Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the midst of the dumbest trade war in perhaps global history, northern businesses are very concerned, and I know the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment is chair of the internal -- sorry, the committee on internal trade. We heard a statement about it earlier. How is the Minister going to ensure that measures like the BIP program, that are very successful in protecting northern businesses and supporting northern businesses, continue as trade barriers come down across the country? Thank you.

Thank you. And what kind of metrics are we looking at to determine if it's a success? Like, is it a number of -- I guess I'll just ask that. Like, what metrics are we looking for to inform that evaluation? Because I'd like to see these programs continue. I think they have borne fruit in other jurisdictions, and I'm really -- I hear, again anecdotically, it's going really well but, like, what practically do we need to see before we expand this to other communities? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, exceptions for this kind of care have been made in the past. A patient with a very similar situation, who was not initially insured in Manitoba, has appealed this successfully but this has not been taken into account by our health and social services authority or policies and programs. Will the Minister review this case -- or this case in Manitoba, similar cases across the country, and make changes to the policy to allow an exception to my constituent? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm assuming this is where the community safety officer pilot is being funded, so maybe I'll ask about that. I just see where the pilot project has found itself. I know it's still under review but how is it going? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, imagine after a long struggle, you're finally about to undergo a surgery you've been waiting for. You've worked your way through multiple doctors' offices, gotten your referrals in order, and have persevered patiently on the waitlist. Yet, just as you arrive for the operation, you are asked how you're going to pay for it. Up until this moment, it was your understanding that this crucial surgery came at no cost. Now you're faced with a choice: Pay thousands of dollars or give up on the opportunity and, with it, the better quality of life you've worked so...

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...

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. 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. 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...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I mean, half a month your hospital's gridlocked, that's not a favourable statistic. Mr. Speaker, the Minister talked about providing support to regional health care and health care centres to release the pressure on Stanton. So how are these -- how have these efforts in regional centres had an effect on gridlock at Stanton? Thank you.