Statements in Debates

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 62)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At first, it may appear like a layout of cash but it's not. It's just a guarantee, and the GNWT will get its money back because this is a 50-year organization that is cruising to work.

Mr. Speaker, what communication has the Minister, through her department obviously, had with the Yellowknife Community Association in the context of NUP about what they're doing and how they're trying to meet their deadline of tomorrow May 30th? Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 62)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ever so briefly, I want to recognize and acknowledge all the incredible interpreters we have here. I would certainly say to some degree they are all my favourites; however, Mr. Speaker, I have one favorite who is just a little more favorite, and that happens to be Ms. Sarah Cleary. She's here, and she interprets Dene Kede, and I'm certainly grateful to call her a friend as well a constituent, and I appreciate the hard work she does here every day we sit. Thank you so much, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 62)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First off, I want to thank union firefighter Chris Bittrolff for initiating this initiative, I guess I'll say it that way, by bringing it to my colleague from Range Lake. Once that dialogue got started, you know, it was easy to understand how important this particular initiative is. We tend to forget and just maybe sometimes take certain industries for granted. And it's no one's fault, which is you always know they'll be there when you need them, but sometimes we have to ask ourselves are we there when they need us. So, you know, as we hear the fire or the alarms or the...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 62)

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Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 62)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for recognizing me. I have two documents I would like to table. The first document is a press release from Avens community for seniors, and it's the press release regarding the concerns about the -- articulated through their after-action reports. And of course, the second set -- back of the page is contact names, where you can contact them directly for the actual report. So I'd like to table their press release.

The second item I wish to table before the House today, Mr. Speaker, is a draft motion. It's called Remuneration of Essential Staff During an Evacuation. It's a...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 62)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I've got a couple written questions. And I should say thank you to the clerk's office for their assistance.

Mr. Speaker, the first written question is: Staff Turnover and Vacancy Rates. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services:

What have been the annual turnover rates and vacancy rates for physician specialists, including orthopedic surgeons, in the Northwest Territories since January 2023?

Please break down the total vacancies by:

Resignations;

Retirements; and

Unknown reason departures.

Indicate the average time to recruit replacements; and.

Indicate...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 62)

Mr. Speaker, when I was speaking to this generous gift to the community, the purveyor of it, that is, Mr. Speaker, they told me that they were cornered at the Yellowknife trade show the week before when they were giving out popcorn to people in the community and they -- the health inspector cited where's your hand wash station, you know, and they went on this long list. Mr. Speaker, simply put, would the Minister find a better way to -- for us to work through these community generous gifts without turning them into permitting exercises. And by the way, the permit's free, which it's just an...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 62)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just to freshen up the memory of this particular House, it was housing was supported through a move forward on $41.6 million, Mr. Speaker. Ooh, that's a lot of money. Mr. Speaker, I'm asking is there any way to tap into that financial opportunity temporarily to support this multimillion dollar initiative they got all on their own and they're going to pay for it all on their own. And, Mr. Speaker, lastly, they've done this for 50 years without interruption, and they've served this community well. Can the Minister find a way to make this happen? Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 62)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in an unusual circumstance here, I gave the Minister a head's up on this particular one, so the Minister of housing won't be surprised on my question because it's so important we can't miss this opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, the question is about helping Northern United Place on their renewal project. They have obtained loans and processes all on their own, and all they require is housing to support them as a backstop to help underwrite the loans, the million dollars of loans they are potentially receiving. So, Mr. Speaker, would the Minister direct her...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 62)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If we had more session days, I would have liked to have used my time or opportunity to talk about NWT Housing and how they could get behind the NUP Renewal Project where they supply 125 residential affordable units to people desperate for affordable housing. They're doing it at a low carbon update, and all it would take is some backing to support their initiative. And by the way, for the record, the deadline is tomorrow to get behind that, for the Minister.

Mr. Speaker, if we had more time, I would like to talk about the health Minister and how she could get behind all...