Richard Edjericon

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I had said that I'll be asking the Minister for clear and decisive action on the overdue improvements to the healthcare system here in the Northwest Territories. We are year three and a half into our mandate here already, and my question would be to the Minister. Earlier today I mentioned a series of healthcare recommendations issued by the Canadian Medical Association in August of last year. What action has the Minister of Health and Social Services taken in response to these recommendations? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'll have a followup question to that then. I guess what I'm trying to say is I think the Minister misunderstood what I'm trying to say is that I'd like to get a commitment from this Minister here to really trying to get somebody in the headquarters of the housing corporation and sitting next to the Minister or sorry, to the deputy minister. That's what I'm saying is on top of what you just said, yes, we understand what you're saying, you're working with the Circle of Aboriginal leaders, etcetera, but you need to have a body in an office over there that people could talk to, who could relate...

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you, Minister. Just part of the review that you probably are going to look at, can we also take a look at the medical travel review policy that's outdated and inflexible to improve the access to healthcare for those residing in small communities here in the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm sure, you know, you'd just have to look online. I'm sure you'd be able to find that.

Moving forward, though, Mr. Speaker, last week in Ottawa Trudeau announced a pitch to probably about $196.1 billion over ten years to all the provinces and territories, additional $46.2 billion for the provinces and territories as well. So outside the CMA recommendation, what action or strategies to date have been taken and employed by the Minister's department to tackle the ongoing healthcare crisis here in the Northwest Territories? And if she could maybe just elaborate a little...

Mr. Speaker, thank you. We know that the health system is collapsing. Every day there are more signs of distress. While I agree wholeheartedly with these words, they are not mine. Mr. Speaker, rather, they belong to the Canadian Medical Association who wrote, in August last year, there's no part of healthcare system untouched by the current crisis. The problem isn't physicians or nurses or healthcare workers. It's not one province or a territory.

Mr. Speaker, my constituents have been struggling with healthcare support for many years. The medical travel system is held bounded by the health...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table a letter dated February 9th, 2023, which I want to send to the Premier and the Minister regarding community visits to Lutselk'e, Fort Resolution, Dettah, and N'dilo. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. George Giroux was born on December 10th, 1979 and died on October 8th, 2022, at the age of 42, born in Yellowknife to George Giroux Senior and the late Denise Jerome. George is survived by two sisters, Kim and Sharlene Giroux, and his daughter Mercedes Pearl Sharlene Giroux. George was a Deninu Kue First Nation member and travelled with his father throughout his youth living in Fort Providence and Pine Point. George attended many schools as a result, making many lifelong friends, especially from Deninu Kue School. Always very respectful and well-mannered and polite...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too want to recognize all the translators that are here today. Also, in particular, I'd like to recognize Tom Unka, Dennis Drygeese, Maro Sundberg, and Jonas Lafferty over there. Also the elders from translators from up North. Mahsi. Also I just want to recognize my wife at home, Aleda Edjericon. She's watching, so hi. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member's statement earlier, I left out two names by accident. I just want to go on to recognize Bridget Mackay and Kinesha Norn, who also had gold in the hand games and Dene games category. I just want to acknowledge them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Wood Buffalo 2023 Arctic Winter Games officially began on Sunday, January 29th with an opening ceremony at Legacy Dodge Field at Shell Place in Fort McMurray, Alberta, on Treaty 8 territory ancestral traditional lands of the Cree, Dene, and Metis. Due to the COVID19 pandemic, the Wood Buffalo 2023 Arctic Winter Games is the first Arctic Winter Games since 2018 and is the 26th edition of the events starting in 1970 in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

According to the Arctic Winter Games website, Commissioner James Smith (Yukon), Commissioner Stuart Hodgson...