Mr. Speaker, would the Minister be willing to provide some type of response to me before the beginning of the next session in the fall? That will give the department enough time to come up with some options and ideas that we'd be able to look at as a broader picture as a response to the issue. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Yellowknife Women's Society commissioned a report regarding the overpolicing of Indigenous women and a lot of the if you read the report carefully I'm sure the Minister of Justice has read it, you know, cover to cover as they say. But one of the things they underscore is the fact that, you know, the women feel they're overpoliced, and statistics probably prove that to some degree. Mr. Speaker, but the problem is there's no other reply or response to stepping up to the need when they're called because the RCMP cannot ignore that phone call.

So, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question for the Minister is when is the last time there's been any recruitments in the Yellowknife area that can support the regional centres? And, again, Yellowknife represents half the population, so I'm coming back to what is the Minister looking at from a dollar and cents point of view of recruiting more midwives in Yellowknife to support community birthing options, such as midwifery? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions will be related to, or taking up where I left off on my Member's statement, with respect to midwifery.

Mr. Speaker, I was enjoying a good read. It's not a good read in the context of happiness, but it is a good report regarding the reclaiming power in place. It's the final report of the MMIWG. And I happened to notice a familiar name, Ms. Lesa Semmler in there. So I'm sure she's very familiar with the report. So specifically, I want to point to the page, without going into context, is it talks about the teachings of midwifery and postnatal care of women and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move or sorry, I give notice that on Thursday, May 30th, 2024, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that the Legislative Assembly recommend the reappointment of the following individuals to the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission:

Ms. Marion Berls of the Town of Fort Smith for the term of four years; and,

Mr. Charles Dent of the City of Yellowknife for a term of four years.

And further, that the Speaker be authorized to communicate the effective dates of these appointments to the Commissioner...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the fact that the Minister or I should say Premier has a broader sense of the problem, and I can also appreciate the fact that we all might agree that RCMP may not be the best solution for a lot of cases here, including hospitals and whatnot.

Does the Premier or sorry, is the Minister willing to look and investigate into alternative tasks force to partner with the RCMP to ensure that these people are cared for to the abilities of what and responses they require, which often isn't jail? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very curious on how the Minister reconciles taking away from the communities by supporting the expansion or fulfilling the current program of midwifery in Yellowknife that supports the communities. So, Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain exactly how this takes away from the communities, she keeps saying that, by not supporting the Yellowknife midwifery program? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm really glad we agree. So then I am looking forward to the next agreeable answer from the Minister when she explains the role of the Midwifery Advisory Council on how the services of midwifery are being rolled out in the Northwest Territories to serve sometimes the first choices of expectant mothers to go through that process. At the same time, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to also hear how the Minister expresses the advisory committee's advice on how we do job postings and reaching out in recruitment of midwives. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, midwives are more than just baby catchers. As a matter of fact, they provide counselling, they provide information on pregnancy, sexual health, they order tests, they provide order ultrasounds, they do PAP smears, prescribe medication. Mr. Speaker, the list goes on.

Mr. Speaker, they also provide continuing education during and after the birth. Mr. Speaker, they help with lactation consultation, infant feeding. And, Mr. Speaker, they have truly become a continuation of the health care system.

Mr. Speaker, if you're not convinced by the human side, well...

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm well aware of the Canada-NWT Housing Benefit and, as a matter of fact, it would be cheaper if the government reinstated the hundred thousand dollars and applied for it directly. But that said, would the Minister be willing to send a team down to Avens and work with the seniors collectively and process and file applications, as individuals but in a group setting, so we get it done efficiently and we take this fearsome burden that has caused enormous anxiety to this community. And we need it now. Will the Minister step up and send a team down there...