Kieron Testart

Mr. Speaker, when paramedics are on the job, every second counts because in emergency situations their work can be the deciding factor between a patient's life or death. They stand vigilantly on call to provide vital care and immediate transportation to medical facilities when the need arises, often in complex and traumatic circumstances both in the heart of our communities or on far away remote highways.

Unfortunately, here in the North their job is only made more difficult due to the vast geography of our territory and the limited resources available in the small communities that are spread...

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll be brief. The supplementary estimates contain, amongst other things, increases due to the last round of collective bargaining and items that were negotiated by Members on this side of the House with Members of that side of the House to improve services to our constituents. So largely this is something I welcome. It is part of our process to realign spending priorities based on needs and the things in here are the result of -- many of the spending in here is a result of the hard work of all Members of this House to find compromise and better reflect the needs of...

Thank you. Would it be safe to characterize this project as kind of a -- at least from a funding perspective, as like a done deal, you know, in terms of design and delivery, so we're not able to pump the brakes on it and retain the funding? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So for the funding, this $3 million change here, can the Minister just speak to the -- clarify if the funding is federal funding or territorial funding? Like, the source of the funding I guess is what I'm looking for. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me rephrase. In the main estimates, the last main estimates, were forced growth and new initiatives held to $10 million? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask about the restoring balance financial sustainability plan. So to the Minister of Finance, could she tell us if we will be on track as a government to save $150 million by March 31st, 2028? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I'm trying to see if the Minister will develop a path for this. We could have training programs at Aurora College if they're funded, for example, to offer paramedicine courses. To enhance our ability to do this, we could work with the licensing bodies in different jurisdictions. Alberta comes to mind, to provide certifications, scope of practice, and all the things the Minister talked about. So is the Minister willing to take this on and expand the degrees of paramedicine in the Northwest Territories so we could reap the benefits that are sorrily needed for an...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, advanced care paramedics are equipped with knowledge and skills required to provide advanced patient care in critical or complex medical situations, such as life -- advanced life support procedures, medical administration, obstetric care, advanced airway management, mental health crises, crisis intervention, and much more. If we had these resources available in -- especially outside of regional centres, they could be providing the life-saving services where there are none.

Is the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs willing to work to bring advanced...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Nothing further.

Thank you. So there is some concern about the -- or the -- whether or not it will meet the needs of the current community. Is there a plan to speak to -- even though this is a financial carryover and things like that, had those concerns been brought forward and are they being addressed before the facility is finalized or construction continues and ultimately the facility is put into use? Thank you.