Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the province of Alberta has recently declared an early start to their fire season this February, which is a real evidence that climate change is a historic reality for Canada. Now our concern here is, of course, more wildfires, more evacuations, more issues that are going to relate to our four seasons. So I'd like to ask the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, are we moving are we in a position to move up our wildfire season as well? Are we looking at that to ensure we're prepared for what's sure to be coming down the pike. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this amendment will allow for the Council of Leaders, which is made up of Indigenous governments, to appoint two persons to a board of inquiry to oversee the public inquiry as contemplated by this motion. And I consider it a friendly amendment and support it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to move to item 16 on the orders of the day. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Minister for the brief answer. Mr. Speaker, how is the authority the health authority communicating to our local workforce that these aren't temporary measures, these are not replacing them, and we value their work, and we want to pay them what they for the hard work they do for our communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well I heard a no, but I appreciate the Minister's position. So can she explain why we're so reliant on agency on public or private agencies in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, of all the institutions that are important to Canadians and that unite us, few are as cherished as universal public health care. No matter who we are, we all proudly pay into the same system and trust it will be there for us when we need it the most. It's a public service we've enjoyed longer than many of us can remember yet it remains incumbent upon every generation to ensure health care remains in public hands where it belongs. That is why my constituents are very concerned with the GNWT's increasing reliance on private agencies in the NWT health care system. This is undermining...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm glad the Minister doesn't want to use them. So how much is it costing us? How much is it costing us a day and how much and over time, has it changed since COVID? That's my question. Are we paying more now than before the pandemic? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Quebec has passed legislation to ban private health agencies in major centres by December of this year and throughout the province by the end of 2025. So my question is to the Minister of health, will she also ban the use of agencies in the Northwest Territories so we can restore integrity to our public health care system in the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Minister. So another area that Northerners often talk about is taxing people who work in the Northwest Territories but don't live here. We have a payroll tax system and a tax benefit that accomplishes that. Are we maximizing those benefits to the Northwest Territories' public purse through that system? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, that's $131 million is a pretty big chunk of that $150 million. So we've solved our financial challenges if we just collect on our debts. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.