Reid

Member Great Slave

Kate Reid was elected to the 20th Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly to represent the constituency of Great Slave.

Ms. Reid was born in the city of Oshawa, Ontario in 1981. She has lived in Yellowknife since 1989. Ms. Reid’s journey is a testament to her diverse interests and unwavering dedication to making a positive impact in her community.

Ms. Reid’s career began in journalism, after graduating with a bachelor of journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University in 2003. Her interest in research led her to work at the Yellowknife Public Library, which in turn took her to the University of Toronto for a master’s degree in information studies, graduating in 2009. Returning to the north, she was grateful for the opportunity to join the staff at the NWT Archives, where she cultivated a deep appreciation for preserving and sharing the stories that define the territory and its government. Transitioning to the Government of Northwest Territories, Department of Environment and Climate Change, Ms. Reid brought her expertise to the forefront of environmental issues, contributing to sustainable development through legislative and policy work for five years prior to being elected.

Away from the demands of her professional life, Ms. Reid is married and finds solace and inspiration in an array of hobbies. Her love for music, art, burlesque, drag, film, and travel speaks to her eclectic tastes and a thirst for cultural exploration.

Ms. Reid’s dedication to community service is exemplary, marked by her role as the President of YWCA NWT from 2021 to 2023. Her leadership extends to the cultural realm as a past director for Folk on the Rocks, an annual music festival that enriches Yellowknife's cultural landscape. Additionally, Ms. Reid has actively contributed to community events such as NWT and Yellowknife Pride, Burn on the Bay and served as the UNW Local 40 President in 2019 and from 2021 to 2023, demonstrating her commitment to advocacy and the well-being of her fellow citizens.

Great Slave Electoral District:

Committees

Member Kate Reid
Great Slave
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 9)

Okay, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm not sure I heard a clear answer today, but that's okay. If it's for the next fiscal year, I appreciate that. I'm glad the new arts officer position was created, but can the Minister explain why there have been no public information nights up to this point about all these big changes or at least none that folks I have spoken to have heard about? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 9)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am a proud supporter of the arts. I was thrilled to take the Member for Kam Lake and the Member for Frame Lake to the Bloody Valentine Burlesque last weekend. This weekend, I encourage all Members to attend the Black in History art exhibition this Saturday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Yellowknife Racquet Club. Inemesit Graham's portraits are a celebration of black leaders, thinkers, authors, activists, and poets throughout world history celebrating Black History Month. Admission is free.

Additionally, the Black Advocacy Coalition upNorth, BACupNorth, is...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories is a wonderfully diverse place to live. My riding has many newcomer residents that have joined us from numerous countries of origin, and I am proud to represent them in this House. The territories' struggles include those of our neighbours in all their diversity. When matters on the international stage cause my neighbours to lose sleep with worry over their loved ones, I am humbled to speak to these matters and be their voice in this Chamber.

As Northerners, we stand with the citizens of Ukraine, those who trace their roots to...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I MOVE, seconded by the Member for Deh Cho, to amend Motion 920(1), Establishing a Public Inquiry into the 2023 Wildfires as amended, by adding the following clause after the fifth clause:

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Commissioner recommend to the board that they establish safe disclosure opportunities for people to share information with the inquiry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to elaborate a bit on this amendment. It is very important to me that folks who were in the public service at the time of the evacuation be afforded opportunities to provide their feedback anonymously, and I thank my colleagues on this side of the House for appreciating this amendment to the motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 8)

Just making sure I'm procedurally correct, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When I was elected, I got a strong sense from the residents of my riding that they wanted to see someone represent them who would make collaboration their main mode of operation. They wanted someone who would listen to them as residents but also someone who would listen to all Members of the Assembly. That baseline expectation is what I strive to live up to every day that I have the privilege to stand here and proudly represent my riding. I have heard from constituents on both sides of the public inquiry argument...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 7)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm curious if the department has been looking into any of the most high need areas for medical travel, and what I mean by this is the areas of medical requirements that have a lot of subscription or uptake. So what I'm curious about is does the Minister think that we could bring specialists to the North to remove long haul burden on folks to go out of territory which is also a high cost for the GNWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 7)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I like being in your line of eyesight now.

Mr. Speaker, over the next three and a half years, you will hear me say to Ministers of the GNWT that people need to come first in the delivery of government programs and services. When a policy or process doesn't work continually, government can't keep defending it as being right without cause. There should be a genuine effort to learn from and listen to those who are affected. We must remove barriers that don't support the goal of service and move towards a client service model that enables continued improvement.

Mr. Speaker...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 7)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And it's really wonderful to hear from the Minister that they're looking indepth to a lot of the issues that I'm highlighting today.

Mr. Speaker, I'm also wondering, though, about improvements to processes that complement medical travel. So right now if someone accesses a practitioner on medical travel in the south who recommends lab work as an example, they then must get the lab requisition redone in the territory so they can have those services completed in the NWT. The question is, can the Minister speak to what work could be done to streamline this process to change...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 7)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the process of medical travel can be confusing. Depending on what treatment you need, intake can be different and it's also not really clear to some folks who are not employed by the GNWT as to what stream of medical travel they fall into. From personal experience, the forms for medical travel are also confusing and duplicate information.

Can the Minister explain if there is any work underway to improve standard operating procedures or communications with the public for the different streams of medical travel? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.